Ryan's Weekend Wrap Up 7/10-7/12

THE ROJA LEAGUE

Diablos Estudiantes 2 - 0 NTX Rayados

I’ve been a bit slow to the lesson, but consider me now properly instructed on not ever doubting the abilities of Denton’s junior side. The Estudiantes have grown, and risen to the occasion, of each match, and every opponent, presented to them. This was never more evident as it was in their body of work vs NTX Rayados on Saturday night, where the Estudiantes posted an early two- goal lead in the first half, then showed a discipline they’d be lacking in earlier outings by shutting down the veteran Rayados and preventing any opportunity or hope for the visitors that they might make a comeback or share a point.

Estudiantes have held onto their league lead atop the standings, and will play the rest of the season out with a target on their back. Perhaps it may be too daunting a task to maintain their place at the top, but don’t choose against the youngsters yet.

Denton Diablos 4 -1 Fort Worth Vaqueros

Be honest, If you were tuned into this match, and not from Fort Worth, you were pulling for the Diablos. We all love an underdog story, and while The Chisolm Trail Clasico may only be in its second year, it’s already brought much heartache to the Denton side still seeking an inaugural victory against the Vaqueros after two 2019 NPSL regular season matches, one playoff match, and two eNPSL matches.

From the opening kickoff, the Diablos were committed to setting the pace and closing that chapter of heartbreak, and they’d score first at the 21st minute with an expertly turned shot beyond the diving effort of the Fort Worth goalkeeper and buried in the bottom left corner of the net. Seemingly aware of past histories versus the Vaqueros, in which Denton had scored the opening match in all past meetings, the Diablos continued to maintain a predominantly offensive shape and struck for a second goal 4 minutes later. Denton fans may have seen ghosts of Chisholm Trails past when the Vaqueros found a score just before halftime to shave the Diablo lead to just a goal, but a converted penalty in the 61’ and a final score in the 87’ gave Denton an emphatic first win against Fort Worth. The Diablos will also travel down to Cowtown for the second leg of the clasico with a commanding lead.

Inocentes FC 3- 3 Irving FC

Inocentes was a worthy favorite, along the likes of NTX Rayados, to win the inaugural Roja League, at least in my mind. They're a club rich in history, culture, community and developing highly competitive sides, most recently reaching the UPSL championship game in the Fall 2018 season, where they would only fall to the now-professional side California Strikers in penalties.All that history and success clearly hasn’t been lost on their opponents so far in the Roja League season, as Inocentes is absorbing everyone’s evident best shot. Denton’s first team kept clawing back in a season opening, thrilling, 4-4 draw. Fort Worth, while woeful in other contests, brought their A effort to the inaugural Cowtown Clasico in a 1-1 game. And now Irving FC, desperate to improve their position in the standings after an admirable in a 3-2 loss to Rayados and a draw with Denton, clawed their way back from an early deficit to claim a 3-3 finale. Both sides have looked strong and been highly competitive on the pitch, but they’re each still looking for their elusive first victory of the season.

THE HEARTLAND SUPER CUP

Southwest Region

Garden City Potrillos FC 2 - 0 Atletico Liberal FC

The southwest region of the heartland Super Cup kicked off in west Kansas this past weekend, with the Potrillos, or “Colts” of Garden City claiming a 2-0 advantage over neighboring Atletico Liberal FC.

Dodge City Toros FC 0 - 1 FC Wichita U20’s

Proving that playing their under-20 youth to winning results isn’t limited to the Denton Diablos, FC Wichita’s U20’s traveled to western Kansas and battled a stout Dodge City Toros lineup to a scoreless stalemate late into the match. The Reds then found a late goal, and 3 vital points with it, to carry back to Wichita ahead of hosting the rest of their group matches this weekend.

North Region

Iowa Raptors FC 7 - 0 Raptors Reserves

Springfield FC 3 - 0 Raptors Reserves

Iowa Raptors FC 2 - 0 Omaha Kings FC

Springfield FC 1 - 1 Omaha Kings FC

USL League 2 expansion side Iowa Raptors hosted the North Region in Cedar Rapids, and easily swept aside the Reserves, before defeating the Omaha Kings FC inaugural outdoor side. Omaha, a member of the indoor PASL league, would put together a strong effort in a draw versus the UPSL’s Springfield FC. The side from Illinois would later find a win against the Raptor’s Reserves. The group enters the second weekend of play with Iowa Raptors leading with 6 pts, Springfield sitting at 3 points, Omaha with a 1 point and the Reserves at 0.

UNITED PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE

Panther United FC 2 - 0 APTX CDF 

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Panther United FC 2 - 3 Houston FC 2 

It was a mixed bag of results for Panther United FC this past week. They scored a win and a clean sheet against APTC CDF on Tuesday, then fell in a surprisingly close effort to Houston FC 2 over the weekend in Central Conference - South, Division 2 action.

Houston FC 2 - 1 Athletic Houston FC

The UPSL Central Conference - South, Division One Battle for Houston, bragging rights, and the division lead was as well contested, and thrilling, a match as was hoped for. HFC and AHFC competed intensely all 90 minutes,through the hot and humid conditions, of their midday match. Houston scored two goals late in the first half, then hung on through an Athletic Houston rally for the victory.

Celta Gunners 0 - 2 The Mix SC

No two teams have met so far this season in the midst of such drastic changes in fortunes. Two matches ago, Celta Gunners were a victory away from the Southeast Conference - Central Florida West, Division One lead. In contrast, The Mix were wading through their inaugural season with great struggle, trading the basement of the standings at turns with Diaspora United CC. After The Mix spring the commanding upset of Celta though, the Gunners sit in last place and The Mix are in the mix (sorry!) for postseason play.

Leg A-Z International SA 3 - 1 Clay County SC

In the battle for second place behind Southeast Conference - Central Florida East’s leading OFC Barca, Leg A-Z InterSA may be the only club remaining with a chance of knocking off OFCB. They headed off the visitors from neighbouring Clay County by a 3-1 margin and claim one of only two undefeated records in division play. The other? Leg A-Z INterSA’s next opponent, OFC Barca.

FK Orlando 4 - 2 Orlando Rovers FC

One of the better matches I watched this week, from one of the more interesting selected angles. Much of the game was partially obscured from the camera’s perch in the far corner of the pitch by the timed lawn sprinklers, but from what I could make out, FK Orlando proved the better team on the day and quietly hangs around to make things interesting for future fixtures against OFC Barca and Leg A-Z InterSA. The Orlando Rovers, meanwhile, continue to provide competitive play on the field, just without the elusive win. That should come in a few more of their matches to come.

OFC Barca 4 - 2  Macca Ballers FC

Macca Ballers gave a competitive effort against division leaders OFC Barca, but OFCB eventually pulled away for a comfortable, two-scores, win.

Royal Palms SC 0 - 10 Sporting Orlando SC

Remember last week when I said this match could get ugly, fast? Well, this match got ugly, fast. Sporting Orlando SC carried to hangover from their loss to OFCB into this matchup, and instead took out their frustrations from the week prior on Royal Palms SC, a side now boasting an alarming -17 goal differential through just three games.

Arctic Rush 1 - 1 Fairbanks SC

& 

Fairbanks SC 1 - 4 Arctic Rush

The northernmost team in a national league, Fairbanks SC debuted against Arctic Rush in Anchorage, playing a doubleheader between the sides over the weekend. The visitors held their own in a game one, earning the draw and a point. However, Arctic came back in dominant fashion the following day to pick up a victory ahead of a rematch versus Last Frontier Conference leaders, Alaska Timbers, next week.

FC Arizona U23 0 - 4 Olympians FC

Another week, another victory, another clean sheet, another three points for Olympians FC in Southwest Conference play. It doesn’t look like they’ll find a serious competitor in the conference until post-covid pay returns and the likes of Sporting Arizona, FC Grande, and Southwest FC make their reappearance. If you aren’t yet watching Olympians FC, and have them as potential favorites for the national title, you should be.

Diaspora United 3 -3 Florida Tropics SC 2

Diaspora United continues to improve each week on the pitch, following up their draw with The Mix SC last week with a draw versus Florida Tropics SC 2 this weekend. The Tropics meanwhile, have just one point in the past two matches and appear to be fading down the stretch if they can’t turn the results around this week.

Alaska Timbers 12 - 4 MatSu United FC

The Timbers certainly arently looking ahead to the rematch versus Arctic Rush. MatSu United might be competitive against Fairbanks SC, maybe.

REMAINING UPSL ROUNDUP

Greenspoint Gunners FC 2 - 2 Barca School of Excellence, FORO SC 2 -1 Arlington FC, NTX Legends 2 - 0 Real Irving CD, APTX CDF 3 - 2  La Maquina , FC Arizona 1 - 2 East Valley FC, Almeyda FC 2 1 - 0 Houston Hotshots,

FC Sharp Keys 4 -3 FC Bago, Junior FC 0 - 3  Kernow Storm FC, Roc City Boom 0 - 0 Greater Binghampton FC, 

& Roc City Boom 1 - 1 Krajisnik FC 

FRIENDLIES & EXHIBITIONS

Philadelphia Lone Star FC 3 - 0 Allentown United FC (Friendly), Santa Fe NY 1 - 0 Connecticut Roma (Friendly)

Livonia City FC 1 - 1 Grand Rapids FC (Friendly), and Sunflower State FC 5 - 0 Arkansas Wolves FC (Friendly)

NISA Independent Cup Recap – Opening Weekend

CHATTANOOGA FC 3   GEORGIA REVOLUTION FC 1

Game night had finally arrived at Finley Stadium in 2020, albeit under most unusual of circumstances. The home side Chattanooga FC would not have the usual big crowd on hand, but being able to play a competitive match again would be enough motivation. And it would not be a NISA match but a NISA Independent Cup match against an old NPSL rival Georgia Revolution FC.

The Revs started a defensive-minded lineup with Ryan King as the lone striker. The talk of the lineup was between midfielder Braham Gamarra (the man to watch from the commentators), head coach Scott Redding calling his own number into the Starting XI, and defender Noel Elder – and at age 16 was hardly an ‘elder’ statesman on the field.  

CFC came out with a lineup that was quite different from the last time we saw the team play a competitive match. Only three of the Starting XI started against the Oakland Roots in the opening game of the curtailed NISA spring season. One of the new players was not new at all for fans of CFC: Jose “Zeca” Ferraz, who has been part of the club going back to 2013. The insertion of Zeca gave Chattanooga a more potent offensive look. 

Image courtesy of CFC social media.

And it didn’t take long for CFC to get on the scoresheet as Zeca fed a streaking Richard Dixon down the right side who sent a ball into the box that Ian McGrath got a foot to before the defender and slipped it in near post for 1-0 lead in the sixth minute. Zeca and McGrath would help create multiple chances over the next few minutes, and you started to get the feeling that this was going to be an easy night for the home side. 

But the Revs weren’t ready to go down just yet. Quickly down the field after a CFC missed chance, Georgia midfielder Todd Fidler would find himself with the ball just outside the 18 and would uncork a rocket that found the upper corner and even the score. POW! Game on! And for the next ten minutes, the Revs would find some success in picking spots to press CFC, creating some turnovers. But Chattanooga didn’t panic, with defender Alec McKinley keeping things tidy in the back.  

