If you’ve followed our coverage of Championship Weekend, you know how many men’s amateur leagues are wrapping up this weekend. Already the NPSL crowned FC Motown the 2022 Champion in a thriller of a match, which saw 7 goals! USL2 also wrapped up its season with Ventura County Fusion winning the title 2-1. But there’s two matches left for two more trophies this weekend and both kick off at 3p ET today.

Ventura County Fusion celebrates their USL2 Championship.

USASA Amateur Cup - Milwaukee Bavarians vs NoVa FC 3pM ET

Bavarians, who hosted this tournament, had smooth sailing against Los Angeles Strikers in the semi-final match yesterday. With two second half goals from forward Nick Wilson and defender Alex Mirsberger, Milwaukee advanced to today’s championship match. When I asked coach Tom Zaiss about the match, he highlighted the depth of his squad. “I said before our semi we won’t win with just 11 players. The players that came off the bench were big yesterday and we will need everyone today.” It’s hard to match the pedigree of Bavarians, who have been playing soccer since 1929 and are 8-time national champions. It’s also hard to match the depth of this club, who plays in multiple leagues and draws heavily from local colleges. Zaiss on this aspect of Bavarian program - “There are only 2 or 3 players from our MWPL team…This group is mainly UPSL players. We all train together which helps us play in different leagues…Our staff of myself, Pat Hodgins, Danny Jarosz and Diego Campos all work really well together and enjoy the camaraderie within the teams.” When you face off against the blue and white, you’re facing off against one of the deepest rosters in lower league soccer and a load of American soccer history.

Their opponent for the championship, however, has some pretty significant recent history of success, NoVa FC. NoVa has been on a RUN this year, winning everywhere, in every league. This club is the current 2022 MASL3 Champion, 2021-2022 EPSL Mid-Atlantic Champion, 2021-2022 EPSL Champions, and, of course, the winner of the 2022 Region 1 crown (how they got into this weekend’s tournament). The club’s matchup in the semifinals was an epic one with ASC New Stars, the Region 3 champions. The match ended tied, with goals for NoVa from Illias Laghjibi and Vagner Marques, so penalties would be required to decide who advanced to the championship match. In penalties, a new hero for the match emerged for NoVa FC, when goalkeeper Emmanuel Vargas stopped two shots. NoVa FC advances 2(3)-2(1).

This is a battle of lower league heavyweights, both of which have tremendous experience historically and recently. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better match of soccer to watch today. This matchup is so tight, I can’t pick a winner.

UPSL National Championship - Beaman United FC vs Orange County FC 3PM ET

I’d like to say I told you so with this one. This was my semi-final result predication, now I have to figure out which to choose to win this thing.

Beaman’s matchup with Queensboro was one for the ages, after the Nashville club went down 3-0 at the half. While the first half was all Queensboro, Beaman took over in the second half, scoring 4 goals unanswered to win the semi-final match and book their ticket to today’s Championship. 7 goals should have been expected, given the scoring both of these clubs are capable of. Alphonso Gooden had a brace for BUFC, with Alan Winn and Cristian Gomez adding one each.

Orange County FC’s semi-final was against Dodge City Toros, and I’ll admit, I thought they’d have an easier time advancing. DCT was on a cinderella run and I felt the OCFC attack would be too much for them. Instead it took a Miguel Moreno goal late in the second half to break the 1-1 tie and seal the win for OCFC. Orange County will now have to face the high powered Beaman attack, one of the best in the UPSL. I think, given the semi-final results, Beaman looks primed to win the UPSL Championship. I’m taking Beaman United FC.

- Dan Vaughn