Happy Monday USL fans! We had an action-packed Saturday with all clubs in action. Here’s a review:

• Charlotte Independence 3-0 Union Omaha
• Greenville Triumph 1-1 Tormenta FC
• Lexington SC 2-2 Hailstorm FC
• Richmond Kickers 1-0 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
• One Knox SC 0-1 NCFC
• Forward Madison 1-2 Fuego FC

Here’s how we have the league stacking up moving into week 13:

1) Charlotte Independence

Last week: 2
Record: 6-2-4 (2nd)
Matches since last ranking: WIN vs. Union Omaha, 3-0
Next league Match: at Knoxville, 6/17

Khori Bennett and Tresor Mbuyu have fully awakened and now have three goals apiece. That spells nothing but trouble for the rest of the league, especially with Dane Kelly and Joel Johnson providing goals, along with five others, for a league-high nine goal scorers. And can we talk about Austin Pack, who continues to awe with his saves that other keepers would have certainly let by? It just doesn’t seem like this team can be stopped right now.

The Jacks now lead the league in goal differential and have the fewest goals allowed per match, with the second-hardest schedule to this point. They’ll have week 13 off before traveling to Knoxville on Saturday, June 17th. Knoxville may not stand a chance if Charlotte hits that match in full health.

2) North Carolina FC

Last week: 1
Record: 7-3-1 (1st)
Matches since last ranking: WIN at One Knox, 1-0
Next league match: at Forward Madison, 6/10

NCFC peppered One Knox keeper Sean Lewis with shots throughout the first half and landed an Oalex Anderson deflection off the post as time expired in the first 45. It was all they’d need as One Knox once again struggled with shots on target. NCFC moves into week 13 first in the table, first in points per match, third in goal differential, and second in goals per match. When all is added up, they’re virtually tied with Charlotte, but we bumped the Jacks up based on the fact that they had a stronger showing this weekend, and lead the head-to-head series.

NCFC will travel to Madison on Saturday for a rematch of one that they lost a few weeks ago.

3) Hailstorm FC

Last week: 3
Record: 4-1-3 (4th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW at Lexington, 2-2
Next league match: vs. Richmond, 6/7

Of course, it was disappointing when a 2-1 lead turned into a 2-2 final draw. But a road draw is acceptable, especially when the potential Lexington winning goal was called (controversially) offside late in the match. So it goes. NOCO maintains its lead in goals per match and goal differential and is third-best in goals allowed per match. Lexington did not help the its strength of schedule, but that will get a boost when Richmond comes to town on Wednesday.

Hailstorm played Richmond to a 0-0 draw in April. Since then, they’ve exploded for 12 goals in five matches. We’ll see if Richmond’s defense can still handle this offense.

4) Richmond Kickers

Last week: 5
Record: 4-2-5 (3rd)
Matches since last ranking: WIN vs. Red Wolves, 1-0
Next match: at Hailstorm FC, 6/7

Richmond ran all over Chattanooga for one half and came out with a goal, then let the defense handle the rest. Emiliano Terzaghi had his second on the year in the 14th minute, and it was all they’d need in a match where anything less than a win would be considered a loss.

Richmond has a quick turnaround, traveling to Northern Colorado on Wednesday, but will have Zaca Morán back in the midfield. He’ll be needed against a physical Hailstorm side, especially if Dakota Barnathan remains out.

5) Forward Madison

Last week: 4
Record: 3-2-4 (7th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS vs. Fuego FC, 2-1
Next match: at Red Wolves SC, 6/7

It’s always frustrating to lose a match that you’re expected to win, especially in front of a record crowd at home. Embarrassing, even. But we’re not ready to count the Mingos out just yet, because the fundamentals are still there. We’re still at the “it’s still a long season” point, and a club giving up 0.78 goals per match after nine played is still considered strong.

They’ll have a quick chance to bounce back against Chattanooga on Wednesday, a club that seems completely lost. But if you can’t handle last-place Fuego, you shouldn’t take Chattanooga for granted. And then there’s a matchup with NCFC looming on the horizon. Need to get the magic back quickly.