The game settled back down for Chattanooga, and Zeca would once again make his mark, delivering a well-weighted pass to a streaking Brian Bement to the right of goal. Bement’s long putt of a shot tucked in just inside the far post, and CFC were back in front. Bement, who had been on the quiet side of things for much of the first half before that goal would have more to say in the second half.   

And so on to that second half – or, at least those of us watching on mycujoo tried to go on to that second half. But to no avail. The streaming service froze up and could not get back to live action until almost twenty minutes had elapsed. So while those of us on muycujoo fumed, the trio of McGrath, Zeca and Bement would put the game on ice. A long ball from middle of the field from McGrath would be headed down by Zeca and onto the path of Bement, and he clinically slotted it home.

The last fifteen minutes of the match saw play open up, and while the Eskay brothers came on and injected some life into the Revolution’s offense, the team could not sustain enough pressure to really mount a stiff enough challenge.

With the win, Chattanooga put themselves in a great position to be in the championship game. Along with the trio of offensive players, honorable mentions should be made for midfielder Juan Hernandez for his work in transitioning CFC from defense to offense as well as for goalkeeper Alec Redington in his first professional start.   

For the Revolution, Todd Fidler made his presence felt with his goal and his lack of fear in taking shots from all over the place. I don’t think there’s a spot of the pitch where Fidler doesn’t think he can get it on frame.  

One more word about mycujoo: simply put, this kind of problem must stop happening, or NISA needs to pick a new platform for streaming. But while the freeze up by mycujoo was frustrating, that in no way took away from the overall production of the game. The play-by-play provided by John Freeman and Dale Schilly was solid and professional. Their commentary was an enhancement to the match. 

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SAVANNAH CLOVERS 1   SODA CITY FC 2

OK – since I could only watch one game live, I chose to go with the CFC v Revs game. This game I decided to watch the replay. And evidently the first ten minutes there was a problem with the feed, so we pick up the action already in progress…

Soda City and Savannah Clovers are division rivals in the UPSL, so they know each other all too well. And it didn’t take long for play to get a little chippy, with Savannah getting a yellow card within the first twenty minutes of the game. It would not be the only yellow card in the first half.

It would be Soda City striking first, as a long free kick would bounce through a maze of players and find an unmarked Dominik Byars for an easy header in the 19th minute. 

But the lead would be short-lived ad the Clovers would push the action the other way. Forward Timo Mesa looked particularly dangerous, giving Soda City defenders fits. ‘Keeper Jack Pondywas called upon to make a great reaction save on a point blank shot. But on the ensuing corner kick, Pondy could only deflect the ball away, and Henry Banegas would side volley a shot past the Soda City goalkeeper.

Image courtesy of Savannah Clovers social media.

The second half would see both teams take turns in pushing the action to create chances. But the difference would come down to the play of the goalkeepers. Jack Pondy stood tall – literally – as he handled every dangerous opportunity that came his way. At the other end, J.W. May didn’t make himself big enough when Soda City’s Troy Paul (a second-half substitute) took a lovely weighted pass and found himself behind the Clovers’ defense. May came out to challenge, but Paul got there first and floated one over the prone keeper and into the goal at the 84th minute.   

Savannah was a little unfortunate to not get points out of this one. They seem like a club with a lot of good pieces that when they put it together will be formidable. For Soda City, the game spoke volumes about the needs for a good goalkeeper. I’m not sure if Jack Pondy was the best player of the field, but the was by far the most poised.  

Oh, and a word about the commentary. While not at the same level of professionalism as the Chattanooga crew, these guys were enjoying themselves and were knowledgeable about both teams. And I could swear that one of the guys (Don) was doing his best Josh Duder impersonation. Oh – and it’s OK to say “NEEsa” – you don’t have to spell it out.

- John Howard-Fusco

More Than a Crest

Change is a symbol of growth. It’s not about the final result, but what it took to end at that destination. As Inland Empire Futbol Club embarks on its ninth season, it does so changed. Changed from the multiple promotion battles, changed from the ongoing support of the soccer community and now we get to witness the result of that change.

““This rebrand has come at a good time, because when you are going through a lot of [bad] situations something good has to come out of it. We are going to come out a newborn creature.”

— Oswaldo Moreno

Inland Empire FC has battled with the eagle on its chest since 2011. The previous badge, while it wasn’t topping any of the ‘Protagonist top 10 crests’ articles, was still a legible and strong design appropriate for this level of soccer. So why the rebrand and why now? “I think this is a good time for us to show who we really represent. The old crest was given to us by the guy who created [our] website,” said Moreno, who intently added “ I decided to make it my own: What we represent, what we really are. It has a meaning to it, it's not just an eagle, it's not just a crest. There's meaning for us.”

The rebrand process took a few months. Moreno linked up with talented designer, Liam Broad ( @CustomMarks on twitter and CustomFootballMarks on Instagram), and began to hash out the new crest. Wanting to make sure that this design spoke to his fans, Moreno took to social media for input. This process is important for a club like IEFC. A club who has provided a pathway for talented players to play competitive soccer, but hasn’t been able to develop a relationship to the community it is named after. For Moreno and IEFC, the rebrand is about developing that connection to the Inland Empire.

“We just don’t want to be a regular team, we want to make it as a club that knows what they want. We want to grow in the community and that’s what we are looking to do.”

Aesthetically, the badge is very balanced. All the elements within the crest fit well and have enough space to breathe. The elements pay homage to the Native-American culture and history within San Bernardino County and Riverside County. The Gold star offers a focal point that keeps pulling you in.

The Inland Empire has a rich Native-American culture and a growing soccer empire. Many tribes have settled within the Inland Empire, most notably the Serrano and Cahuila. The area has birthed many talented soccer players like Landon Donovan, Chad Marshall, and Maurice Edu. The I.E. is also home to Silverlakes Sports Complex, home for many high-profile youth tournaments and professional teams in pre-season. Even with the dozens of youth and adult clubs, so few try to claim or represent the Inland Empire.

The new crest isn’t the only way Moreno is looking to change his club. Inland Empire Futbol Club is also looking to expand into the Women’s semi-pro game, an area that has been neglected in the Inland Empire, even with the amount of strong girls academies. Many clubs have talked about adding a Women’s team, but hopefully Moreno can be the one to lead this initiative within the Inland Empire.

“A lot of clubs are going out, but we aren’t going anywhere. We are here to stay.”

— Oswaldo Moreno

Moreno wants his club to represent the I.E. on and off the pitch. He wants his club to honor the past and help develop a better future for his community. The rebrand is the beginning of that change. A new look for the new Inland Empire Futbol Club.

Ryan's Weekend Preview 7/10-7/12

THE ROJA LEAGUE

A quick lesson soundly reiterated to me after Wednesday night’s Roja League action is that a sample size of a single match is absolutely insufficient to use in making future match predictions. I went a perfect...ly awful 0 for 3 in my picks for the midweek matches, and it now remains to be seen if I’ve learned from the errors ahead of tomorrow’s matches.

#2 Diablo Estudiantes vs #1 NTX Rayados

The Denton youngsters had every opportunity to hold their lead in the league into the 3rd round of games, but a 2-0 lead on Irving FC ended up being a 3-3 draw by the final whistle, and the Estudiantes gained a single point on the table rather than three. They’ve slipped to second in the standings, while their competition tomorrow night humbled the Denton first team to take the pole position. A win for Estudiantes will let them retake the top spot, while a victory for NTX would set a course for the Rayados to begin building an almost insurmountable lead in the league table. 

#6 Denton Diablos vs #5 Fort Worth Vaqueros

The 2019 Chisholm Trail Clasico was a battle between two sides looking to win the NPSL’s Lonestar Conference. The 2020 edition of the derby kicks off the clubs from Denton and Fort Worth in very...different circumstances. Along with competing for not-last place in the standings this weekend, the Vaqueros look to extend their unbeaten streak against their little brothers up north, while the Diablos attempt to find their first victory across pitches both physical and virtual in the series.

#3 Inocentes FC vs #4 Irving FC

Inocentes were the favorites to win the first leg of the Cowtown Clasico, coming off their high scoring affair with Diablos on opening night. Instead, the Fort Worth Vaqueros lead for much of the match and Inocentes would need a goal in the dying minutes of the contest to earn a draw. This weekend, they’ll face stiff competition in Irving FC, who have proven able to hang with both Rayados and Estudiantes in recent games. The winner here will remain in the league title hunt, while a loss would foreseeably remove either club from the title chase.

UNITED PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE

#4 Panther United FC vs #2 Houston FC 2

UPSL Division 2 action kicks off the league slate this weekend, with Panther United hosting Houston FC2 with opportunity for either club to move, or remain, in second place behind Crush FC.

#1 Houston FC vs #2 Athletic Houston FC

In what should be the league match of the week, unbeaten, and conference-leading, foes Houston FC and Athletic Houston FC meet for the first time this season. Athletic Houston has combined balance attack with stout defense thus far into the season, but whatever AHFC has done, Houston FC has accomplished superbly. With Houston FC boasting an average margin of victory at 5-1 this season, look for the hosts to pull away later in the second half and tally another win on the young season.

#5 Celta Gunners vs #7 The Mix Sports Club

The Celta Gunners put in a worthy effort last week, falling just 1-0 to the conference leaders Celta USA. They’ll likely carry some confidence into this weekend’s match, where they’ll face off with floundering The Mix Sports Club. The Mix could only manage a draw last week versus fellow standings basement dweller Diaspora United CC. Neither club has a victory to their name this season, but Celta Gunners will be the club to change that Saturday evening.

#2 Leg A-Z Soccer Inter vs #3 Clay County SC

The league’s two North Florida teams in the Central Florida Conference meet at Kanapaha Park (a field this author has actually played a few youth league matches on wayyyyyy back in the day) where Gainesville’s Leg A-Z Soccer International  hosts neighboring Clay County’s….Clay County SC. The teams share a victory over listless Macca Ballers, and will find much more stout competition in one another Saturday. While a loss or draw won’t immediately remove either club from a crowded mid-table, a victory would keep them closely at the heels of conference leading Orlando FC Barca.

#5 FK Orlando vs #6 Orlando Rovers

Orlando Rovers earned a respectable draw against Leg A-Z last week, while FK Orlando acquitted themselves well in a competitive loss to Sporting Orlando in their last outing. A narrow margined win should probably fall to FKO this weekend, with the slight hosting advantage.

#1 Orlando FC Barca vs #7 Macca Ballers

In a match between the conference-leading, and early national title favorite, OFC Barca and the last place Macca Ballers, this contest could see a goal differential chasm before the halftime whistle.

#8 Royal Palms SC vs #4 Sporting Orlando

As ugly as the match above could get, this one may somehow be uglier. Sporting Orlando will be letting out some frustrations from their tilt with OFC Barca last week, while Royal Palms SC remains looking decidedly shell shocked on the pitch.

#2 Arctic Rush vs #4 Fairbanks SC

It’s the debut of the northernmost national league affiliated club in the western hemisphere this weekend! Fairbanks SC travels 362 miles, SOUTH, to Anchorage in order to visit Arctic Rush. Fairbanks will need to bring their A-game from the opening whistle, as Arctic Rush is singularly focused on overtaking Alaska Timbers in the Last Frontier Conference and their welcome to the newcomers won’t be an overly warm one.#4 FC

Arizona U23 vs #1 Olympians FC

Now that the UPSL has officially announced Olympians FC as an expansion side in the 2020 season, expect the new club to go back to what they’ve done the past two weeks, scoring bunches of goals and shutting out the opponent. They’ve beaten both FC Arizona first team and East Valley FC by 3-0 scorelines. Against the FCAZ U23 side, Olympians will likely double that margin of victory, and remain one of the early favorites to win the national title for Spring/Summer 2020.

