By MIKE GRAMAJO

Despite their early hurdles this season, the New York Cosmos have responded by performing well on the field, going seven games unbeaten as they enter the final push for a 2013 Soccer Bowl berth.

A victory last week at Minnesota put Giovanni Savarese’s men seven points clear atop the NASL fall standings with 21 points, and host the Carolina RailHawks on Saturday.

There’s a four-way tie for second place, with the RailHawks, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Minnesota United, and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers all level with 14 points from 10 matches.

Let’s take a closer look at how they all stand up against one another in the Week 10 SBI NASL Power Rankings:

SBI NASL POWER RANKINGS (Week 10)

1. NEW YORK COSMOS (6-3-1) (Last Week – 1)

LAST WEEK – beat Minnesota United FC, 1-0, on Saturday (10/5)

THIS WEEK – vs. Carolina RailHawks on Saturday.

LAST FIVE – T-W-W-W-W

OUTLOOK – While the Cosmos sit pretty high in the NASL fall standings, the biggest test will be whether they can continue to play solid soccer in their final four matches. Despite being unbeaten at home this season, the Carolina RailHawks should pose a threat for the home side despite the visitors being on a rough patch as well.

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2. MINNESOTA UNITED FC (4-2-4) (Last Week – 3)

LAST WEEK – lost to New York Cosmos, 1-0, on Saturday (10/5)

THIS WEEK – at Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday.

LAST FIVE – T-L-W-W-L

OUTLOOK – Despite losing last week at home against the league-leading New York Cosmos, Minnesota United has shown character through their last five matches. They did, however, snap their two-game winning streak, but that can be the wakeup call they need when they visit the Silverbacks on Saturday.

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3. TAMPA BAY ROWDIES (3-5-2) (Last Week – 2)

LAST WEEK – lost at Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 2-1, on Saturday (10/5)

THIS WEEK – vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday (Florida Derby)

LAST FIVE – W-T-W-L-L

OUTLOOK – A two-game losing streak has been a heavy blow for the St. Petersburg side, which has given up too many goals lately. The second part of the Florida Derby won’t be at the end of the fall season, and redemption at Al Lang Stadium may be what the Rowdies need.

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4. CAROLINA RAILHAWKS (4-2-4) (Last Week – 4)

LAST WEEK – lost at FC Edmonton, 2-1, on Sunday (10/6)

THIS WEEK – at New York Cosmos on Saturday

LAST FIVE – L-T-L-W-L

OUTLOOK – Recording only won victory in September, Colin Clarke’s men obviously dropped a ton of points. While October is here, only a few matches remain. The RailHawks may want to avoid déjà vu if they want to contend for the top spot.

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5. FORT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS (4-2-4) (Last Week – 6)

LAST WEEK – beat Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2-1, on Saturday (10/5)

THIS WEEK – at Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday (Florida Derby)

LAST FIVE – T-T-L-L-W

OUTLOOK – The duo of forward Bradlee Baladez and goalkeeper Richard Sanchez, both on loan from FC Dallas, paid dividends for the South Florida side. It’s a four-way tie for second place, and a victory at Al Lang against cross-state rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday could be the clutch win the Strikers need to end the season on a good note.

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6. ATLANTA SILVERBACKS (3-4-3) (Last Week – 5)

LAST WEEK – lost at San Antonio Scorpions, 1-0, on Saturday (10/5)

THIS WEEK – vs. Minnesota United FC on Saturday.

LAST FIVE – T-W-L-W-L

OUTLOOK – The Silverbacks already have their Soccer Bowl berth clinched, but it’s time for Brian Haynes’ men to focus on the last part of the season and start prepping for the championship match.  Minnesota United will stop at nothing to get near or past the Cosmos, so a victory at Atlanta Silverbacks Park can only remind the league who the spring champions are.

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7. FC EDMONTON (2-5-3) (Last Week – 7)

LAST WEEK – beat Carolina RailHawks, 2-1, on Sunday (10/6)

THIS WEEK – at San Antonio Scorpions on Sunday

LAST FIVE – T-T-L-L-W

OUTLOOK – The Eddies have a tough task ahead.  Visiting the last-place San Antonio Scorpions could be an easy challenge, but they shouldn’t underestimate them. FC Edmonton have yet to register a victory on the road in 2013, and a visit to Toyota Field against a Scorpions side that’s looking to break from last place might not be as easy as it sounds.

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8. SAN ANTONIO SCORPIONS (2-1-7) (Last Week – 8)

LAST WEEK – beat Atlanta Silverbacks, 1-0, on Saturday (10/5)

THIS WEEK – vs. FC Edmonton on Sunday

LAST FIVE – T-L-W-L-W

OUTLOOK – Being at home for a second consecutive week could be what the Scorpions need to continue building on their momentum. While Hans Denissen may be questionable for Sunday’s match, Tomasz Zahorkski has been the catalyst for the Scorpions, having seven goals in the Golden Boot race. Forward Dennis Chin, on loan from Orlando City, can bolster San Antonio’s attack and cause havoc for the Eddies.

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What did you think of this week’s power rankings? Think anyone is rated too highly? See anyone being too low?

Share your thoughts below.