We’re back from the United Soccer Coaches Convention and the soccer keeps on rolling! Looks like soccer has made its way back outside with games in the Cosmo League, UPSL, and SoCal Premier League while the indoor seasons are really spicing up with games in the WISL, MLIS, and MASL. Our writers and podcasters tell us the games they picked out to watch.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Napa Valley 1839 FC vs Chiriaco FC- UPSL National Semifinals
  - Sun, 01/21 - 2:00p PT / 5:00p ET
    at Ohlone College in Fremont, CA
  - Napa Valley 1839 FC, who finished 2nd in the Norcal North, last lost to FC Folsom in the regular season and has since ripped off an impressive run of playoff wins over FC Folsom, Real Galt FC, Project 510, and St Johns. Now they host Chiraco FC in what looks to be the best game in the National Quarterfinals - a Chiriaco team who went 12-1 in the regular season and is led by Axel Mendez, Norberto Ochoa, and Alejandro Chavez with 25 goals between them.
- Jon Hunt - A Second Shout
  - Two California powers will be facing off for a chance in the semifinals on Sunday. Napa Valley’s stellar defense will have a tough task ahead of them as they try to stop the powerful Chiriaco attack. This matchup has the making of a barn burner, and one I will definitely tune in for if I am able.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- St Louis City SC Academy vs Florida Premier FC - UPSL National Semifinals
  - Sat, 01/20 - 12:00p PT / 3:00p ET
    at Silverbacks Stadium in Atlanta, GA
  - Six teams compete this weekend for three remaining spots beside the Columbus Crew Academy in the UPSL National Finals. The first match, a neutral site meet at historic Silverbacks Stadium in Atlanta, pits the only other remaining MLS academy side in St Louis City SC Academy against sunshine state powerhouse Florida Premier FC. The tactical intrigue will be must-see streaming, as STLSCA’s high flying, possession premium’d attack (averaging 4.85 goals per match) to the test against defensively-prowess’d Florida Premier (0.84 goals per match allowed).
    The Sons of the Suncoast will need to withstand the assured onslaught of StLSCA’s front three forwards Edin Clark (9 goals), Anthony Faupel (9 goals) and Jackson Delkus (8 goals), and solve the riddle in the middle that is the creativity of Kai Pope and Nate Harmon. IF they accomplish those tasks, AND successfully spring forward Thor-resemblant Asher Jones in lightning strike counters, FPFC might level a mjolnir-level thunderous upset as an homage to the mythical hammer of their crest.

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- Foro Soccer Club vs Indios Denver FC - UPSL National Semifinals
  - Sat, 01/20- 5:00p PT / 8:00p ET
    at Texas Woman's University in Denton, TX
  - Should be a fun game - Foro had another impressive season and a squad under them and Indios did well in their area also. Looking forward to this even though by Texas standards it’s going to be freezing at game time.

Jon Hunt Picks…
- NY Aurora FC vs NYC AlphaStars Club - NY Cosmo League, Harry J Saunders Cup
  - Sun, 01/21 - 7:00a PT / 10:00a ET
    at East River Park, E 6th Street (Soccer 1)
  - The NY Cosmo league is back in action, and the opening match will be in the Harry J. Saunders Cup on Sunday morning. The match will be the first of 14 different matches across the leagues various cup competitions on the day. Should make for an amazing day of action for lower league soccer fans in New York.

Dennis Pope Picks…
- Rose City FC vs Artesia DES FC - SW Premier League
  - Sun, 01/21 - 8:00p PT / 11:00p ET
    at Arcadia City Hall
  - Expect a rivalry renewed as one of the more competitive fixtures on the SoCal Premier League Division Two calendar takes center stage. Rose City FC advanced to the knockout round of the Raul Briones Cup with two wins in three Group A matches but resumed league play with a 2-0 loss to Buena Park FC last week. Artesia DES FC also is moving on in the Briones Cup after two wins in Group B, and kick started the new year with a 2-2 draw against Northeast Los Angeles FC on Jan 7th.

Josh Duder Picks…
- New York Int’l vs Central Park Rangers II - NY Cosmo League, John Kilby Cup
  - Sun, 01/21 - 11:00a PT / 2:00p ET
    at Ralph M. Lewis Sports Complex, Fontana, CA
  - This weekend all things are equal again and NY International FC begin their quest for the 2023/24 John Kilby Cup in the Cosmopolitan League. There will be five other matches on Sunday plus 6 more matches in the Harry Saunders Cup - it will be a busy day of soccer in New York.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Utica City FC vs Texas Outlaws - MASL
  - Sun, 01/21 - 12:05p PT / 3:05p ET
    at Adirondack Bank Center
  - Sneaky good matchup from two of the best teams in the MASL. Both of these clubs are second place in their respective divisions and stacked with talent. I think this matchup will be a fantastic one!

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- South Sound FC vs Olytown FC - WISL
  - Sat, 01/06 12:00p PT / 3:00p ET
    at Scharbauer Sports Complex in Midland, TX
  - Everything in Texas is Bigger and this is a Big Big playoff game between two first place teams - Foro SC won their Texas North division, going unbeaten and amassing a +27 GD. They beat Kaptiva 4-1 in the Round of 32 Playoff game the week before Christmas and have had some time off to prepare. Southwest FC won their West Texas/NM division but did lose a game and have a poorer scoring record. They snuck by Lonestar FC in the Round of 32, 1-0 and go on the road to face very stiff competition.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Ohio Extreme vs Colorado Bucks SC - MLIS
  - Sat, 01/06 - 4:00p PT / 7:00p ET
    at Apex Sports Zone in Elida, OH
  - A battle at the bottom of the table sees 5th place vs 6th - a win for either will be a great boost but with 4 losses from 4, the Bucks could really use something positive. Extreme, however, have only played half as many games and may have less pressure and a feel good vibe in their first game of the year at Apex.

Dan Vaughn Picks…

Chihuahua Savage vs KC Comets - MASL
- Fri, 01/19 6:00p PT / 9:00p ET
  at Corner Sports Arena
- The defending champions have struggled this season, especially in scoring goals, which is an absolute must in the rapid fire world of arena soccer. Savage has a -24 GD and it has directly impacted the club’s position in the standings. Their opponent kicked off the season with a massive win streak, but have dropped two back to back. While KC is only 3-2 on the road, this is a chance to improve that record against a listless Savage side.

Dennis Pope Picks…
- Ocelot FC 2 vs Worldwide Problems FC - SW Premier League
  - Sun, 01/21 - 7:30p PT / 10:30p ET
    at Ralph M. Lewis Sports Park in Fontana, CA
  - SoCal Premier League Division One leaders clash in what could be a postseason preview. Inland Empire section leaders Ocelot FC 2 opened 2024 with a 2-0 loss but bounced back with a 4-0 win over AMSG FC 2 last week. Orange County section’s top team, Worldwide Problems FC, failed to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Raul Briones Cup and were upset 3-2 last week by La Familia FC in its return to league play. Mark Caudillo’s side is in need of a victory.

Josh Duder Picks…
- St Louis Ambush vs Baltimore Blast - MASL
  - Sat, 01/20 4:05p PT / 7:05p ET
    at The Family Arena in St Charles, MO
  - A fight between 5th and 6th in the East may seem irrelevant, but the season is too young to write both of these teams off already. Ambush are just 1-4-1 at home but the Blast are just 1-2-0 on the road… somehow, according to the league website, this is the last time these two will see each other unless they both make the playoffs!

by the Protagonist Staff