#6 Diaspora United CC vs #3 Florida Tropics 2

The Florida Tropics were stunned by SportzParadise last weekend and the resulting loss dropped them from first place in the conference to third. Diaspora United missed perhaps their best opportunity for a victory on the season when they settled for a draw last week vs The Mix. The Tropics will find their way again and put DUCC away by at least a pair of goals.

#4 Greenspoint Gunners vs #3 Barcelona SOE

While all the attention on action in the Central Conference South may be on the Houston FC versus Athletic Houston FC clash this weekend, Greenspoint Gunners and Barcelona School of Excellence can make some noise of their own in their contest. A win for either side here will seat them beside or just behind the league leaders. A tight, evenly matched affair here could see a winner slip past in the dying seconds of the match.

FORO Soccer Club vs Arlington FC

FORO SC gets their 2020 season started today after their run to the national semi-finals in Miami in the Fall 2019 season. They’ll face a prepared Arlington FC, who just reached the Lone Star Cup final against Irving FC in the past weeks.

Real Irving CD vs NTX Legends

It has been two weeks since Real Irving CD dropped a heartbreaker in a thrilling 4-3 match to Harrington FC, a contest they generally dominated but gave up two converted penalty chances and a late score in the last minutes of the match. Eager to put the loss behind them, RICD kicks off against NTX Legends, a club staple in local leagues around DFW making their UPSL debut.

#5 APTX CDF vs #6 La Maquina (TX)

After suffering two losses to open the season, APTX CDF seemed destined for a debut season spent at the bottom of the standings. But, a stunning win last week over Almeyda FC 2 has breathed new life into the club and put them in great position for a second win today versus a La Maquina side that was obliterated by Almeyda FC 2 by a 4-1 score.

#4 Fairbanks SC vs #2 Arctic Rush

The visitors to the far north from the far, FAR, north turn right around and play “host” in Anchorage in the second leg of a two-match opening swing.

#1 Alaska Timbers vs #3 MatSu United

THREE weeks after debuting with a dominant win vs Arctic Rush, the Timbers of Alaska return to the pitch against MatSu United. The AK Timbers will look to maintain their lead in the conference, while MAtSu United will try and found some consistency on the pitch that was lacking in their loss last week to Arctic.

#2 FC Arizona vs #3 East Valley FC

In a match that increasingly looks like the stakes are for a second fiddle title behind Olympians FC, FC Arizona and East Valley compete to find out which of the two sides to already lose 0-3 to Olympians this season is better than the other.

#3 Almeyda FC 2 vs #7 Houston Hotshots

They may have slipped up against APTX CDF last week, but Almeyda FC 2 are still in the thick of the race for the conference lead with a victory today. With Houston Hotshots struggling in their debut season, the opportunity for Almeyda is a solid one.

#2 Houston FC 2 vs #1 Crush FC

The best match in division two will likely be between these two, with two undefeated sides battling for the conference lead on Sunday night.

Roc City Boom vs Greater Binghampton FC AND Roc City Boom vs Krajisnik FC

The Western New York Conference kicks off this weekend with Roc City Boom hosting a pair of matches in Rochester. First, they’ll face off with fellow league newcomer Greater Binghamton FC. GBFC will be hoping to follow Tyler FC’s recent example in transitioning from NPSL doormat status to competitive UPSL side. Krajisnik FC of nearby Utica visits next to wrap up the weekend action.

HEARTLAND SUPER CUP

After debuting their Kansas City and Southeast Regions a couple of weeks ago, the Heartland Super Cup kicks off in the Southwest and North groups. The southwest features an interesting assortment of Kansas state soccer league sides from the southwest corner of the state in Liberal, Garden City and Dodge City, as well as a U20 side from FC Wichita. The north group is being hosted by the newly announced USL League 2 expansion side Iowa Raptors FC, and their Reserves side. They’ll be hosting the recently added outdoor side of the indoor league team Omaha Kings FC, and the UPSL’s Springfield FC.

Southwest Region

Garden City Potrillos

Dodge City Toros

Atletico Liberal 

FC Wichita U20

North Region 

Iowa Raptors

Iowa Raptors Reserves

Springfield FC

Omaha Kings FC

Be sure and check out all our staff’s picks for the weekend’s matches here!

Protagonist Picks 7/10-7/12

Ryan's July 4th Weekend Preview

UPSL Southeast Conference - Florida Central West, Division One

#1 Celta USA vs #5 Celta Gunners, Friday, July 3rd

In a battle of the two sides from the Celta Orlando organization, Celta USA will look to extend their lead in the Florida Central West, while Celta Gunners will be attempting to take advantage of Florida Tropics 2 stunning loss last night to Sportsparadize SA by winning and moving within a point of the conference lead. Expect a wide open match and attacking play between two sides extremely familiar with one another, but I’ll give USA the “home-pitch” advantage in this one, finding a late goal to win 3-2 and remain atop the standings.  

#3 CFL GOSA Spurs vs #4 Sportsparadize SA, Sunday, July 5th

Sportsparadize SA played the spoiler role last night, stunning Florida Tropics 2 and, at least briefly, denying the Lakeland side a chance at the conference lead. SSA will look to continue surprising higher ranked sides through the weekend, with a date against CFL GOSA on Sunday afternoon. A win for either side could see them climb as high as the conference lead, a draw would leave them both in the hunt with ground to gain, while a loss could seat them desperately close to the bottom of the rankings. Look for SSA to initially carry Thursday night’s momentum to an early lead Sunday, but GOSA to battle back for 2-2 stalemate between the sides.

#7 The Mix SC vs #6 Diaspora United CC, Sunday, July 5th

Two newcomers to the league, Diaspora United and The Mix have yet to find a win between them, but each side has looked more competitive in the most recents weeks. Diaspora battled Celta Gunners to a 3-3 draw while The Mix acquitted themselves in a close loss to Florida Tropics 2. The Mix will assert themselves early with a couple goals, but Diaspora United will earn their first win of their history, flashing their offensive ability throughout the second half to claim a come from behind 3-2 victory.

UPSL Southeast Conference - Florida Central East, Division One

#7 Macca Ballers FC vs #5 Leg A-Z Soccer International, Saturday, July 4th

Macca Ballers dropped a heartbreaker at home to Clay County last week, while Leg A-Z claimed a draw against Orlando Rovers. This week, Macca again plays host, and this time, they’ll hold off the visitors for 2-1 win and climb three-four spots in the rankings of the Florida Central East.

#1 Orlando FC Barca vs #2 Sporting Orlando, Sunday, July 5th

If there’s a must-watch match around the league this weekend, it’s this feature between the two early front-runners for the Florida Central East title, OFC Barca and Sporting Orlando. Sporting opened their season account last week with a 4-2 victory against a game FK Orlando side, and their National Player of the Week award winner Vander Lee accounted for three of their four scores. OFC Barca has shredded through lesser competition the past two weeks, but should be just as lethal in the attack vs Sporting, boasting National Player of the Week nominee Victor Rojas in the attacking third of their lineup. OFC Barca hosts the match, and they'll/ use that narrow advantage to score a 5-3 win over Sporting Orlando in this one, with Rojas claiming another three scores and finally winning NPOTW honors.

UPSL Central Conference - South, Division Two

#3 Almeyda FC 2 vs #6 APTX CDF, Friday, July 3rd

Almeyda seemed to find their stride last week, tearing La Maquina apart in a 4-1 victory. Look for more of that offensive output from the Lions tonight when they host a winless APTX CDF side that looked largely short of offensive options in a 3-0 shellacking at the hands...er...feet of Houston FC II in their previous outing. Give me Almeyda FC 2 in a 3-1 win over APTX.

ROJA League Opening Weekend, Friday, July 3rd

Game One: NTX Rayados vs Irving FC 

Just recently, on June 21st, Irving FC “Los Gallos” of the UPSL, put Arlington FC to the sword in a 4-1 win for the Longhorn Tournament Final. They have a solid squad and look to make their mark in their ROJA League opening fixture against NTX Rayados. Rayados are an exciting team from Dallas, out of the North Texas Premier Soccer League and have five league titles under their belt. This is a team which regularly participates in the US Open Cup as well, despite playing in a USASA 5th division league, and might be a dangerous addition to the ROJA competition. To be honest, despite the higher league play Irving FC participate in, I would not be surprised to see NTX Rayados take this one in an energetic 3-2 match.

Game Two: Inocentes FC vs Denton Diablos FC

It’s hard to be more excited about this matchup. Denton’s first season in the NPSL was a fine one, with the club finishing the season with 9 wins, only 1 spot back from winning their division. The high powered attack of the Diablos produced an incredible 43 points in 12 matches. That was best in their division, and second in the South Region behind Miami FC. This is a club that knows how to score. Facing them, from the UPSL, is Inocentes FC, a club that Protagonist has written about extensively. Since their entry into the league in the 2018 Spring season, Inocentes has gone a combined 27-8-7, never finishing lower than second in their conference. There’s a pedigree at this club that is unmatched in the vast majority of American amateur soccer. So I’m all about this matchup and can’t wait for this match. I see Inocentes taking this game 2-1.

Game Three: Fort Worth Vaqueros FC vs Diablos Estudiantes

With the advantage of training with the Diablos first team for some time already this year, and the experience of last week’s scrimmage opportunity, look for the youthful Estudiantes side to gain an early advantage and take a 2-0 lead into the half. From there, it will be all Vaqueros as the 2019 NPSL Lonestar Conference Champions dig deep into their disciplined experience and pull off a 3-2 comeback victory. 

The “B” Word: Rebranding a Legend

The common criticism of “branding” is that’s corporate speak for soulless soccer. It’s the general feeling that branding indicates plastic, polished, disconnected and commercialized, rather than building an image that exhibits a sincere connection to the fanbase, the players on the field, the history of the club, or the local demographics. Most commonly, this happens because clubs hire consultants from outside the area, which leads to a mismatch of focus from the local populace. Granted in the grassroots space, this is less common due to budgetary constrictions.

Generally in this space, we see the opposite. We see clubs with so little budget or training that they settle for the cheapest, most generic options. Kits are off the rack from sporting goods store or ordered in bulk from online distributors to reduce costs. Oftentimes, little thought is put into crest creation, so youth logos are just recycled. Let’s be honest, youth logos can be a little boring and sophomoric. How many pixilated soccer balls do we need to see? We get it, you play soccer.

But in the last few years, we’ve seen a rise in great branding in lower league soccer. Kit designers and manufacturing have adjusted their business models in such a way that clubs can afford unique and attractive looks without going broke. Even local leagues have become hotspots of slick design, thanks to businesses like Icarus and Custom SC. And that shift is moving into other merchandise. Clubs are building inventory that’s well-designed and interesting. It’s a good time to buy merchandise if you’re a grassroots fan.

But branding is bigger than just merchandise, it’s also about consistency of message and style, particularly in social media. Use of hashtags and appropriate language (even if the social media manager is a volunteer!) is so important in conveying permanence and professionalism. And when I say appropriate language, I’m not saying language that doesn’t offend. Consider Northern Guard, DCFC’s supporter group, who regularly curses and uses aggressive language in their social media posts. It’s appropriate for their brand. It’s on point and what their supporters expect. It’s part of the club’s identity.

