What an exciting and emotional weekend of soccer we have to tell you about - our staff and guests have picked games from the return to play of the Bay State Soccer League to NISA and USL League One. We now start the emotional countdown to the end of an era and follow San Diego Loyal on their path and we are in the opening weeks of UPSL’s Fall/Winter season. Let’s get stuck in!

Jon Hunt Picks…
- Lexington SC vs Richmond Kickers - USL League One
  - Saturday August 26th - 4:00p PST / 7:00p EST
    from Toyota Stadium on ESPN+
  - While Lexington may be a long shot to make the playoffs, the expansion side has the chance to play spoiler. The Kickers are trying to avoid being the first defending USL1 regular season champion to miss the playoffs the next year. Technically, North Texas did miss in 2020 but the pandemic caused the league format to be modified.

Tim Howerton Picks…
- Greenville Triumph SC vs Union Omaha - USL League One
  - Saturday August 26th - 4:00p PST / 7:00p EST
    from Paladin Stadium on ESPN+
  - This match is not just about the Belt, but also about history. Union Omaha attempts to match Lansing Ignite’s USL1 record of 6 consecutive wins. Traditional power Greenville has fallen off some with 11 points in their last 7 matches, but has managed to draw the last 4 against Omaha, scoring late equalizers in the last 3.

Tim Howerton Picks…
- North Carolina FC vs Northern Colorado Hailstorm - USL League One
  - Saturday, August 26th - 4:00p PST / 7:00p EST
    from WakeMed Soccer Park on ESPN+
  - This match is about teams going in opposite directions. NCFC are unbeaten in their last 10 and in first place. Hailstorm are winless in their last 6 (0W-4L-2D), including a 2-0 loss to NCFC in Cary on July 26. Despite that, Hailstorm are 4th in the table, third in ppg (1.68 after 22 played) and challenging for a home playoff spot if they can right the ship.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Bridge Sports Club vs Germantown City - UPSL
  - Saturday, August 26th - 3:30p PST / 6:30p EST
    from Blandair Park
  - While most of the league have either not started yet or will get underway this weekend, the DMV North is already two matchdays into their season and we have a tasty 1st vs 3rd matchup to keep an eye on. They played last spring, on April 22nd, and Bridge SC took Germantown City behind the proverbial tool shed and whooped them 6-0. Will this be a revenge match or another day to be down in Germantown?

Jon Hunt Picks…
- Louisville City vs Oakland Roots - USL Championship
  - Saturday August 26th - 4:30p PST / 7:30p EST
    from Lynn Family Stadium on ESPN+
  - Both sides enter into this match looking to secure home field advantage for the playoffs. Oakland is 4th in the west but they are tied with San Diego at 37 points, while LouCity sits in 5th, but tied on points with Memphis also with 37 points. Lastly, both sides enter coming off a loss, so they are looking to bounce back entering the final quarter of the season.

Ben Branigan Picks…
- The Miami FC vs Tampa Bay Rowdies - USL Championship
  - Saturday August 26th - 3:00p PST / 6:00p EST
    from FIU Stadium on ESPN+
  - Miami has not beat in-state rivals in over a year and were knocked out of last year’s playoffs by Tampa and already beaten by Tampa back in April. Tampa owns this game 8 wins to 4 wins. Tampa is chasing Riverhounds at the top of the table, while Miami is struggling at the bottom. Always a good game this one, both winning previous games played. Miami has won 4 out of its last 5, Tampa 3 out of its last 6.

Rich Schenck Picks…
- RGV Toros FC vs San Diego Loyal - USL Championship
  - Saturday, August 26th - 5:00p PST / 8:00p EST
    from HEB Park on ESPN+
  - RGV will be looking to build off its 1-0 win over Phoenix Rising last Saturday. Expect RGV to stick to the same formula that earned them a 3-2 win this May on the road at Torero, their third in the last four meetings. Loyal Head Coach Nate Miller & Co. will be looking to right the ship after winning just one of their last 4. With a game in hand over Orange County, Loyal could be sitting third in the Western Conference on goal differential with a road win. With 10 games to play and an eight point gap between third and eighth, it's not too soon to say every point matters.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Providence City FC vs Loco Gunners - BSSL
  - Saturday, August 26th - 05:00am PST / 08:00am EST from North Smithfield High School
  - Fresh off their MASS Soccer Champions Cup win, Providence City FC will be looking to leverage that momentum to get away from the relegation places. They sit precariously close, in 7th, on only 9 points. The swashbucklers do have a game in hand, however, and have 9 matchers left to cement their place for another season. Loco Gunners, also recently involved in the MASS Champions Cup, are sitting pretty in 3rd but are 9 points out of first - if they want to make a run to win the league, it starts this week.

The Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Michigan Stars FC vs Flower City Union - NISA
  - Sunday August 27th - 2:00pm PST / 5:00pm EST
    from Romeo High School Stadium
  - The battle of the defending champions versus the up and coming club trying to claw its way into the playoff. Everything to love about the improving FCU attack, but Stars are a club that doesn’t give up.

by the Protagonist Staff