There is an absolute ton of meaningful soccer happening this weekend - UPSL Finals Weekend, the USL League Two Final, and the NPSL Final. We also have the National Amateur Cup Finals as well as the MASS Champions Cup Semifinals. Our staff and guests have picked out what they will be either attending, watching, or wishing they could watch if only there were a stream…

Josh Duder Picks…
- Chicago Nation vs AS Frenzi - UPSL Semifinals
  - Friday August 4th - 2:30p PST / 5:30p EST
    from Segra Field in Leesburg, VA on UPSL Match Center
  - Chicago Nation finished first in the Midwest Central with 2.55 points per game and an fantastic +38 goal differential - they are matched up against AS Frenzi who finished first in their Florida Central with an identical ppg and an astounding +42 GD - if these two teams come out playing to win we could see one of the most exciting games of soccer in the US, regardless of league and level.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Sporting Wichita vs CD Delfines de Abasolo - UPSL Semifinals
  - Friday August 4th - 5:30p PST / 8:30p EST
    from Segra Field in Leesburg, VA on UPSL Match Center
  - Sporting Wichita were first in the Midwest South with a +41 goal differential and only allowed 4 goals all year! They are led by Vitor Geromel, who had 10 of their goals this season. They take on CD Delfines de Abasolo, who won their Arizona Conference with a 2.5 ppg average and have the lowest GD in the semifinals at just +26 but are led by Bryan Medina who has 16 goals this year and can provide a real spark.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- USASA National Amateur Cup
  - Friday, August 4th and Saturday the 5th - 5:00p PST / 8:00p EST
    from Bettendorf, Iowa on YouTube
  - The top competition for amateur teams independent of league play comes to it’s 2023 chapter’s close this weekend in Iowa, where entrants from across the four USASA regions’ lopsided and inconsistent structured tournaments will convene. With relatively short travel and additional rest at their advantage , look for RWB Adria to claim the defacto title match over Newtown Pride in game one. With a more consistent roster, Mesoamerica-San Carlos FC will then spring an “upset” over just-closed-the-USL2-season Tobacco Road. Adria then claims the title, and a USOC berth, over the California side in the final.

Danielle Gawronski Picks…
- Tulsa Athletic vs Apotheos FC - NPSL Final
  - Saturday August 5th - 5:30p PST / 8:30p EST
    from Solder Field at Rogers State University on ELEVEN
  - Because it’s really the only thing in the lower division that has meaning to it, everything else is regular season, this is for all the marbles. Athletic have had a tough rode to get here, defeating the #1 team in the league. Keep your eyes on Luis Flores who scored a hat trick in the semi final.
- A Second Shout from Dan Vaughn
  - Tulsa has been close but this weekend we get to see if they can make it to the top of the mountain. It’s been a wild season and I can’t wait to see how this ends.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- Ballard FC vs Lionsbridge - USL League Two FINAL
  - Saturday August 5th - 7:00p PST / 10:00p EST
    from Starfire Sports Center on YouTube
  - As the sun sinks lower into far western horizons this Saturday evening, the Battle of The Bridges will kickoff for the USL League 2 national title. Both Lionsbridge and Ballard have been consistent in their successes so far in their relatively short lower league lifespans. One will leave Starfire stadium, just before Sunday greets Newport News, with once more success than the other.
    Prediction. Ballard multiple bridges in their hashtag vs Lionsbridge’s one. This match probably reaches full time with a score to match. Ballard 3-1 Lionsbridge.
- A Second Shout from Josh Duder
  - I had the good fortune of seeing this Ballard FC team play in the penultimate game of the regular season, well after they had already wrapped up their division title, and they were heads and shoulders above Capital FC - an organization I hold in very high regards.
    Owners Lamar Neagle, Sam Zisette, and Chris Kaimmer have done a fantastic job of building Ballard FC and reaching the USL League 2 Final in just their second year of existence is praiseworthy. Now, they just have to get past a very good Lionsbridge FC - a team who have been one of the best for the last two years as well. This should be a fantastic final.

John Howard-Fusco Picks…
- Los Angeles Force vs Club de Lyon FC - NISA
  - Saturday August 5th - 5:00p PST / 8:0p EST
    from Championship Stadium in Irvine on ELEVEN
  - What? LA Force scoring goals? Yes, it’s true. And CDL is always a good time in that you just never when the game will go sideways - but it usually does. I’m predicting goals! Never thought I would put ‘LA Force’ and ‘fun’ in the same proximity, but this could be a fun one.

Dan Creel Picks…
- Richmond Kickers vs Forward Madison - USL League One
  - Saturday August 5th - 4:00p PST / 7:00p EST
    from City Stadium in RVA on ESPN+
  - It’s the Henny Derby Part Deux! In the first leg, Madison went into Richmond on June 17 and took home a 1-0 victory off a late goal by Stephen Payne. Madison is currently fourth and Richmond is seventh in the league table as both teams look to continue their march to the playoffs.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Union Omaha vs One Knox SC - USL League One
  - Saturday, August 5th - 5:00p PST / 8:00p EST
    from Werner Park on ESPN+
  - We’ve passed the halfway mark and while nobody is technically out of playoff contention, its time for One Knox to prove they have what it takes. They sit 4 points outside of the last playoff position and while a win won’t make the leap, it sure would help get them on track. Meanwhile, Los Buhos has silently gone about their business, and don’t look now but they have won 6 of their past 9 matches including an away win over One Knox SC back on July 18th.

Dennis Pope Picks…
- SF Italian AC vs The Olympic Club
  - Sunday, August 6th - 2:30p PST / 5:30p EST
    from Beach Chalet Fields in Golden Gate Park
  - It’s the last week of matches in the historic San Francisco Soccer Football League and two of the top teams are facing off. San Francisco Italian Athletic Club (SFIAC), currently second-place in the Premier Division, takes on third-place Olympic Club, a 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup participant, in an early afternoon matchup at one of the most picturesque soccer spots in the U.S.

Josh Duder Picks…
- MASS Soccer 2023 Champions Cup Semifinals
  - Sunday, August 6th - from Wayland HS Stadium in Wayland, Massachusetts
  - The 2023 Champions Cup Final is set for Sunday, August 13th - but first the four semifinalists must fight to get there. Game one is scheduled to kickoff at 10am EST and will feature the Loco Gunners. The second semifinal sees PCFC A battle Fidjus de Burkan at 12:30pm local time. No stream is listed, but if you can get there - do it!

MaryBeth Zmuda Picks…
- Albion San Diego vs Club de Lyon FC - NISA Regular Season
  - Tuesday, August 8th - 5:00p PST / 8:00p EST
    from Championship Stadium in Irvine, CA on ELEVEN
  - Currently in 2nd place, ALBION'S 7 match undefeated streak was broken after they succumbed to LA Force when a - for reasons unknown - straight red booking left them a ten man team after the 41' minute.
    Club de Lyon had a bit of a slower start but has shown serious promise as the season has progressed and are a bit of a wild card.
    ALBION will have to keep their heads on straight if they're going to get another W streak rolling and hold their position on the table.

by the Protagonist Staff