So for a short series of articles, I set out to talk to clubs who are embracing the goal of being well-branded, either in merchandise, social media, outreach, or a combination of all of those things. Yes, it’s a series about branding, but it’s more about reflecting the values of your fans, your club, and your city in everything that sees the light of day. Some get it, some don’t. I spoke to some that definitely get it.

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Legacy brands are ones that don’t require an introduction. They’ve been around for years and have made enough of an impact that they are recognizable to anyone in the field. Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern - you know them because they have defined soccer for 100 years. Soccer in the United States has no such history, at least not an unbroken history. While soccer has had moments of great impact, the vast majority of the last 100 years have progressed without soccer being in the top 4 sports in the country. Aside from the US Open Cup, there is very little connections between the modern game and the great leagues that dominated the American soccer landscape in the 20’s and 30’s. But that doesn’t mean the names are dead and buried, some still linger on the fringes of public awareness - names like Bethlehem Steel and Fall River Marksmen.

Andre’ Ruette knew the name Fall River Marksmen. Though he has lived in other parts of the country, his own origins and many of his family members live in the New York City/North Jersey area. That personal connection, combined with soccer history made the idea of reigniting the Fall River brand a task he was willing to take on. “The footballing history and legacies from this city are remarkable. For a city that could claim itself as the home of U.S. club soccer and along with having family in the area, the choice to revive the Marksmen and the city's footballing pulse was an all too easy choice to make.”

We asked Andre’ to discuss the difficulties in rebuilding the Fall River Marksmen brand and how he’s approached that task with respect for the history.

Reviving a brand is complicated - how do you walk the line on being authentic?

There's certainly a lot of variables to take into account but the simplest explanation is to represent the club in the way I as a football supporter would want to see & experience. Running a club certainly puts you in a position of having to make business decisions but you have to put the game first, it's the essence and soul of what any club is about. At the end of the day, for me at least, I always want to ensure our club is seen as a footballing brand and custodian of the game first with the commercial aspects hopefully being the back end of one's perspective of our organization. All in all, you have to allow the game and all of it's wonderful nuances to tell the story, you can't be authentic if you're forcing the story or flogging your brand & merchandise all the time. Embrace your players and those closest to the club & allow for their stories to be told. Humans love connecting or identifying with something, let your club talk, give it the ability to allow for connections & bonds. If you can convince a true fan of the sport that you're doing right by the game, they'll in return not only respect the club but hopefully also sell others into becoming a fan of the club.

How much do you lean on history in your branding?

Typical branding or marketing ideas/campaigns that could work with your normal club don't always apply to ourselves as we always have to be mindful of the past and ensure we are honoring it and not overlooking or tarnishing anything. Although trying to be true to our clubs original roots can be difficult at times, especially given the years that have lapsed since the club folded, we're lucky to have an ace up our sleeve thanks to our club historian Derek Gonsalves. When the initial plans to roll out this revival were drawn up, one of the key parts was ensuring we had a respected club historian. Fortunately for ourselves we were lucky enough to bring Derek into the position and he's been brilliant thus far. Having Derek around to help ensure the tales of yesteryear remain fresh and honored today in 2020 has been a true blessing and wonderful crutch to lean on.

In regards to an example of our branding that ties in the past, I'd say our home kit is a good start. It was important to me to present a home kit that tied our two worlds together and Icarus kit designs helped out a lot in bringing my ideas to reality. 

Another avenue for our branding that pulls in the past is our initiative to rekindle former bonds that the original Marksmen had with various clubs from across America and Europe. We've had some really interesting discussions recently with some clubs both home & abroad and we're working on a few items that we hope further ties the stories of yesteryear to today. We've also been fortunate enough to have some private conversations with relatives of former players and seek out their stories and approval of how we present & handle their loved one's legacy. It's important to me and to all of us that we place earning the respect of the family and fellow historians well before earning a buck.

Claiming the record of the past time (Open Cups and such) seems problematic. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that.

Short answer, we'll forever happily stand in the original Marksmen's shadows. 

We're here to ensure their legacy lives on and stories told and untold, continue to be brought into conversations about domestic & international football. How the carrying of the torch is perceived is up to the footballing God's, the family members of those who are associated with the original Marksmen and of course the public's perspective and in time we hope to earn their collective trust and respect.

If you want to start getting technical about carrying on a lineage, then a lot of other clubs would be in line well before ourselves. A great example is the large number of clubs that lay across the domestic levels which have some sort of brandishing to the effect of "Since XXXX" or "Est XXXX" and how it's presented.The reality of the matter is how many of these clubs are presenting their lineage is false (going dormant, changing names/identity, relocating,etc..) yet publicly they are accepted as the truth or in the very least an acceptable alteration of the truth. Largely those who are successful in navigating those waters are financially strong enough to provide an assortment of other variables that make up their identity and the altered aspect of their history is buffered or downed out. Then there's another small group of clubs, which I hope we fall into, who handle their history/story with enough transparency and care that the story of yesteryear is allowed to form a unique bond with the here and now. 

If it were all about the potential of cashing in on the name and using it for personal gains then that train would have departed the station by now. Most don't know outside of those I share my dinner table with, that not long after the club's revival was made public there were two separate offers from sources that wanted to finance & place the team in a national league. If it were about the coin and/or my own arrogance, I would have signed away. To delve even deeper, I grew up as a seriously passionate Hartford Whalers and Metrostars fan, I know all too well what it's like to have an identity taken away or altered, I'd never ever want to be a part of something like that. 

Without question though, we have a long way to go until we can prove we're worthy of holding the name, let alone the memories and accolades that come along with it. There's a certain way to take care of and respect this game, it's not always the same parts and pieces for each club but if you take the time to respect the game of football and all of it's wonderful components, such as our history, in time it will all take care of itself and that's my philosophy with this club and it's accompanying history.

Did that type of thinking influence your kit design?

I wanted to find a balance of yesterday and today with our match day kits. I decided that our home kits would be a link between the 1931 Marksmen (when they folded) and today, bring that hooped kit forward and give it a slight modern twist of today. The black drawstring collar and sponsor-less design hearkens to the days of yesteryear and compliments the vibrant red & white hooped design. The numbers on the back are simple black font a close look to the very few teams in that era that did wear uniform numbers. The original Marksmen to the best of our knowledge never adorned uniform numbers throughout their history. 

All in all, I was after a classic look that would stand out on the pitch and give us a unique look that matched our club's unique history. The red and white hoops really stand out, especially from the perspective of seeing these kits in action as a fan. To me a great kit is all about finding that aesthetic that provides a unique look from both close up and from afar while also being easily identifiable & respected. I can understand our home kit not being everyone's favorite cup of tea but I'm really pleased with how it looks. Having Robert w/IcarusFC around to help w/the process was also a great blessing too.

For the away kit, my vision was to give it a modern approach along with a salute to our city & community. The faded brick design that is present throughout the kit is an homage to the many brick lined buildings that are all too present in the Fall River & South Coast community. The city was once home to a quarry and many of the older buildings that remain standing today in Fall River & the South Coast are made from the very stones that were pulled from the Fall River quarry, so a bit of a nod to that as well. The red sash across running across the front and back, plus the one shoulder is one part visual and one part story. The red sash flowing into the shoulder and over the back breaks the norm of the usual front shoulder to waist sash designs, with the all red shoulder helping to give the jersey an overall bite to it's visual aesthetics. The story aspect to the sash depicts our bond with the community and that we as a club & community can't be divided. The uniform numbers are also unique as well, a collaboration of myself and Robert w/IcarusFC. All in all, I'm really proud of how each kit looks and how it represents our club.

We have a third jersey coming out towards the end of the summer as well. It's something different that speaks to the modern approach of our club and our desire to celebrate the artistic side of this sport and our community. Football, fashion and art all go hand in hand and I'm really excited to unveil this look later on in the year. 

How much research do you do on your branding decisions?

In regards to researching, there's certainly numerous avenue's to watch after or study, be it from the football world or outside of it. When I feel the need to lean on an outside influence, I've found myself gravitating to a few successful branding and marketers from Japan and have tried to incorporate their wisdom into my decision making. The Japanese marketing world to me in many ways represents the aura of our club image, a vibrant and fresh world with an understanding and respect for traditions and history. Kashiwa Sato would be one that I often look to for advice and clarity when mulling over a branding/marketing idea or strategy, he really understands the importance of branding & marketing like not many other's I've  been fortunate to come across.

Essentially, if our current branding of the club had to be boiled down to a sentence or two, it would be, not forgetting that our limitations are tradition and common sense.

Tradition is something you see all too often with club's from the highest to the lowest levels getting wrong. You have to sell the sport and the stories that come along with it and allow for the story and atmosphere to grow and play itself out. Be aware of what your goals are, who your audience and community are and adjust accordingly. Too often clubs try to push a vibe or an atmosphere that isn't conducive to the sport or their community. Demographics and analytics are a great guide for showing how the particular parts of your club are growing and how the public are reacting to your initiatives but it shouldn't be the first go to when trying to market your club. Sell the sport, the passion, the history, the intimacy of being a small club and give it plenty of time and air to grow. Be true to the game and it will be true to you. 

As to the common sense part, you could say the above breakdown also covers this part. Not everyone is going to buy into your branding and some of your initiatives will fall flat but if you're allowing yourself just enough room to fall and get back up without losing a step, you're going to eventually find yourself on a path that lays itself out before you. It can't all be about making a dollar or moving items off your sales rack because before you know it that's going to overshadow your actual football and your players. To me personally, what's the point of running a club if it's main purpose is to sell merchandise and results in a vibe that overshadows the players and the game itself. Your aura turns from pitch to plastic and I just don't see the point. Sell the sport, your community and allow it some space to grow. 

Do you see your club as a tribute to the past?

I think the culmination of the answers above answers that question fairly clearly. For the sake of clarity and transparency though, the answer is yes.

One aspect to add into this conversation in how we honor and tribute the past would be the very man himself, founder/owner,Sam Mark. I think it gets lost in the conversation sometimes that Sam wasn't a football man, he was a businessman and certainly painted with a broader stroke than most other clubs owners.I'd like to think that taking the name and bringing it back to life is a very Sam'esque part of our club, along with our pro/rel structure and being vocally disenchanted with today's domestic club structure or lack there of it. 

Why is it important to keep the memory of the old club alive?

It's a wonderful reminder of the excellence that our sport in this country was able to produce, as well as a testament to the power of what our community can accomplish. The accomplishments of those who came before us should never be looked at with having an expiration date and I hope our club can continue honoring the achievements of those who once stood before us, community and club.

What are your long term goals with the club?

We want to be here in ten years enthusiastically talking about the next ten coming up.

With our club being run in the traditional fashion of honoring promotion and relegation, it's our goal to eventually get the club into the professional ranks, whichever league that may be at the given time. We're here to earn our promotion out of the amateur & semi-pro levels and not just pick a league from a pamphlet and cut a check. We have a very long journey ahead of us but I hope in time we're seen as an example of not only how a club can & should operate in this country but also worthy of one day earning our forefathers nickname & reputation of being the American Menace.

