Happy Monday, USL League One fans! We’re moving into week four and all of our clubs have finally played a regular season match, despite two weather postponements. Here’s how we’re looking now that the Saturday night smoke bombs have cleared, and we move into a week of US Open Cup matchups followed by another weekend of league play.
1) Charlotte Independence
Last ranking: 1
Record: 2-0-1 (1st)
Matches since last ranking: WIN at Richmond, 2-1
Next League Match: at NCFC, 4/8
Another week, another road win. The Jacks went to Richmond and left with a 2-1 victory in front of a capacity City Stadium on goals from defenders Clay Dimick and Nick Spielman. This club once again showcased the depth of its attack, and its ability to shut down chances for the most dangerous among their opponents. They’ll take this energy into a mid-week US Open Cup match with Appalachian FC followed by a visit to NCFC next weekend.
2) Hailstorm FC
Last week: 6
Record: 1-0-1 (2nd)
Matches since last ranking: WIN at Tormenta FC, 3-0
Next league match: at Richmond, 4/15
We said last week that this was a club with shots that were due to land, and land they did against a depleted Tormenta FC side. Defender Rob Cornwall put his club on the boards in the 25th minute, then Nortei Nortey and Marky Hernandez came off the bench to put this one away with two goals in seven minutes in the second half. They’ll travel to Colorado Springs for some US Open Cup action on Wednesday, and then have week four off. Then they’ll continue their so-far successful road trip against Richmond in week five.
3) Union Omaha
Last ranking: 2
Record: 0-0-1 (T-8th)
Matches since last ranking: PPD at One Knoxville SC
Next Match: at Fuego FC, 4/8
While we were all looking forward to see if The Owls were for real in their matchup against One Knox SC, we’ll have to wait until week four when they travel to Fresno to face Fuego FC. Unfortunately, they were unable to travel to Knoxville due to weather delays. In the meantime, they’ll host El Paso Locomotive in a US Open Cup match on Wednesday.
4) Forward Madison
Last week: 3
Record: 0-0-1 (T-8th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW at Union Omaha 1-1
Next match: at Lexington, 4/8
Forward Madison had a bye week and will face Lexington in week four. They had been scheduled to host Chicago House AC in a US Open Cup matchup, but expected weather issues have already pushed that one to next week.
5) One Knoxville SC
Last week: 5
Record: 1-0-0 (T-4th)
Matches since last ranking: PPD vs Union Omaha
Next match: at Chattanooga, 4/8
After a week two bye, the week three match against Union Omaha was postponed due to weather-related travel delays. We’ll get to see if the squad can stay hot when they host Memphis 901 in US Open Cup action on Tuesday and then visit Chattanooga on Saturday.
6) Richmond Kickers
Last week: 4
Record: 1-1-1 (3rd)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS vs Charlotte Independence
Next match: vs Hailstorm FC, 4/15
Losing to Charlotte was not the way Richmond wanted their home opener to go, especially in front of a fired up capacity crowd of 6,000. But let’s face it, Charlotte is on a roll right now. Richmond dominated possession and nearly matched Charlotte’s potent attack in shots but could not prevent a 62nd minute goal from defender Nick Spielman. Lightning interrupted any late-match momentum, resulting in a nearly two hour delay to finish the last nine minutes plus stoppage time. The Kickers will host Cleveland SC in US Open Cup action on Thursday, and then have week four off to regroup, and prepare for another high-flying offense when they host Hailstorm FC on April 15th.
7) North Carolina FC
Last week: 7
Record: 1-1-0 (6th)
Matches since last ranking: WIN vs Lexington, 2-1
Next match: vs. Charlotte Independence, 4/8
NCFC picked up a much-needed home win over Lexington SC on Saturday. The visitors struck early, but the hosts regrouped, catching a lucky break on a Lexington own-goal, and then a spectacular Rafa Mentzingen goal in the 73rd minute. So there’s no need to jump off the hype train just yet, but a real test looms this weekend when a surging Charlotte Independence comes to town. They will also travel to Northern Virginia to face Loudoun United in a midweek US Open Cup match.
8) Fuego FC
Last week: 12
Record: 1-0-0 (T-4th)
Matches since last ranking: WIN at Chattanooga, 1-0
Next match: vs Union Omaha, 4/8
We finally got a look at Fuego FC who squeaked out a 1-0 victory at Chattanooga on Saturday on a beauty of a goal by Alexis Cerritos. It wasn’t the prettiest match, but it got the job done. We’ll need another match to see if they are for real, and hosting Union Omaha in week four should present far more of a challenge than Red Wolves SC. Meanwhile, they’ll host USL Championship side Monterrey Bay FC on Wednesday in US Open Cup action.
9) Greenville Triumph
Last week: 9
Record (0-1-0, 11th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS vs. Richmond Kickers
Next match: at Tormenta FC, 4/8
After a home loss to Richmond to start their season, Greenville had the week off from league play but will travel to Phoenix this week to face the USL Championship side in the US Open Cup. They’ll look to figure a few things out before heading to South Georgia where they will face a struggling, but possibly refreshed Tormenta FC side. It’s a long season, so there’s no need to panic.
10) Tormenta FC
Last week: 8
Record: 1-2-0 (7th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS vs Hailstorm FC, 3-0
Next match: vs Greenville, 4/8
An injury and suspension-depleted Tormenta FC could only hold off a persistent Hailstorm attack for so long before collapsing. Missing both primary center-backs (Jake Dengler and Preston Kilwien) and striker Kazaiah Sterling, the squad opted for a possession-driven extended game of keep away, but it was to no avail as Hailstorm broke through and found their way around goalkeeper TJ Bush three times. The good news is, Kilwien will return for the next match, and Sterling is probable. In the meantime, they will host USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC on Wednesday for a US Open Cup match. Then we’ll see if they can refresh and stop the bleed against Greenville on Saturday. It’s been a rough two weeks, but this squad is built to bounce back.
11) Red Wolves SC
Last week: 10
Record: 0-1-1 (10th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS vs Fuego FC
Next match: vs One Knox SC, 4/8
Two matches in, and Chattanooga has yet to find the back of the net. We knew this might be an issue after losing a massive chunk of those responsible for all those goals last season. It’s a long season yet, and there’s still time to figure it out, but they probably won’t be helped when a sturdy One Knox defense comes to town this Saturday. In the meantime, they’ll face a top-ranked Birmingham Legion squad in US Open Cup action on Wednesday.
12) Lexington SC
Last week: 11
Record: 0-2-0
Matches since last ranking: LOSS at NCFC, 2-1
Next match: vs Forward Madison, 4/8
Look, this is about where most people expected Lexington at this point. And they haven’t been awful, having scored two goals in as many matches, and holding opponents to single-goal victories. There’s no sense of defeat, just experience building, which should start paying dividends as the season progresses. They’ll visit Louisville for US Open Cup action this week, before hosting Forward Madison in their home debut on Saturday.