Both USL Championship as well as USL League One are into week two and our contributors have gone whole hog on telling you why you should watch these games. NPSL is also into week two and we have a sneaky great matchup while certain opponents are playing in the US Open Cup. The Metroplex Premier League, out of Dallas, is back in action and the MASL regular season is all but done, with just a couple playoff spots undecided and grudges to settle.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Spokane Velocity FC vs Richmond Kicker - USL League One
  - Sat, 03/16 - 2:00am (PST) / 5:00pm (EST)
    at ONE Spokane Stadium
  - You never forget your first and this is the one opportunity that the new kids on the block, Spokane Velocity, get to do it right… and I’ll be there! Velocity scored first last week, away to Greenville, but were overtaken on the road - in order to secure a home win for the fans they’ll have to come out fast again, maybe even score a second, and hope the legendary team is a little rusty to start the season.

Jon Hunt Picks…
- Central Valley Fuego vs Union Omaha - USL League One
  - Sat, 03/16 - 7:00pm (PST) / 10:00pm (EST)
    at Fresno State Soccer Stadium
  - League One after dark is back! (At least for those east of the Mississippi). New look Fuego will see if Jones ball is able to take down the cornerstone club of the league in the Owls of Union Omaha. Omaha will look to prove to the rest of the league that Los Búhos are not to be messed with even after losing multiple key pieces from the 2023 record breaking shield winning side.

Tim Howerton Picks…
- Lexington SC vs Chattanooga Red Wolves - USL League One
  - Fri, 03/15 - 4:00pm (PST) / 7:00pm (EST)
    at Toyota Stadium, Georgetown, KY
  - The USL League One weekend kicks off with two teams having high expectations. Lexington was on many radars as having the best preseason team, and with the return of Ates Diouf and Amal Knight it’s easy to see why. But they’ll have to show better than they did last week if they want to get past a retooled (reloaded) Red Wolves side and live up to the hype.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- El Paso Locomotive vs Louisville City FC - USL Championship
  - Sat, 03/16 - 12:00pm (PST) / 1:00pm (MT) / 3:00pm (EST)
    at Southwest University Park
  - Day soccer? Heck yes! For the first time in the club’s history, El Paso will be playing a day match as it welcomes Louisville City to the Sun City. Locomotive has looked dangerous in its first two matches, but only has a single point to show for it. This will be the opener for LCFC. Should be a fun one with the Locos looking for 3 points!

Jon Hunt Picks…
- Rhode Island FC vs New Mexico United - USL Championship
  - Sat 03/16 - 1:00pm (PST) / 4:00pm (EST)
    at Beirne Stadium
  - Professional soccer is finally kicking off in the Ocean State as Rhode Island FC play their inaugural home match in front of a (what is looking to be near sold out) home crowd! They will have a tough task ahead of them as they will take on a well established side in New Mexico United, who looked very good in their 1-0 win over Pittsburgh last weekend. Can Rhode Island live up to the hype of their stellar offseason? Or will the emotions of the match get the best of them?

Ryan Allen Picks…
- Tampa Bay Rowdies vs San Antonio FC - USL Championship
  - Sat, 03/16 - 4:30pm (PST) / 7:30p (EST)
    at Al Lang Stadium
  - It’s primetime this Saturday on Golazo as Tampa Bay and San Antonio meet in the Jordan Farr derby at Al Lang Stadium. The lone meeting between these two teams last season was a thrilling 3-3 draw with SAFC grabbing the 90+2’ equalizer. Each team led their conference in goals last season, so look for some fireworks in this one.

Alan Underwood Picks…
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs Orange County SC - USL Championship
  - Sat, 03/16 - 4:00pm (PST) / 7:00pm (EST)
    at Eastern Highmark Stadium
  - This match-up features two of the OG USL Championship teams. Although both were founded last millennium, they haven’t played each other very often. A big reason OC was able to finish second in 2023 is they gave Pittsburgh one of their five losses last year. A huge factor in that was OC got them at home. Can Pittsburgh exact revenge this time around or will OC be tearing the hounds apart? There is room enough to fit this into your calendar.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- San Diego Sockers vs Empire Strykers - MASL
  - Sun, 03/17 - 4:00pm (PST) / 7:00pm (EST)
    at Toyota Arena
  - It’s a battle between two California clubs as the regular season is winding down in the MASL. Even better, this one will be broadcast on CBS Golazo! San Diego is looking to lock down its top seed in the West and has every reason to think it will shine bright against Empire.

Jon Hunt Picks…
- KC Comets vs St Louis Ambush - MASL
  - Sun, 03/17 - 12:05pm (PST) / 3:05pm (EST)
    at The Family Arena
  - The Comets will be looking for their 5th win of the season over their in-state rival Ambush while also trying to secure the final league playoff spot as they battle with Utica City FC (who has 2 games in hand on the Comets) for the 3rd spot in the east in hopes of avoiding the juggernaut Monterrey Flash come the opening round of the playoffs.
- A Second Shout from Josh Duder
  - St Louis host their final home game of the season and have had a pretty awful spell against their in-state rivals, KC Comets, to whom they have been outscored by 32 to 24 and lost 4 out of 5 so far… HOWEVER, KC Comets are still in the playoff hunt and clinched spots are harder and harder to come by; Ambush can exact a little revenge as they close out the season and make life harder for the Comets.

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- International Threat vs Dallas Deportivo Central - Metroplex Premier League
  - Sat, 03/16 - 5:00pm (PST) / 7:00pm (CT) / 8:00pm (EST)
    at Allen Training & Health Center
  - This weekend marks the exhilarating kickoff for both the Metroplex Premier League and Metroplex Premier League 2, setting the stage for a series of captivating games across the metroplex. After a series of promising preseasons, all participating clubs are eager to hit the ground running and secure early victories to start their campaigns on a high note.
  Among the weekend's highlights, I'm particularly excited for the Saturday night showdown in Allen, where International Threat will face off against Dallas Deportivo Central. It's a thrilling time for football fans like myself, as we celebrate the return of the beautiful game to our local pitches.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Sacramento Gold FC vs Oakland SC - NPSL
  - Sat, 03/16 - 7:00pm (PST) / 10:00pm (EST)
    at Capital Christian HS
  - The NPSL is back in action and Sacramento Gold have already started the season off on the right foot; last week Gabriel Padilla got his hat trick vs Oakland Stompers and this week the Gold will be hosting Oakland SC. SC were kept scoreless last week, losing 0-3 to Open Cup bound El Farolito. With both El Faro and Napa with this weekend off, Gold could take a strong division lead should they earn a win.

by the Protagonist Staff