Once again our favorite writers, podcasters, and comrades in soccer arms have selected the games they will for sure be paying attention to and think you ought to as well. Ben Brannigan brings us UPSL Playoffs from Texas; Josh Duder also gets stuck into some UPSL Playoffs and looks at Oregon, NorCal, and OK-AR divisions; Dan Vaughn and Danielle Gawronski from the Super Show take on the USL Super League; Chris Walker from THE C looks at the USL Championship Final; and Michael Battista introduces us to the Maryland Super Soccer League Fall Final and he also peeks at the UPSL playoffs up in Seattle.

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- Sporting NTX vs Villareal NTX in UPSL, Playoffs
  - Fri, 11/22 - 8:00pm CT / 9:00pm ET
    at Willow Springs Stadium
  - Playoffs time in UPSL North Texas Premier Division, two of the division's best teams go head to head here . This will be proper knockout football. I highly encourage you to get along and watch Friday Night. I expect this to be a great game and bonus if you wear a green shirt you get free admission to the game.

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- Foro SC vs Dallas Deportivo in UPSL, Playoffs
  - Fri, 11/22 - 8:00pm CT / 9:00pm ET
    at Prince of Peace HS in Carrolton, TX
  - One of DFW’s most recognizable mens team’s of recent times Foro SC up against the rising Dallas Deportivo in playoff football , this will be a great game going by how these teams played in league play , this game is been played at great stadium so will encourage a great fast paced and skilled game , this will be worth attending on friday night if you are in the area get along it definitely be worth it .

Josh Duder Picks…
- Project 510 vs Acoreano Sport in UPSL, Playoffs
  - Sat, 11/23 - 3:00pm PT / 6:00pm ET
    at Davis Legacy Soccer Complex
  - The Oakland Roots’ development squad heads into the playoffs after routing their NorCal South division with 9 wins and a draw - their offensive output was phenomenal, with 40 goals from just 10 games and they only allowed 12 goals all season.
  - Roberto Gonzalez leads the team with 10 goals; Juan Sanchez has 9; Derick Roque is on 6. They host Acoreano Sport, who 51O beat 4-1 back in September. The winner of this will turn around and play the winner of Valley 559 vs Bay Area United.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Tulsa Athletic vs Little Rock Rangers Academy in UPSL, Playoffs
  - Sat, 11/23 - 1:00pm CT / 3:00pm ET
    at Athletic Community Stadium
  - Tulsa Athletic are the talk of the town as they prepare for a unique US Open Cup qualifier with Chicago; however, before they can bask in the glory of dueling for USOC proper, they must take on the academy squad from Little Rock. Athletic finished tops in their OK-AR Division with 9 wins and a loss - bagging 38 goals along the way.
  - They host LRR Academy, whom they beat during regular season play, 2-0, just weeks ago. The junior Rangers will be looking to avenge that loss and whomever wins will play the winner of Arkansas Wolves vs Ozark United U20s to see who goes to the National Finals.

Michael Battista Picks…
- Sharktopus FC vs FC International in UPSL, Playoffs
  - Sat, 11/23 - 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET
    at Nathan Hale HS in Seattle, WA
  - Two expansion sides meet in the UPSL PNW, Washington Conference semifinal. Sharktopus, a social media darling from USOC Qualifying, finished second in the regular season and is coming off winning the Cascadia Premier League (CPL) Division 1 title in its debut season earlier this summer. International’s first season in the conference saw them finish third, with the Olympia based squad led in goals by Forward Jesus Flores (13).

Danielle Gawronski Picks…
- Carolina Ascent FC vs Dallas Trinity FC in USL Super League
  - Sat, 11/23 - 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
    at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC
  - Its a matchup between number two and number three in the table as they battle it out to stay at the top. Carolina just suffered their first loss, 1-2 away to Tampa Bay Sun. Dallas are trending up, as they are on a 6 game unbeaten run - tied with Carolina with the fewest league losses (just the one) this game is super important.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Ft Lauderdale United vs DC Power FC in USL Super League
  - Sat, 11/23 - 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET
    at FTL UTD Stadium in Davie, FL
  - Ok, so it doesn’t look great on paper, with 5th facing 7th, but both of these teams have the tools to put together a fun match; they just need to do it. So, here’s to hope, dreams of a better day, and one (or both) of these teams finally sorting things out and getting three points!

Chris Walker Picks…
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs Rhode Island FC in USL Championship, FINAL
  - Sat, 11/23 - 9:00am PT / 12:00pm ET
    at Weidner Field in Colorado Spring, CO
  - Rhode Island FC, expansion only in name, are utilizing the experience of their seasoned veterans to plow through all competition. Led by JJ Williams, 5 goals in the last 3 matches and Goalkeeper Koke Vegas has really done his job between the sticks to help his side through.
    Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC has had a different path towards the USLC Final. Colorado Springs is a strong side who are well equipped for the task. Ronaldo Damus has won championships in the past but will Switchbacks FC stay at the peak of their game or will Rhode Island FC plant their flag at the mountaintop?

Michael Battista Picks…
- Das Bierhalle FC vs Steel Pulse FC in the Maryland Super Soccer League (MSSL), Fall Final
  - Sun, 11/24 - 1:00pm PT / 4:00pm ET
    at Millford Mills Academy in Baltimore, MD
  - The 2024 Fall MSSL championship, the seventh ever Division 1 final played in the league’s history, is a battle between the first and second seeds from Baltimore County. Das Bierhalle, representing a German bierhalle with locations in Parkville & Bel Air, MD, earned promotion from Division 2 in Spring 2023 and is seeking its first D1 title. Pulse is coming off a gut-wrenching penalty kick loss in 2025 U.S. Open Cup Qualifying to New Jersey Alliance FC and will be looking for the best kind of remedy; a fifth MSSL D1 playoff championship.

Josh Duder Picks…
- FC Folsom vs Napa Valley 1839FC in UPSL, Playoffs
  - Sun, 11/24 - 6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET
    at Folsom Lake College
  - FC Folsom finished 1st in the NorCal North with 9 wins and a draw. As a team, Folsom collected 36 goals, nobody was more prolific for them than Nathaniel Carrasco, who netted 13 times. Julian Chavez had 6 and Moshi Wilondja pitched in 5 to the effort.
  - They face a resilient Napa Valley 1839 team, who just beat out Real Galt to force their way into this picture. Folsom defeated Napa, 2-1 away, earlier in the Autumn and look for a repeat performance on their home turf.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Deportivo Rose City vs St John’s FC in UPSL, Playoffs
  - Sun, 11/24 - 6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET
    at Eastside Timbers Complex in Portland, OR
  - If this isn’t a Stumptown Derby, I don’t know what is. Deportivo Rose City and St John’s FC have taken turns winning their division in a little Portlandia tête-à-tête for the last five UPSL seasons. And for the first time since Fall 2021 (Seattle Lone Star won that season) neither have won the division. But they did finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively, so now they will face off to see who advances to play the winner of Beaverton vs Cascadia United.
  - Deportivo finished with 7 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws. While St John’s finished with 7 wins and 3 losses. The two sides ended the season hammering away at each other with St John’s prevailing 4-2 just last Wednesday while DRC won 3-2 10 days prior to that. Expect GOALS, GOALS, GOALS.

by the Protagonist Staff