Six matches is all there will be to determine the Pacific Region winner of the 2021 NISA Independent Cup. Four with very different backgrounds, missions, and experiences will face off over the next four weeks. It all starts with Space United Seattle hosting PDX FC at Renton Memorial Stadium in Washington on July 10th.

PDX FC

PDX, previously having competed in the NPSL, are now plying their trade in USL League-2, whether that is a long-term placement or just for one season remains to be seen; however, their standard of play has been increasing every year since their founding in 2017 which led to them winning the Oregon Men’s Open Cup last year. The Larks from Portland currently sit second place in USL L2 Northwest standings, but are giving the division a run for its money. In this tournament, they will travel once to Washington then host twice in Portland, somehow avoiding a trip to California. This sets them up well as favorites, not only because of the friendly schedule but also that they are in mid-season form and are playing the best soccer they might ever have been playing.

Space United FC

Space United FC, which has several squads on the West Coast, will be hoping to launch that opinion to the moon. They host PDX FC on day one then travel to the Bay Area in back-to-back weekends to face off against future NISA club Bay Cities FC in Redwood City and UPSL side California Victory FC in Petaluma. While their schedule is probably the toughest of the group, they’re a well-run side with lots of support, hopefully much of which turns out to see them at their only home appearance on July 10th at 5:00 pm for Stem and Science Day no less.

Cal Victory FC

CVFC currently sit second in the Wild West North Division of the UPSL’s Western Conference. They have +13 Goal Difference and don’t look like a team who struggles to compete. They’ll also start the season on the road, heading an hour and half south to Redwood City to take on future NISA team Bay Cities FC. They host Space United on the 17th of July then head to the Pacific Northwest to end group play against PDX FC at Hilken Community Stadium on July 24th. While I expect PDX FC to do well, it shouldn’t surprise anybody to see this team upturn some apple carts – they are also in mid-season form, fighting for a playoff spot, and can score goals.

Bay Cities FC

Bay Cities will break into the national scene this Independent Cup.

Bay Cities FC start the tournament as hosts to Cal Victory FC then travel to Portland mid-month and finish hosting Space United at the end of the group fixtures. While there isn’t official league form by which to judge them, we have seen them beat UPSL competition JASA RWC 2-0 and draw with this very California Victory FC team, 1-1, recently. I expect at a minimum they’ll be competitive, but that a lack of time playing together will be what keeps them from winning the group. However, they are organizationally sound and have a well-drawn blueprint to success – look for this team to gel by the next NISA regular season and give their future foes something to worry about.

- Josh Duder