Lower Tier Soccer | Top Tier Coverage
Protagonist soccer is a media organization dedicated to lower-tier soccer; UPSL, NPSL, BSSL
Amy Andrews had the kind of season any player would dream of having. She led the league in scoring while taking Tormenta FC to the top of the USL W and winning the 2022 Championship. We sat down with her to discuss her season, how she got to Tormenta, and what’s next for the talented attacker.
Read More2023 US Open Cup Qualifying Rounds head into their fourth and final set before the winter break and the professional teams declare their entrance. Protagonist gives you a list of games in this fourth round, links to search for the weekends matches, and a breakdown of four games in particular, which stand out as must-see streaming.
By Joshua Duder
Read MoreUnion Omaha had a US Open Cup to remember in 2022. The run inspired lower league soccer fans across the country to believe. Two wins over MLS sides seemed to make this team a team of destiny, even as the run would end in the quarterfinals. This nomination is a salute to believing in the improbable.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreThis week, the owners of Austin Rise FC made their efforts public and announced their club name, crest, and the league they will play in. Their passion for soccer, Austin, and each other is evident in every square inch of their new crest and every press release, and we predict, it will be evident when they take to the field in 6 months.
by Danielle Gawronski and Elisabeth Schendel
Read MoreNorthern Virginia FC had a 2022 to remember, winning titles and trophies left and right. Competing in multiple leagues, including USL2, EPSL, and MASL3, and cup competitions (USASA, USOC, and NISA Independent Cup), NoVa FC was a model of managing rosters and playing to win. This is a well-deserved nomination for Protagonist Soccer’s 2022 Club of the Year.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreIn a season that began with a life lost, FC Motown made their teammate’s memory a battle cry. The club won title after title, including the NPSL National Championship. In the Open Cup, the club was the final amateur club in the competition. It was an incredible season and one worthy of Protagonist Soccer’s 2022 Club of the Year Award.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreIn the first of five Protagonist Soccer’s Club of the Year nomination articles, Dan Vaughn profiles the equally successful Tormenta teams. The men’s side won USL League 1 and advanced to the fourth round of the US Open Cup. In its first season of existence, the women’s team won the USL W. Tormenta is the model of focusing on both sides of the ball and generating equal excellence.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreThe legacy of California Storm is one of community-building, elevating the women’s game in California, regardless of club. This year, the Storm won its fourth WPSL National Championship and announced its expansion into the USL W in 2023. An incubator of talent, Cal Storm has been impacting US Soccer for decades and this year, it deserves nomination for the Protagonist Soccer 2022 Club of the Year.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreToday, the USL W League announced its first California division, aptly named the NorCal Division. The division will finally be home to the previously announced Oakland Soul and Stockton Cargo. Joining the two clubs are Academica SC, California Storm, Marin FC, The Olympic Club, Pleasanton RAGE, and San Francisco Glens.
by Protagonist Staff
Read MoreAfter a rough finish in its first NISA season, Flower City Union heads into the offseason with plenty of lessons learned and a path forward. Andrew Hoyt, club Vice President, sat down with Dan Vaughn to discuss the club’s path forward.
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