2015 USL Power Rankings: Week 5

April 18, 2015; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Baggio Husidic (6) celebrates his goal scored against Sporting KC during the first half at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Can anyone stop Sacramento Republic? In this week’s USL Power Rankings, the defending league champions raise to the top after an impressive couple of matches. Richmond also make a move, as have the likes of Colorado Springs. Perhaps the Colorado Rapids should have built their partnership stateside instead of cross-country, where the payoff have been nothing short of abysmal.

Movers, shakers, and a whole lot more. This is the USL Power Rankings on The View From Avalon. Let’s do this.

1. Sacramento Republic

On Wednesday at Bonney Field, Preki’s Sacramento Republic shut out the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 2-0 on a brace from Rodrigo Lopez (32′, 71′). The homestand continued on Saturday and it was Lopez with the match winner in the 13th minute of play for a 1-0 win over Portland Timbers 2. Up next at Bonney Field on Apr. 24 is a match with the Orange County Blues. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET.

2. Richmond Kickers

We would like to take this time to make an apology to fans of Leigh Cowlishaw’s Richmond Kickers. Your club was actually in action this week and the congested schedule of USL threw us off. The site itself is not very intuitive when it comes to displaying the league schedule in an organized manner and we will make a correction on the previous USL Power Rankings for Week 4 as follows: Richmond return to action on Apr. 18 against the Charlotte Independence at City Stadium in Richmond, Va. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

Returning to this week’s action, Leigh Cowlishaw’s Richmond Kickers shut out the Charlotte Independence 3-0 at City Stadium in Richmond, Va. on a George Davis IV hat trick (43′, 54′, 74′). The Kickers are back in action on Apr. 22 against the New York Red Bulls II at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. On Apr. 25, they face FC Montreal at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Que. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET.

3. Oklahoma City Energy

In one of the biggest statement victories of the season, Jimmy Nielsen’s Oklahoma City Energy defeated Seattle Sounders 2 at Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. by the score of 2-1 on goals from Chuy Sanchez (38′) and Danni Konig (86′). The Energy are back in action on Apr. 25 against Saint Louis FC at home. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET.

4. Orange County Blues

Another big winner this week were Oliver Wyss’s Orange County Blues. At Anteater Stadium in Irvine, Calif., a brace from Chris Ramirez (33′, 51) and an insurance goal from Luka Petricevic (37′) gave the Blues an emphatic 3-0 win over Arizona United. The difficult level gets turned up a notch as they face the high-flying defending league champions Sacramento United at Bonney Field on Apr. 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET.

5. Charleston Battery

Memo Rodriguez scored in the 45th minute, but it was not enough as Michael Anhaueser’s Charleston Battery were held to a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls II at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C. The Battery are back in action on Apr. 26 against the WIlmington Hammerheads at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.

6. Colorado Springs Switchbacks

Steve Trittschuh’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks are wearing Real Monarchs SLC like a glove, the same way Real Salt Lake wears the Colorado Rapids like a glove in MLS. In a wild shootout at Sand Creek Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., the Switchbacks smashed the Monarchs 5-2 on goals from Miguel Gonzalez (11′), Luke Vercollone with his brace (24′, 89′), Saeed Robinson (41′) and Marty Maybin (87′). Colorado Springs will look to open up the struggling Austin Aztex on Apr. 25 at House Park in Austin, Tex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET.

Next: No. 7 Through No. 12