We put out the all-call for contributions to this week’s Protagonist Picks Em and we got a wonderful response! We’re nearing the end of the regular season for many of our favorite amateur leagues and with playoff spots in the balance our writers and podcasters take a look at the races in the WPSL, MWPL, USL League Two, USL W League, and NISA Nation. We also peek at some important Jägermeister Cup fixtures from USL League One as it goes over the halfway point in its schedule. Let’s take a look at the matchups on offer and get stuck in!

Josh Duder Picks…
- Ambassadors Cleveland vs Columbus Eagles - WPSL
  - Fri, 06/28 - 4pm PT / 7pm ET
    at Hudson Memorial Stadium in Hudson, OH
  - Currently the Columbus Eagles are top of the Great Lakes Conference, Great River Division with 17 points from 7 played and depending on other results, can wrap up the division in their final game this week. Those “other results” are the 3 games that second-place Ambassadors are involved in. Ambassadors drew Eagles 3-3 on June 9th at Historic Crew Stadium and they host Columbus this time around in Cleveland. That critical game is bookended by away fixtures for Ambassadors and should they win all three, they can pip the division! It's literally, all to play for.

Rich Schenck Picks…
- Thundercats FC vs Inter Detroit - Midwest Premier League
  - Fri, 06/28 - 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
    at Mott High School
  - One point separates 3rd-5th from MI StarsU23 & Thundercats FC who sit at 1 & 2 respectively. Inter Detroit is one of those three teams and could see a significant bump to the top spot with a win and some favorable results, while a more organized TCFC in 2024 also has a chance to usurp the current No.1. A +1 GD between TCFC & Inter has the recipe to make this an exciting chase for the Division & Conference crown.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- Almaden FC vs Monterey Bay 2 - USL League Two
  - Fri, 06/28 - 7:30pm PT / 10:30pm ET
    at Pioneer High School in San Jose, CA
  - Points are at a premium for Norcal Division leaders Almaden FC, their narrow advantage over #2 SF Glens FC and #3 Monterey Bay FC 2 all more tenuous as their rivals have games in hand against them. AFC can silence much of that momentum from both pursuers with a win over MBFC2 on Friday night. Both teams will come out on the offensive and attacking play should be wide open on each end, the stakes of the match notwithstanding. Expect a final score in the 3-2 range, if not higher.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Richmond Ivy vs Lancaster Inferno - USL W League
  - Fri, 06/28 - 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
    at Historic City Stadium in Richmond, VA
  - Maybe Richmond Ivy is eliminated from the playoffs after having some of the best home support in the country. That won’t stop them from trying to spoil Lancaster’s chances of making the playoffs. This match will be a rocking good time and a major test for Lancaster’s hopes of making the postseason.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Capital FC vs FC Olympia - USL League Two
  - Fri, 06/28 - 7:00pm CT / 10:00pm ET
    at McCulloch Stadium in Salem, OR
  - Sure, these two sides are last and second last, respectively, in the Northwest Division, but I’m going to this game and by default is the game of the week! While division leaders, and 2023 USL League Two Champions, Ballard FC are in first place, Capital FC have 3 games in hand and basically 24 points available left in the season! To be fair, FC Olympia have 21 points on offer as well, so it's not too late to count out a winning streak that can see either of them break into a playoff spot and it all starts this Friday!

Dan Creel Picks…
- One Knoxville SC vs Forward Madison - USL League One, Jägermeister Cup
  - Sat, 06/29 - 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET
    at Regal Soccer Stadium
  - It’s a matchup of teams currently in different situations - One Knox is in a mid-season slump while Madison is hitting their stride. Looking to improve their title chances, Forward Madison picked up forward Garrett McLaughlin on a transfer from North Carolina FC. And, Knoxville needs to get back to winning ways if they want to make up their six-point deficit with Jäger Cup Central group leaders Madison.

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- Inter Fort Worth vs Dallas Athletico - Midwest Premier League, Quarterfinals
  - Sat, 06/29 - 3:00pm CT / 4:00pm ET
    at Gateway Park on Field 5 in Fort Worth, TX
  - Clash of Two-Cities Part 1; Funkytown v Triple D with Pride of North Cities on the line. #3 seed v #6 seed. I’ve seen both these teams play, this a potential firecracker of a game just as the temps have risen here in Big D to the Triple Digits. Two points only separated these two in league play, they both like to score 34 and 32 goals scored by both teams in season play and little leaky at the back, this may concern IFW more than Athletico as IFW let in 29 to Atletico's 21. Like I said, potential barnstormer of a game and if you are around FW Saturday, get along and watch this Battle for City Bragging Rights.

