This week our writers, podcasters, and guests took a look at some teams doing remarkable things in their respective leagues; some team’s trying to upturn the applecart and steal a playoff position; and some teams totally blowing away the competition. From the Metroplex Premier League to the UPSL, from USL League 2 to the Championship; UWS, USL W League, WPSL, and continued look at the USASA National Amateur Cup - let’s get stuck IN!

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- Lima Soccer Academy vs Inter McKinney - Metroplex Prem
  - Fri, 06/07 - 8pm Central / 9pm ET
    at Lovejoy High School in Lucas, TX
  - Two clubs that have been doing themselves proud this season, and a great start to MPL’s weekend of soccer after all the rain and storms we have had the last few weeks here, this will be a great exciting game between two good fun teams on Friday Night. Get out and have some fun and enjoy.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- Western Mass Pioneers vs Seacoast United Phantoms - USL League 2
  - Fri, 06/07 - 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
    at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, MA
  - A weekend of reckoning is upon as several clubs essentially sharing conference leads and identical, undefeated records put their unblemished seasons on the line. In the Northeast Division, it's the Pioneers of Western Massachusetts looking to exorcise the Phantoms of Seacoast United in a tilt of high flying attacks and suffocating defenses. A win for either side and they widen the slightest of leads, a draw and Vermont will slip into a three-way lead for the Northeast.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Santa Clarita Blue Heat FC vs Players Soccer Club - United Women’s Soccer
  - Sat, 06/08 - 7:30pm PT / 10:30pm ET
    at College of the Canyons, CA
  - Don’t look now, but one of the greatest amateur women’s teams of all time (notable former players include Ashley Sanchez, Natalia Kuikka, and Deyna Castellanos) have started off their season 2-0 and have outscored their opponents 7-0. SC Blue Heat will host 0-1 Players SC this weekend in what seems to be their first ever meeting and will be looking to pour it on. Currently Foothills WFC top their Western Conference Table on Goal Differential and SC Blue Heat could be looking to keep pace - Players may have to park the bus to avoid being totally blown away.

Chris Walker Picks…
- Hartford Athletic vs New Mexico United - USL Championship
  - Sat, 06/08 - 6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET
    at The Lab at Isotopes Park in NM
  - Unable to make a splash at Monterey Bay, NM United is back home above sea level ready to host Eastern Conference side, Hartford Athletic. Hartford may feel they hold an edge based upon their latest result on Monterey, but United has won every game at The Lab so far with the roar of their Supporters behind them. If Avionne Flanagan, Greg Hurst, and Talen Maples have a solid performance, United collects another 3 points at home.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Bridge Sports Club vs MSI Pro - UPSL
  - Sat, 06/08 - 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
    at Troy Park, Field 1
  - Bridge Sports Club have played 9, won 9 and are one of only a handful of “invincible” clubs left in the league. They’re first place in the DMV North on 27 pts and a +25 Goal Differential (led by Chee-Behn with 3 goals and 8 other players with at least a goal) and only have two regular season games to go; a win this weekend will clinch the division for them. MSI Pro, however, may have alternate plans - they are 2nd and are just 5 points out of the top spot with two games to go. A win this weekend could upturn Bridge Sports’ proverbial unbeaten apple cart.

Michael Battista Picks…
- Tobacco Road FC (NC) vs Terminus FC (GA) - USASA Region III Amateur Cup Group Stage (Match 3)
  - Sat, 06/08 - 5:00pm CT / 8:00pm ET
    at MESA Soccer Complex – Greer, SC
  - Defending USASA Region III champion Tobacco Road FC is fresh off playing in The Soccer Tournament and will want to reclaim their regional title. Terminus FC won the Georgia Adult State Cup to qualify for regionals and are a top team in the Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League. This will be both team’s third game in two days and both are looking to finish atop their group and qualify for Sunday’s Region III Final. The regional champion qualifies for the National Amateur Cup in July, with a historic trophy and 2025 U.S. Open Cup spot up for grabs.

