It’s a huge week in soccer around the country, with the MASL Finals kicking off on Sunday and the USL League One Jägermeister Cup kicking off this weekend. Top of the table battles and middle of the table teams holding on by a thread in the USL Championship. NPSL, UPSL, EPSL and the Metroplex Premier League have great matchups this weekend too - our staff and guests tell us why we should get stuck in… so let’s do it!

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- KC Comets vs Chihuahua Savage - MASL Ron Newman Cup Finals
  - Sun, 04/28 - 2:05pm PT / 5:05pm ET
    at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, MO
  - Tues, 04/30 - 7:05pm PT / 10:05pm ET
  - After a regular season filled with spectacular goals and classic matchups, this weekend will see the MASL Championship kick off in Kansas City. Kansas City Comets will be hosting Chihuahua to see who will win the Ron Newman Cup. Can Savage repeat or will Kansas City win its first MASL title?
    - See Dan’s Complete MASL Finals Preview HERE

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- I & I FC vs Sporting NTX Vagos - Metroplex Prem
  - Fri, 04/26 - 7:10pm PT / 10:10pm ET
    at Willow Springs MS , Lucas TX
  - Two Teams that are happy to be battling at top of table; Sporting are first and I&I a couple spots behind. Sporting NTX likes to score and I&I have not lost yet. If the rain stays away long enough this will be worth the trip out to Lucas Tx to this game.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Oakland Roots SC vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC - USL Championship
  - Sat, 04/27 - 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET at Pioneer Stadium
  - Ali Elmasnaouy salvaged a result in the US Open Cup 3rd Round for the Roots against popular amateurs El Farolito FC but other than that, Oakland have had a real rough go… they have lost 4 of their last 5 games and now host Colorado Springs, who have not won at all this season. As a matter of fact, Switchbacks have not even scored a goal on the road. Depending on other results, a win could take them up to 7th and more importantly, give them the confidence they need to pull out of this funk.

Ryan Allen Picks…
- Sacramento Republic FC vs Loudoun United - USL Championship
  - Sat, 04/27 - 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET
    at Heart Health Park in Sacramento, CA
  - With a result on Saturday, Sacramento can make it eight matches unbeaten to start the season, which would be the club’s second time beginning a year with eight matches unbeaten (last time happening in 2023). A win would see them equal the same number of points won in their first eight games of last season. While I like how Loudoun have looked to start the year, Republic are still a favorite in the Western Conference and should put on a performance of indicative of their fast start.

Del Shaffer Picks…
- Charleston Battery vs Las Vegas Lights - USL Championship
  - Sat, 04/27 - 1:00pm PT / 4:00pm ET
    at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, SC
  - The Battery seek to remain one of four undefeated teams in the league while the Lights are 3-0-4. They welcome the Lights who are now managed by former Battery assistant coach Dennis Sanchez. Las Vegas has had a solid start to the season but is coming off a 2-1 home loss to new USL-C side Rhode Island FC. The Battery is coming off a 4-1 win away to FC Tulsa. Coach Pirmann has really found his best XI with Allan, Molloy and Ycaza in central midfield and M&M up top (Myers and Markanich). The two teams met last May in Vegas with the Battery coming out on top 1-0 thanks to a penalty made by Augi Williams and a penalty saved by Trey Muse..