He ended the interview with one of my favorite quotes, one that shows his heart and character. “Wherever you happen to find yourself calling home at the moment, go find the closest FC and support the daylights out them, especially if they are a semi-pro or amateur club. Your attention, opinion and dollars truly matter, go make a positive difference.”

Branding is part of building a successful club. But it isn’t the only thing. It gives fans a connection, an impression, a preliminary welcome, but then builds beyond to deepen the tie and strengthen the relationship. Eventually is helps sustain the excitement and passion, reminding the supporters why they support, showing them what they love about their club. For Fall River, that means tying their club to a history that was almost forgotten. It’s a thread that goes back to their roots, what they are built on, their core identity. They are a textbook example that branding can be just as passionate and dedicated as the rest of grassroots soccer.

- Dan Vaughn

Ryan’s Weekend Recap

UPSL

In UPSL Division One action, 2020 newcomer Alaska Timbers kicked off The Last Frontier Conference season against 2019 Conference champion Arctic Rush. If there were any nerves for the league rookies, it certainly didn’t show in their on-the-pitch performance.

In the eighth minute, Arctic was dispossessed of the ball after a promising sequence in the attacking half, and the Timbers countered with a through pass through the middle to a just barely onside forward who split the nearest defenders, then calmly slotted away the opening goal of the match in a 1v1 with the Rush goalkeeper. The Timbers would take full advantage of the momentum switch from there on in the first half, seizing on a sloppy clearance by Arctic on a Timbers corner to slip a goal through heavy traffic in the box for their second score. Three minutes later, a near deja ‘vu moment for the Timbers as they crossed a free kick opportunity from the near corner into the box, Rush made the initial touch, but again with a poor clearance, and Timbers struck for their third goal into an all but wide open net.

The second half would see Timbers continue to dominate possession with sustained attacking sequences of play, clearly using their advantage on the scoreboard to work on their hold-up and crossing play while wearing down the flustered Arctic defense chasing the ball. In the 56th minute, the Timbers would slip a through pass into the penalty area, where the forward chipped the keeper for Portland Timbers Alaska affiliate to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Arctic would find some attacking rhythm late, due in large part to the tireless efforts of their forwards and wings chasing plays back deep int the defensive half and countering together down the wide boundaries of the pitch. They were rewarded with a goal to salvage some positives going into their next match, while the Timbers, for now, are certainly sitting comfortably in the driver’s seat for the conference title in 2020.

Alaska Timbers 4, Arctic Rush 1

Up Next:

Arctic Rush @ MatSu Utd FC (Formerly Alaska City FC), Sunday, June 28th

Alaska Timbers vs MatSu United FC, Sunday, July 12th

Other UPSL Action

Division One:

Division Two:

UWS League 2

The inaugural season of United Women’s Soccer’s League 2 kicked off in Central Florida with Unity FC and Orlando FC Royals.

Unity FC opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a low cross from just outside the penalty area being toe’d into the bottom corner of the goal in a baseball-like sliding effort from the center forward. The Royals and Unity would then trade a flurry of chances and near-goals through the next twenty minutes in an even match, until Unity had free kick in the 32nd. The Unity FC kicker drilled a shot through the Royals’ defense and buried it outside the goalkeeper’s reach just inside the left post. The Royals countered with a gifted 1v1 chance, but the Unity keeper stood on her head and left the Royal without a score at the end of the half.

The second half saw the Royals step up their attacking play, but remained goalless despite a number of early chances. The Royals received a penalty kick opportunity in the 48th, but they failed to convert, and Unity FC scored again on the counter in the 53rd, all but putting the match out of reach at 3-0. The Royals would continue to dial up the attacking pressure, registering another 6 scoring chances before finally scoring with a strike launched from 35-40 yards out that will probably be a favorite for UWS goal of the year.

The Royals would come away empty on another 6 scoring chances, while Unity would again counter in the 84th minute with a well timed through pass and 1v1 opportunity for their 5th goal of the match. After 90 minutes, despite having a 16-11 advantage in shots taken, the Royals would fall to Unity FC by three goals.

Unity FC 4

Orlando FC Royals 1

Up Next: Unity FC vs SportsParadize SA, Saturday, June 27th

Other Matches: Gulf Coast Premier League newcomers Crescent City FC played the NPSL’s Port City FC to a 0-0 draw Saturday evening in an inter-league friendly match.

Working for the Weekend

Soccer in the Age of COVID - an Editorial

Last week, UWS announced the 2020 National Cup, a small format (currently 7 clubs) tournament to be held in Round Rock, TX (story to come later this week). Several weeks ago, UPSL announced that the 2020 Spring season would kick off in a limited number of states across the country. There will be no national playoffs, but locally, there will be matches. And while many in the soccer community are celebrating this return to soccer, I’m left wondering if this is the right decision.

The pandemic has really derailed life across the world. For months now, people have been forced to adjust their lives in hopes of flattening the curve. Facial protections, social distancing, and limited travel have all become a part of the equation which governs our daily lives. With schools and daycares now closed, kids are kept home to stay safe. Unemployment has surged nationally, while many have lost jobs, and others have had hours severely slashed. In most circumstances, those that are continuing to work have to take their lives into their own hands, particularly if they are older or immunocompromised. And ALL sports were cancelled for a time.

But life finds a way.

People are beginning to go out, some with care, while others seem to throw caution to the wind. Stores are packed in parts of the country, while restaurants seem to have customers on every corner. Beaches are crowded with people. Protests for reopening seem to have had some effect as more and more states are trying to take the economy back online.

In soccer, the Bundesliga was back first, then the Premier League is coming back online in a week or so, and soon NWSL and MLS will follow suit in this country. NISA is in talks for a summer tournament, while USL seems to be headed towards playing a limited schedule with some audience (not sure just yet). And while it seems like these leagues have some protocols in place, the further down the chain you go, the less money is available to implement rigid testing and sequestering.

I understand that every person’s reaction to the pandemic and their level of care is based on a host of factors - personal risk, family risk, economic status, geographic location, political affiliation, scientific background, information level - all of those things play a role in how you’ve decided to deal with the pandemic. And while I think I am right, I live in a pluralistic society, we’re in this together and I’m not the king. So, we have to come to a consensus locally, state-wide, and as a nation. We have to decide how we will function.

For me, I am a 41-year-old, type 2 diabetic. I feel a high level of risk due to my own health, but that’s pretty specific to me. My city has seen our numbers rise and our curve has never “flattened” but continued to rise. I am forced to work because I have bills to pay and my company has remained open, and that makes me worry a lot. I see so many people who refuse to wear masks, regardless of the science behind it. Not wearing a mask has become some sort of badge to prove loyalty to political persuasion. The political machinations have also fostered a rising wave of anti-science and anti-media sentiment, which amplifies people’s second guessing. It’s frustrating and makes me feel unsafe. For me, no amount of soccer is worth the risk of death - to me or anyone else. And I am the editor of this tiny section of the internet called Protagonist Soccer.

So, with all that being said, UPSL and UWS are readying to kick off. How should we handle our coverage? My staff is divided. One argued no. One argued yes, but with disclaimers. One has remained silent on the matter so far. But in the end, this is my call.

And that’s why I’m writing this article. Because the baby has to be split some way and this article is that split. We’ll continue to cover soccer, but we will do it with great fear about the health ramifications for those involved. We’ll cover it remotely (as we do most of the time anyway), but we’ll generate articles and reports on the leagues that are playing. I believe in the game and want to see it flourish, so we’ll cover it. This site occupies a particular niche that few else fill - we cover these levels of soccer (to the best of our ability). If we don’t write the articles, who else will?

So, we will.

- Dan Vaughn

A COVID19 Report Card: Grading the Leagues' Response to the Pandemic

With the UWS finally cancelling their season, we’ve finally reached the conclusion of leagues we cover. With that in mind, I’m going to recap how and when each club decided how to handle their season in the time of pandemic and I’ll give them a rating A-F. I used to be a middle school teacher, so I should be able to handle this.

How it Happened: The spring season kicked off, sparking a ton of excitement, with newcomers Detroit City FC, Chattanooga FC, and Michigan Stars bringing a surge of talent to the league. Two weeks into the season, the pandemic was finally ramping up to the point it couldn’t be ignored. On March 12th, the league office announced it would be putting the spring season on hold for 30 days to allow the situation to unfold. After a month and a half, the league officially pulled the plug on April 27th.

The Aftermath: When the league announced the spring cancellation, they immediately announced plans for a summer challenge cup that would involve multiple amateur clubs along with NISA sides. As of now, that is still in the works. NISA also set up an eLeague and began play. The league has also made an announcement about the format and schedule of the fall season, giving fans a lot to look forward to. NISA finances are less clear than many leagues, so how they handled the obvious losses, it’s hard to tell from the outside. We do know some clubs are definitely continuing to honor player contracts and there are some that have not.

Got it almost perfect - regular communication, few leaks, future plans in place to hold fan attention. Only miss, player salaries.

How it Happened: Rumblings of the cancelled season began leaking very soon after talks began. I received multiple contacts from within the league that this was coming, but had to hold until we had concrete information. Unlike the UPSL, which has a fall season to regroup in, the NPSL, mostly due to the collegiate players, has to play in the early summer. On March 25th, Michael Lewis of Front Row Soccer put out a story claiming the league was cancelling the 2020 season. Soon after, we received confirmation from sources in the league and ran the story as well. The plan had been for the league to announce the cancellation the next day. Leaks happen.

An internal email revealed the league was relying on the decision from USASA, which recommended cancelling any group through April 30th. The league decided it was best to cancel the season.

The Aftermath: While the decision to cancel the season was probably the right one, the league was prepared an eLeague rollout soon after. That helped take a tiny bit of the heat off the league in the social media sector, but there were some issues that emerged, regardless.

In a move that at least one other league would mirror, the NPSL decided to keep the entirety of the league fee, while only supplying a partial credit for 2021. The fee of $5,500 was reduced to a $2,000 credit. I can tell you, clubs are NOT happy about this move. Maybe it’s a reality is grassroots soccer, but it felt really unfair to clubs operating on a shoestring budget.

And aside from that decision, everything the league did leaked before it was officially announced. This is good from a media perspective, but not good if you’re a league trying to crisis manage.

Not Good, Bob - kept their league fees, leaked like a sieve, pissed off their fans and clubs.

WPSL

How it Happened: On March 20th, the WPSL announced they would be postponing the start of the league by a month, moving the season kickoff from May 9th to May 29th. The press release contained a word of caution from Sean Jones, “If the situation doesn’t seem to be improving by the end of April and our top medical experts are recommending avoiding outdoor activities, then the WPSL will comply and not compete in 2020. We have informed our teams that we will provide them 30 days advanced notice if the cancelation does take place.” That would prove to be the case, so on April 30th, the league announced the cancellation of the season.

The Aftermath: Contained in the press release cancelling the season was a precursor announcement of a potential, one-off, fall season. This would be challenging, with the large amount of college players that participate in the league, but it certainly kept up hopes that amatuer women’s soccer would be seen in 2020. However, much like the NPSL, the league decided to keep the now cancelled 2020 season fees, $3,500 per club, but offering only $1,000 credit for 2021 (or the potential fall league). Unlike the NPSL, Sean Jones got ahead of this story and gave the logic and reasoning behind the decision, which staunched the bleeding a bit.

Better, but not perfect - kept in front of the story, prepped a fan pleaser, did damage control. All in all, a mixed bag.

