Lower Tier Soccer | Top Tier Coverage
Protagonist soccer is a media organization dedicated to lower-tier soccer; UPSL, NPSL, BSSL
Ashley Orkus defined her playing style at Ole Miss, dominating the SEC. After a short stint overseas, she returned to play for the Tampa Bay Sun in the USL Super League. If week one is any indicator, she's ready to dominate again.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreSam Estrada grew up in El Paso in the shadow of her father’s professional soccer career. Now the talented goalkeeper is set to join Dallas Trinity and create her own professional path in the USL Super League.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreWhen the USL Super League announced the formation of Carolina Ascent, plenty of questions surrounded the roster building process. The addition of Vicky Bruce as the first signing for the new professional club made sense. I sat down with the Carolina native to talk about her signing and goals for the first year in a new league.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreMemo Diaz grew up in the Southwest, just outside the city that would make him a professional player, El Paso. Now with Oakland, he’s back this weekend looking for an ever-important USL Championship win for the Roots. Locomotive are looking for their first win of their own, so it will be an epic clash.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreKyle Adams came to the States from New Zealand almost a decade ago and since he’s carved out a place in the USL Championship as one of the best defenders in the league. Currently the captain for Louisville City, he sat down with Protagonist Soccer to talk about his path to the States, his perspective on the American sport, and his hopes for Louisville this year.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreAfter an injury, surgery, and rehabilitation, Abdul Kooistra is ready to lead the Maryland Bobcats’ defense in this year’s NISA regular season. He discusses his path to health, his expectations for the club this year, and how he plans to find his confidence.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreWhen he signed with South Georgia Tormenta over the offseason, we knew we need to chat with Elijah Amo. The standout from Maryland crushed the competition in NISA, playing for the Bobcats, and now will face USL League One.
by Protagonist Staff
Read MoreGian Maldonado, born in Camden, New Jersey, moved to and grew up in Philadelphia, PA. He started playing soccer at age 11 and began playing for his local club, Kensington SC (Philadelphia, PA) and their U14 youth travel team in 2016. A center back and center defensive midfielder, he is now playing for the Kensington adult men’s team and is looking to help take them to new heights.
by Tim Lutz
Read MoreAs part of our continued player profile series, we sat down with the goal keeper for Paisley Athletic, an expansion side in UWS in 2022. Jenn Pettigrew discusses her path to Paisley, why she chose to be a goal keeper, and what motivates her to keep playing.
Read More“I have seen the WPSL grow and more franchises begin, especially more in California. It is exciting to be growing up in this time when women’s soccer players are among the most recognizable women athletes.”
by Elisabeth Schendel