The Short Shift

(17) Georgia FC at (2) SCU Heat

Saturday July 9th, 11:00 AM ET

Travel Time/Distance: 3.5 hrs, 219 miles, each way

Georgia leads at halftime, 1-0.

This match kicked off last weekend, but was abandoned due to extended lightning delays at precisely the same moment as the half time whistle was blown. The teams return to the pitch six days later to see out the final forty-five minutes today. Last week’s act saw the South Carolinian hosts pressing the possession and shot opportunities, but Georgia FC’s countering ability nearly found a second before the half.

Expect the surprise extended halftime break to aid the hosts today, and the time to collect themselves after being down early to their visiting opponents should position them to at least find a tyng goal in the shortened playtime today. Hosts should be favored in potential decision by PKs as well.

Prediction: SCU Heat 1(4) - 1(3) Georgia FC

The ‘Playing with House Money’ Match

(16) Florida Soccer Soldiers at (18) GOSA Spurs

Saturday, July 9th

Travel Time/Distance: 3.5 hrs, 235 miles, each way

The Florida conferences are still sorting out their round of 32 matches this weekend, as the Florida South and Florida Central champions have to play through one another for a chance at taking down the Florida West victors in the sweet sixteen. One would be forgiven for seeing the FSS and GOSA names and assuming this was a near inevitable matchup, as both clubs tend to be consistently in top 2 or 3 of their respective conferences. However, this season didn’t play out as smoothly for either team, as GOSA finished the regular season deep in the wild card spot at 5th (out of 8) and FSS found themselves an even deeper 7th(out of 14).

GOSA has apparently saved their best soccer for the end of the season, having reeled off five straight away day victories, including three in the postseason vs Orlando City Academy, Jacksonville FC and Oceanway FC. They’ll try their hand at playing hosts today against an FSS side that has proven quite comfortable playing the away day spoiler in their previous three postseason matches. Those hands will be full attempting to slow the Soccer Soldiers’ high flying attack lead by Pascual Calderaro and his 14 goals in all competitions, so far.

Whichever side wins will get to keep one of the biggest surprise postseason streaks alive to Lakeland, where, fittingly enough, their hosts, Lakeland United, have been on a cinderella run of their own, having started the postseason in 5th place (out of 8).

Prediction: GOSA Spurs 1 - 2 Florida Soccer Soldiers

Of Bats & Bulls

(4) Murcielagos FC at (15) Dodge City Toros FC

Saturday, July 9th

Travel Time/Distance: 13.5 hrs, 911 miles, each way

Everyone’s favorite faux-louis vuitton screen printed club will be flapping out long distance from the mountains of Utah to the prairies of Kansas in this matchup pitting a perennial contender in Murcielagos FC against league rookies in Dodge City Toros. The “mountain bats” survived a close affair vs Boise Cutthroats to be awarded the visit, while Dodge City earned hosting rights behind a Midwest-South regular season crown and a 3-1 victory over Des Moines United FC.

Prediction: The Toros are spring bulls, not chickens. The rookie side will wear down the visitors coming in off their 13+ hour drive and move on to the quarterfinals.

DCTFC 3 - 2 Murcielagos FC

A Measure of True Grit

(16) UDA at (3) River Valley Bully’s SC

Sunday, July 10th, 9:00 AM CT

Travel Time/Distance: 12.5 hrs, 852 miles, each way

UDA Soccer handled their postseason run entirely from their home confines so far this postseason, first dispatching cross border rivals in Amarillo’s Tapatio FC and El Paso’s Southwest FC before surviving PKs last week against the Texas-South champions, San Antonio Surf. In reward, the Lac Cruces, NM side will travel twelve and half hours to Fort Smith, Arkansas and pay a visit to the Oklahoma-Arkansas conference champions, River Valley SC Bully’s.

This is the fourth straight home postseason match for RVSCB, and the Pitbulls have certainly made a fortress of Fort Smith, allowing a single goal in the past three playoff contests. The boys from the old frontier marshal capitol now boast just five goals allowed in all competitions this year while scoring thirty-nine behind an attack lead by central region leading scorer Sinue Rodriguez.

Prediction: The travel and the heat tomorrow morning won’t kill the Lions of Las Cruces, but the Pitbulls, and the humidity, certainly will. A 1-1 score at the half won’t hold as the visitors eventually wither to the home ground conditions.

RVSCB 4 - 1 UDA Soccer.

The Rest of the Weekend

(10) Sporting International FC at (1) Davis Legacy

Saturday, July 9th

Travel Time/Distance: 11.5 hrs, 744 miles, each way

Prediction: Davis Legacy has been on a tear since their loss in the national quarterfinals to LAFC Academy last season. Their exaction of revenge on last season’s disappointing end wont close today.

Davis Legacy 4 - 2 Sporting International.

(7) Global Rising SC at (12) Chicago Nation

Saturday, July 9th

Travel Time/Distance: 3.5 hrs, 324 miles, each way

Prediction: Where some clubs may slip their sophomore campaign, Chicago Nation hasn’t shown signs of doing any such thing as of yet. The national finalists last year are intent on returning to the final four again this season, while their UPSL-rookie visitors from Columbus chase the opportunity to see out the final four from their hometown.

Chicago Nation 2 - 1 Global Rising

(8) Indy Gladiators SC at (5) Beaman United FC

Saturday, July 9th, 6:00 PM CT

Travel Time/Distance: 4.5 hrs, 293 miles, each way

Prediction: The measuring of men in gladiatorial contest will find the visitors victim of too much rest as as the Tennessean hosts pull away late

BUFC 3 - 2 IGSC

(19) Santa Cruz FC vs (6) Queensboro FC II

(13) Lynchburg FC vs (9) Roc City BOOM

Saturday. July 9th

Santa Cruz/Q’Boro Winner vs L’Burg/Roc City Winner

Sunday, July 10th

Travel Time/Distance, Each Way:

SCFC (0.5 hrs, 14 miles)

QFC2 (4 hrs, 223 miles)

RCB (6 hrs, 406 miles)

LFC (10.5 hrs, 683 miles)

Prediction: High flying Lynchburg FC and immoveable Queensboro FC 2 will win the day Saturday, then, in an upset, the southwest Virginia boys will depart the Massachusetts quad to pencil in their name in the national quarterfinals.

(14) Escondido FC at (11) Orange County FC

Saturday, July 9th, 6:30 PM PT

Travel Time/Distance: 1 hr, 68 miles, each way

Prediction: Hosts OCFC, fresh off their impressive win over last season’s semi finalist LAFC Academy, moves on while ending their near-neighbors Escondido FC’s impressive form on the road, 4 - 2.

- Ryan Stallings