From the National Leagues to the Regional Leagues and even dipping into the City Leagues - the Protagonist Staff and Guests pick out the games they’re most interested in catching this weekend and they spell out why.

John Howard Fusco Picks…
- Ocean City Nor’Easters vs Lehigh Valley United - USL L2
  - Friday July 7th - 4:00pm PST / 7:00pm EST at The Beach House (aka Carey Stadium) on ELEVEN
  - The race for the top of the Mid-Atlantic Division is very close, with Ocean City and West Chester United separated by two points. Ocean City is having another great season, undefeated after 11 games. But they have only managed draws in their last three games. Two wins at home could put the division out of reach. Oh by the way, the Nor’eaters have only given up 8 goals this season.

Josh Duder Picks…
- SoCal Reds vs San Diego Surf - WPSL
  - Saturday July 8th - 3:15pm PST / 6:15pm EST at OC Great Park Stadium ELEVEN
  - A SoCal Conference showdown between the SoCal Reds, who have locked up the Coastal Division after an unbeaten season (26pts from 10 played and +26GD), and the San Diego Surf, who dominated the Plymouth Division and also undefeated (22pts from 8 played and +27GD). San Diego Surf are led by Emily Colton, who finished the season with 7 goals and 7 assists while the Reds will be leaning on Erin Healy who had 5 goals and 2 assists of her own. This will truly be a wild west shootout for the ages!
MaryBeth Zmuda also Picks…
- SoCal Reds vs San Diego Surf - WPSL
  - Though both the Surf and Reds are undefeated in their regular seasons, only the Surf collected wins in all of their matches.
    Two great California teams head to head to kick of the 2023 playoffs.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- The Villages SC vs NONA Soccer Academy - USL L2
  - Saturday, July 8th- 4pm PST / 7pm EST on ELEVEN
  - Separated by a single point on the table, 0.11 points per game, and a two-goal differential, and a draw between them in their first meeting, if a winner can be found between these two this Saturday, the victor will most likely claim the division title. The loser’s consolation prize will be all but assured long distance trip to Texas/Arkansas for the postseason’s opening rounds.
    Prediction: The Villages SC 2-1 Nona FC

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- Lionsbridge FC vs Christos FC - USL L2
  - Saturday, July 8th - 4pm PST / 7pm EST on ELEVEN
  - Everyone thought a changing of the guard had finally happened in the Chesapeake Division with Christos’ 2-1 win over Lionsbridge on June 10th. But Christos suffered two heavy defeats afterward, and righting the ship the past three matches has them sitting in third. They have an outside chance at the postseason though, the most direct path being to defeat Lionsbridge a second time and hope to win the division title.
    For their part, Lionsbridge took another loss after Christos, and still finds themselves back in the driver’s seat of the division, winning over the past couple. weeks while rivals stumbled. They’re nigh unbeatable at Townebank Stadium, which is where they’ll welcome Christos on Saturday night. May the best Lions win.
  Prediction: Lionsbridge FC 3-1 Christos FC

Dan Creel Picks…
- One Knox SC vs NCFC - USL League 1
  - Saturday, July 8th - 4:30pm PST / 7:30pm EST at Regal Soccer Stadium on ESPN+
  - The expansion One Knox is in good position to get into the playoffs. NCFC has the most potent offense in the league and looks to be making a run at the regular season title.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Chattanooga FC vs Michigan Stars - NISA
  - Saturday, July 8th - 4:30pm PST / 7:30pm EST at Finley Stadium on Chattanooga Stream
  - The last two undefeated clubs in NISA go head to head in front of the best home crowd in the league. I don’t care how much you want to ignore NISA, this is going to be a fun match to watch!

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Reign FK vs Tulsa Athletic - NPSL
  - Sunday, July 8th - 5pm PST / 8pm EST at Custer Stadium on ELEVEN
  - Tulsa Athletic has the narrowest of leads in the Heartland Conference and every point matters. While Reign is down in the Conference standings, this is sure to be a hot battle of Oklahoma sides.

MaryBeth Zmuda Picks…
- Albion San Diego vs LA Force - NISA
  - Saturday, July 8th - 6pm PST / 9pm EST at Canyon Crest Stadium on ELEVEN
  - With Chattanooga FC the CLEAR winner of the NISA 2023 regular season (27 points and counting) and the next 5 teams in a very tight race for 2nd (yep, I said 5 teams) it's going to be interesting to see how the second half of the season unfolds. Two of those teams - Diego Gomez's ALBION San Diego (currently sitting at number 4 with 15pts) and Matt Morse's LA Force (currently number 5 with 14 pts) meet in San Diego this Saturday and with both sides looking for 3 points and get to that 2nd place spot the play will be intense.
    *and what Dan Vaughn said!

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- FC Tucson vs Redlands FC - USL W League
  - Saturday, July 8th - 7pm PST / 10pm EST at Kino North Stadium on ELEVEN
  - Ventura County Fusion has already locked up the Southwest Division, but the division runner-up position, and the postseason spot that comes with it, is still up for grabs. The two sides with the best odds of claiming that spot, FC Tucson and Redlands FC, just happen to face off this weekend in Arizona. With two games in hand, The Redlands could still recover from a setback in the desert, while any loss of points would be devastating for the hosts.
    Prediction: FC Tucson 1-1 Redlands FC

Josh Duder Picks…
- The Olympic Club vs SF Glens - San Francisco Soccer Football League
  - Sunday, July 9th - 12:30pm PST / 3:30pm EST at the SF Beach Chalet (Field Number 2)
  - The west endline of the Beach Chalet Fields, at the farthest end of Golden Gate Park are about 100 yards away from the Pacific Ocean and one of the most beautiful places in the United States to play a game of soccer. With just five matches left, the Olympic Club lead the SFSFL on 31 points but play 3rd place SF Glens who have 24 points of their own. They last played one another on April 2nd, ending in a 2-2 draw and SF Viking, who are in second place, are hoping they repeat that effort as they look to pip first place themselves by the end of the weekend - its all to play for at the top of the SFSFL table.

John Howard-Fusco Picks…
- Ocean City Nor’Easters vs Lehigh Valley United - USL L2
  - Sunday July 9th - 4:00pm PST / 7:00pm EST at The Beach House (aka Carey Stadium) on ELEVEN
  - The race for the top of the Mid-Atlantic Division is very close, with Ocean City and West Chester United separated by two points. Ocean City is having another great season, undefeated after 11 games. But they have only managed draws in their last three games. Two wins at home could put the division out of reach. Oh by the way, the Nor’eaters have only given up 8 goals this season.

John Howard-Fusco Picks…

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- Ocean City Nor’Easters vs Lehigh Valley United - USL L2
  - Sunday July 9th - 2:00pm PST / 5:00pm EST in Salem, Oregon on YOUTUBE
  - Playing in Ballard FC’s shadow for much of the ‘23 season, these two sides are now vying for the runner-up spot and a postseason berth. CAFC does have the easier path to the playoffs, hosting a three-match home stand to close out the season. But, that home stand includes both Oly Town and Ballard coming to the Oregon capitol city. For their part, the Artesians will be arriving in Salem having just played a match two nights earlier in Portland, and may be caught with heavy legs.A result won’t outright solidify a playoff spot for either side this weekend, but it would give them some breathing room.
    Prediction: Capitol Atletico FC 3-2 Oly Town FC

by the Protagonist Staff