Through three weeks of the NASL Spring Season, a surprise contender has emerged atop the standings: the Carolina RailHawks.

With yet another victory, the RailHawks have emerged as the NASL’s lone nine-point team through three weeks. Joining the RailHawks are the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Indy Eleven, both of whom picked up victories to stay unbeaten.

The latter’s win was most impressive, as Indy Eleven toppled the New York Cosmos for the reigning champions’ first defeat of the season. Behind them, Minnesota United FC continued to bounce back from a Week 1 slip-up, while the Jacksonville Armada dispatched Miami FC to signal a move up the rankings.

Here’s a look at the NASL Power Rankings after Week 3:

SBI NASL Power Rankings

1 (LAST WEEK- 2). CAROLINA RAILHAWKS (3-0-0)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Ottawa Fury FC, 1-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday

OUTLOOK: Through three weeks, the RailHawks have been far and away the league’s most impressive team. The RailHawks have won high-scoring games and low-scoring games, demonstrating the ability to grind out results no matter how they come. Another tough test comes in Saturday’s clash with the Rowdies, but if they pass it, the RailHawks could be on a run to the Spring Season crown.

2 (1). NEW YORK COSMOS (2-1-0)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-1, to Indy Eleven on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota United on Saturday

OUTLOOK: It appeared the Cosmos were cruising to a somewhat-lackluster 1-0 victory before Indy Eleven struck with a pair of late goals. The defeat was a shocking one for the Cosmos, who saw an unbeaten run stretching back to the 2015 Fall Season snapped. More than likely, the defeat will prove little more than a blip, but with a match against Minnesota United looming, the Cosmos could be in trouble in regards to the Spring Season crown.

3(3). MINNESOTA UNITED (2-1-0)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 3-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. New York Cosmos on Saturday

OUTLOOK: A dominant performance from the Loons, who cruised past the Strikers in the most lopsided game of the weekend. After faltering in Week 1, Minnesota United has looked spectacular in the ensuing two games to reassert itself among the league’s contenders. The past two weeks have been easy-riding, but a true test awaits this week in a must-see clash with the Cosmos.

4 (4).  TAMPA BAY ROWDIES (1-0-2)

LAST WEEK: Defeated FC Edmonton, 1-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Carolina RailHawks on Saturday

OUTLOOK: The Rowdies still haven’t quite looked as good as many have expected them to, but they remain unbeaten following Saturday’s win over the Eddies. Tom Heinemann led the way with the winner, but it was Matt Pickens who played hero with a late penalty-kick save. It was far from a faultless performance for the Rowdies, and they’ll have to show a lot more if they hope to crack the list of teams vying for the Spring’s automatic playoff berth.

5 (8). INDY ELEVEN (1-0-2)

LAST WEEK: Defeated New York Cosmos, 2-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK: One week after largely being held in check by Fury FC, Indy Eleven provided the shock of the weekend with a comeback win over the Cosmos. The Eleven have never lost against the Cosmos, but Saturday’s result was certainly the sweetest thanks to a pair of last-gasp goals. With a bye on the horizon, Indy Eleven will have two weeks to build on the Cosmos win before returning to NASL play.

 6 (7). JACKSONVILLE ARMADA (1-1-0)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Miami FC, 2-1, on Friday

THIS WEEK: at Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday

OUTLOOK:. Although the Armada were fairly lucky to escape with all three points, it was an overall positive performance to earn the club’s first win of the Tony Meola era. Still, through two games, the attack has never looked in sync, something that could come back to bite them against teams more experienced than Miami FC.

7 (5). RAYO OKC (0-1-1)

LAST WEEK: BYE

THIS WEEK: at Miami FC on Friday

OUTLOOK: After two home games to start life in NASL, Rayo OKC was on a bye this past weekend. Although the results haven’t quite matched the performances to start the season, Rayo OKC can pick up the team’s first win on Friday in a clash with their expansion partners, Miami FC.

8 (6). MIAMI FC (0-1-2)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-1, to Jacksonville Armada on Friday

THIS WEEK: vs. Rayo OKC on Friday

OUTLOOK: Dario Cvitanich continues to fire, but Miami FC fell to its first defeat in Friday’s loss to the Armada. To this point, Cvitanich has looked like a bonafide stud and has proven to be the goalscorer many expected him to be. Still, the results just haven’t matched the performances, and Miami FC will need to start turning ties and losses into wins in the near future.

9 (9). FORT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS (0-1-1)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 3-0, to Minnesota United on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Jacksonville Armada on Saturday

OUTLOOK: Facing a highly-talented Minnesota United team, the Strikers were played off the field in Saturday’s defeat, as a red card to Geison Moura all but sealed their fate. It’s hard to take many positives or negatives away from a game that saw a team reduced to 10 men so early, but the Strikers will need to show some sort of fight against the Armada next time out.

10 (10). OTTAWA FURY FC (0-2-1)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to Carolina RailHawks on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. FC Edmonton on Sunday

OUTLOOK: Facing a surging RailHawks team, Fury FC just never got much going, but can be excused from doing so on the road. With two road losses to the Cosmos and RailHawks out of the way, Fury FC has a much more favorable schedule from this point forward, starting with a Canadian clash with the Eddies on Sunday.

11 (11). FC EDMONTON (0-2-1)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Ottawa Fury FC on Sunday

OUTLOOK: The Eddies had a chance to snag a deserved point, but Tomi Ameobi’s late penalty kick was stonewalled by Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens. Through three games, the attack has just never really gotten going, while the team has largely looked competent in defense. The Eddies really need to start blending it all together, or risk falling further and further away from the pack.

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