Lower Division Power Rankings: November 4

Only one game remains in Lower Division play this year, making the rankings more or less a done deal with the exception of New York and Atlanta next week in the final edition.

This week, though, Carolina jumped up into the top five by locking up the best overall 2013 record in the NASL, but the biggest movement was further down where Minnesota moved up two spots with a big win at Tampa Bay while FC Edmonton's draw at Fort Lauderdale ensured they had one of the better tallies in the loss column overall for the year than most of the league as the result was their 12th tie of the year.

Lower Division Recap: Round 31

In the semi-preview of the NASL Soccer Bowl set for 7:30 pm ET Saturday, the New York Cosmos claimed a 1-0 road victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks in the regular season finale to finish the Fall campaign with just one loss and an eight-point gap over the second-place side Carolina RailHawks.

The RailHawks, who finished second in the Spring season as well, jumped into the number two spot with a 2-1 victory over the visiting San Antonio Scorpions while Tampa Bay had fallen 4-6 at against Minnesota. The results also ensured Carolina finished with the best overall point total for the entire 2013 campaign as they 12-7-7 for the year for 43 points, finishing five points in front of the 10-8-8 Rowdies.

Lower Division Five Stars: Week Thirty

A weekly list of the top five players or performances of each round in NASL, USL Pro and MLS Reserves in all competitions…

ROUND THIRTY (October 21-27)

Player – Club (5 Star Selections)

Pablo Campos - Minnesota United (3)
Played a key role in all three goals in the 3-1 victory over Fort Lauderdale, tallying the opener and final goals as well as setting up the second.

Lower Division Power Rankings: October 28

With the now Fall champion Cosmos firmly entrenched among the elite of the year, the shuffling continues amidst the middle of the pack as the rest of the NASL remains filled with parity. The Silverbacks continue to fall down the list with a string of big losses just weeks before the Soccer Bowl.

This Week (Last Week) Club (League) :: W-L-D :: Notes

1 (1) Orlando City (USL Pro) :: 16-4-6 :: League champions

2 (2) New York Cosmos (NASL) :: 8-1-4 :: Rallied from an early deficit to clinch NASL Soccer Bowl berth with a 2-1 victory at San Antonio.

Lower Division Recap: Round 30

The chase is over. The New York Cosmos rallied on the road for a 2-1 victory against the last-place San Antonio Scorpions to clinch the NASL Fall season and a berth in the Soccer Bowl with the Spring champion Silverbacks in Atlanta. The league announced Friday it has reached an agreement with the ESPN broadcast networks to carry the game, November 9 at 7:30 ET, on ESPN3.com (English) and ESPN Deportes (Spanish). Coincidentally, the exact same match-up will see the Cosmos in Atlanta for the final game of the regular season Saturday in a preview the week before the title game.

Lower Division Five Stars: Week Twenty-Nine

A weekly list of the top five players or performances of each round in NASL, USL Pro and MLS Reserves in all competitions…

ROUND TWENTY-NINE (October 14-20)

Player – Club (5 Star Selections)

David Estrada - Seattle Sounders Reserves
Scored the opening goal and set up the third as the Sounders won 4-1 at rival Portland.

Lower Division Power Rankings: October 21

In the NASL, the clubs have separated into three tiers led by the one-loss Cosmos all alone in the first. The second group features Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta jockeying with each other week after week for 'second-best' status. Then there is the rest, battling it out to avoid being at the bottom. The third tier is where the biggest movement was this week as FC Edmonton ended New York's five-game winning streak with a draw.

Lower Division Recap: Round 29

There was an eight-goal game this week in the NASL, but only two late goals really mattered when it was all said and done as a 76th minute penalty Saturday kept the Tampa Bay Rowdies Soccer Bowl hopes alive for one more day and a 90th minute equalizer for FC Edmonton at New York Sunday kept the Cosmos from clinching the Fall title, at least for one more week. Meanwhile, the MLS Reserve League came to a close* with all three games finishing with at least five goals.

