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.
Rank |
Team |
Change |
Summary |
|
1 | ![]() |
Spokane Velocity FC (5-1-2) Week 11: vs. RIC |
![]() Last Week: 1 |
Velocity continued to impress in blustery conditions in South Georgia. That’s the first four-game winning streak in club history and put them clear in the standings. |
2 | ![]() |
Charlotte Independence (4-1-2) Week 11: vs. KNX |
![]() Last Week: 4 |
The Independence flipped the script on Westchester and spoiled their official home opener in league play. Huge performance by Souaibou Marou coming off the bench. |
3 | ![]() |
One Knoxville SC (3-0-3) Week 11: @ CLT |
![]() Last Week: 2 |
One Knox is still undefeated, but that’s two consecutive outings where they’ve taken the lead and let it get away from them. Need to push on or buckle down to secure a win. |
4 | ![]() |
FC Naples (4-1-2) Week 11: @ CHA; @ POR |
![]() Last Week: 3 |
A week on the road sees Naples get a matinee special against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Wednesday before heading to face Portland on the weekend. Big opportunity. |
5 | ![]() |
Richmond Kickers (3-3-3) Week 11: @ SPK |
![]() Last Week: 5 |
The conditions were miserable, certainly, but the Kickers will be happy to get away with a point and only their second shutout of the season against the Red Wolves. |
6 | ![]() |
AV ALTA FC (2-3-1) Week 11: @ GVL |
![]() Last Week: 6 |
Antelope Valley would probably have been hoping for more out of its meeting with Texoma, but it didn’t feel like it created enough big chances to deliver, just a lot of half-chances. |
7 | ![]() |
Portland Hearts of Pine (0-1-4) Week 11: vs. NAP |
![]() Last Week: 7 |
Hearts of Pine might still be looking for its first league win in club history, but coming back to earn a point in Omaha’s home opener is a pretty good accomplishment. |
8 | ![]() |
Union Omaha (1-2-2) Week 11: @ TXO |
![]() Last Week: 10 |
Omaha put up its highest shot total and single-game Expected Goals mark for the season against Portland but let its late lead slip away. Room for optimism, but still a letdown. |
9 | ![]() |
South Georgia Tormenta FC (2-4-1) Week 11: --- |
![]() Last Week: 8 |
Tormenta has lost narrowly to two of the best teams in the league over the past two weeks. It’s got to find a way to turn those results around. |
10 | ![]() |
Forward Madison FC (1-1-4) Week 11: @ WES |
![]() Last Week: 14 |
Forward Madison is undefeated in its last five games but has drawn four in a row after rallying against Knoxville. Decent point, but still plenty of questions to answer. |
11 | ![]() |
Westchester SC (1-3-2) Week 11: vs. MAD |
![]() Last Week: 9 |
No team has been better at getting out to a fast start than Westchester with four goals in the opening 15 minutes, and no team has been worse at holding a lead, with 10 points dropped from winning positions. |
12 | ![]() |
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (1-1-4) Week 11: vs. NAP |
![]() Last Week: 12 |
We’re not sure we can take a ton away from Saturday’s game with Richmond thanks to the conditions. Hopefully the sun’s out for Wednesday’s matinee. |
13 | ![]() |
Greenville Triumph SC (2-3-2) Week 11: vs. AV |
![]() Last Week: 11 |
Triumph’s underlying numbers say it need to fix some things defensively. We’ll see if the week off helped when they host AV ALTA. |
14 | ![]() |
Texoma FC (0-5-2) Week 11: vs. OMA |
![]() Last Week: 13 |
The tide continues to move in the right direction for Texoma with a draw on the road against AV ALTA. Finding a first win in club history’s going to be a tall order against Omaha, though. |