skip navigation

USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 29

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/23/24, 4:30PM EDT

Share

New Mexico United’s back on top, making history, and closing in on the No. 1 seed out West

So far this season, New Mexico United has set club records for wins (18) and points (57).

When United scores first – which it’s done in 18 of its 28 games – it is undefeated with a 15-0-3 record.

It’s got the feel of a team that understands how to close out games, especially when its energy reserves might be running low.

“I thought our legs kind of gave way early in the second half and we got subs on,” said New Mexico Head Coach Eric Quill on Sunday evening as the side wrapped a run of three games in nine days with a 1-0 victory against Loudoun United FC at Isotopes Park. “They gave new life to the game. We were kind of [sputtering] across the finish line.

“But [this side has] the heart, and the desire, and the ability - when you’re tired and have nothing left in the tank - to grind through, and you keep the shutout.”

That desire has been one of the hallmarks United has developed since Quill’s arrival last June. In that span, it’s only lost one game in which it has held a lead, a 2-1 setback against Hartford Athletic in August, 2023. Since then, the side has gone undefeated in 23 consecutive games in which it scores first and has dropped only six points from winning positions this season.

If that sounds familiar, it’s very reminiscent of the path San Antonio FC trod to the USL Championship title two years ago. SAFC’s streak of more than 50 games in which it avoided defeat when scoring first came to an end earlier this year, a portent of the struggles the side has seen overall this season, but it is a model New Mexico could follow to claim its first silverware.

While New Mexico could have to travel for a potential USL Championship Final in November, the road to that destination seems set to go through Albuquerque. It’s going to be a tough ask for any opponent to knock down what Quill has built.

Want the best of the USL Championship and more brought to your inbox each week? Sign up now for The Rondo, our weekly newsletter.

Here’s how the rest of this week’s rankings look.

Birmingham Legion FC Charleston Battery Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Detroit City FC El Paso Locomotive FC Hartford Athletic Indy Eleven
Las Vegas Lights Loudoun United FC Louisville City FC Memphis 901 FC The Miami FC Monterey Bay F.C. New Mexico United
North Carolina FC Oakland Roots SC Orange County SC Phoenix Rising FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Rio Grande Valley FC Sacramento Republic FC
San Antonio FC Tampa Bay Rowdies FC Tulsa