Lower Division Five Stars: Week Twenty-Eight

A weekly list of the top five players or performances of each round in NASL, USL Pro and MLS Reserves in all competitions…

ROUND TWENTY-EIGHT (October 7-13)

Player – Club (5 Star Selections)

Diomar Diaz - New York Cosmos (2)
Set up the opening goal eight minutes in and doubled the advantage in the 53rd as they blanked Carolina 4-0.

Lower Division Power Rankings: October 13

With a big win over the only team that has handed them a loss, the New York Cosmos have more than proven their success in a half a season of competition is not to be taken lightly, moving them up to the second spot in the rankings as they are arguably, the heavy favorites to win the Soccer Bowl in Atlanta at this point, unless the Silverbacks return to the form that earned them the Spring crown.

Lower Division Recap: Round 28

It is nearly over with three weeks left in the NASL Fall season as the New York Cosmos can only be caught mathematically by the Tampa Bay Rowdies (seven back) and Spring champion Atlanta Silverbacks (eight back). That means with a dozen games left throughout the league, it could all be over next week if Tampa Bay and Atlanta falter Saturday or New York wins at home Sunday against seventh-place FC Edmonton.

Lower Division Five Stars: Week Twenty-Seven

A weekly list of the top five players or performances of each round in NASL, USL Pro and MLS Reserves in all competitions…

ROUND TWENTY-SEVEN (September 30-October 6)

Player – Club (5 Star Selections)

Ryan Finley - Columbus Crew Reserves (3)
Trailing by one at halftime, he scored the equalizer and go-ahead goal in a 3-1 victory at FC Dallas.

Lower Division Power Rankings: October 7

The New York Cosmos continue to prove they are the best of the NASL in the Fall season while the rest of the pack chasing them suffered losses to the bottom three teams within the rankings, leading to them slipping slightly down the rankings and the rest of the league inching upward.

Lower Division Recap: Round 27

The New York Cosmos won on the road to move seven points clear with four games remaining in the Fall campaign, making themselves strong favorites to reach the NASL Soccer Bowl in Atlanta in their first season on the field. New York leads a pack of five teams - four tied for second seven back, and Atlanta, which is eight back. Among the foursome is Carolina, which visits New York next week, and Tampa Bay, Minnesota, and Fort Lauderdale.

Lower Division Five Stars: Week Twenty-Six

A weekly list of the top five players or performances of each round in NASL, USL Pro and MLS Reserves in all competitions…

ROUND TWENTY-SIX (September 23-29)

Player – Club (5 Star Selections)

Quincy Amarikwa - Chicago Fire Reserves (2)
Trailing by two at home, he scored twice in a five minute span to pull even with Montreal in a 3-2 victory.

Lower Division Power Rankings - September 30

The New York Cosmos have captured that elusive defining victory to prove the one-loss start to the season is not a mirage, downing Tampa Bay to switch places with them near the top of the list. Several other switches took place, though they were among the four sides that lost this week.

Lower Division Recap: Round 26

The logjam in the NASL continues with only three points separating second and sixth, but the New York Cosmos (5-1-3) used a thrilling comeback victory at home over Tampa Bay in a battle for first to move ahead of the pack by four points. Meanwhile, MLS Reserve League action is winding down for the season with three contests in the past week, including an exciting rally at home by Chicago against Montreal.

Lower Division Five Stars: Week Twenty-Five

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A weekly list of the top five players or performances of each round in NASL, USL Pro and MLS Reserves in all competitions…

ROUND TWENTY-FIVE (September 16-22)

Player – Club (5 Star Selections)

Hans Denissen - San Antonio Scorpions (4)
Set up the equalizer and later converted from the spot in stoppage time to sting visiting Carolina 2-1.

Lower Division Power Rankings - September 23

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Tampa Bay and New York headline the top sides among the NASL in the rankings, and one could make a serious jump up the list with a commanding performance when the two meet this week after having previously played to a scoreless draw in the second week of the Fall campaign. The top five of the NASL have firmly entrenched their place in the top 10, barring any poor run of form, but it was San Antonio making a big jump up the list thanks to a win over Carolina.

Lower Division Recap: Round 25

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It took eight weeks, but teams are beginning to separate into tiers in the NASL with the New York Cosmos and Tampa Bay Rowdies pulling a handful of points clear of the pack. Meanwhile, the MLS Reserve League saw a light week of action with only two contests.