Dan Creel Picks…
- Lexington SC vs Forward Madison - USL League One, Jägermeister Cup
  - Sat, 04/27 - 1:00pm PT / 4:00pm ET
    at Toyota Stadium in Lexington, KY
  - Both teams are coming off 2-2 draws and are currently sitting just above the playoff line. A home side that has struggled with chemistry needs to find its footing (along with points) as it quickly transitions to midseason. The visitors have yet to lose but have three draws over four matches. A home win for Lexington might get the train back on the tracks. But anything less will continue to ramp up the pressure on the team picked to win the league.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Napa Valley 1839 FC vs Oakland Stompers - NPSL
  - Sat, 04/27 - 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET
    at Justin Siena Dodd Stadium in Napa, CA
  - This is a battle of opposite ends of the table. NV1839 is currently top of stack with a 4-0-1 record, leading the conference in goals and points. Oakland is sitting on the bottom of the pile, winless in 5 matches and only scoring a single goal so far in the 2024 campaign. Napa should run away with this one.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Las Vegas Legends vs FCAZ Tucson - NPSL
  - Sat 04/27 - 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET
    at Cristo Rey St. Viator College Prep HS Stadium
  - Legends who have played 3, won 3, face FCAZ next and look likely to make it 12 points on the trot. Las place FCAZ are suffering a -9 goal difference and have only scored 1 goal in their first two games of the season. Legends’ Esequiel Coronel is on 4 goals so far, and surely he’s champing at the bit to add to his haul.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- San Ramon FC vs Oakland SC - NPSL
  - Sun, 04/28 - 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET
    at Dougherty Valley High School-Soccer Field
  - With everyone’s attention in the NPSL’s Golden Gate Conference fixed on leaders Napa Valley and El Farolito, it’s San Ramon that has the opportunity to make some noise this week. A home victory over a struggling Oakland SC would bring San Ramon even with El Farolito at eleven points on the table, within striking distance of the leading 39ers.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- Eagles FC vs FC Wichita FC - UPSL
  - Sat, 04/27 - 12:30pm PT / 3:30pm ET
    at Hastings College Stadium in Hastings, NE
  - Grand Island, Nebraska’s own Eagles FC kicks off their very first home match of their very first season for the UPSL’s first kick off in the state outside the Omaha-Lincoln metro area this weekend. A game of so many firsts for the home side at Hastings College will also be of interest to the visiting FC Wichita Academy’s fans. With their USL2 first team on hiatus this year, the U21’s will carry the flag of the club on the men's side in ‘24, and perhaps provide a glimpse of some homegrowns the Air Cap Firm and other FCW supporters can look forward to seeing in ‘25.

Josh Duder Picks…
- PDX FC vs Deportivo Rose City - UPSL
  - Sun, 04/28 - 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET
    at La Salle Catholic Prep High School Stadium
  - This is a first versus third ding-dong and with only two points separating the two sides in the table, the winner will take the top spot. Unless, of course, if they draw and second place Cascadia United were to win… then they would take the top spot. Suffice to say, the Oregon Division in UPSL is super tight and the former division champions are looking to hold off the league newcomers with the big time coaches.

Michael Battista Picks…
- Newtown Pride FC vs NY Pancyprian Freedoms - USASA Region I, National Amateur Cup Quarterfinals
  - Sun, 04/28 - 1:30pm PT / 4:30pm ET
    at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, CT
  - Two heavyweights of lower division soccer clash in a rematch of last year’s USASA Region I Amateur Cup Quarterfinals. Newtown Pride FC, who won the 2023 match, beat Sete de Setembro FC in the First Round. Not only is the Connecticut side looking to defend its Region I title but the one-time national champions (2019) are seeking their third straight trip to the regional final. It’s part of what will be a busy summer for the Pride who will also be heading down to Cary, North Carolina in June to defend their title in The Soccer Tournament (TST).
    New York Pancyprian Freedoms beat Hoboken FC 1912 via penalty kicks to reach this point. The three-time U.S. Open Cup champions (1980, 1982, 1983) are currently second in the EPSL Metropolitan Conference, one point behind Lansdowne Yonkers FC. The Freedoms have long been home for talented players, such as Shavon John-Brown who recently signed with Central Valley Fuego FC, and will look to use that deep roster to try and win its first-ever Amateur Cup title.

John Howard-Fusco Picks…
- Philadelphia SC vs Alloy SC - EPSL
  - Sun, 04/28 - 3:00pm PT / 6:00pm ET
    at Northeast Highschool in Philadelphia, PA
  - Alloy has had an impressive season in league play, still unbeaten in 11 matches with only two draws. And yet, the race for the top is still a tight one with Philadelphia Heritage only two points back, and PSC three behind. Alloy SC does have two games in hand, so if PSC has any thoughts of catching Alloy, this is their chance. It’s also a chance for PSC to avenge a 4-0 loss to Alloy from the fall.
  - Watch the game: https://player.gameinframe.com/

by the Protagonist Staff