Once again, week after week, our contributors and friends pick out the games that they find most interesting - the games with the highest stakes, interesting matchups, and players who you have to watch. This week we have games from BSSL, USL League One, USL Championship, EPSL, UPSL, and the Metroplex Premier League!

Josh Duder Picks…
- Albania SC vs Providence City FC - BSSL
  - Saturday, September 23rd - 5:00p PST / 8:00p EST
    from Roxbury HS Field
  - With only 6 matchdays left, every game counts - especially for the clubs embroiled in the relegation battle. Providence FC sits just one point above the drop zone and travel away to Albania SC who are in the thick of it. While Albania SC have just 4 points, it's less and less likely each week that they can avoid heading down but Providence FC have a chance to save themselves and you have to beat the teams below you to do that.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Flower City Union vs Michigan Stars FC - NISA
  - Saturday, September 23rd - 3:00p PST / 6:00p EST
    from Falcon Park Stadium in Auburn, NY
  - Michigan Stars are the defending champions of NISA, but currently sit in the 5th spot on the table. But this club has what no one else has, games in hand. In fact, the Stars have 3 matches in hand against the two clubs above them in the standings, now they have to take advantage of that and get points to close the gap on a home playoff match. We’ll see if they can do that against fellow playoff team, Flower City Union.

Harry Austin Picks…
- San Antonio FC vs Orange County SC - USL Championship
  - Saturday, September 23rd - 5:30p PST / 8:30p EST
    from Toyota Field on ESPN+
  - The battle for the second seed will get started in San Antonio between Orange County and SAFC. In the first of two matches in the next three weeks. Orange County is unbeaten in its last five away matches, while San Antonio is on a six game winless streak, and have not won since August 16th. A win by SAFC would put them 7 points up on OCSC with OCSC having 4 games to make up that difference.

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- Northern Colorado Hailstorm vs North Carolina FC - USL League One
  - Saturday, September 23rd - 6:00p PST / 9:00p EST
    from Future Legends Complex on ESPN+
  - Top v second, what more do we want? Unusual form for top team NCFC with three losses in last five games and just two wins. NCFC unbeaten in five games. H2H - NCHFC 3 wins including last game, but NCFC did win during summer game in July. Feel this has game of weekend type feel to it at the business end of season, stat lines for each team is pretty similar too, both won 15 games up in the 1.8s in goals per games too. So I’m hoping for a really exciting game, fun fact I played against NCFC coach Eamon Zayed in All Ireland schools final back in 90s - his school beating mine with Eamon notching couple of goals.

Jon Hunt Picks…
- SG Tormenta FC vs One Knoxville SC - USL League One
  - Saturday, September 23rd - 4:30pm PST / 7:30pm EST from Optim Sports Medicine Field at Tormenta Stadium on ESPN+
  - This is the match for anyone who is hoping for some chaos and some shakeup with the playoff teams in USL1. One Knox sits 4 points behind Greenville and Tormenta at 5 points. Either side has to capture 3 points if they want a shot at knocking Greenville out of the final spot with 3 matches remaining after their clash on Saturday - 2 each against playoff teams and both facing the Kickers, who are on a 12 match winless run.

Harry Austin Picks…
- Oakland Roots vs Monterey Bay FC - USL Championship
  - Saturday, September 22nd - 7:00p PST / 10:00p EST
    from Pioneer Stadium in Oakland, CA on ESPN+
  - Monterey Bay coming off a last second loss to San Diego Loyal on Wednesday. Are clinging to the final playoff spot in the USL Championship West. Are 1 point back from Oakland who is in 6th place, but only 1 point ahead of El Paso Locomotive in 9th. So the bottom of the West is very crowded. For Oakland Roots, getting a win would put them in a solid position to make the playoffs, and turn the tide that has seen the Roots lose 4 straight matches. I think if you ask both teams' fanbases, this is a must win versus a local rival!

Josh Duder Picks…
- Lansdowne Yonkers FC vs Doxa SC - EPSL
  - Saturday, September 16th - 5:30p PST / 8:30p EST
    from Toyota Field in San Antonio on ESPN+
  - Doxa FCW have got off to a great start with two wins from two including a 4-2 win away to Hoboken 1912 and a 5-1 tonking of SC Vistula Garfield last week. They head out to Lansdowne Yonkers FC, whose first game appears to have been postponed and second game was a 2-1 battle with Central Park Rangers. This should be a really good early season top of the table fight!

Ben Brannigan Picks…
- La Liga Academy Dallas U21s vs I&I FC - Metroplex Premier League
  - Saturday, September 23rd at Foro Training Facility in Dallas, TX
  - This is the first game for both organizations, La Liga Academy Dallas U21s will be very interesting to see having recently been put together , I&I FC on other hand, have been around awhile and with good success but this is also their Metroplex Premier League debut. Its got people talking in local circles and I plan on been in attendance at this game as its a big occasion for the league and the clubs. I’m expecting and excited to see a great game.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Buckhead SC vs Club ATLetic- ADASL
  - Sunday, September 24th - 9:00pm PST / 12:00pm EST at Dunwoody Springs Field
  - Last week, Club ATLetic opened the Fall ADASL season with a win over KLS Terminus and the rest of the division had the weekend off - well, they all get started this weekend and Club ATLetic have a chance to hold onto that top of the table spot but Buckhead SC look to get their season off to a strong start too! If you’re in the area keep an eye out for this one, but I don’t think there’s a stream.

Harry Austin Picks…
- San Antonio City SC vs San Antonio FC Pro Academy - UPSL
  - Wednesday, September 27th - 5:30pm PST / 8:30pm EST from Specht Road Complex
  - San Antonio City it will be their first home UPSL match in team history. They opened up their first UPSL match with a high scoring road loss 6-5 against Corinthians FC of San Antonio. SAFC Academy has played two matches in their first season as well, winning against Texas FC 4-2 and a draw to Capital City SC 3-3. So one would expect to see some goals in this match.

MaryBeth Zmuda Picks…
- Albion San Diego vs Gold Star Detroit FC - NISA
  - Sunday, September 24th - 7:00pm PST / 10:00pm EST from Los Angeles Harbor College Stadium
  - ALBION San Diego just got a big 4-0 win in their COMPLETELY chaotic match against a 9 man Savannah Clovers team this past Sunday pushing then back up the table into 3rd place. Did the lopsided numbers on the pitch contribute to the outcome - without a doubt. The real question is, has ALBION gotten over it's scoring drout? Gold Star is flying in to put the theory to the test - stay turned!
- (If you need more soccer after tuning into all these great recommendations - may I suggest you catch the replay of the Savannah-ALBION match. It. Was. A. Doozy.)

by the Protagonist Staff