Dennis Pope Picks…
- Bay Area United FC vs Silicon Valley Rush - NISA Nation, Pacific Region
  - Sat, 06/29 - 6:15pm PT / 9:15pm ET
    at Estuary Park in Alameda, CA
  - A new NISA Nation Pacific Region champion will be crowned as top-seeded Bay Area United FC (6-2-2 overall, 20 points), the NISA Nation Pacific Region West Division winner, hosts Silicon Valley Rush (5-4-1, 19 points), the East Division winner, in a match with NISA Nation National Playoff implications. Bay Area’s Abdulrahman Algabri currently is among league leaders with seven goals this season. The two teams tussled to a 2-2 draw in cross-division league play back on April 20.

Rich Schenck Picks…
- Cedar Rapids Inferno vs St Louis Stars SC - Midwest Premier League
  - Sat, 06/29 - 3:00pm CT / 4:00pm ET
    at Creve Coeur Park Soccer Complex
  - A big 3-1 road win by the Stars vs AFC Columbia provides temporary breathing room with 3rd Place Ajax St. Louis who trails by 3pts with a game in hand, a signature win over CRI could bust this open, but a +11 GD may be hard to overcome if it comes down to that at the end. CRI are NEARLY flawless with a week 1 draw to league newbies Junction FC being the only blemish, the highest scoring Gateway Conference club in 2024 need this win as much as STLSSC with 3 weeks left of the season after this weekend.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- St Charles FC vs Peoria City - USL League Two
  - Sat, 06/29 - 6:30pm CT / 7:30pm ET
    at Lutheran High School in St Peters, MO
  - The Northeast, South Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions can all make cases to claim the title of “division of death”, but in 2024 this designation many need to be fully surrendered to the Heartland. Their top four sides all have just one loss on their record, and they've been taking out draws or eking out the narrowest of rare wins against one another. While #4 River Light visits #1 Des Moines this weekend, it’s the two sides locked in gaining (at least) the second and last playoff spot with the most to win, and lose, this weekend. The Missourian mudpuppies hold a four point advantage over the Fighting Carp of Illinois, but Peoria City has two matches in hand. A win or draw for the visitors up north could send this playoff spot race into the final matchday of the season.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Central Valley Fuego vs SG Tormenta FC - USL League One, Jägermeister Cup
  - Sat, 06/29 - 8:00pm PT / 11:00pm ET
    at Fresno State Soccer Stadium in Fresno, CA
  - The Jaeger Cup enters the second half of its fixtures and while neither CV Fuego or SG Tormenta are necessarily out of the cup, this game might be viewed as a must-win for both struggling sides to turn around their fortunes. Head Coach Jermaine Jones could really use some good momentum as his Fuego squad are winless in this cup so far; as a matter of fact, their only win in all competitions this season came on the road in week one. Conversely, Tormenta haven’t registered a win at all since mid May and are desperate for a good result.

John Howard-Fusco Picks…
- Oakland Soul vs San Francisco Glens - USL W League
  - Sun, 06/30- 6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET
    at Merritt College Stadium, Oakland CA
  - In a still-unsettled NorCal Division, where only two teams will make the playoffs, one of these two sides will most likely not be moving on to play another day. Assuming both clubs win their game prior to this one, this will essentially be a playoff for the playoffs. And with the Oakland faithful strong and cheering the home team, this will be a good one.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- United PDX vs FC Olympia - USL W League
  - Sun, 06/30 - 1:00pm PT / 4:00pm ET
    at Lincoln High School in Portland, OR
  - It’s been neck and neck all season in the Northwest Division, but FC Olympia is finally pulling away with it. This is the last match of the regular season for both of these teams and should be a fun chance for both sides to leave a bad taste in their opponents’ mouths.

Michael Battista Picks…
- FC Motown STA vs Manhattan SC - USL League Two
  - Sun, 06/30 - 3:00pm PT / 6:00pm ET
    at Rangers Stadium (Drew University) in Madison, NJ
  - First place in the Metropolitan Division is in sight for Motown (16 pts) and Manhattan (18 pts) as they both look to catch the current top spot holder Long Island Rough Riders (19 pts). Motown STA, the second team of NPSL side FC Motown, are having the best season in its history and are coming off an 8-1 win over Ironbound SC. Manhattan goes into its first meeting with the Morristown unit this season off a midweek 3-2 win versus the Westchester Flames.

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- Dallas Deportivo Central vs FC Ladera Boys - Metroplex Premier League, Quarterfinals
  - Sun, 06/30 - 7:25pm CT / 8:25pm ET
    at Allen Training Center in Allen, TX
  - Clash of Two-Cities Part 2; Funkytown v Triple D. Pride of North Cities on the line. #4 seed v #5 seed. This game is going to be very tactical and far tighter than Saturday's game , level on points separated by goal difference only and a like for like 12-7-5-0 record this season. With the Depor boys plus two on positive goals and also a better defensive record , the Ladera Boys have a 0 as they scored and conceded the same amount. Like I said, a tactical affair will be on show here but these are the chess games on grass that are definitely worth going to, if you are around Allen on Sunday Evening, get along and watch this Battle for City Bragging Rights part 2 .

by the Protagonist Staff