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SBI USSF Division 2 Power Rankings: Week 25

Ussf2logo2

By TRAVIS CLARK

The first and most likely only year of the USSF Division 2 League is coming to a close.

Not much is at stake in the final week of the season — there is a fight at the top for some of the higher seeds, and of course, a race for first in the SBI Power Rankings.

Austin checks back into first place, taking advantage of two straight Rochester losses, and the Aztex now hold the No. 1 seed in the playoff standings as well. Vancouver and Carolina are in a tussle for the NASL Conference, with the Railhawks needing a win to secure the conference and No. 2 seed.

Here's a look at this week's power rankings:

1. Austin Aztex (15-5-8)

 Aztexlog

Last Match– Won 4-2 vs. A.C. St. Louis on September 25.

Next Match– at Carolina on October 1.

Outlook: Getting back on track against St. Louis is important, and Austin closes with a chance to secure the top spot and a first round playoff series against Puerto Rico.

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2. Rochester Rhinos (15-8-6)

Rhinos New Logo

Last Match– Lost 1-0 at Miami FC on September 25.

Next Match– at St. Louis on October 2.

Outlook: Two losses against Miami could have cost the Rhinos, and they'll hope to finish strong against St. Louis.

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3. Portland Timbers (13-7-9)

Timbers

Last Match– Won 3-1 at Crystal Palace Baltimore on September 25.

Next Match– at Vancouver on October 2.

Outlook: The Timbers are locked in at the fourth spot in the playoffs, and only await on who their opponent will be. Certainly Portland can be regarded as a potential champion, and will look to Ryan Pore and Bright Dike in the playoffs.

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4. Carolina Railhawks (12-9-8)

Railhawks

Last Match– Won 2-1 vs. Puerto Rico Islanders on September 25.

Next Match– vs. Austin on October 1.

Outlook: A 3-1-1 record in September, aided with more points dropped in Vancouver, handed Carolina a chance to win the NASL Conference. The Railhawks look dangerous at exactly the right time, and the addition of Tom Heinemann looks to be a good one.

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5. Vancouver Whitecaps (10-5-14)

Vancouver_Whitecaps

Last Match– Lost 1-0 vs. Montreal Impact on September 24.

Next Match– vs. Portland on October 2.

Outlook: The same questions persist in Vancouver. Defense is excellent, offense is a bit too spotty to anoint the Whitecaps legitimate contenders.

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6. Montreal Impact (11-11-7)

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Last Match– Won 1-0 at Vancouver Whitecaps on September 24.

Next Match– vs. Austin on October 3.

Outlook: A win over their rivals secured the sixth spot in the playoff standings

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7. NSC Minnesota Stars (11-12-7)

Nsc-minnesota-logo

Last Match– Won 3-1 at Tampa Bay Rowdies on September 24.

Next Match– Playoffs, TBA

Outlook: Minnesota gets a weekend off and is hot at the right time. Won't be easy for whichever team wins the NASL Conference.

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8. Puerto Rico Islanders (9-11-9)

PR-Islanders-logo

Last Match– Lost 2-1 at Carolina Railhawks on September 25.

Next Match– at Miami on October 2.

Outlook: The Islanders' CONCACAF Champions League duty has certainly stretched them, and it'll be a tough opening round in the playoffs against either Austin or Rochester.

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9. Miami FC (7-11-11)

Miami_fc logo 

Last Match– Won 1-0 vs. Rochester Rhinos on September 25.

Next Match– vs. Puerto Rico on October 2.

Outlook: The Blues have saved face under new head coach Daryl Shore with four straight wins, going 4-1 in September. While it was too late for a playoff berth, it's something to feel good about and a reason to look forward to 2011.

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10. A.C. St. Louis (7-14-8)

ACSTL

Last Match– Lost 4-2 at Austin Aztex on September 25.

Next Match– vs. Rochester on October 2.

Outlook: Won't finish bottom of the league and can start looking forward to 2011 — or at least sorting things out for next year.

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11. FC Tampa Bay Rowdies (6-12-11)
Rowdies_logo

Last Match– Lost 3-1 vs. NSC Minnesota Stars on September 24.

Next Match vs. Crystal Palace Baltimore on October 2.

Outlook: Another loss raises the winless streak to 11 straight. Finishing on a high against Baltimore is possible, but not a given with the way this season has come off the rails.

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12. Crystal Palace Baltimore (6-17-6)

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Last Match– Lost 3-1 vs. Portland Timbers on September 25.

Next Match– at Tampa Bay on October 2.

Outlook: Perhaps the only team to finish worse off than Tampa, Baltimore has lost seven straight. Their last win came back on August 14 against Carolina. The road might give them some better luck.

Comments

  1. @yankiboy Totally agree that Power Rankings are for fun and to get people talking… I just figure whoever is compiling them might look at a team’s recent results.

    Reply
  2. I disagree. I saw the Timbers in Blatimore last Saturday and I cath their games online.

    Yeah, they are playing well. But don’t forget that sometimes some teams teams match up better than other ones.

    As a Puerto Rico fan, I would worry more about Austin or Vancouver over Portland.

    By the way, you realize than the power rankings–like a call to Ms. Cleo and Psychic Hotline used to be–are for entertainment purposes only.

    Travis does a good job making an unheralded division a bit more interesting. I don’t think that Dude really thinks that Rennie Matin, or Colin Clarke or Bob Lilley actually “use” his musings for serious game prep.

    It’s just entertainment, Bro…

    Portland is cranking it out these days, though. No doubt.

    Reply
  3. they only look at the records and table it seems and that makes power rankings useless. I think if you looked at any of these teams the one you would want to draw the least (assuming they had a draw) would be the portland timbers. It seems like they are peaking at the right time and have been very solid in D the past several games. Look out for this team.

    Reply
  4. How is Rochester 2nd? They’ve lost three of their last four matches, including their last two in a row to Miami. Miami! In what backwords, bizzaro world does that earn you second in the weekly power rankings?

    Reply
  5. I think Carolina’s 3-1-1 record is an illusion. It’s actually only 1-1-1 and two wins over Baltimore. Yes, good teams need to beat the teams they’re supposed to, but Baltimore is a borderline USL2/PDL team now and everyone is beating them.

    Not that Vancouver’s doing any better. Their choice of a major personnel revamp in prep for MLS has unsettled them badly.

    Reply

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