Josh Duder Picks…
- NY Renegades vs Brooklyn FC II - UPSL
  - Sat 06/08 - 2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET
    at Aviator Sports and Event Center, Field 1
  - Another of the UPSL’s invincibles are the NY Renegades, who have 8 wins from 8 played and have two games to go to seal the division. This weekend, they play away to Brooklyn FC II and while Brooklyn are 3rd, they are well out of range of the playoffs. Lurking in 2nd are NY Bravehearts, who could be looking to overtake Renegades in the final two weeks - they’ll be working on a win of their own and keeping their fingers crossed that Brooklyn FC II can get a shock result vs Renegades.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Palm City Americanas vs TLH Reckoning - USL W League
  - Sun, 06/09 - 8:00am PT / 11:00am ET
    at The Football Farm in Palm City, FL
  - The country’s angriest eagle is battling to stay in playoff contention and looks to get an important 3 points at home against Reckoning. The visiting side looks ripe for the picking, with a single win so far this season. I expect the eagle to fly high in this one!

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- Dallas Atletico vs Dallas Deportivo - Metroplex Prem
  - Sun, 06/09 - 7:00pm Central / 8:00pm ET
    at Willis C.Winters PK,100 S Glasgow in Dallas, TX
  - Now that the rains have subsided please god here in Texas at last. We have the battle for bragging rights in The Big D between two fresh and exciting teams in Dallas Atletico and Dallas Deportivo Central. This is going be a fun , fast and exciting game to wrap the weekend , get along and enjoy a big fun Dallas Sized Soccer Derby.

John Howard-Fusco Picks…
- Philadelphia Soccer Club vs Oaklyn United - EPSL
  - Sun, 06/09 - 3:00am PT / 6:00pm ET
    at Tiger Field, Philadelphia PA
  - As playoffs sometimes do, top seeds get knocked off. And Oaklyn United did just that, taking out Alloy SC and earning their way to the finals. Waiting for them will be PSC, who spent the season chasing after Alloy SC in second place. Now PSC gets a chance to have the last laugh, so to speak, and win the final. Can Oaklyn pull off another upset?

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- Hudson Valley Hammers vs Long Island Rough Riders - USL League 2
  - Sun, 06/09 - 3:00pm PT / 6:00pm ET
    at the Mitchel Athletic Complex
  - Another match will long-term season and postseason repercussions, the Metropolitan Division #1 and #2 collided on Long Island on Saturday. For Hudson Valley, its a chance for the Hammers to prove their mettle and that they aren’t the same lads that wilted just enough late in season to allow the Rough Riders the conference title. For Long Island, assuming the conference lead, at Hudson Valley’s expense, would satisfy them enough for now.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Penn Fusion Soccer Academy vs Real Central NJ - WPSL
  - Sun, 06/09 - 3:00pm PT / 6:00pm ET
    at Penn Fusion Turf Field
  - Penn Fusion is sitting on top of the WPSL’s Mid Atlantic Colonial Division, but it’s very early in the season and they’ve only played two matches. Real Central New Jersey will be a big test for Fusion, as the club is coming off its first loss of the season and looking to bounce back on the road. It’s a battle of 1 vs 3 in the division and should impact the standings.

Josh Duder Picks…
- SG Tormenta FC vs Greenville Triumph SC - USL League One, Jägermeister Cup (Matchday 4)
  - Sun, 06/09 - 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET
    at Tormenta Stadium in Statesboro, GA
  - Greenville Triumph are having an outstanding season so far; they are second in the regular season league table and are atop Group 1 in the Jägermeister Cup. On Sunday they travel to Tormenta, who are bottom of their Group and desperately need a win to have any chance of stealing the Group. Tormenta lost away to Triumph in the Cup back on May 11th and another loss could give the Triumph a huge points lead halfway through the Cup schedule. However, Richmond and Charlotte play the day before and whoever wins that game could turn the group on its ear if Greenville fail to get all three points.

by the Protagonist Staff