2013 USL Pro Power Rankings: Week 16

It was a big week for the Charleston Battery, who scored a big pair of victories to shoot to the top of this week’s USL Pro Power Rankings. Antigua Barracuda can’t stop losing, and for another week, they are at the bottom of the heap for another week. Let’s take a look at this week’s USL Pro Power Rankings on the View from Avalon.

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1. Charleston Battery

Michael Anhaueser’s Charleston Battery opened up the week with a 5-1 blowout victory over Phoenix FC Wolves at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C. on Wednesday. A Dane Kelly brace (59′, 64′) combined with a 78th-minute own goal and goals from Colin Falvey (30′) and Amadou Sanyang (88′) paced the Battery.

On Saturday, Kelly (54′), Nicki Paterson (24′) and Haviel Cordoves (89′) gave the Battery a 3-0 shutout victory over the Los Angeles Blues at home. Charleston return to action on Aug. 3 against the Richmond Kickers at Blackbaud. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

2. Orlando City

Adrian Heath’s Orlando City are off this week and will return to action on Aug. 3 against the Riverhounds at home. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. On Aug. 4, they face VSI Tampa Bay FC at Plant City Stadium in Plant City, Fla. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

3. Richmond Kickers

Leigh Cowlishaw’s Richmond Kickers defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps Reserves on Tuesday at UBC Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver, B.C. Matt Delicate (15′) and Conor Shanosky (63′) led the charge for Richmond, who followed their result up with a scoreless drsaw against VSI Tampa Bay FC on Sunday at City Stadium in Richmond, Va.

Richmond have a couple of matches this week. On Aug. 2, they face the Charlotte Eagles at the Queens Sports Complex in Charlotte, N.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. On Aug. 3, they take on the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

4. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Justin Evans’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds shut out the Toronto FC Reserves 1-0 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. Jose Angulo scored in the 41st minute for the Riverhounds, who have a couple of matches this week. On Aug. 2, they face VSI Tampa Bay FC at Plant City Stadium in Plant City, Fla. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. On Aug. 4, the road trip continued with a meeting against Orlando City at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

5. Harrisburg City Islanders

Bill Becher’s Harrisburg City Islanders crushed the Dayton Dutch Lions, 5-1, on Wednesday at the Skyline Sports Complex in Harrisburg, Pa. Lucky Mkosana scored a hat trick in the eighth, 46th and 61st minutes of play. Other goalscorers include Stephen Basso (45′) and Jimmy McLaughlin (86′).

Harrisburg return to action on Jul. 31 against the Phoenix FC Wolves at the Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET. The road trip continues with a match against the Los Angeles Blues at UC Irvine on Aug. 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.

6. VSI Tampa Bay FC

Matt Weston’s VSI Tampa Bay FC scored a 2-1 statement victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads at Legion Stadium on Friday. John Rife (34′) and Chad Burt (39′) scored for VSI, who followed their result up with a scoreless draw against the Richmond Kickers on Sunday at City Stadium.

VSI Tampa Bay have a couple of matches this weekend. On Aug. 2, they host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. On Aug. 4, they clash with in-state rival Orlando City at home. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

7. Phoenix FC Wolves

It was a hit-and-miss week for David Robertson’s Phoenix FC Wolves. On one end, they were dismantled, 5-1, by the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud on Wednesday. Scott Morrison scored for the Wolves in the 71st minute of play.

On the other end, they shut out the Charlotte Eagles, 4-0, at Queens Sports Complex in their most complete performance of the season on Saturday. Robert Paul scored a brace in the 18th and 32nd minutes, with Donald Toia (24′) and Cameron Vickwers (83′) adding insurance.

Phoenix will look for consistency when they resume play on Jul. 31 at home against the Harrisburg City Islanders. Kickoff at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET.

8. Dayton Dutch Lions

Also with a hit-and-miss week were Ivar van Dinteren’s Dayton Dutch Lions. Tjeerd Westdijk scored in the 20th minute on Wednesday against the Harrisburg City Islanders at the Skyline Sports Complex but they fell, 5-1.

It was a much better effort from Dayton at Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek, Ohio, on Saturday against Antigua Barracuda FC. Brandon Swartzendruber scored a brace and Gibson Bardsley added an insurance goal to give the Dutch Lions a 3-1 win. Dayton are back in action on Aug. 2 against the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET. On Aug. 4, they host the Wilmington Hammerheads. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.

9. Los Angeles Blues

Daryoush Yazdani’s Los Angeles Blues opened the week with a 3-3 draw against the Charlotte Eagles at the Queens Sports Complex. Shay Spitz (21′) and Chris Cortez (34′) scored for the Blues, who were also helped by an own goal in the 41st minute of play.

On Saturday at Blackbaud Stadium, Los Angeles were undressed, 3-0 by the Charleston Battery. The Blues return to action on Aug. 3 when they face the Harrisburg City Islanders at UC Irvine in Irvine, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET.

10. Charlotte Eagles

Mark Steffens’s Charlotte Eagles started their week with a 3-3 draw against the Los Angeles Blues at the Queens Sports Complex. Jorge Herrera (33′), Stephen Okai (45’+) and Drew Yates (90’+) delivered for the Eagles, who were then shut out by Phoenix FC Wolves, 4-0, on Saturday at home.

Charlotte return to action on Aug. 2 against the Richmond Kickers. Kickoff at the Queens Sports Complex is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

11. Rochester Rhinos

A Danny Earls strike in the 88th minute gave Jesse Myers’s Rochester Rhinos a 1-0 victory over Antigua Barracuda FC at Sahlen’s Stadium. The Rhinos continue their season at home on Aug. 2 against the Dayton Dutch Lions. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET.

12. Wilmington Hammerheads

David Irving’s Wilmington Hammerheads fell to VSI Tampa Bay FC, 2-1 at Legion Stadium on Friday. Shawn Nicklaw scored in the 23rd minute for the Hammers, who return to action with a couple of matches this week. On Aug. 2, they host the Charleston Battery. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Aug. 4 will see Wilmington hit the road for a tilt with the Dayton Dutch Lions. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.

13. Antigua Barracuda FC

Chalk up another three defeats for Adrian Whitbread’s Antigua Barracuda FC. Tomorley Thomas scored in the 88th minute in the Barracudas’ 3-1 defeat to the FC Dallas Reserves at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Tex. on Tuesday and he scored again in their 3-1 defeat to the Dayton Dutch Lions at Beavercreek High School, but they were held at bay in their 1-0 defeat to the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen’s Stadium on Sunday.

Antigua Barracuda take the week off befor returning to action on Aug. 10 against the Charlotte Eagles at the Queens Sports Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.