6) One Knoxville SC

Last week: 6
Record: 4-4-3 (5th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS vs. NCFC, 1-0
Next match: at Hailstorm FC, 6/10

One Knox remains in the top six, but once again failed to beat or even draw another top-six club, this time falling 1-0 to top-of-the-table NCFC. The shots-on-target struggle returned, with only two, on only seven shots altogether.

They’ll have another top-six test on Saturday, traveling to Northern Colorado. The hosts will be on their third match in eight days but are battle tested to the point where that may not even matter.

7) Tormenta FC

Last week: 7
Record: 4-5-2 (6th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW at Greenville, 1-1
Next match: vs. Lexington, 6/10

Two of the better offenses and not-so-great defenses faced off to a… rather disappointing 1-1 draw. The lone goal for Tormenta came on a Kazaiah Sterling penalty conversion, his first of the year. The match was not without chaos though, as Tormenta coach Ian Cameron was sent off with a red, and then Greenville midfielder Devin Boyce with a red just two minutes later.

They’ll get another shot with Lexington, hosting the expansion side on Saturday. The last result was a 2-1 loss.

8) Greenville Triumph

Last week: 9
Record (3-5-3, 8th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW vs. Tormenta, 1-1
Next match: vs Union Omaha, 6/10

The good news: only one goal was conceded against Tormenta. The bad news: only one goal was scored, so the one point wasn’t good enough to move up in the standings. Worse, the squad will be without Devin Boyce next week, as the midfielder received two yellow cards in the match. He could have been useful when his former team, Union Omaha, comes to town.

Greenville remains (tied for) second in the league for goals scored, but also remains at 10th best on goals allowed. The strength of their schedule indicates that there may be some light ahead with Fuego and Chattanooga coming up after Omaha.

9) Union Omaha

Last week: 8
Record: 2-3-5 (9th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS at Charlotte, 3-0
Next Match: at Greenville, 6/10

Granted, Charlotte is a really good team. But that doesn’t make things easier to swallow in Omaha when a couple of those goals in the 3-0 loss made the Owls’ defense just look silly. They’re stuck in 9th place with 11 points after ten matches, the goal differential continues to drop and the defense just looks worse and worse.

They’ll visit Greenville on Saturday for a rematch of week 10’s wild encounter that ended in a 3-3 draw. Greenville is another top offense, so whatever Omaha can do this week to improve the defense will be needed.

10) Lexington SC

Last week: 10
Record: 2-5-3 (10th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW vs. Hailstorm FC, 2-2
Next match: at Tormenta, 6/10

Team shots leader Ates Diouf finally found the back of the net, three times, against a normally tough Hailstorm defense. Unfortunately, the hat trick was not to be, as the last-minute would-be winning goal was called off for offside. Lexington players, coaches, and fans dispute the call, but they’ll have to live with it and take the single point.

We remain hopeful that the momentum can continue against Tormenta, one of two clubs Lexington has defeated this season.

11) Fuego FC

Last week: 12
Record: 3-6-1 (11th)
Matches since last ranking: WIN at Forward Madison, 2-1
Next match:

Is that corner actually being turned this time? A 2-1 victory at a sold-out and rowdy Breese Stevens Field in Madison makes the case. Fuego mounted the second-half comeback on a Zahir Vasquez header and an Alexis Cerritos penalty conversion. We’d like to see some more shots on goal (only seven, but with four on target), but the upset may be the spark they need. At the very least, they’re no longer bottom of the table.

Fuego will host a battle-hardened Richmond side on Saturday. The momentum needs to be maintained this week if they expect to pull another upset.

12) Red Wolves SC

Last week: 11
Record: 2-6-2 (12th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS at Richmond, 1-0
Next match:

On paper, a 1-0 loss to now-third in the table Richmond doesn’t seem like a disaster. But it’s a long string of winless matches since the end of April, where Chattanooga has suffered four losses and one draw. The frustration appears to be mounting and spilling over into public view, as higher-level veterans Ropapa Mensah and Ricardo Jeréz seemed fed up with the situation at times during the Richmond match.

The club travels to Madison for a mid-week matchup on Wednesday. Not much time to adjust.