Another soccer filled weekend and the stakes have been raised for even more entertaining games. USL Championship and USL League One have started their playoffs - some games may even be underway by the time you see this! USL Super League is in its mid-season form with plenty of great games to look at. Finally, we are introduced to the New Jersey Soccer Association’s Men’s Open Cup. So, let’s get stuck in!

Del Shaffer Picks…
- Charleston Battery vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in USL Championship, Playoffs
  - Sat, 11/02 - 3:30pm PT / 6:30pm ET
    at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, SC
  - The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will face off against the Charleston Battery this Saturday in a thrilling playoff matchup. Charleston started the season strong with 12 games unbeaten and Pittsburgh finished the season well with 4 straight wins to grab the last playoff spot. Fans can expect a high-energy game as the Riverhounds look to capitalize on their momentum while the Battery aim to leverage their home advantage.

Danielle Gawronski Picks…
- Dallas Trinity FC vs Ft Lauderdale United in USL Super League
  - Sat 11/02 - 4:00 pm CT / 5:00pm ET
    at The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX
  - Battle between #3 and #4, both these teams have 3 games in hand, two wins could put them at the top of the table. This is a great game for neutrals as both teams put on a show every time they step on the field. Dallas is coming off two ties and FTL is coming off two losses, both teams will be looking for the W.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Detroit City FC vs Tampa Bay Rowdies in USL Championship, Playoffs
  - Sat, 11/02 - 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
    at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, MI
  - DCF faithful will tell you they knew all along that they would finish with a home playoff game clinched… Now City host Tampa Bay Rowdies at atmospheric Keyworth Stadium. Detroit beat Tampa, away, 3-2 back on August 21st and they drew 1-1 in July.
    Rowdies’ Manuel Arteaga and Cal Jennings are 3rd & 4th in the Golden Boot race with 32 goals between them. While Detroit had the second-lowest goal haul of all the teams in the playoffs, they also allowed the second-least - less than a goal a game all year. A must watch battle between two iconic American soccer teams.

Michael Battista Picks…
- Princeton International FC vs Jersey Shore Boca in the NJSA’s Men’s Open Cup, Round One
  - Sun, 11/03 - 7:30pm PT / 10:30am ET
    at The Hun School of Princeton, Princeton, NJ
  - New Jersey’s oldest soccer competition kicks off its 108th edition this weekend with two hungry teams. FC PINT is fifth in the Garden State Soccer League’s Championship A Central Division after seven games (3 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses). Boca, which joined the Eastern Premier Soccer League’s Delaware River Conference ahead of this season, has been struggling with only one point in its first five games (0 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses).
    The winner of this game moves on to the Round of 16, where they will face SC Vistula Garfield SC Eagles from the GSSL Premier Division. Remember, the winner of this tournament represents the Garden State in the 2025 USASA Region I Amateur Cup, which leads to the 2025 National Amateur Cup, who’s champion qualifies for the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Union Omaha vs Richmond Kickers in USL League One, Playoffs
  - Sun, 11/03 - 12:30pm PT / 3:30pm ET
    at Werner Park in Omaha, NE
  - Los Buhos have not missed the playoffs since joining the league; have won back-to-back Players’ Shields; have, in fact, finished with the best regular season record in 3 of their last 4 seasons - only interrupted by the iconic Richmond Kickers in 2022.
    Most recently, Union Omaha struggled away to break down the Richmond defense and finished 0-0; however, if we look back at the last time the Roos visited Werner Park, it was a nightmare, with the Owls celebrating a 3-0 victory. Coach Sawatzky will have to come up with something spectacular to stop Casciato’s attack or this will be over faster than you can grab a danish at Ukrops.

by the Protagonist Staff