How it Happened: The UWS was great at keeping their clubs updated on the situation. Kudos on that. The league ran the clock out on this one, hoping to find a way to fit in a season. On March 12th, the league continued to plan on a season. On the 20th, the announced that the schedule would be adjusted. On April 4th, the league announced they still intended to play a 2020 season. However, on June 9th, the season was called and the league announced the regular 2020 season wasn’t going to happen. They just announced (June 12th) the UWS National Cup. As of today, seven teams are participating and the tournament will be hosted in Texas by FC Austin Elite.

The Aftermath: The big benefit of waiting until the last possible moment to cancel the season was that the UWS had learned from the missteps made by the other national amateur leagues. Every league that had given severely limited credit had been raked over the coals on social media. UWS, in a move their own press release called “bucking the trend,” the league announced they would be giving their clubs “approximately 80% credit towards next season’s fees.” And don’t think that last line of the press release isn’t an invite to other amatuer woso clubs “United Women’s Soccer looks forward to returning even stronger in 2021 with a full season of high level competition.”

I have two major complaints. One is that the league could have shown more leadership in cancelling the season earlier. Felt like it dragged out about two weeks longer than it should have. The other complaint is the inherent risks that come with playing soccer without the payroll to establish strong safety protocols with rigorous testing.

Close, very close - good communication, learned from other leagues’ mistakes, took care of clubs. Should have called it earlier.

How it Happened: The UPSL has, at times, struggled in moving with agility in public relations. I say this as a guy who emails the league looking for information on the regular. They are polite, but I’m almost always told, “we’re working on that.”

The league announced they would postpone the season on March 25th, using similar logic to the NPSL. The date the UPSL gave was May 2nd, which many scoffed at for being way too early for resuming play. Then an announcement came out on May 15th that league play would resume, in limited scope, on June 20th. Some states won’t allow play at this point, so those clubs won’t be participating. However, league powerhouse states like Florida and Texas, with governors set on reopening the economy, would be up and running. The league did stipulate that “The intention is to run a 10-game regular season ending the weekend of August 22-23 followed by two weekends of play-off competition, the second of those being Regional Finals on the weekend of September 5-7. Once participating divisions and teams are known, the play-off structure and season schedule will be released. This will occur no later than Thursday, June 11.”

The Aftermath: And this is the big gamble that I’ve discussed on at least 4 podcasts at this point. What happens if there’s a team infection scenario? Or if a player potentially dies from this? Or a fan gets sick from attending a match? Unlike the big professional leagues, the UPSL can’t have the same level of safety protocols. It’s a gamble, but will it pay off. That remains to be seen.

We just don’t know yet. Good communication, but with play about to resume, we shall see if the gamble pays off.

My Best Ten and Me: d'Alary Dalton

This week, for My Best Ten & Me, we caught up with CEO and President of Sol Soccer Club, and of Santa Maria Synergy, d’Alary Dalton. She picked set up a dynamic 3-5-2 / 3-3-4 with tons of firepower. We ensured she followed the rules here too…

1. You are the Player/Manager and you have to plug yourself in

2. Any player selected must have been active in your lifetime…

A quick note about my team. I believe that greatness requires creativity, innovation and artistry. I made my picks based on players who have changed the game or entertained and inspired us in a particular game or over the course of their careers with their unique style and approach to becoming great. What is undeniable about them is how much they enjoy playing and making every game great. For this reason, it only makes sense that my team will be coached by Jürgen Klopp. We play happy.

(GK) Jorge Campos
Because we may need to score a goal. We talk a good game about risk taking and thinking outside of the box. Campos pushed the boundaries of his position and literally played outside of the box. He made me want to tune in to see what he might do and what he might wear. We will also use his style to sell his jerseys which should keep our team financially afloat

(RB) Cafu
I’m lucky enough to be able to go way back in my selections so it makes sense to tap the Brazilian with most caps and a couple of World Cups. Thank goodness he’s a defender.

(CB) Kerstin Stegemann
Also, with two World Cups, Stegemann anchored the German Women’s National team to multiple shutouts during her national team’s dominance.

(LB) Marcelo Vieira
We’ll have him as our left back, but he’ll definitely have the freedom to make his runs into the attack.

(CM) Luka Modrić
I’m pretty sure no one covers more ground on the field so it should have surprised no one that he earned the Golden Ball in 2018.

(CM) Michelle Akers
During a USC (formally NSCAA) coaching symposium following the 1999 Women’s World Cup, Michelle Akers described taking 100 shots after every practice from each position that she may have a free kick from. It is that level of focus (possibly obsession) that the greats seem to possess and it’s why she scored so many goals. She and Messi will have a trick set piece planned for us.

(AM) d’Alary Dalton
As a coach and now owner, I have mostly focused on how to bring out the joy of playing in players. It has been fun to look back on what I loved about playing and who I admired while I played, not just as a coach. This position was it for me. I loved splitting defenders and finding the threw ball. I will get the ball, make plays and get out of the way.

(RW) Johan Cruyff
My first memories of watching soccer was the 1974 World Cup. The Cruyff move became the only move I was able to use consistently. It wasn’t until I became a coach that I knew it was named for him.  He later described the move has his way to solving a problem.

(LW) Kristine Lilly
1999 Header to save the goal. Don’t need to say more, but Lilly once shared that she would go out to a park kick a ball and run after it, kick it back and repeat a thousand times when opportunities to train were limited. When you really love the game, your imagination will get you to greatness.

(F) Messi
We all know why, but for my team he represents the greatest who was almost overlooked. He loves having the ball at his feet and we love watching what he’ll do with it. He’s also going to get me the ball regardless of anything I do. .

(F) Marta
Here’s my “no duh” pick. Simply put, Marta is another player that loves the ball and the game and who fans want to watch. And she said this, “It’s about wanting more. It’s training more... This is what I ask of the girls. There’s not going to be a Formiga forever. There’s not going to be a Marta forever. There’s not going to be a Cristiane. The women’s game depends on you to survive. So, think about that. Value it more.”

d’Alary Dalton, has placed herself right in the middle of the action.

Including Non-English Speakers in the Conversation

There has been a fundamental problem in most of American soccer for years. It hasn’t been corrected and continues to plague the American version of the game. It’s the lack of connection to a massive section of this country’s soccer fan/talent base – Spanish-speaking soccer players, typically of Mexican-American descent. It’s a blind spot incomparable in professional sports, because, on average, Latin American immigrants and their children, are overwhelmingly soccer fans. The love soccer is a key aspect to their heritage and social identity, yet the American leagues, broadcasts, and even the federation, have ignored this significant part of the country.

So it’s thrilling to see one of the amatuer leagues we cover begin to step up in a real way. Earlier this year, I began to notice that all of the press releases from the UPSL were coming in both Spanish and English, as separate emails. So I reached out to Dennis Pope, Communications Director for the UPSL, to learn more about it.

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So can you discuss the new approach we've seen from the UPSL providing spanish language press releases? What sparked it and when did you implement it?

Not much to discuss, really. There was a clear need to do it, going back to before 2019 even, and so I made sure the Management Team brain-stormed it in January during the UPSL's Annual General Meeting at the USC Convention in Baltimore. We first implemented in late February with the announcement of the UPSL MVP and All-UPSL teams.

How does that work? Do you have an inhouse translator?

We go outside for the translation. There's a number of good options available, but we've made a good relationship with a translator using a third-party app.

 While the UPSLenespanol twitter account exists, it's pretty sparse. Any thoughts or plans  on building up the spanish social media?

That's part of the initiative moving forward. We're currently looking for the right candidate to run that account while adding an UPSLespanol Instagram account. 

Do you think there's a significant market for non English content?

There's a MASSIVE market for non-English content. Southern California, the Southwest, Texas, Florida are all brimming with Spanish speakers looking for native content about the UPSL. It's our job, as a league and a league communications department, to support that as best we can with the resources we have available. 

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It’s thrilling to see a league taking the right steps in growing their appeal and connection into a market ignored by everyone else, even the federation! The UPSL deserves massive props for doing this and it certainly sparks hope that others will follow their lead and begin to focus on the Spanish-speaking audience that’s hungry for soccer.

On a side note, expect something similar from our site soon.

- Dan Vaughn

UPSL Delays Spring Season

In a statement released today, Yan Skwara, UPSL Commissioner confirmed that the Spring season will be delayed until May 2nd. This announcement comes as the other national men’s amateur league, NPSL, is preparing to cancel their 2020 season entirely.

From the league statement:

“…we are now proposing to kickoff play the weekend of May 2nd. We will push back the National Finals weekend to August 15th/16th. These changes still allow a total of 11 weekends in which to schedule a regular season of at least 10 games and hopefully more. This also allows several weekends for play-offs and a one weekend break before the National Finals weekend.

We recognize that some teams in CA and FL have already played a game. Those results will stand. For some conferences this change will require a bit of tweaking to the originally planned schedules. We do appreciate your understanding and willingness to adjust accordingly at this time. Your conference or division manager will be in touch to address any schedule changes.  

Without wanting to be pessimistic, we also have a plan B which would still allow a spring season to be played, even if it needed to be shortened. If necessary we are willing to push the National Finals to Labor Day weekend which would buy 3 extra weeks. We will address that possibility only if it becomes necessary.

Finally, it goes without saying that these plans are subject to the lifting of any restrictions currently in place, particularly those regarding public gatherings as well as any mandates from our governing body. Please note that the player insurance coverage is dependent upon the activity being sanctioned by the USASA.”

For the full announcement, here’s the link.

The Risk of Soccer in the Age of COVID-19

Sports and Sickness

News broke today that the NCAA plans to hold its men’s and women’s tournaments without fans present due to the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The virus, commonly referred to as the Coronavirus, is considered too much of a threat for the NCAA to allow fans to attend the games. NCAA President Mark Emmert’s statement was very specific about the NCAA Board of Governors’ concerns. “I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance. While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States. This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes.”

The announcement from the NCAA came in tandem with an announcement from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine banning spectators from games, specifically the NCAA Men’s tournament kickoff game to be played in Dayton. “The order will be that there cannot be spectators there. There certainly will be people — there will be TV people, there can be radio people there, there can be sports writers, certainly can be the media there. But we’re not going to have the large crowd.” In another statement DeWine was blunt about his perspective - “Ohioans have to understand what the facts are, that any gathering of people in close proximity to each other is dangerous.” DeWine’s announcement is one in a series of large-scale bans being implemented by local municipalities in the face of the rapidly spreading pandemic. Schools across the country have either cancelled classes or moved classes online, in an effort to slow the progress of the disease.

Soccer Reacts

The soccer world in other countries is ramping up their efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19, particularly in Italy, where matches have been played in front of empty seats. La Liga officials made the aggressive decision to suspend the league for the rest of the month, in hopes of the situation coming under control by early April. In the United States, Seattle Sounders, in a state heavily affected by the outbreak, just announced the postponement of their next home game, due to a request from the governor. The USL affiliate of the Sounders, Tacoma Defiance, will play their next match behind closed doors.

So where does that leave the subject of our coverage, the grassroots soccer leagues across the country? We’ve reached out to several of the leagues we cover and only the UPSL has responded officially. A spokesperson for the league gave this statement: “The UPSL is staying flexible but following USASA guidance on this. That said, games are currently scheduled to be played this weekend.” We left a message at the USASA National Office for Duncan Riddle, executive director, but haven’t heard back at the time of publication (should he respond, this article will be updated).

