Another weekend is here and we go again! With Bay State Soccer League, NISA, UPSL, Southwest Premier League, EPSL, USL League One and USL Championship all underway this weekend, our staff and guests catch us all up on what games are can’t miss!

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- Orange County SC vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC - USL Championship
  - Friday, September 15th - 7:00p PST / 10:00p EST
    from Championship Soccer Stadium on ESPN+
  - In at 3rd vs 8th matchup - this fixture has goals written all over it; 13 goals between them in the last 3 games and in the most previous duel, the Switchbacks won 4-0 on their home patch. Suffice to say, OCSC will be looking for revenge in this game! The teams are very similar in GPM, with OC at 1.43 and CSS at 1.32 and in letting them in at the wrong end also at OC are 1.14 and CSS are 1.39 - fun game in store, tune in.

Josh Duder Picks…
- NoVa FC vs Estudiantes FC - EPSL
  - Saturday, September 16th - 5:00p PST / 8:00p EST
    from Arrowhead Park, Centreville, VA
  - NoVa are already off to a hot start and after blasting Glenmont FC in the opening weekend of EPSL’s fall/winter season, they’re set to host Estudiantes FC. These two last played back on May 14th when NoVa won 2-1, can Estudiantes FC get their revenge?

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Los Angeles Force vs Albion San Diego - NISA
  - Saturday, September 16th - 4:00p PST / 7:00p EST
    from Championship Soccer Stadium
  - ALBION battled CFC to a draw last week, but can they do the same (or better) with the team who just handed Chattanooga its first loss of the season? LA seems to have found its golden boy in Francis Avoce (scored twice last week), so what will ALBION’s tough defense do to shut him down. Great west coast NISA battle!

Tim Howerton Picks…
- One Knoxville SC vs Greenville Triumph SC - USL League One
  - Saturday, September 16th - 3:30p PST / 6:30p EST
    from Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville, TN on ESPN+
  - For the second week in a row, One Knox has the chance to play themselves into a playoff position against the team directly above them in the standings. Only able to pull a draw against Forward Madison last week (in a match that saw three red cards), One Knox will have to do better against a Greenville Triumph team that has only 5 points in their last 6 matches if they plan on staking a claim to a playoff position. A win for Greenville, however, will put them in a great spot to avoid doing something they’ve never done–miss the USL 1 playoffs.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Kendall Wanderers FC vs Albania United SC - Bay State Soccer League
  - Saturday, September 16th - 6:00am PST / 9:00am EST from Falzone Field, Waltham, MA
  - BSSL action this weekend has 3rd place Kendall Wanderers chasing points to catch up with the 1st & 2nd place sides and they are set to host a desperate Albania United SC, who are second bottom and 8 points adrift in the relegation zone. With just 7 match days left both sides will be looking to improve their situation.

Dan Creel Picks…
- Maryland Bobcats FC vs Michigan Stars FC - NISA
  - Saturday, September 16th - 4:00p PST / 7:00p EST
    from Maureen Hendricks Field at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, MD
  - The first of a home-and-home series between rivals. Both teams are squarely in the playoff hunt but Michigan has multiple games in hand including a number of possible forfeit wins. Maryland needs to get wins if they hope to host a playoff match. It’s always a battle when these two teams meet.

Harry Austin Picks…
- Tampa Bay Rowdies vs San Antonio FC - USL Championship
  - Saturday, September 16th - 5:30p PST / 8:30p EST
    from Toyota Field in San Antonio on ESPN+
  - In a matchup of top teams in the USL Championship, where both San Antonio and Tampa Bay are second in their conferences. However, the form for each team is much different. The Rowdies have won 4 out of their last 5 games and scored two + goals in each game. While San Antonio is winless in their last 5, and has split points in 4 out of their last 5 games and scored a total of two goals. The other huge aspect of this game, is that a win by either side, could determine who hosts the Title Game if these two great teams make it that far. For San Antonio, it's time to break out of its scoring slump with Orange Couny SC and San Diego Loyal closing the gap!

Harry Austin Picks…
- Louisville City vs San Diego Loyal SC - USL Championship
  - Saturday, September 16th - 4:30p PST / 7:30p EST
    from Lynn Family Stadium on ESPN+
  - In a race to see who gets the final home slot in the first round sees the two 4th place teams in the USL Championship facing off in Louisville. Form for both teams are similar with 2W-2L1D in the last 5. For San Diego in its last run before folding, they are trying to go out in style. Louisville City is trying to make it to the Eastern Conference finals for the 9th consecutive time. But getting home field and being able to move up the table can make that goal easier.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Flat Irons Rush Academy vs Indios Denver FC - UPSL Fall/Winter
  - Sunday, September 17th - 12:00pm PST / 3:00pm EST Superior Commons in Superior, Colorado
  - Flatirons Rush Academy have yet to get their season started and face a real test this weekend as they host Indios Denver FC. The visitors have two wins from two with a +13 Goal Differential after obliterating Young Gunz 9-1 on opening day at home then going away to Pumas Colorado last week and ripping them 6-1. Watch forwards George Martinez and Jovany Herrera to get in, around, and behind Rush’s backline.

Dennis Pope Picks…
- FC United Kingdom vs Real Sociadad Orange County - SWPL
  - Sunday, September 17th - 8:15pm PST / 11:15pm EST from Orange County Great Park, Field 12
  - The 2023 Raul Briones Cup champions open up against the SoCal Premier League Men’s Under-23 Division winners to kick off the new 2023/24 season. FC United Kingdom is led by club legends Garrett Thorpe and Tim Mumford. Real Sociedad O.C. has a top goal scorer in Philip Hephzibah.

MaryBeth Zmuda Picks…
- Rebels Soccer Club vs Albion SC - UPSL Fall/Winter Season
  - Sunday, September 17th - 7:00pm PST / 10:00pm EST from Mount Miguel High School
  - Two underdog teams face each other this weekend. ALBION's newly minted UPSL team is off to a rocky start having lost their first two matches by a whopping combined 10 points. The Rebels SC are faring slightly better starting with a 4-4 draw vs City SC Temecula but then succumbing 1-4 to Escondido last week. Love to see if one of these sides can make a break from the bottom of the table.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Lexington SC vs Charlotte Independence - USL League One
  - Sunday, September 17th - 4:00pm PST / 7:00pm EST from Toyota Stadium in Georgetown, KY on ESPN+
  - This is the rubber match between upstarts Lexington SC and stalwarts Charlotte Independence: Lexington won at home back on May 13th, 1-0 then Charlotte won at home on July 9th, 2-1. While nobody outside of the Lexington organization expected them to make the playoffs in their first season, it is not out of the realm of a possibility! With a win on Sunday, and depending on other results, they could be as little as 5 points out with four games left to play. A Charlotte win, however, could see them just 4 points out of a first round bye - also depending on other results… it’s all to play for!

by the Protagonist Staff