Protagonist Picks 'Em - May 17th - 20th

May 17, 2024 by Joshua Duder

Our writers, podcasters, and guest contributors have looked high and low for games they feel you should pay attention to this week. From USL Championship to the Metroplex Premier League; WPSL gets kicked off and USL W League is into week two; USL League One, Bay State Soccer League, NPSL, and the UPSL all have regular season games. We get a shout out at the SoCal Premier League’s Briones and Freeman Cup Finals as well as the USASA Region One Amateur Cup Semifinal. Its all here… so let’s get stuck in!

by Protagonist Staff

Thread Dead Redemption Pt.1

May 15, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

Every soccer fan will tell you that half the fun in being a soccer fan is judging the kits each year. A new season means new kits and Rich will be rating the kits being rolled out for the 2024 Midwest Premier League season, these are his personal opinions. This is part one.

by Rich Schenck

Ben Pirmann: Constant Improvement

May 15, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

After coming up just short of a USL Championship title last year, Charleston Battery are playing even better this season, the last undefeated team in the Eastern Conference. Head Coach Ben Pirmann sat down with Protagonist to discuss his approach to coaching and how he’s constantly pushing his players to improve.

by Dan Vaughn

Phil’s Favorite Four

May 14, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

Ahead of the full review of the weekend that was in the USL Championship in the Championship Hangover, Phil has four players who really rose to the occasion this week and set themselves apart. This will be a chance for us to see how the eye test stands up to the stats and what impact each player had on the outcome of their particular match.

by Phil Baki

USL W League 3+1

May 13, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

With the big amateur leagues back in the swing of things, we’re bringing back our 3+1 series. Each week we’ll recap 3 of the best matches from the previous week, then preview 1 of the upcoming week’s matches. Hence the name, 3+1. The USL W League is getting rolling and we had a full slate of matches in week 1.

by Dan Vaughn

NPSL 3+1

May 13, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

With the big amateur leagues back in the swing of things, we’re bringing back our 3+1 series. Each week we’ll recap 3 of the best matches from the previous week, then preview 1 of the upcoming week’s matches. Hence the name, 3+1. The NPSL is really starting to get rolling across the country, so a full slate of matches for amateur soccer fans. Here’s this week’s edition.

by Dan Vaughn

Circle the Date: USL W League, 2024 Season

May 11, 2024 by Joshua Duder

The USL’s own W League is headed into its third full season and the strong have only become stronger; the league has become bigger; and there is so much more at stake. With the USL Super League in the offing, opportunities for players to make the transition from amateur to professional have never been more plentiful and opportunities for successful coaches to make their mark and be offered the chance to not only get paid to do what they love, but to make a career of it, are in the balance.

A Decade of Dedication

May 10, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

Year four of the Common’s existence is a sentimental one for the small, but the loudest, part of the fanbase, marking ten years of soccer since Lansing United’s 2014 debut in NPSL. The 2014 Great Lakes West Champions would eventually fall in the National Semi-Finals to the New York Red Bulls U-23s, the eventual NPSL National Champions. Five different leagues and three different clubs have been serenaded by this core group of diehards through the decade. Although the colors and the names have changed, this group has continued to be, Lansing First.

by Rich Schneck

Lane United & Hummel Fight Cancer with Kits

May 10, 2024 by Joshua Duder

When Coach John Galas got the call, he was a man of two minds - taking care of himself and combating cancer, but also continuing to prepare his club during the offseason, for the big year ahead. During his darkest days, Hummel had John in their hearts and minds, they reached out to the club with the idea to raise awareness of his fight against the rare Synovial Sarcoma the only way they knew how.

by Josh Duder

MPLS City Announce Minnesota Made

May 09, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

In the world of amateur soccer, rosters are full of players not making a penny for their sweat and hard work. Minneapolis City announced a new NIL collective that will benefit its players by sharing 20% of sales on its new merchandise line, Minnesota Made. The deal appears to be the first of its kind in USL League Two.

by Dan Vaughn