USL First Division 2006 Overall Standings USL First Division-------Pts GP W L T Montreal Impact---------40 20 11 2 7 Vancouver Whitecaps----35 22 9 5 8 Charleston Battery-------34 21 10 7 4 Rochester Raging Rhinos--34 18 9 2 7 Virginia Beach Mariner----29 20 7 5 8 Atlanta Silverbacks-------28 20 8 8 4 Puerto Rico Islanders-----28 19 8 7 4 Seattle Sounders---------25 22 7 11 4 Miami FC-----------------23 20 6 9 5 Portland Timbers---------21 23 5 12 6 Toronto Lynx-------------19 20 5 11 4 Minnesota Thunder-------17 19 4 10 5 Vancouver picked up 6 points this weekend. Charleston and Rochester grabbed 3 each. Va. Beach and Montreal got 2 each. Atlanta got none of the above. We are 1 game behind Vancouver, but 1 ahead of Atlanta and Va. Beach. 3 ahead of Rochester and have 2 on Puerto Rico, while Seattle has 1 on us. With Atlanta tanking two this weekend and Puerto Rico losing at home, it makes for a dogfight for the last couple of play-off spots and you have throw Seattle into the mix, maybe Miami too.
Vancouver plays 5 of its 6 remaining games at home. They have lost 1 time at home this year. You got to like their chances to join ROC and the Frogs as 3 of the 6 play off teams. At present, the Battery is playing like it means to make the play-offs, but there are no "gimmies" on the schedule. Our biggest competition is coming from VB, Apes and PR, and I agree to watch out for Seattle. Apes have not won in the last 6 games, but they have 3 winnable games at home coming up vs. PR and MIA (2). Two games are toss ups at MIA and ROC at home, although I would bet on ROC. Then the NW passage where it is tough to win. PR has two games in hand. They have the next 6 games on the road. 2 are winnable vs. Portland and Minn. They end with 3 winnable games at home v. Minn and MIA (2). VB has one game in hand. They have the NW passage - unpredictable. Then a winnable game at home vs. MIA. They finish with 4 games away vs. Montreal (2), ROC and Toronto. They have a good chance of winning 1 or 2 games out of the last 8. In no order, my picks are: Frogs ROC Vancouver Battery Apes PR
I had been awake for almost 12 hours, so I was feeling energized. I haven't missed Rockville in 25 years.
USL 1st Division Table Team GP W D L Pts #1 Montreal Impact 25 12 8 5 44 #2 Rochester Raging Rhinos 24 10 10 4 40 #3 Vancouver Whitecaps 25 10 9 6 39 #4 Charleston Battery 24 11 5 8 38 #5 Seattle Sounders 25 10 4 11 34 #6 Atlanta Silverbacks 23 9 5 9 32 #6 Miami FC 24 9 5 10 32 #6 Virginia Beach Mariners 25 8 8 9 32 #7 Puerto Rico Islanders 24 8 7 9 31 #8 Portland Timbers 25 7 6 12 27 #8 Minnesota Thunder 24 7 6 11 27 #9 Toronto Lynx 24 5 7 12 22 After tonight, there's a 3-way tie for 6th place with Puerto Rico 1 point off of them. Looks like a dogfight for the playoffs this year, Seattle has really made a move in the last 2 weeks and are now 4 points behind us. Oh by the way, Miami pounded Atlanta today, 7-1. I hope our boys are rested up and ready for their big roadtrip.