The inaugural season of MLS NEXT Pro has been packed with goals, drama, and excitement throughout nine weeks. Let’s take a look at the teams that continued to light it up and made MLS NEXT Pro Top 5 rankings this week:
Back-to-back wins have catapulted Revs 2 into the Top 5 rankings once again. Led by the goalscoring prowess of Marcos Dias, Revs 2 currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with 18 points, right behind the only team that has been able to tarnish their record this season, Columbus Crew 2.
Previous Ranking: NR
Next Match: vs. Philadelphia Union II on Friday, May 27
Following their victory over Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday night, Tacoma Defiance is now in third in the Western Conference with 17 points and has extended its undefeated streak to five games.
Led by 23-year-old goalkeeper Andrew Thomas and a solid backline, Defiance has kept two clean sheets over their five-game undefeated stretch.
Previous Ranking: NR
Next Match: vs. Timbers2 on Tuesday, May 31
After a scorching start to their season, Dynamo 2 came down to Earth in May, suffering their first loss of the season against Tacoma Defiance and then losing to MNUFC2 in their first-ever shootout.
Houston Dynamo 2 could get back on the win column after their bye week and climb to the top of the league standings if they can get a result during their midweek match against Real Monarchs at Zions Bank Stadium.
Previous Ranking: 2
Next Match: at Real Monarchs on Wednesday, May 25
Is North Texas SC the best MLS NEXT Pro team in Texas? For the time being, it certainly seems so.
Bernard Kamungo and Hope Avayevu guided the Dallas-based side to a 3-0 victory over Real Monarchs, extending its unbeaten streak to four games.
With their last victory, North Texas SC has accumulated a record of 6-1-2 (21 points), good enough for second in MLS NEXT Pro, right behind our number one team in the rankings.
Previous Ranking: 3
Next Match: at Colorado Rapids 2 on Saturday, June 4
It certainly seems like Columbus Crew 2 is all about their streaks lately.
Besides earning their 7th consecutive victory this past weekend over TFC II, Jacen Rusell-Rowe also extended his goalscoring streak to six games in a row.
Rusell-Rowe’s sixth tally tied him for first place in the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot race with Tacoma Defiance’s Alfonso Ocampo-Chávez.
Crew 2 will have a tough test at home this weekend when the surging RNY FC puts their three-game winning streak on the line when they visit Historic Crew Stadium on Sunday.
Previous Ranking: 1
Next Match: vs. RNY FC on Sunday, May 29
