Lower Tier Soccer | Top Tier Coverage
Protagonist soccer is a media organization dedicated to lower-tier soccer; UPSL, NPSL, BSSL
The international break is over… for now. US Open Cup Qualifiers are done and dusted… for now. This week we have NISA, USL Championship and USL League One playoffs in full effect. The Western Indoor Soccer League returns to action. UPSL, EPSL, and the Metroplex Premier League continue to march on. Our contributors and guests tell us the games they’ll be paying the most attention to this week.
by Protagonist Staff
Read MoreThis month, Midwester Premier League club AFC Columbia announced a partnership with newly unveiled Women’s Premier Soccer League participant, the Missouri Reign, with the intention to “foster growth, passion and community involvement” to further solidify a soccer culture in the Mid-Missouri area.
by Rich Schenck
Read MoreThe NISA regular season wraps tonight. Who will bag the golden boot? What should we be looking for in the opening matches this weekend? Will Flower City Union’s attackers finally put it all together? Dan takes a look and gives his take on all the burning questions heading into the NISA playoffs.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreBeing a fan in soccer is more than just the drums, the chants, and the smoke. It’s about connecting to a club at a personal level and making it a part of who you are as a person. For Dan “Wheaties” Garrett that club is Livonia City FC of the Midwest Premier League. And though he may be a one person supporter group for now, he’s in it for the long haul.
by Rich Schenck
Read MoreToday’s Under the Lights club, Vlora FC, was founded by Adi Bilani in 2012. The club prides itself on its diverse makeup as expressed in the motto; “United by passion, driven by a dream.” Vlora FC believes in providing opportunities for players to develop and compete at higher levels.
Read MoreWhile most of the worlds top divisions take an international break, we still get to celebrate and watch loads of soccer here! USL Championship, and USL League One go into their respective final regular season fixtures, while NISA has a few weeks left with the playoff picture yet to be fully painted. We also have Metroplex Premier League games, UPSL Fall/Winter, and the Bay State Soccer League to keep an eye on. Let’s get stuck in!
by Protagonist Staff
Read MoreThis is it! We’ve reached the final matchday of the 2023 USL League One season and there is still so much in the balance. The Players Shield and the two first round bye spots are still to be decided as well as the final positioning of 4th and 5th - it could go either way. Lastly, the 6th and final playoff spot has not been cemented and it’s gonna be bye bye birdie either way.
by Joshua Duder
Read MoreThe Midwest Premier League is full of clubs dedicated to growing roots within their communities. Dekalb County United is one such club. From their founding to the present, DKU has always focused on connecting to the people in its local community and growing sustainably.
by Rich Schenck
Read MoreWith just a handful of matches remaining, 5 of the 6 playoff spots are taken. In this final weeks of the NISA season, positioning with be finalized and the final club will join the playoff crowd.
by Dan Vaughn
Read More“It is part of the Seattle culture to be obsessed with magnificent beasts. Maybe it's the dark winters. Hikers have tales about Sasquatch, Skiiers have the Yeti, hokey players have tales about Kraken, and socialites have tales about the Seattle freeze. Soccer players tell the tale of a half-shark-half-octopus with 11 tentacles to control the ball and a tenacious fighting spirit.”
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