Now that the professional leagues are all wrapped up, we can look into tons of lower league and US Open Cup Qualifiers - this week our writers and guest have picked out games from the Metroplex Premier, leagues 1 and 2, the Southwest Premier League, UPSL, and of course the US Open Cup 4th Qualifying Round. Let’s get stuck in!

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- FC Chorro vs International Threat FC - Metroplex Premier League
  - Fri, 11/17 - 8pm CT / 9pm ET
    at Rolling Hills Soccer Complex, Fort Worth, TX
  - Chorro FC are looking to keep their playoffs hopes alive and it’s a very important game in which to get a positive result. The International Threat FC will be trying to carry the threat of playoff dream killers though, and all sets up for great FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS FOOTBALL in Fort Worth .

Jon Hunt Picks…
- Tennessee Tempo FC vs SCU Heat - USOC, Qualifying, 4th Round
  - Sat, 11/18 - 5:00p PT / 8:00p ET
    at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex
  - The United Heat come into the 4th round of Open Cup play living up to their name, having scored 10 goals in their 2 previous Open Cup and top of the table of the UPSL’s Mid-Atlantic Conference, having not dropped a single game with an insane goal difference of +41! The Tempo do come into this riding their own hot streak, but they have not been as invincible as the United Heat. Both sides are looking to qualify for the Open Cup for the first time, so this one could be a barn burner.

Jon Hunt Picks…
- Rose City FC vs Olympiacos California - SWPL, SoCal, 2nd Div.
  - Sat, 11/18 - 8:00p PT / 11:00p ET
    from Arcadia City Hall Turf Field
  - Olympiacos look to end their 5 match losing streak that has seen them concede 22 goals while only finding the net 4 times, and now sit bottom of the OC 2nd division. Rose City, on the other hand will be looking to close the gap between first place in the LA 2nd division Playmaker FC and themselves with a win, though hopefully more comfortably then their last games.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Tulsa Athletic vs Arkansas Wolves SC - UPSL, Fall/Winter, Playoffs
  - Sat, 11/18 - 5:00p PT / 8:00p ET
    at Athletic Community Field
    Just over three months ago, Tulsa Athletic won the NPSL Final, and here we are with them knocking on the door to the UPSL playoff bracket. First, however, they need to win their conference playoffs. Tulsa finished 2nd and play the 3rd place team, Arkansas Wolves - they last played each other on October 21st and the Athletics managed a 2-1 away win. The winner of this game goes onto their conference final to take on the winner of SKC Academy vs Arkansas Legacy.

Rich Schneck Picks…
- Chicago House AC vs Valhalla FC - USOC, Qualifying, 4th Round
  - Sat, 11/18 - 12:00p PT / 3:00p ET
    at Charity Lucas Soccer Stadium in Milford, OH
  - House looks to punch their ticket to the big dance after a tough 3-1 win against league rival Edgewater Castle FC in the third round. Valhalla FC, undefeated and top of the table in the OVPL-River in 2023 looks to keep on rolling in the “Win and In” showdown. Expect House to come out aggressive and look to replicate their early scoring from the previous round.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Northern Virginia FC vs Christos FC - USOC, Qualifying, 4th Round
  - Sat, 11/18 - 4:00p PT / 7:00p ET
    at Segra Field in Leesburg, VA
  - Nova FC currently sit atop their Mid-Atlantic Conference table in the EPSL but have finished their fixture list for 2023 and can fully focus on their USOC qualifier clash with Christos FC. Christos have nearly completed their MSSL season and might have one eye on the league semfinal next Wednesday vs Ristozi FC. Northern Virginia have been imperious in league play and peerless so far in the USOC qualifiers; beating DCFC 4-1 in the Second Round and 2-1 away to Yinz United in the Third Round. Fingers crossed there is a stream of this game - it should be a heckuva ding dong!

MaryBeth Zmuda Picks…
- Chiriaco FC vs Santa Ana Winds - UPSL Fall/Winter, Playoffs
  - Sat, 11/18 - 8:00p PT / 11:00p EST
    at Lake Forest Sports Park
  - Chiriaco FC are in a run away first place in their division and have scored FIFTY THREE goals thus far on the season. Santa Ana wins Winds FC are in 3rd place and have scored 38 goals to date. (There are only 2 other teams in this division that have scored 30 or more goals. ) So with some obvious fire power on both sides, this could be a crazy high scoring, fun match to watch.

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- La Liga Academy Dallas vs International Fort Worth - MPL2
  - Sun, 11/19 - 6pm CT / 7pm ET
    at Polytechnic HS in Fort Worth, TX
  - Second in the east against second in the west of MPL2. Almost identical records in their respective divisions; this is very much a key game in the playoffs race, and definitely a game to watch in FW this Sunday for your SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL kick.

Josh Duder Picks…
- FC Folsom vs International San Francisco - USOC, Qualifying, 4th Round
  - Sun, 11/19 - 5:00p PT / 8:00p ET
    at Livermore Community Park in Folsom, CA
  - Inter San Francisco lost a tough SFSFL Final back on August 20th, 1-3 to Olympic Club, then exacted their revenge in the first two rounds of USOC qualifiers; winning away over league foes SF Vikings 1-0 in Round One then clobbering Olympic Club 4-1 in Round Two. Round Three saw them travel to Seattle, where they beat a media darling Sharktopus 4-2 in an early game. Now they are away again in an attempt to seal their place in the US Open Cup proper and face FC Folsom in Livermore, California.
    For what its worth, Folsom have also earned their way to this final qualifying stanza - they started in Round One with a 3-2 away win in Nevada; beat UC Davis 2-1 at home in Round Two; and put up a slew of goals, winning 5-3 at home against Valley 559 in the Third Round. If both teams show up to play, and not get bogged down in “not losing” this could really be a barn-burner.

John Howard-Fusco Picks…
- Vereinigung Erzgebirge vs NJ Alliance FC - USOC, Qualifying, 4th Round
  - Sun, 11/19 - 11:00a PT / 2:00p ET
    at Vereinigung Erzgebirge Clubhouse in Warminster, PA
  - Always fun when two regional amateur powerhouses meet with something on the line. VE has a chance to get back to the Open Cup in their comfy Bucks County confines. The club had qualified in 2020 but, well, y’know. NJ Alliance is trying to get there for the first time. The club from Newark, NJ is currently 3rd in the UPSL Premier’s Northeast-American division.

by the Protagonist Staff