So. Much. Soccer.

This past weekend was an avalanche of lower league footy going on here on the east side. Opening weekend of the Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL) and Cosmopolitan Soccer League (CSL). Games from the Northeast Elite Soccer League’s (NESL) Super League. And lots more acronyms to get to, so let’s get to!

EPSL

The grand experiment launched with competitive games throughout the weekend. I watched the replay of the Clifton Elite v Doxa SC match. Doxa scored an early one, scored a late one, and in the middle a tight tussle between two well-schooled sides that didn’t allow the other to get too comfortable.

In other games, Lansdowne Bhoys from Yonkers got off to a solid start with a 2-0 win over NY Athletic Club. Eight goals were scored between Zum Schneider FC 03 and NY Greek Americans, with Zum Schneider getting five and the win. SEFT FC made its debut and earned a point on the road against FC Westchester in a 1-1 draw. And while New Amsterdam FC had its struggles in NISA this fall, New Amsterdam FC II began its campaign with a 2-1 win over Philadelphia Lone Star at the Metropolitan Oval Tuesday night.

This weekend’s EPSL schedule:

Saturday, October 10th

Philadelphia Lone Star FC v Clifton Elite FC, 6:30PM ET (mycujoo)

Sunday, October 11th

Doxa SC v New Amsterdam FC II, 2PM ET (mycujoo)

NY Pancyprian Freedoms v Zum Schneider FC 03, 2:45PM ET

SEFT FC v KidSuper Samba AC, 7:30PM ET

NY Greek Americans v NY Athletic Club, 8PM ET

FC Westchester v Lansdowne Yonkers FC, 9PM ET (Facebook Live)

NESL Super League

The other game I was able to watch from this past weekend was Saturday’s Super League game between Vereinigung Erzgebirge and Christos FC at the VE Clubhouse. An early goal from Christos stood up as they controlled much of the game. VE did create enough chances to keep the game competitive, but in the end it was Christos making the most of its trip to Bucks County by taking home all three points.

Saturday night it was FC Motown coming back from a 3-1 deficit with two second half goals to earn a 3-3 draw against the visiting Safira FC from Massachusetts. FC Motown are still unbeaten in all comps so far this fall (more on that in a moment).

UPSL

There are still a number of games left in the season, but it’s getting harder to catch New York Contour United. Facing the only other undefeated team in the conference, New York Contour took care of business with a 5-2 win over North Jersey Alliance FC. The club has earned 16 out of a possible 18 points in its first six games. Staying within hailing distance is Allentown United SC, taking all three points in a 3-1 win one the road against Westchester United FC.

Meanwhile, EFA Metro, New Jersey FC and Philadelphia Lone Star earned wins, making the ‘hey – don’t forget us’ argument as they stayed in the top half of the table.

This weekend’s UPSL schedule:

Saturday, October 10th

Astoria Knights v Allentown United FC, 12PM ET (mycujoo)

Bronx River FC v FSA Pro, 3PM ET

Westchester United FC v EFA Metro, 6:30PM ET (mycujoo)

Sunday, October 11th

Santa Fe NY v North Jersey Alliance FC, 1PM ET

Real New York FC v New Jersey FC, 3PM ET

New York Contour United v Philadelphia Lone Star FC, 4PM ET (mycujoo)

Cosmopolitan Soccer League

Autumn in New York – and so nice to have the CSL back and playing games. And making statement right from the get go is NY Shamrock SC, the only club from CSL’s Division 1 that did not make the jump to the EPSL. NY Shamrock opened with an emphatic 6-2 win over Kelmendi FC NY. Manhattan Celtic also started off the season right with a 4-1 victory over Zum Schneider FC 03 II. In other action, Hoboken FC 1912 beat Stal Mielec NY 2-0, NY Greek Americans II got past Real Ole FC 1-0, and Richmond County FC and Polonia SC played to a 3-3 draw.

This weekend’s CSL schedule:

Saturday, October 10th

Richmond County FC v NY Shamrock SC, 7:15PM ET

Polonia SC v Manahattan Celtic, 8PM ET

Sunday, October 11th

Beyond FC v Kelmendi FC NY, 2PM ET

Real Ole FC v Manhattan Kickers, 4PM ET

NY Greek Americans II v Hoboken FC 1912, 6PM ET

Zum Schneider FC 03 II v Stal Mielec NY, 8PM ET

Long Island Soccer Football League

Port Jefferson and NY Irish Rovers are off to great starts with two wins in two games. Port Jeff took care of NY Serbia 4-1, while NY Irish Rovers kept a clean sheet in its 4-0 win over Leros. But the big scoreline of last weekend was NY Hota Bavarians, delivering an 8-0 drubbing of Forest Park. Rounding out Premier Division play was Olympiacos NY over Glen Cove 3-0.

NYPD FC sits on top in Division 1 after last weekend’s 2-1 win over New Hyde Park. Even with a 1-1 draw again SS Cosma Damiano, Queens Calcio remains on top in Division 2. NY Blue Angels had a great weekend, with the Division 2 side winning 7-0 over South Jamaica Portuguese and the Division 3 team tied for the lead with Amigos FC after a 3-1 win over New York Legacy FC.

