Dan Creel

WPSL South Region playoffs

This year’s South Region playoffs are being held at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. Host club, Pensacola FC, was a championship finalist last year and looks to be the team to beat again this year. Pensacola crushed their Gulf Conference competitors ending the season with a 8-0-0 record and wracking up 53 goals with only 4 against. Midfielder Mollie Rouse leads the team with 9 goals and her 9 assists is tied for the league lead. Rouse transferred to the University of Central Florida Knights in the spring semester after spending two years at Louisville. She also brings international experience with her as she was a starter on the England that earned a bronze at the 2018 FIFA U20 World Cup.

In the first semifinal, Pensacola will face Miami-based FC Surge. The Surge completed an undefeated Sunshine Conference campaign at 5-0-2. The highlight of the season may be a defense that only gave up 1 goal over 7 league games. Christina Velazquez, the sophomore starter at Florida International University, anchors FC Surge’s defense in goal.

Two expansion clubs will take part in the second semifinal. The Charlotte Eagles won the South Division of the Carolinas Conference with an undefeated 6-0-1 record. Highpoint University forward, Skyler Prillaman, leads the Eagles’ offense with 10 goals, tied for third highest in the league this year. With a 10-1-1 record, the Red Wolves took first in the Southeast Conference. With a 0.68 goals against average, starting goalkeeper, Danielle Kryzyzaniak, provides the Red Wolves with a wealth of experience in the net. A first-year graduate assistant coach at Jacksonville State, Krzyzaniak also spent time with the Chattanooga FC club.

WPSL South Region semifinals are Saturday, July 13 starting at 9am. The finals are Sunday, July 14 at 1pm.

Shawn Laird

Miami FC vs. Miami United

This weekend we have two massive matchups in the NPSL playoffs. First up, we have a battle of perennial heavy weights in Miami. Sunshine Conference winners Miami FC play host to third place Miami United at Barry University. As was the case last year, Miami FC once again steamrolled through the conference, winning nine of their ten matches and finishing with a +43 goal differential. Miami United aren’t any slouch either in the conference. Even though they finished third this year, they still finished with a +22 goal differential. In the run up to this matchup, Miami FC thoroughly dismantled Jacksonville Armada U23 4-0, while Miami United had a tough test in Naples United FC. However, Miami United prevailed 2-1 to set up what I’m referring to as “The Magic City Derby.” The match is sure to be full of emotions and strong challenges, but I’m picking Miami FC to win by a score of 3-1.

FC Arizona vs. Academica SC

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, FC Arizona of the Southwest Conference takes on Academica SC of the Golden Gate Conference in one half of the West Regional semifinals. While FC Arizona didn’t win their conference, they still had an impressive season. They scored 46 goals en route to winning 12 matches and finishing with a +27 goal differential. FC also gets a massive boost in the goal scoring department with the addition of Alejandro Aguilar to the active roster.

Academica had a solid season as well, but had a relatively balanced record. Overall, they managed to win five matches and scored 27 goals. Unfortunately, they also gave up 19 goals to their opponents. However, I feel that their record doesn’t reflect well on their talent. I fully expect them to give Arizona a few issues during the match.

This Southwest matchup is sure to have a few highlight reel worthy plays and I fully expect Academica to give it their all, but I think FC Arizona move on by a score of 4-0 to take on the winner of Crossfire Premier and ASC San Diego.

Dan Vaughn

NOSL Championship Match

I love the tiny regional leagues that seem to be on the upswing currently. It’s exciting to see grassroots soccer developing on a micro level all across the country. The Northern Ohio Soccer League just wrapped up its first season with 5 teams (started with 6). It was an amazing start to a brand new league that’s still ironing out all the kinks.

With the semifinal matches complete, we’ve got the final on Saturday between Amish Country United and FC Accipiter. Because the league is so small, both these clubs have played each other twice this season. One was a win for FCA and the other a draw, after ACU had jumped out to an early lead. So these are two clubs that know each other well and won’t be surprised by anything when they face off. I think this will be a great match. I suspect we’ll see Amish Country United hoisting the first ever championship of the NOSL, but when there’s so little room for error, it could go either way.