On The Move

7 DET 6 TBR, IND

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary
1 New Mexico United
(18-8-3)
Week 30: @ SAC 		4
Last Week:
5		 A six-point week has New Mexico in position to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference this weekend. Most impressive? They won the two outings in very different ways.
2 Charleston Battery
(17-5-8)
Week 30: -- 		2
Last Week:
4		 What can you say about Nick Markanich? The Championship’s single-season scoring record-holder is so hard to contain and his backing has been superb as well.
3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(13-10-6)
Week 30: vs. LDN		 1
Last Week:
2		 The Switchbacks’ performance and result in El Paso illustrated why homefield advantage could be so important in the postseason. They’re not the same on the road.
4 Louisville City FC
(20-6-2)
Week 30: vs. MEM		 3
Last Week:
1		 LouCity has finished each of its past two defeats down to 10 players. Phillip Goodrum’s got to be smarter with how close he steps to the edge with his physicality.
5 Las Vegas Lights FC
(11-8-10)
Week 30: @ PHX 		1
Last Week:
6		 The had only taken one season sweep of a home-and-home series prior to this season. Now it’s got three after its comeback win against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night.
6 Detroit City FC
(12-8-9)
Week 30: @ MB		 7
Last Week:
13		 Le Rouge have defeated the top teams in the Western and Eastern Conference in consecutive weeks at Keyworth Stadium. The magic’s back, baby.
7 Memphis 901 FC
(12-10-7)
Week 30: @ LOU
Last Week:
7		 Memphis had a good weekend considering they didn’t play. Second spot is still in play, even if this weekend’s visit to Louisville is going to be a huge test.
8 Sacramento Republic FC
(12-8-8)
Week 30: vs. NM		 5
Last Week:
3		 Republic FC and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week will not be on the reading list at Heart Health Park in the coming days. Big chance to bounce back on Sunday.
9 Rhode Island FC
(9-7-13)
Week 30: @ SA		 3
Last Week:
12		 When Rhode Island needed him to most, Albert Dikwa delivered. His winner against FC Tulsa is going to be huge in the postseason race.
10 North Carolina FC
(9-10-9)
Week 30: @ ELP		 5
Last Week:
15		 North Carolina can be so entertaining when it hits its stride. Big win ahead of a winnable stretch of games that will decide the club’s playoff chances.
11 Loudoun United FC
(10-11-7)
Week 30: @ COS 		2
Last Week:
9		 Loudoun United was strong on the road against New Mexico United but its early slip-up was costly. Now the pressure’s back on to get back in the win column, fast.
12 Phoenix Rising FC
(9-9-9)
Week 30: @ OC; vs. LV		 6
Last Week:
18		 Phoenix’s four-goal performance was vintage stuff and put Rising in solid position. More of that, please.
13 Hartford Athletic
(10-12-7)
Week 30: @ TBR		 3
Last Week:
16		 Hartford is coming together in attack at just the right moment, but it’s also tightened up at the back. That’s four consecutive shutouts after its win against Oakland.
14 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(13-9-7)
Week 30: vs. HFD		 6
Last Week:
8		 There was no comeback from a deficit for the Rowdies this time against Charleston. That’s three defeats in the past four games – all on the road, but still not good.
15 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(8-10-11)
Week 30: vs. BHM 		5
Last Week:
10		 The Hounds couldn’t have seen it go much worse for them over the weekend in terms of other results. That makes Saturday’s home clash with Birmingham that much more important.
16 Birmingham Legion FC
(12-12-5)
Week 30: @ PIT 		1
Last Week:
17		 Legion won, but only thanks to a Darwin Matheus wonder-strike in stoppage time against Miami FC. These are the Power Rankings, not the standings, and style points matter.
17 Indy Eleven
(11-10-7)
Week 30: vs. MIA		 6
Last Week:
11		 Indy has won only once in its last six outings. That’s a formula for being dragged into a battle for the postseason when a top-four spot looked more likely not too long ago.
18 Orange County SC
(9-14-5)
Week 30: vs. PHX		 2
Last Week:
20		 When’s Colin Shutler’s statue getting built? OCSC’s shot-stopper has been phenomenal the past two weeks to keep his side in contention for a playoff berth.
19 San Antonio FC
(8-13-7)
Week 30: vs. RI		 5
Last Week:
14		 Brutal time for SAFC to concede four goals for the first time this season. The attack remains far below where it needs to be to get this side into the playoffs.
20 Oakland Roots SC
(12-13-4)
Week 30: vs. TUL		 1
Last Week:
19		 Oakland has lost three in a row and gone scoreless in that span. It’s a good thing it built up plenty of playoff equity over the first three-quarters of the season.
21 FC Tulsa
(7-11-10)
Week 30: @ OAK
Last Week:
21		 If Tulsa had held on against Rhode Island, it would have been a huge point. The problem was the hosts deserved their reward as Tulsa didn’t offer enough after Aaron Bibout’s stunning finish.
22 Monterey Bay F.C.
(7-13-9)
Week 30: vs. DET		 2
Last Week:
24		 The one silver lining to Monterey Bay’s fourth consecutive game without a goal? They looked about as bright in attack as we’ve seen in a while. Maybe there’s a glimmer of hope?
23 El Paso Locomotive FC
(5-16-7)
Week 30: vs. NC		 1
Last Week:
22		 Locomotive gave the second-placed team in the West as good as they got and when presented the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot, missed. That sort of season, really.
24 Miami FC
(3-24-2)
Week 30: @ IND		 1
Last Week:
23		 Miami had done all the work to earn its first road shutout of the season. Then Khadim Ndiaye cheated too far from his near post and got burned by Birmingham’s Darwin Matheus. Bummer.

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

View All |

Most Read News

View All

Latest Videos

View All |

Tag(s): Power Rankings  San Antonio FC  CO Spring Switchbacks  Orange County SC  Phoenix Rising FC  Sacramento Republic FC  FC Tulsa  Charleston Battery  Louisville City FC  Pittsburgh Riverhounds  Tampa Bay Rowdies  Las Vegas Lights FC  Birmingham Legion FC  North Carolina FC  Indy Eleven  Memphis 901 FC  El Paso Locomotive FC  New Mexico United  Loudoun United FC  Hartford Athletic  Miami FC  Oakland Roots SC  Detroit City FC  Monterey Bay F.C.  Rhode Island FC 

Share