This weekend’s schedule is very - come se dice - light. Only one game going on as Forest Park host Glen Cove this Sunday, each club looking to bounce back from an opening loss.

Garden State Soccer League

When Clifton Elite made the decision to move up to the EPSL, it may have been concerning as to how the club would also field a team in the GSSL Super Division. Well, as we have seen so far with some clubs, they have the talent pool to make it work. With its 5-2 win over Bulldogs SC last weekend, Clifton Elite FC 2 now sit alone atop the division. But right behind is FC Motown, and while they did not play they are a perfect three for three in in wins with a +11 in goal differential. Clifton has played one more game, so Motown FC have a game in hand as well.

Jackson Lions have shaken off its opening game loss with two straight wins, including last Friday’s 4-1 victory over Sport Club Portug. In the rest of last weekend’s games, Vistula Garfield beat Ironbound SC 3-0, White Eagles SC defeated Sportfriends Polonia SC 2-1, and Ukrainian Sitch won on the road against Evolution SC 2-0.

A North Division sees FC Senegal NJ on top of the table after a big 6-0 win over Santa Fe FC. In A Central Division it’s Jersey Shore Boca Juniors leading the way after beating Feelsgood FC 5-0. Jersey Shore Boca Juniors, like Jackson Lions, is based in Ocean County and play their games at Jakes Branch County Park off of Double Trouble Road (yes, really). B Division North has Milford FC and Sheffield Crew both sitting with six points after winning their first two games, while Scarlet Internationals FC and Giresun Spor USA have done the same in B Central Division.

Here’s the weekend schedule in Super Division play:

Friday, October 9th

Sportfriends Polonia SC v Evolution SC, 8:30PM ET

North Jersey Alliance FC v Bulldogs SC, 9PM ET

Saturday, October 10th

Jackson Lions FC v Vistula Garfield SC, 7:30PM ET

In A Division Women, look out for the Jackson Lions! The new side handed out the beat down of the weekend, showing no mercy to Peninsula Aztecs 11-0. Two games in, and this club looks to be the one everyone else will be chasing. Meadowlands FC is the only team keeping pace so far, beating NJ Wizards SC Forza 4-2 and staying even on points with Jackson Lions. B Division Women is still very much up for grabs, but NJ Wizards SC Fury delivered the biggest statement so far in beating Stateline SC 6-0.

Here’s the weekend schedule for A Division Women:

Sunday, October 11th

North Jersey Alliance FC v Meadowlands FC, 8:15AM ET

Hoboken FC 1912 v Jackson Lions FC, 10AM ET

Peninsula Aztecs v NJ Wizards SC Forza, 10:15AM ET

CASA

It’s still early, but it may be a two-horse race in the Primera Division. South Philly United and FC Misconduct continued their winning ways last weekend. It was a clean sheet for South Philly, beating FC Tigre 3-0 and now sitting in first with 10 points. Right behind them (with a game in hand) is FC Misconduct after beating Icarus FC 5-1. FC SouthHouse, YTP FC and Stoney United were also winners last weekend.

In the Tercera Division, it’s Rose Tree Gunners and Upper Darby FC that look to pull away from the pack. Both clubs are 4-for-4 in wins so far this season, including Rose Tree’s 8-3 thumping of Oaklyn United last weekend. And in the Cuatro Division, FC Burlington hold the top spot after a 1-0 win over Dead Ball SC.

Here’s the Primera Division schedule for the weekend:

Saturday, October 10th

Vidas United v South Philly United, 8:15AM ET

YTP FC v FC Tigre, 10AM ET

FC Misconduct v Philadelphia Heritage SC, 11:45AM ET

Icarus FC v Stoney United, 1:30PM ET

FC SouthHouse v Philadelphia Corinthians FC, 3:15PM

United Soccer League of Pennsylvania

There may not be a more impressive club than West Chester United. No matter where they have a team playing, they are a dominant force. In Mens Major, they are now perfect through four games after defeating Colonial SC 5-0. That’s now 20 goals in four games, and have only given up four. Impressive. In other Mens Major games, Lancaster City FC blanked United German Hungarians 3-0, and Ukrainian Nationals beat Danubia 4-2.

In Mens Major II, the reserves of West Chester United are leaving the rest of the division in their dust after a 10-0 dispatching of Bearfight FC down in Delaware. 27 goals scored, 2 goals given up – and only four games played. Again, mighty impressive.

Here’s this weekend’s schedule for Mens Major:

Sunday, October 11th

Colonial SC v Lancaster City FC, 12PM ET

Phoenix Majors v Danubia, 2:30PM ET

United German Hungarians v Vereinigung Erzgebirge, 2:30PM ET

Monday, October 12th

Ukrainian Nationals v West Chester Predators, 8:30PM ET

The schedule was light on the Womens Major side last weekend, with only Lancaster City’s 3-1 win over United German Hungarians. The victory pulled them in a tie atop the table with UGH and idle Danubia, with all three looking to make it an interesting race to the finish.

Here’s the weekend schedule for Womens Major:

Sunday, October 11th

Huntingdon Valley Pride v Lancaster City FC, 12PM ET

Danubia v United German Hungarians, 12PM ET

Lower South v Warminster SC, 12PM ET

Philadelphia Flames SC v Lighthouse United, 12PM ET

- John Howard-Fusco