The NPSL, for their part, sent out a memo to their clubs which included a statement from Cindy Spera, NPSL Managing Director, “With the increase of reported CoVid-19 (“coronavirus”) around the country, our main priority is the safety and health of our players, coaches, and staff.  Our 2020 NPSL season has started matches on the West coast, and nationally, our teams are preparing for US Open Cup and holding tryouts and pre-season training sessions.  We would like to recommend that our teams adopt best practices in order to minimize the chance of exposure.” Included with this memo was a list of potential approaches clubs could take to limit risk. While there was a general section on general approaches, there was also a section for soccer specific approaches which included:

• Anyone (player, staff member, coach, etc.) who is feverish should not participate and stay at home.

• Avoid handshakes - use fist bumps or elbow touches with players, coaches, staff, and referees.

• Avoid all spitting - including on the ground as players may come in contact. Coaches should remind players not to spit. 

• Ensure that athletic trainers are prompt to give them extra time to address any concerns. 

• Ensure that trainers have adequate supplies - especially gloves and antibacterial supplies such as sanitizer, alcohol pads, and soap products. 

• Have extra balls on hand.  If a ball goes into the stands, disinfect the ball before putting it back in play.  The home team is advised to wipe down balls with alcohol or disinfectant at half time.

• Suspend autograph signings as it is a risk to pass items back and forth.

• Display attached sign / infographic in your training facility on game day in locker rooms, bathrooms, and food areas.

The sign mentioned in the final item is a sign that MLS created for their clubs. The NPSL received permission to include and post the sign for their players and staff.

MLS-created content.

The Difficult, but Right Path

It seems clear that banning large gatherings of people makes sense, especially when we think of the potential contact each attendee could have in their everyday lives. While most adults and children are relatively safe in the event of infection, there is still a statistical chance of serious illness or death. And for older adults (70+) or those with compromised immune systems, the threat is much more serious and often fatal. No person should ignore the risk to those of our community that could not survive this disease, regardless of their own health. Everyone has a grandmother, grandfather, or some other family member or friend who could run the risk of death, should they become infected with COVID-19.

So should leagues cancel matches or play the matches without a viewing audience? It seems obvious they should do something aggressive, particularly when members of the crowd could run the risk of infecting each other. Obviously in some regional or local leagues, crowds aren’t really a concern, but even the players may run the risk of infection. The virus is still contagious even before symptoms begin to manifest, so a player may not feel sick on matchday even though they could be infecting those around. Luckily, most of the NPSL and UPSL aren’t playing league matches yet, leaving the league the chance to wait and see. However, in those leagues most of California is already up and rolling and NISA is already in Week 3 of action this weekend, with important home openers scheduled in Chattanooga and Detroit in the next couple of weeks, where large crowds should be expected. With streaming via Youtube or Mycujoo easily accessible for their fans to watch the matches, why run the risk of spreading the disease?

Dealing with a public health threat requires concern, intelligence, scientific facts, and a willingness to sacrifice. It seems clear that now is the time to take drastic steps, but rather or not teams and leagues will take those steps remains to be seen. Fans will certainly be opposed to any action that restricts their access to their clubs, but doing what’s best for the weakest in our society is the most important decision any league or organization could make. Either postpone the games or restrict access and stream the matches, it’s the right thing to do at this important moment.

- Dan Vaughn

When we hear back from any official, we’ll update this article.

A Check in with Maryland Bobcats

With the UPSL playoffs wrapping up, the Maryland Bobcats are proving yet again to be the class of another league. Lately the club has been all aces, matching their play on the field with a slick rebrand and new kit designs. Set to face Soda City in the UPSL semi-finals, they have continued their run league success. I sat down with Evan Raimist, communications director for the club, to fire off a quick set of questions headed into this weekend.

2019/20 has been a great season, can you talk about what has contributed to your success in the UPSL?

There has been a lot involved in the success we've had the last year in the UPSL. I think a lot has to do with the combination of planning on the team's part as well as the dedication to continue to work and get better by all the guys we have on our roster. With our coaching staff, there's no time to switch off and players know that if they do, there is someone chomping at the bit behind them to take their spot. It sounds cutthroat, but there's healthy competition in the team and guys really do want to see other guys do better. We've used a lot of different lineups, used guys in positions that maybe they weren't used to, but if it could help the team, they were willing to give it a go. The guys are fighting hard for each other and the team, and we also have a lot of really smart, dedicated people involved in the club as well. From Head Coach Phil Nana and Assistant Coach Ben Aryeetey who are as invested and smart as they come to our athletic trainer, our equipment manager, and new Technical Director and Assistant Technical Director, everyone is invested in the same goal. As the saying goes, it takes a village, but in our cause I think the key is that our village all has tunnel vision for the same goal.

Thoughts on your playoff run so far?

I think the only thought from everyone at our club is that we're not done yet. We want to finish this thing off as champions and we feel like anything short of that won't do. We've had success this season, but we came in with the goal of a National Championship and that's what we've been working towards all year.

Your opponent is Soda City, what do you know about your opponent and what's the plan for the semis?

We know they're a strong team and have only gotten stronger. We watched their Quarterfinal game against OFC Barca and were impressed with how hard they worked. To get to the National Finals they are obviously a good team, but we feel like we just have to play our game. The coaching staff has been working with a certain plan in mind, but with the quality of the guys on our roster and how we can switch players in and out (and their positions and formations too) we feel like if we play our game and how we are supposed to play, we can play with and against anyone.

What's the magic sauce? Strong runs in MMSL, UPSL, expansion into NPSL - How are you doing it?

There is no secret sauce and I think that's the secret. It just comes down to a group of highly invested people wanting to make a difference on the field and in our community. From the top down, from our President and ownership group down to each and every player, everyone knows that they are just a piece in a bigger vision and that it is going to take each person doing their job to be successful. On the field it's the guys continuing to work, train, and learn the game even if we don't have a game for 4 or 5 weeks in a row. It's going from work or school to train at 9pm and putting in the work, listening to the coaches, and then taking that and performing on the weekends to be successful. From the staff perspective, it's making sure that we do everything we can to make the guys on the field jobs as easy as possible. From having balls for training to gear so they don't have to think about what to wear to letting everyone know plans and travel details as soon as we can, our goal is promote our guys, make sure they are set up to be successful, and let them do the playing on the field. All of this was not built overnight and neither was our decision to join the UPSL and now the NPSL. Everything is very calculated and the NPSL was the next step. It's another step up, both in play and professionalism, and is another platform to showcase the amazing talent we have in the DMV area and beyond. Our goal is to have our club run as professionally as possible to give our guys the best platform to display their talents. 

What players should we be looking to contribute in the semis?

I may be biased but I think you should be on the lookout for every player on our roster because they can all ball out. If we really wanted to give you some players to be on the lookout for, the three players would be midfielder Alex Kao, forward Elton Joe, and midfielder Levi Houapeu. Alex can dictate the pace of play and find the killer pass that leads to a goal. Elton has an eye for goal as he's shown this season so far and can make chances out of nothing. Levi is as smart a player as they come and can read the game amazingly well. 

Taking the Next Step: Gilberto Garcia

The first time I met Gilberto, he was playing for the UPSL’s FC Grande, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. As a supporter of the club, I could see his talent, that was obvious, but, more than anything, it was his passion that shone every match he played. Even the matches he didn’t play, he was always on the bench, trying to catch the coach’s eye to get into the match. And after the matches, he always made a point to talk to the fans and supporters. This season he played with San Antonio Runners, but has been working hard on landing an international spot. He’s a bright talent with a story, and, with a big move to Spain happening this month, we’re letting him tell it.

- Dan

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What’s your backstory?

My name is Gilberto Garcia, I’m 22 years old and I was born in El Paso, Texas but I spent the first few years of my life in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico(where my family is from). I picked up soccer when I was 4 years old, I played for a local club in Juarez and fell in love with the sport, I just wanted to be like my older brothers who also played. I’m grateful my father was such a big fan of the sport, who also played his whole life but never had the support that I’ve had.

Can you describe your playing style, preferred position, players you model yourself after?

I would say my playing style has evolved throughout the years, I must admit I hit a stump in my career while in high school. I stopped taking it serious after I got a knee injury my junior season, as I was coming off winning a district championship and being the youngest on my varsity team. So in high school I would rely heavily on just speed then it evolved once I got to college, becoming more of a finishing player. I modeled my game after Luis Suarez, Lewandowski, you know all the great strikers. Once I got into the semi pro scene, I kept my striker mentality and also started becoming a better passer. I feel like I’ve now turned more into a playmaker but can still finish the play when needed. I started watching players like Isco & Neymar. So all in all, I like playing striker and CAM. 

The UPSL’s Southwestern foes, like Sporting AZ FC, helped Garcia to be ready for his move to Spain.

You’re a veteran of the lower league scene in the US, where have you played and what was the experience like?

I’ve been in the trenches of the lower leagues in the US since summer of 18’ after I decided college wasn’t really getting me noticed. It’s definitely been a learning experience as you sometimes play against grown men so it gives you that Sunday league rawness. I’m grateful for the expansion of all these leagues as it made players like myself have more opportunities to get themselves out there. I’ve been at it for 3 seasons now, having my debut with FC Grande in Las Cruces, New Mexico. You’d be surprised how much local talent there is near the border, I then switched teams to the San Antonio Runners, in San Antonio, Texas to be closer to my sports agent Dr. Mario Sanchez. We had been cooking up the idea of playing in Spain for a few months so it was a good move. 

Where are you headed next?

I am now headed to Alicante, Spain to play for Santa Pola CF. 

How did you attract international attention?

As I mentioned, I linked up with my agent through one of my high school teammates who also went to Spain. I just messaged him one day and asked how he got noticed. I went to San Antonio in July of 2019 and conveniently the coach was in town visiting my agent so we met up and discussed the possibility of me going overseas and it took of from there. 

What’s your goal for your first season in Spain?

My goal for my first season in Spain is to develop into a lethal striker, and honestly work on my all around game. 

Any particular advantage of Spain versus another country?

I feel Spain has one of the most competitive leagues in the world being La Liga, so being in that country will turn me into a better player and hopefully I can climb up the ladder and make it onto a higher league team. The sky is the limit at this point so God Willing things will go well. 

What are the biggest problems facing players in the states?

I believe the biggest problem in the US is that we don’t have the same system they have in Europe, where they play year round in professional  academies. In the states, you have to fight to earn a scholarship and play college ball. In my opinion, it’s not the best route as you’re only in season about 3 months, and honestly Soccer isn’t viewed the same in the US as it comes second to American Football and Basketball. 

Gilberto played the 2019 Fall season with the UPSL’s SA Runners.

Do you see yourself as a success story yet?

I like to think of myself as a success story in the making, I was a young kid when tragedy struck my family. We hit rock bottom and I have had to climb myself out of it for the past 5 years. Having to work full time jobs and still having to go to training an hour away then coming home to family issues can be draining on a young adult, but I know the most successful people come from struggle so I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder. So this is only the beginning of my story, I want kids younger than me to have somebody they can relate to and to know that no matter what life throws at you there’s still a way out. 

What are your long term goals?

My long term goals are to make it to the big leagues, I know this career path isn’t forever but if I can get a good 10-15 years doing this then I’m happy. I just want to make my momma proud, my dad is the reason I got into the sport and my mom is the reason I never gave up. I want my brothers to live through me. 

