With week 2 of the NISA fall league wrapped up over the weekend, I realized something I should have a long time ago. This schedule is SHORT. We’re already a quarter of the way through the season, and that’s with just three matches in the books. They’ve been great matches, but time is short and the remaining fixtures are few.

So today, I’m going to look over the rest of the schedule and try to pick out some key matches that could make or break this season for the clubs involved. And we should say right off the batch, we have no idea what all these matches mean for playoffs this season. The league has offered sparse information and they are very much on the clock.

Michigan Stars vs. Detroit City FC (8/22)

This weekend’s match is a massive one. As John Howard-Fusco pointed out on the Knights Who Say NISA Podcast, if the Stars win this, they are set up for the success the rest of the way. Stars have proven to be capable of winning tough matches at home and being competitive on the road, but getting a visit from their big brothers of the same state will be their biggest test. Granted Stars knocked off CFC in week one who beat DCFC last week, so transitive property or something like that?

I think it’s clear this match is a massive pivot point. If DCFC wins, the club pulls into a large group at the top of the league. If it loses, it remains at the bottom of the standings for another week (and yes, we don’t know what that means yet). On the other hand, a win for Stars is a massive one, placing the club firmly into the top spot with a single match left to play in the regular season.

LA Force vs. Cal United Strikers (8/29)

Hard to know what to expect out of the West just yet, with everything being shuttered in the grips of a brutal pandemic wave, but this match is a great chance for either club to put their mark on the VERY abbreviated West schedule. With only two matches for each club, winning both would put that club in the top spot (obviously). Cal United looked strong in the early spring season and I expect them to win the West this season (at least going into the playoffs). If they come out, beat LA, it puts all the pressure on Oakland to repeat that result before their final match of the season (9/13). If Oakland loses to LA in that matchup, Cal United would only need a draw to win the conference. If Oakland wins, that final matchup would be massive, winner takes the league. Of course, all of this hinges on Cal United winning this first matchup, if LA wins, just read through the previous paragraph and substitute LA.

Chattanooga FC vs. NY Cosmos (9/12)

This final match of the East regular season could be a big one for these two clubs. Cosmos have a very winnable match this weekend against a team in turmoil, New Amsterdam FC, before hosting DCFC (8/29). That’s no gimmie, of course. CFC on the other hand is 1-1-0 after their first two matches on the road and will now host their final two matches at Finley, including NAFC (8/29) and this matchup with the Cosmos. Both clubs could desperately need wins if either stumble in their matches against NAFC. If both clubs win out, this match will be a big one for CFC, who will be trailing in the points column due to that early loss to Michigan Stars.

What’s clear is that this NISA season is short and EVERY match counts.

- Dan Vaughn