Week 16 saw attacking prowess take center stage, with a large shake-up in the MLS NEXT Pro power rankings. Let’s take a look at the top 5 rankings at the end of Week 16.
RNY FC knocked off Philadelphia Union II 3-0 in week 16, yet despite their effort, they fell from their No. 3 spot in week 15 to No. 5 in week 16. Midfielder Gibran Rayo netted a hat trick, finding the back of the net in the 24th, 28th, and 60th minutes to secure all three points in their victory.
RNY FC is unbeaten in the last four matches and has only lost three of the last 15. A third straight week in the MLS NEXT Pro Top 5 rankings prove Bruno Baltazar's side is looking primed for a playoff appearance.
Previous ranking: 3
Next match: at NYCFC II on July 16
NYCFC II dropped from the No. 2 spot in the power rankings to No. 4 this week, despite an incredibly successful week 16 showing that saw forward John Denis find the back of the net four times in the first 45 minutes of their match against Revs II. Denis now leads the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot race with 13 goals scored.
Previous ranking: 2
Next match: vs RNY FC on July 16
NYCFC II stays within the MLS NEXT Pro power rankings for the second straight week, for good reason, too. They have now won three straight matches and outscored their opponents 14-1 in that span.
Previous ranking: 2
Crew 2 fall from the No. 1 spot to No. 3 after week 16 after back-to-back winless weeks. Crew 2 were mighty in their last win, a 6-1 rout of OCB on June 19, but two consecutive scoreless ties and ensuing shootout losses to TFCII and RNY FC respectively see the Eastern Conference leaders lose a little power.
Laurent Coriois' men remain the hardest to beat in the league, though. Their two regulation losses and 12 Goals Against are the fewest conceded in the league through 16 weeks.
Previous ranking: 1
Next match: vs FC Cincinnati 2 on July 16
Tacoma Defiance put on an attacking clinic in their match against their Pacific Northwest rivals, Timbers2, winning their Week 16 contest 6-1. Ethan Dobbelaere and Dylan Teves both notched a brace, while Marlon Vargas and Joe Hafferty scored the other two goals. Vargas has certified himself as a dark horse contender for the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot award with seven goals this season, with No. 7 being a beautiful free kick.
Defiance fell to Dynamo Dos in their week 15 contest with that being their only loss in their last 11 matches. Their form has them flying high, sitting second place in the Western Conference at the end of Week 16.
Previous ranking: Nor ranked
Next match: vs MNUFC2 on July 17
CITY2 top the week 16 MLS NEXT Pro Top 5 ranks after their 2-1 road win over MNUFC2. Forward Josh Dolling scored his 6th goal of the season to open things up and give CITY2 a 1-0 lead, and attacker Sergio Rivas finished the game off in the 71st minute with a goal of his own.
Week 15 saw CITY2 lose to Rapids 2, 2-1, with that being their only loss in their last nine matches. They now sit atop the Western Conference and atop the overall league rankings at the end of Week 16, with 33 points through 15 matches.
Previous ranking: 5
Next match: vs North Texas SC on July 22