"The Referee was Punched in the Face."

The story broke from a tweet by Carlos Alfaro Rodriguez (@carlosalfarorod) who was there covering the match for the Montgomery County Sentinel. Carlos had been live tweeting the UPSL National Quarterfinal between World Class Premier vs. Mass United FC when he posted this: “Update: the referee was punched in the face. It looks like the game is over.” Not a phrase read too often about a soccer match, but for a league that has had some crazy finishes, this was easily the craziest.

The match took place at Montgomery Blair High School, in Silver Spring, Maryland, this afternoon. The scoring in the first half began with Marco Martinez scoring for Mass United FC in the 34th minute. In the 37th minute, Olakunle Banjo equalized by scoring a penalty for World Class Premier after a yellow card for MUFC’s Reda Mokhtari. With the teams knotted up, it looked like the half would end and the clubs would regroup and ready for another 45. According to Evan Raimist, the PR/Communications Director for World Class Premier, this is when things got wild.

“At the stroke of halftime, the ref blew the whistle for halftime and look like one of their players got mad that the ref stopped what he viewed as a counter attack. The ref issued him a yellow (his second). A member of their bench (staff, not player) ran onto the field and then bumped into/punched the ref in the face as the other players were yelling.” With chaos breaking out on the field, the match was called and the police were called to sort out what happened. “The league made the ultimate decision to call the game and have Mass United forfeit. The ref crew called the police who responded, but the decision was left up to the UPSL and they decided a Mass United forfeit was warranted.”

The “member of the bench” mentioned by Raimist was apparently a parent of one of the MUFC players. According to a source with Mass United, it was “a parent of one of the players after a straight red card at the end of the first half.” Everything was still fluid when the clubs were contacted, and whether it was a second yellow or a straight red, that doesn’t really change the result.

For their parts, neither club is happy with the resulting forfeit for MUFC. A spokesperson for MUFC - “All of the players and head coach are extremely disappointed after sacrifices they have all made all year and an inexcusable incident destroyed a very competitive match…We cannot accept poor behavior by anyone that is on the sidelines. Much disappointment for sure for everyone involved. We apologize to all those involved.”

While WCP is thrilled with advancing, Raimist expressed disappointment in the way things ended. “We are happy that we get to go through, but definitely would have rather the players decide the match on the field. It was shaping up to be a good game and the 2nd half looked like it would be some exciting soccer. It’s disappointing the players didn’t get to decide the outcome, but we are looking forward to continuing to work hard and keep this season going.”

World Class Premier celebrate a well-deserved win. (image courtesy of WCP social media)

A league affiliated twitter account responded on social media, “Charges will be pressed we protect our referees across the country.” Whether this is the “official response” of the league, that can’t be verified. Our contact with the UPSL was reach out to, but so far no response has been received. If the league contacts us, we’ll their response to the story.

For the record, we also reached out to the author of the original tweet, to get his perspective, but haven’t heard back. His tweet reflects the importance of citizens/reporters willing to post to their social media about matches not being covered by most media outlets. We appreciate all of you out there and especially Carlos today. Keep up the great work.

End result, World Class Premier advance in the UPSL playoffs and continue a run of dominant play. Mass United’s run ends, but a club shouldn’t be judged by the unhinged actions of a single person.

- Dan Vaughn

Laredo Heat Expand to UPSL

Last week, NPSL’s Laredo Heat announced they would be creating a UPSL side to allow developing talent more opportunity for playing time. In the press release, Matt Kahla, UPSL national director, saw the move as a net positive, “Laredo Heat is expanding operations and looking to the UPSL as part of their plan. That's a tremendous vote of confidence for the UPSL, and we are definitely looking forward to Laredo Heat SC's contributions moving forward." The move by an NPSL side to create an incubator club in the UPSL has been a recent trend so I reached out to J.J. Vela, Laredo Heat GM, to learn more about the move and how he sees the relationship between the two big national amateur leagues.

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JJ Vela

Some fans see UPSL and NPSL as competitors, how do you see that relationship?

The fans are right and I see the NPSL, USL2 and UPSL as competitors in the general scheme of the U.S. soccer landscape; however, each league serves a different type of "clientele". We were members of the former USL2 (the PDL) for many years and now have competed in the NPSL for two seasons and this coming 2020 Spring and Fall Season, we will have a team in the UPSL which we have named the Heat 2 since we will still compete in the NPSL during the 2020 Summer Season as the Laredo Heat SC, the team that has been competing since 2004 (except for the two year hiatus in 2016/2017). The relationship between the leagues is cordial and professional, in my experience, all three leagues function within their respective markets (even if there are teams from the different league within the market) and it's really up to each club to market itself to the community and most importantly, what type of team each one wants to showcase on the pitch. We would be lying to ourselves if we did not acknowledge that within each league, there are teams that are run very, very professionally and compete year in and year out for league championships while others are managed with minimum budgets and do only what is expected in terms of minimum standards on game days, on and off the field.

What is the talent differential between the two leagues in your opinion?

Again, not only the difference between the NPSL and UPSL but between the NPSL, USL2 and UPSL. Each league, by virtue of where their member club is located, the type of player they recruit and the level of professionalism they bring to their community (at the end of the day, we are all amateur clubs) can have very competitive and talented players. In previous years, due to the U.S. Open Cup Tournament, we have seen teams from the amateur levels of U.S. Soccer not only compete but thrive versus teams from our Tier Two (USL Championship) and Tier Three (USL League One and NISA) professional leagues so the player talent is there in all three leagues, the only difference in the "talent level" between the league's has to do with what I mentioned above, where the club is located and the player they recruit to play during their respective seasons (NPSL & USL2, summer only as you know).

Long-term, do you see the UPSL and NPSL creating a formal agreement?

I do not, each league serves a different type of soccer "client / investor". The league fees vary so much between the three leagues that a team like the Florida Soccer Soldiers (UPSL) who had a great U.S. Open Cup last year would see no reason to join the NPSL or USL2 for the same type of access to competition. For us as an organization, as an example, we left the PDL (USL2) after the 2015 season because there were only four teams in the division for three years (2013, 2014, 2015) and travel just got too expensive, not to mention, not enough teams to market a season to fans and sponsors. In 2018 when we returned to play, we went with the NPSL because of the # of teams in the conference and the conference was much more regionalized though the USL2 has gotten better traction in the State of Texas.

Will talent move between the two sides?

In terms of talent, it has and will continue to move between the different teams in the NPSL, USL2 and UPSL since none of us nor the players really have any type of contractual obligation to each other (being amateur teams). In the two years that we have played in the NPSL, we have registered players with experience in the USL2 and UPSL, some even as far away as California and New York...they were just college players looking for the best option to play summer soccer to showcase their talent. In addition, we (the Laredo Heat SC) feel we are an excellent option for college players looking to play in a professional setting during the summer months and with our relationship / affiliation with FC Helsingor from Denmark, many players with no college eligibility left can also benefit playing for our NPSL side.

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What is clear to us is that there is an unspoken hierarchy in the grassroots game, regardless of what league officials might say. That hierarchy (which may not be entirely based on fact, but certainly lives in perception) of amateur leagues (and the clubs that fill them) goes something like: city league<regional league<UPSL<NPSL<USL2. One big question mark currently is where a league like Gulf Coast Premier League (and it’s soon to come expansion Mountain Premier League) fits into this hierarchy. The GCPL lost four clubs to the NPSL in this year’s offseason, so it’s safe to assume those clubs saw the jump to the NPSL as an upgrade (which may or may not be true). Also note, NISA wasn’t mentioned because it’s not an amateur league.

One of the big complaints often thrown at the U.S. Soccer Federation is the lack of organization and tier designation. That complaint is vital to the landscape, because if USSF doesn’t do their job, public perception will make the decision for them (maybe that’s what they want?). And public perception is a terrible measuring stick for the quality of a league. It’s too easily swayed by PR and flashy presentations. It’s also easily pushed one way or another by big money investors who see potential to throw cash at dominating markets. That was true during the NASL/MLS battle and it’s happening again in the grassroots level. Perception is becoming reality.

It’s fantastic to see NPSL sides expanding operations to grow talent and it’s clear Laredo has a plan to develop their player pool. While that will pay off for Laredo’s players, the bigger questions are still unanswered about league superiority and hierarchy. Until the Federation sorts things out, we’re left to guess and assume. That guesswork may not yield the best results for the parties involved.

- Dan Vaughn

World Class Premier No More

It's been a while since I wrote something substantive on a club. But when I saw that World Class Premier was rebranding to Maryland Bobcats FC, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to get back in the swing of things. I got in contact with the club and was able to get a quick interview done with Communications Director Evan Raimist. Without further ado, here is your Maryland Bobcats.

What exactly led to the rebrand?

The name change comes at a time when there are some big changes in the club, including joining the NPSL, and the ownership wanted to complete this before fans got too entrenched. This helps our future project and helps us start to achieve our goal of representing the whole state and maybe one day bringing a pro team to Maryland. We don't want to be seen as one location, but representatives of the whole state to come together and get behind one project.

How long had this been in the process?

This process has been about a year in the making with it really heating up the last 4-6 months. It isn't a quick process and we wanted to make sure that the transition went as smoothly as possible and that we had everything we needed in place before we announced it.

Why did you choose Bobcats as the mascot?

The new team colors are a tribute to the school where most of the owners met (University of Maryland, Baltimore County or UMBC). By giving the team the gold and black color scheme is their way of paying respect to the school that made them where they are now. The ownership group goes by "The Bobcat Group" so incorporating that into the team identify is important. They had a dream together and have started this project together, so it’s only fitting that the team name incorporate the group that had a dream together and wanted to build something bigger than one individual person.

As a fan, I’m always on the lookout for unique kits and team gear, so this will be a two parter. First, what kit supplier are you guys going with? And will there be gear that fans can potentially buy?

We are working on finishing up designs, but we will have new kits for both our NPSL and UPSL teams next season. Again, we are working through the final details, but it looks like we will be going with Icarus for our kits. We love the work they've been doing and they have been great to work through the designs with. The jerseys will obviously include the new team colors and will be available for purchase. We also are working on getting new scarves that will be available for purchase. As we get closer to the seasons in 2020, we will be adding more gear to our online shop at our new website.

Are there future aspirations of possibly jumping to a pro league?

I think that that is ultimately the goal, yes. We all know the state of professional soccer in the US right now and that it's a bit segregated and disjointed. For now, we are focusing on where we are at. Joining the NPSL is the next big step for us and we are focused on building a competitive squad to kick off in 2020. We always have high aspirating for ourselves, so years down the line becoming a fully professional club is not out of the questions.

Lastly, what can we expect from the team after the rebrand?

You can expect the same high standards that we hold ourselves to as well as continued work in our community. We hope to unite the state of Maryland behind one team and be a club, team, and organization that the community can be proud of. We have already taken a big step with a new website that will be a one-stop shop for all things Maryland Bobcats FC. We are still the same team, same players, and same people behind the scenes with big ambitions, we just have a new name. We're looking forward to finishing this Fall season strong and hoping to have a successful 2020.

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I have to thank Evan for the opportunity to cover the rebrand and I look forward to seeing what the club can do in the upcoming NPSL and UPSL seasons.

- Shawn Laird