Lower Tier Soccer | Top Tier Coverage
Protagonist soccer is a media organization dedicated to lower-tier soccer; UPSL, NPSL, BSSL
The UPSL Playoffs started with 32 teams and have now whittled themselves down to the top four squads in the league. This weekend we’ll see teams from four totally different regions come together in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to find a champion - Inland Empire FC from Southern California; Dodge City Toros from Kansas; Soda City FC from Columbia, South Carolina; and Rochester NY FC from Upstate New York (or Western if you like).
by Josh Duder
Read MoreBoth Semi Final hosts were able to get past their guests en route to the NPSL Final - El Farolito FC hosted and knocked out Duluth FC while FC Motown were gracious hosts to Columbus United, who they sent home packing. This weekend we get the West Coast vs East Coast Clash we deserve when El Faro fly to New Jersey to vie for the league title.
by Josh Duder
Read MoreIt’s the regular season champions versus the plucky heartland division runner-ups. The ultimate postseason road warriors against the indomitable home field defenders. The league veteran apparitions versus the USL2 relative newbies. New Hampshire v Illinois, Phantoms v Carp, Seacoast United at Peoria City for the 2024 USL League 2 crown.
by Ryan Stallings
Read MoreThis is it - the USL League Two Semi Finals - where the four top sides will clash to see who earns a spot in the final. FC Tucson vs Peoria City in Peoria, IL and Seacoast United vs Asheville City SC in Newport News - two fantastic fixtures in two fantastic locations. Ryan Stallings, who has guided us through the league from the first kick, provides an overview of the two games.
Let’s get stuck the heck in!
by Ryan Stallings
Read MoreThe top four squads in the NPSL have made it to the league semi finals. FC Motown will host Columbus United in New Jersey and El Farolito FC are set to welcome Duluth FC to San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium. Let’s take a look at how they got here and how they stack up.
by Josh Duder
Read MoreThe 2024 USL League Two playoffs started with 35 and now have whittled themselves down to the best 8 squads in the league! In this Conference Finals preview, we take a look at the four remaining fixtures, who’s in em, and how they got here.
Let’s get stuck the heck in!
by Ryan Stallings
Read MoreThe opening salvo of the 2024 USL League Two Playoffs is done and dusted - 16 of the first 32 teams survived but are immediately thrust upon eachother to reduce the field by half once more. On Friday we took a look a those first matchups and now we take a gander at how the remaining squads fare.
Let’s get stuck the heck in!
by Ryan Stallings & Joshua Duder
Read MoreThe 2024 USL League 2 Playoffs are here! After months of what seemed like daily games from coast-to-coast, the division winners and top challengers will be corralled and their powers brought to bear upon one another. High-flying offenses will meet stonewall defenses for the first time, now that their respective divisional seasons are over. Players, coaches, and systems wholly unfamiliar will be given 90 minutes to prove they can suss out a plan and find solutions to problems they haven’t had to solve yet. Are you excited? Because we are - let’s get stuck into the USL League Two Playoffs!
by Ryan Stallings & Joshua Duder
Read MoreFounded in 1997, the WPSL is the largest women’s soccer league in the world! Every year many players use the league as a platform to launch themselves into the pros - whether its our own NWSL domestically, or professional leagues from Iceland to Portugal. As ever, the division winners will vie for the WPSL National Title, also known as the Jerry Zanelli trophy and this year’s field is absolutely stacked with talent!
by Joshua Duder
Read MoreWelcome to the 2024 US Open Cup Quarter Finals, where we are left with three USL Championship sides who will fight to make it past 5 MLS sides on their way to the Semi Finals… and possibly beyond. Our contributors lay out the four scenarios, including a lone MLS vs MLS fixture which pits two former US Open Cup champions against one another! Let’s get stuck into some Tournament Soccer!
by Protagonist Staff and Guest Contributors
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