Let’s get down to business, shall we? With the national amateur leagues, women’s and men’s, in the last two or three weeks we can now focus on a couple professional leagues, regional leagues, and tournaments. Do not despair, there is ample soccer on American soil to get us through the summer. As usual, our best friends and staff tell us what they’re watching and why.

John Howard-Fusco Picks…
- Gold Star Detroit FC vs Salt City Union - NISA Regular Season
  - Saturday August 12th - 5:00p PST / 8:00p EST
    from Schoolcraft Outdoor Soccer Field in Livonia
    Streaming on FIFA+
  - The suddenly-relevant Flower City Union don their alter ego kits and do battle with Gold Star in Liovnia. A win puts the boys from Rochester just two points behind the suddenly-vulnerable Club De Lyon for that last playoff spot. And CDL’s next game is against - well how about that - Flower City Union on August 16th at Rochester.
- A Second Shout from MaryBeth Zmuda
  - Sitting in 8th place (followed only by last place Savannah Clovers), Gold Star FC Detroit will hit the pitch for the first time after some recent internal turmoil and personnel changes. They are hosting 7th place Salt City... no it's Flower City. Oops wait, Salt City yeah Salt City Union this time, who are coming off of a huge win against the 3rd place Maryland Bobcats FC. While it may not be the most exciting match, it will definitely be interesting to see what Gold Star is capable of after the shake up.

Harry Austin Picks…
- The Miami FC vs Indy Eleven - USL Championship Regular Season
  - Saturday August 12th - 4:00p PST / 7:00p EST
    from Ricardo Silva Stadium on ESPN+
  - The Miami FC have won three games in a row are in 9th slot, Indy Eleven off a victory of Birmingham Legion on Wednesday are in 8th. Both teams will have 9 games left in the season and 2 of those are against each other. If either team is going to make a push for the playoffs and for seeding purposes, It starts this week. Historically Miami FC has 6 wins to Indy 1 win with 2 draws!

Josh Duder Picks…
- North Carolina FC vs Greenville Triumph - USL League One Regular Season
  - Saturday, August 12th - 4:00p PST / 7:00p EST
    from Wakemed Soccer Park on ESPN+
  - The top of the USL League One table has seen a few would be champions, but NCFC have spent the bulk of the season at the top and after announcing their move back to the USL Championship this week, they’ll be seeking to go out on top. Greenville, coached by the legendary John Harkes, are always dangerous and have silently played their way back into this season. Look for a great game between two of the strongest sides in the league.

Harry Austin Picks…
- Phoenix Rising vs El Paso Locomotive - USL Championship Regular Season
  - Saturday August 12th - 7:00p PST / 10:00p EST
    from Phoenix Rising Stadium on ESPN+
  - Ohh El Paso Locomotive, can they stop the bleeding? 3 straight losses by more than two goals, and the average goal given up is 4 in those three games. Add in a transfer out of its best CB. To put it nicely, what is happening in El Paso? ELP is sitting in 7th at 32 points. Phoenix Rising is in 8th at 29 points, after losing a heartbreaker in the last match. Rising will be without Manuel Arteaga who leads the team with 11 goals, but Rising still has Trejo and Formella can they fill the shoes in a match where both teams need all three points!

Josh Duder Picks…
- Charlotte Independence vs SG Tormenta FC - USL League One Regular Season
  - Saturday August 12th - 4:00p PST / 7:00p EST
    from American Legion Memorial Stadium on ESPN+
  - Last year’s playoff champions, Tormenta FC, have slipped below the playoffs waterline and while its not too late to go on a late season sprint, they are running out of pool length to get started. They can win on Saturday and still not get into the Top 6, but if they don’t win, it only gets harder and harder to get back up.
    Meanwhile, Charlotte Independence, who at one point were 2nd with a bullet, have slid down the ladder to 5th. A win for them at home could do wonders for their confidence before two weeks on the road.

MaryBeth Zmuda Picks…
- Albion San Diego vs Los Angeles Force - NISA Regular Season
  - Sunday August 13th - 5:00p PST / 8:0p EST
    from Canyon Crest Stadium on FIFA+
  - The SoCal Derby is upon us once again and these two teams play physical, all out futbol against each other like they've been rivals for 40 years. Both sides are coming off of wins (oddly both teams victories were against Club De Lyon). The difference between the two is that ALBION is in 2nd place and the Force are in 5th and ALBION isn't looking to lose any momentum. This is definitely going to be worth the watch!
- A Second Shout from Dan Vaughn
  - Two West Coast NISA teams are both beginning to click and now they get to face eachother. Can’t wait to see this matchup, match of the week in NISA.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Boa Vista vs Providence City FC A - MASS Championship Cup Final
  - Sunday August 13th - 7:00a PST / 10:00a EST
    from Wayland HS Soccer Field
  - Both Boa Vista and Providence City FC won big in their respective Semifinals - Boa Vista 9-2 over Loco Gunners and Providence City FC 8-4 over Fidjus de Burkhan. This final has the potential to be full of goals and just the kind of church I would attend early on a Sunday morning. If you can make it, you should get there!

by the Protagonist Staff