We’ve made our way through the amateur summer leagues, playoffs, and finals. Now its time to get stuck into USL’s brand new Super League, Championship, and League One. Oh, and UPSL is up and already gettin’ after their Fall Season as well - so our writers and guests picked out a few games they think are must watch games of the week.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Carolina Ascent FC vs Lexington SC in USL Super League, Regular Season
  - Sun, 08/25 - 11:30am PT / 2:30pm ET
    at American Legion Memorial Stadium, in Charlotte, NC
  - In its home opener, Carolina drew over 10,000 fans. This is week 2 and there’s plenty of questions about if they can match that same energy. Ascent leads the standings currently and this is Lexington’s first match of the season. Every reason to expect another home win, but we’ll see if Tricky Vicky can work her magic again.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Tampa Bay Sun FC vs DC Power FC in USL Super League, Regular Season
  - Sat, 08/24 - 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
    at Riverfront Stadium in Tampa, FL
  - After a sellout at Riverfront Stadium to kick off their inaugural season last week, Tampa Bay Sun will look for a repeat performance in the stands as well as from Brooke Hendrix, who scored the club’s first ever goal. They will, however, hope to improve the nature of the result and earn all three instead of one point in their second game. Visiting Tampa are DC Power, who fell short in last week, when they travelled away to Carolina Ascent and lost 0-1. Gaffer Frederic Brillant will likely set DC Power up in a traditional 4-4-2 again and look to stay tight in defense to limit opportunities for the home side.

Jon Hunt Picks…
- Southern Indiana FC vs Lexington SC in UPSL, Fall Season
  - Sat, 08/25 - 1:30pm PT / 4:30pm ET
    at Green Valley Soccer Complex
  - Lexington SC will be making their UPSL debut on Sunday night against the rising newcomers Southern Indiana FC. This match is going to be a particularly good one as it will see 2 former LSC players - Josh Head and Diallo Irakoze - take on their former club’s U20 + some senior team players as both sides look to kick off the fall UPSL season strong.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Dalul FC vs FC Caliber in UPSL, Fall Season
  - Sat, 08/24 - 3:00pm PT / 6:00pm ET at Bellevue College
  - Dalul FC, out of Seattle, Washington finished 1st in their Washington Division last Spring and are now set to host FC Caliber in their opening salvo of Fall 2024. Dalul did the double over Caliber in the Spring, winning 2-1 on the road and 5-2 at home - FC Caliber, who finished bottom of the table, will look to limit Dalul and try to keep from being overrun this time around.

Del Shaffer Picks…
- Charleston Battery vs Orange County SC in USL Championship
  - Sat, 08/24 - 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET
    at Patriots Point in Mt Pleasant, SC
  - Charleston returns home to the friendly confines of Patriots Point after a tough 3-1 away loss to 1st place Louisville. Orange County make this cross country trek knowing they are winless in their last four matches and sitting in 7th place in the USL Western Conference. Charleston look to bounce back while Orange County look to right the ship.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Oakland Roots SC vs Memphis 901FC in USL Championship, Regular Season
  - Sat, 08/24 - 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET
    at CSUEB Pioneer Stadium
  - Just a month ago, Roots SC were rocked 5-0 in Pittsburgh then 5-2 at home by Sacramento, but have since gone on a 3 game unbeaten streak and should they win this weekend, they could jump up as high as 2nd in the West (depending on results around them). Memphis 901FC are one spot above Oakland in the West and have won their last two matches too. While they drew 1-1 when they last played in 2023, Samuel Careaga has been hot for 901FC and Johnny Rodriguez has been phenomenal for Roots; this match could be an absolute blast to watch.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Charlotte Independence vs Central Valley Fuego FC in USL League One
  - Sat, 08/24 - 3:00pm PT / 6:00pm ET
    at American Legion Memorial Stadium, in Charlotte, NC
  - Charlotte Independence sit precariously atop the USL League One table, but haven’t won a league match for a couple of weeks (drawing away to Forward Madison last week and vs Lexington a couple weeks prior). If they don’t pick up all three points, The Jacks could see themselves drop down as far as 5th, depending on other league results. Independence host Jermaine Jones’ bottom of the table Central Valley Fuego, who lost last week but had recently strung together their first winning streak of the year just weeks before. Benson and Midence are looking like quality pick ups for the suffering side and they may be able to spoil Charlotte’s bid to maintain first place.

by the Protagonist Staff