If we can allow for a streak to be defined as consecutive results, then most clubs in USL League One are currently stuck in the middle with you.

Only Spokane Velocity and the Charlotte Independence have secured consecutive wins in the past two league outings, and their runs of four and three wins respectively certainly count under the regular definition.

By contrast, there are now five teams who’ve most recently run off consecutive draws, including a run of four in row by Forward Madison FC after its 1-1 draw on Friday night against One Knoxville SC.

It’s leading to a bit of a muddle in this week’s Power Rankings, where there are some clear indicators as to who the teams making a move for the Players’ Shield are a quarter of the way through the season, but also pretty murky waters when it comes to figuring out which clubs are going to find the consistency they need to end up above the playoff line.

Take as an example Portland Hearts of Pine. We’ve got them at No. 7 this week, because we like a lot of what they’re doing. In five league games, they’ve got a marginally positive Expected Goal Differential – something clubs like South Georgia Tormenta FC and Greenville Triumph SC can’t say – and pulled off some impressive results, including this past weekend’s draw against Union Omaha.

What they don’t have, however, is a first win in League One, something they’ll be hoping to deliver when FC Naples comes to visit Fitzpatrick Stadium this Saturday.

As the clubs in the lower two-thirds of the standings tread water, though, the opportunity for a team like Spokane to create separation becomes more and more apparent.

Here’s where things stand this week.