This week our writers, podcasters, and good friends of the site tell you what games they are attending, watching, or streaming then tell you why you should too! We have Ben Brannigan checking out the Metroplex Premier League; Michael Battista introducing us to the Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association Robert M O'Neill Amateur Cup; Jon Hunt keeping us up with Lou City in the USL Championship Playoffs; Chris Walker in New Mexico attending United in the USL; Josh Duder watching USL League One Semifinals. So, Let’s get stuck in!

Jon Hunt Picks…
- Louisville City FC vs Rhode Island FC in USL Championship, Playoffs
  - Sat, 11/09 - 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET
    at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, KY
  - Louisville City are having one of the best season in USL history, with a near perfect home record of 16-0-1. Wanna take a guess who the 1 loss was to? Rhode Island FC. A 2-5 loss back in June robbed LCFC of a perfect home record and the “Boys in Purple” are looking for revenge to help extend their streak of reaching the eastern conference final in each year of their existence as well. Or will the newcomers play spoiler once again?

Chris Walker Picks…
- New Mexico United vs Las Vegas Lights FC in USL Championship, Playoffs
  - Sat 11/09 - 6:30 pm PT / 9:30pm ET
    at The Lab at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, NM
  - Fresh off home playoff wins, United and the Lights continue to make history in the USLC Playoffs for various reasons. The Lights travel to New Mexico for their second-ever playoff match and look to make it two wins at The Lab this season. United, hosting their second-ever home playoff match, look to defeat a team that stole 3 points at The Lab back in July. It’s #1 vs #4 for a chance to play in the Western Conference Finals.
    The Lights advanced to the Semifinals by winning on penalties, while United battled back from a 1-goal deficit to score the game-winner in the 85’. Regardless of the result, history will be written Saturday at The Lab.

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- I&I FC vs Inter McKinney in Metroplex Premier League
  - Sat, 11/09 - 4:00pm CT / 5:00pm ET
    at Willow Springs Middle School in Lucas, TX
  - Hugely fun game in store in the MPL and should definitely be on your watchlist this weekend; two fun teams to watch and both are super competitive, hopefully the rain stays away!

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- Sporting NTX Caballeros vs Denton Diablos in MPL2
  - Sat, 11/09 - 5:00pm CT / 6:00pm ET
    at Gateway Park #1 in Fort Worth, TX
  - Battle of the North West Teams, two really successful clubs and are great developers of talent. Both teams have squads in multiple divisions of MPL and even other leagues now and these clubs always put on a show no matter which group is on the pitch. Again hopefully the rain stays away again for this one.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Union Omaha vs Greenville Triumph in USL League One, Playoffs
  - Sat, 11/09 - 2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET
    at Werner Park in Omaha, NE
  - We’re running out of expletives while writing about what Union Omaha are doing in USL League One - to make a long description short, they are performing at a level above their league. This weekend they host league rivals Greenville Triumph to see who can add another star upon thars. While this isn’t a “Derby” per se… what you have here are two of the most consistent organizations in the league who always seem to be in each other’s way for the next plaudit and prize. Both are worthy of an additional league title, but only one can move on to the USL League One Final.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Forward Madison vs Spokane Velocity in USL League One, Playoffs
  - Sat, 11/09 - 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
    at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, WI
  - One of the leagues founding members, Forward Madison, have had themselves a pretty good season; finishing 3rd, which is the Mingos’ highest finish since their inception. They’ve also earned themselves a pair of home games in the playoffs so far, treating their dedicated fans to the kind of extended season they’re not used to.
    Of course, they’ll have to get past these new punks from the Pacific Northwest then keep their fingers crossed that Greenville handles their business in order to host the USL League One Final. The pink lawn-birds handed Velocity two losses this season, shutting them out 2-0 and 3-0, home & away. Velocity, the only team left in the playoffs with a negative goal differential, will have to play tighter defense if they want to upturn this apple cart.

Michael Battista Picks…
- West Chester United (USLPA) vs Vereinigung Erzgebirge (USLPA) in Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association (EPSA) Robert M O'Neill Amateur Cup, Group Stage
  - Sun, 11/10 - 3:00pm PT / 6:00pm ET
    at Bryn Athyn College in Huntingdon Valley, PA
  - Two of Eastern PA’s best teams are in a dead heat in Group B of Amateur Cup play with only one spot available in the knockout stage. WC Predators are defending Amateur Cup champs and coming off a 24-0 win where forward Ridge Robinson scored eight goals against Lighthouse SC Reserves. VE Club on the other hand is looking to earn a massive win against their rival led by former Philadelphia Union star Antoine Hoppenot.
    These two teams will also meet six days after the final whistle in the fourth qualifying round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a win away from qualifying for a consecutive year. Sunday’s winner also advances in USOC Qualifying of sorts since the EPSA Cup champ represents East PA in the USASA Region I Amateur Cup.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Charleston Battery vs Tampa Bay Rowdies in USL League One, Playoffs
  - Sun, 11/03 - 12:30pm PT / 3:30pm ET
    at Werner Park in Omaha, NE
  - Charleston Battery finished second in the Eastern Conference, an improvement on their third place finish a year ago. Nick Markanich has given them such a boost, they finished with enough points to have won the West outright. But before they can get back to the USL Final to avenge last year’s loss, they have to get past a few tough squads left in the East.
    Back in July, Tampa Bay Rowdies beat Charleston 4-2 at Al Lang Stadium, but Battery got the better of them more recently, in September, at Patriots Point. Loads of goals in the regular season, but last week both were a little more cagey - playing not to lose in the Conference Quarters. This game will be decided by which team decides to open up their attack and go for it.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs Orange County SC in USL League One, Playoffs
  - Sun, 11/010 - 3:30pm PT / 6:30pm ET
    at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, CO
  - Switchbacks finished dead last in the West in 2019, they missed out on the playoffs in some weird, chopped up, covid-riddled, 2020 season; however, they have made the playoffs their baseline four the past four years and have their best regular season finish in their history. Defensively, Switchbacks have been rock solid, not allowing more than two goals against in a game since losing away to NCFC back in early August - and only one other time in the league all season.
    Orange County SC, League Champions back in 2021, figured out Switchbacks recently; winning 2-0 at home. However, Switchbacks were their normal self when they beat OCSC 4-2 earlier in the year at Weidner Field. Colorado Springs will be looking to replicate that effort on Sunday and move on to the Conference Final if they can shut down OCSC’s attack.

by the Protagonist Staff