Welcome to the first ever edition of Two x Four - a USL League Two Weekly article which takes a look at four matches from the previous week and peeks forward at four fixtures for the coming match-week. Ryan Stallings, your host of League Two The 2how get us started.

Lest We FOURget - Four Games From Last Week

Matchday photo from Des Moines Menace Facebook Page

Monterey Bay FC2 2 - 1 San Francisco City FC

A storybook opening match for an expansion club already a story, Monterey Bay FC2 entered the league with their second team set at Rabobank Stadium in the community of Salinas. The club gave Salinas a team of their own to celebrate, and it was one of Salinas’ own that gave them reason for celebration as native son Willy Miranda scored both goals, a first in team history and a game winner, for the home side.an attacker.

Louisiana Krewe FC 11 - 0 Blue Goose SC

o, your eyes do not mislead you. Louisiana Krewe FC returns an inaugural League 2 side that lurked near Texas United and Mississippi Brilla in the Mid-South for their second season, and those newly minted veterans feasted on a visiting Shreveport side that elected to field mostly high school-aged academy players. Perhaps a 2027 Bue Goose side will reap the reward of lessons learned and growth from the Goslings this past weekend at Ragin’ Cajun Soccer Complex. For now, the only reapers are the Krewe and their eleven point goal differential to commence the conference race.

Project 510 6 - 2 Davis Legacy SC

The kids are baaaackkkkk. Project 510, Oakland Root’s top academy side, kicked off their Southwest-turned-NorCal Division crown-defending campaign like the 2022 season never stopped, dispatching of Davis Legacy SC. The young guns actually trailed at the half, but poured on the offensive firepower in the second. The 510s contributed to a three win, thirteen goal output for the Oakland club umbrella on the weekend, following up victorious efforts from the Roots and USLW debutante Oakland Soul. Keep this side, and club, on your radar throughout the summer.

Des Moines Menace 4 - 0 St. Charles FC

The inarguable flagship program of the league, Des Moines Menace were gracious enough to go on the road in their 29th season opener. Their graciousness towards league newcomers St Charles FC ended there though, as the Menace poured on the attacking play, and the goals, in Missouri. Their not-so-goodwill tour continues against FC Wichita this weekend, after which we may have to note the national title, as it has so many times in years past, may again pass through the Iowa capitol.

Looking FOURward - Four Games This Week

Matchday photo from Project 51O Facebook Page

Minneapolis City SC vs St. Croix Legends

Saturday, 7:00 PM CST
Calling back to Dominic Jose Bisogno’s thoughts in Protagonist’s season preview, ‘Circle The Date: USL League 2 here: “...These two clubs were Minnesota’s only two representatives in League Two last year and they played some eventful matches, including 1-0 wins for both clubs and a 3-3 draw in between. St. Croix surprised many by finishing above the Crows last year and this season opener is full of narratives. With their conference reshaped to give both clubs a shot at a high table finish, the winner of this first-day game could put themselves in a very promising position.
In a newly formed conference, sans Des Moines, the would-be victor in this match will throw down the gauntlet for a title tilt.

Fort Wayne FC vs Kings Hammer FC

Saturday, 7:00 PM CST
Another preseason must-watch match pick from Protagonist contributors, yours truly noted:“...Kings Hammer FC and Fort Wayne Fc appear poised to vie for the title in 2023. For Kings Hammer, a title would be the pinnacle of their steady rise from a third place finish in 2021 and second place result in 2022. For Fort Wayne, the divisional crown would cap a meteoric improvement from near bottom of the table two years ago to knocking on the door of earning a postseason berth Both sides will make their case to write a title achieving story this year early on, as Fort Wayne welcomes KHFC to Bishop John D’Arcy Stadium in the teams’ season opener this Saturday.”

AFC Ann Arbor vs Kalamazoo FC

Saturday, 7:00 PM CST
Protagonist Editor-In-Chief Dan Vaughn clocked this tilt several weeks ago in Protagonist’s can’t miss preview: “Last season, Kalamazoo won the Great Lakes Division by a single point, while AFCAA was third back, three points short of KFC. This early matchup in the season could be a big deal in the final standings. If Ann Arbor hopes to change the course of the division, this home match is vital.”

Oly Town FC vs PDX FC

Sunday, 1:00 PM PST
Two sides from whom perhaps much more was expected in 2022, the Portland and Olympia sides get an early opportunity for three points on the bounce back in 2023. A winner in this game may be in the hunt of last year’s postseason sides, Capital FC and Ballard FC, before the month closes out.

Written by Ryan Stallings
Edited by Joshua Duder