We’re getting back into the flow of amateur soccer this season and the NPSL is beginning to wake from its offseason. Golden Gate Conference is off to its usual early start, already 3 matches into its schedule, while the Southwest Conference is now a couple weeks rolling. Gulf Coast kicked off last week, so we’ll start seeing the schedule fill up with matches to watch. As usual, we’ll recap 3 matches from the previous weekend and pick 1 to look forward to.

Plenty of celebrating for FC Arizona this weekend.

FC Arizona 5 - 0 Sacramento Gold

FC Arizona looked dominant against Sacramento, led by Kyle Benjamin’s second half brace. Sacramento has been known to score goals (just two weeks ago, Sac scored 4 in a match), but couldn’t find the net in this one. FC Arizona is off to a strong start in the Conference with 2 wins and has yet to give up a goal in NPSL play.

Tallahassee SC 1 - 1 Jacksonville Armada U-23

Sometimes a draw is a win, depending on who is playing. Last year Jacksonville finished the regular season without a loss, running roughshod over the Gulf Coast Conference. Tallahassee, on the other hand, ended up last in the Conference without a win and with just 2 points to show for a season’s worth of work. So, of course, this match ends up in a draw. Michael Garrihy scored in the second half to put Armada up, but Kevyn Lo equalized late in the match and be Tallahassee’s hero.

Jacksonville only managed a point against Tallahassee.

Las Vegas Legends 3 - 2 Napa Valley 1839

If you love goals, this was the match to watch last week. After an early own goal, Legends battled back to score 3, including a David Villanueva brace. Dario Pavon would score the loan goal for Napa, who fall to 2-2 for the season. The win for Las Vegas puts them back to .500.

This Weekend

Oakland SC vs El Farolito

You gotta love what we’re seeing out of everyone’s favorite burrito-themed NPSL club. Currently sitting on top of the Golden Gate Conference, a perfect 3-0, El Farolito has yet to give up a goal and is looking solid heading into this weekend’s matchup on the road at Oakland SC. Can El Farolito continue the streak? I’ll be rooting for them to remain undefeated.

- Dan Vaughn