USL League One - Power Rankings Week 22

By ETHAN TRIEBSCH ethan.triebsch@uslsoccer.com, 08/17/23, 10:15AM EDT

North Carolina remain on top as Northern Colorado continue to slip

Northern Colorado and Richmond continue to slip, while Omaha and Madison have their eyes set on the top of the table.

How long can North Carolina keep its undefeated streak going? What's going on in Richmond? Tell us why your club should rank higher and keep the conversation going on Twitter at @USLLeagueOne.

Biggest Movers

2 KNX

2 NCO, RIC

Rank	Team	Change	Summary
1	North Carolina FC (12-4-5) Week 23: @ RIC	Last Week: 1	North Carolina stretched its unbeaten streak to nine with a pair of favorable Week 22 results. Enjoying its longest unbeaten stretch since 2011, NCFC is the closest to locking up a playoff position and will remain on top of the table through the week regardless of its Week 23 result.
2	Union Omaha (10-5-7) Week 23: v. CHA	1 Last Week: 3	After a slow start to the Dominic Casciato era in Omaha, the Owls have turned things around as their fourth season nears its conclusion. A club-record four-match win streak has the Owls perched at second in the table - their best position in nearly a year - and just five points away from first place.
3	Forward Madison FC (10-6-6) Week 23: @ TRM	1 Last Week: 4	With a possible 30 points remaining in their fifth season, the ‘Mingos are just eight points away from confirming their best-ever campaign. The historically low-scoring ‘Mingos, though, have recorded the fewest goals amongst teams above the playoff line (27) and have recorded a league-low 4.48 goals below expected.
4	Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (10-5-5) Week 23: v. GVL	2 Last Week: 2	Nothing’s been going right for the Hailstorm as of late. While they have faced a tougher schedule as the season’s progressed, Éamon Zayed’s boys are riding a club-record losing streak of four matches and have slipped from the top of the table to fifth.
5	Charlotte Independence (10-7-6) Week 23: @ CV	1 Last Week: 6	According to American Soccer Analysis, the Jacks have faced the toughest collection of opponents from a goals-added perspective. Still, the Independence are on pace for their second season of 50 or more points across their last three campaigns.
6	Greenville Triumph SC (9-7-5) Week 23: @ NCO	1 Last Week: 5	Triumph SC dropped a tight contest against first-place NCFC on Saturday - a rarity for the League One original over the past few months. In their last 12 matches, Greenville have maintained a staggering 6-2-4 record. A first-time contest at Future Legends Complex against Northern Colorado on Saturday should prove to be exciting.
7	South Georgia Tormenta FC (8-11-3) Week 23: v. MAD	Last Week: 7	Currently positioned below the playoff line as the postseason looms, the Ibises are trying to avoid becoming the first defending champion to finish the regular season outside the top five spots in the table. While Tormenta FC is tied for the most goals this season (37), the Ibises have also conceded the third-most scores (36) at the same time - already the most for a defending champion in league history.
8	One Knoxville SC (7-9-7) Week 23: v. LEX	2 Last Week: 10	Against all odds, Knoxville walked into Breese Stevens Field and walked out with three points, weathering a flurry of Madison chances. Despite its midseason slump, Knoxville sit just one spot out of a postseason position.
9	Lexington SC (6-10-6) Week 23: @ KNX	Last Week: 9	Lexington have a lot of work to do if they want to become just the third expansion side to make the playoffs in their first season in League One. That said, a pair of promising victories has the momentum moving in the right direction in Kentucky.
10	Richmond Kickers (6-8-9) Week 23: v. NC	2 Last Week: 8	Following an enthralling comeback performance to force a draw against first-place NCFC on Wednesday, the Kickers couldn’t maintain their momentum as they suffered a crushing, two-goal collapse at Chattanooga. Now on their longest winless streak since 2019, the Players’ Shield holders have work to do as the season winds down.
11	Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (5-12-5) Week 23: @ OMA	Last Week: 11	You never really know what you’re going to get when facing the Red Wolves. Following up its 2022 USL League One Final appearance with an up-and-down 2023 campaign, Chattanooga has been - unfortunately - rather disappointing.
12	Central Valley Fuego FC (5-14-2) Week 23: v. CLT	Last Week: 12	So close, yet so far, all 12 of Fuego FC’s fixtures since the beginning of June have been decided by one goal or less. Unfortunately, only three have resulted in wins and eight have ended in defeat.