After plenty of player movement this offseason and preseason preparations, the 2018 USL regular season kicked off this past weekend with some results that were expected and some which caused surprise, as a record-opening weekend of attendance was treated to some thrilling action.
Those are reflected in the opening USLSoccer.com Power Rankings of the season, where the Tampa Bay Rowdies narrowly claimed the top spot over defending USL Cup champion Louisville City FC after their road victory against North Carolina FC on Saturday afternoon.
You’ll likely notice something new with the rankings this season, too, with the league’s expansion meaning we’re now looking to fill 16 slots on a weekly basis.
The four-person USLSoccer.com voting panel tabulates 16 points for first-place team votes, 15 points to the second-place team and so forth to one point for 16th place. The accrued points among the group determines the final ranking.
Rank |
Team/Record |
Summary |
|
1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies 59 pts | (1-0-0) Week 1: W, 3-1 @NC Week 2: BST |
The Rowdies only claimed three road victories a season ago, making their win away in North Carolina a very strong start for the new year. | 2 | Louisville City FC 58 pts | (1-0-0) Week 1: W, 2-0 NSH Week 2: NC |
The defending champions looked close to their best to start the season in front of a club record attendance of 7,993 for its home opener. |
3 | OKC Energy FC 43 pts | (1-0-0) Week 1: W, 1-0 TUL Week 2: @PHX |
Energy FC’s victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC not only got the season off to a good start for new Head Coach Steve Cooke but also moved the club closer to reclaiming the Black Gold Derby wrench. | |
4 | Phoenix Rising FC 41 pts | (0-0-1) Week 1: T, 1-1 @OC Week 2: OKC |
Rising FC will have been disappointed to concede late in Orange County when three points appeared to be within its grasp, but it now gets a marquee home opener with OKC Energy FC coming to town. | |
5 | FC Cincinnati 40 pts | (1-0-0) Week 1: W, 1-0 @CHS Week 2: -- |
Cincinnati had to work hard for its first victory against the Charleston Battery, but that resilience was impressive in a good road win to kick off the new season. | |
6 | Real Monarchs SLC 36 pts | (0-0-0) Week 1: -- Week 2: @TUL |
The defending USL Regular Season champions had a bye in the opening week and will now head to face Tulsa Roughnecks FC, aiming to get off to a strong start in 2018. | |
7 | Sacramento Republic FC 33 pts | (1-0-0) Week 1: W, 2-1 SA Week 2: @OC |
Sacramento got the Simon Elliott era off to a great start with victory against fellow Western Conference contender San Antonio, a fourth consecutive victory in the club’s home opener. | |
8 | San Antonio FC 31 pts | (0-1-0) Week 1: L, 1-2 @SAC Week 2: STL |
SAFC may have fallen against Sacramento, but there was still enough sign of the quality we’re expecting to see in the upcoming season in the matchup to keep the side in the top 10. | |
9 | Charlotte Independence 28 pts | (1-0-0) Week 1: W, 4-1 OTT Week 2: TOR |
The high-flying attack that arrived in Enzo Martinez’s stead sure looked impressive on Saturday and will have another chance to pick up three points against Toronto this Saturday. | |
T-10 | Bethlehem Steel FC 25 pts | (1-0-0) Week 1: W, 4-1 RIC Week 2: @TBR |
There was very little to be disappointed with for Steel FC as it put up four goals to start its new season, with newcomer Brandon Allen looking like he’ll fit in just fine on his new club. | |
T-10 | Swope Park Rangers 25 pts | (1-0-0) Week 1: W, 4-3 @RNO Week 2: SEA |
The Rangers could have let their heads drop after conceding a late own goal in Reno but instead came right back to grab a winner, a very positive sign for the defending Western champions. | |
12 | Indy Eleven 23 pts | (0-0-0) Week 1: -- Week 2: @RIC |
Indy heads on the road to Richmond to begin its USL era this Saturday after wrapping up its preseason preparations this past weekend. | |
13 | New York Red Bulls II 21 pts | (1-0-0) Week 1: 2-1 TOR Week 2: @ATL |
The Red Bulls II still looked like there were questions to be answered defensively, but with that kind of attack, their games are going to be full of entertainment this year. | |
14 | Reno 1868 FC 18 pts | (0-0-0) Week 1: L, 3-4 SPR Week 2: @LV |
After almost stealing a point late, 1868 FC let it slip away in stoppage time against Swope Park and will now look for a big bounce-back performance against in-state rival Las Vegas Lights FC this Saturday. | |
15 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 16 pts | (1-0-0) Week 1: W, 2-0 LA Week 2: POR |
The Switchbacks never seemed out of control in their season-opening victory against the Galaxy II and will be looking for more as Portland visits Weidner Field this Saturday. | |
16 | Saint Louis FC 15 pts | (0-0-1) Week 1: T, 1-1 @RGV Week 2: @SA |
A point on the road to open the club’s new era under Anthony Pulis wasn’t a bad return, especially after going behind in the final 15 minutes. A big test now awaits on the road against San Antonio. |
Also receiving votes: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 14, Las Vegas Lights FC 10, Seattle Sounders FC 2 5, Charleston Battery 2, Ottawa Fury FC 1
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