Quick Kicks: Best Matches of the Weekend 10/11-10/13

Geovanny Monterroso

Yinz United vs Starliners FC

The battle to remain undefeated. Both teams sit at the top of the tables with no losses or ties. Respectively, Yinz United is sitting with 5 wins and five games played, Starliners FC are sitting with 4 wins and 4 games played (with an impressive goal difference of 12 for – 0 against). This could be the match that determines the winner of the season, I know it is still early, but this is an important match. Will the Pups finally end the 4-game clean sheet record the Stars hold? Or will Stars shine yet again?

West Chester Predators vs United German Hungarians

United Soccer League of Pennsylvania brings us a great match up, the reserve team for the powerhouse of the NPSL vs a historically rich team. This should be a great game to catch. Currently WCSC is sitting in 4th place on the table and UGH is sitting on 3rd place. The result of the game will have some effect to the table but what is truly exciting about this game is the different playing styles that will be on the field. If you are in the area, make sure you catch this match.

Dan Vaughn

New York Cosmos vs Detroit City FC

This matchup won’t determine the leader of the Member’s Cup competition. That’s because the Cosmos have blown the doors off this competition with a massive showing. They haven’t lost a match yet and are 6-2-0. They are tied for first in GD and are second in goals for. The last time these two squared off, they played at Keyworth and it ended in a 1-1 draw.

Detroit has been extremely polished this entire competition, managing a flawless record (4-2-0) with incredible defense, only giving up 2 goals all season. This time they journey away to face the Cosmos. From all appearances, the Cosmos aren’t drawing well and homefield-advantage maybe only exist in theory. Detroit needs to win this match and get the 3 points to have a chance at catching the Cosmos, but considering the dominate play of the homeside, I’m doubtful they can get them. My prediction, Cosmos win 1-0.

Luke Bowyer

PDX FC vs. OPF

PDX FC are staying sharp prior to the NPSL season by competing in Oregon’s top amateur division, the Oregon Premier Soccer League (OPSL). They currently sit fourth in a seven-team league as they take on last-place OPF this Sunday. The club will hope to erase the memory of last week’s 2-1 defeat to local rivals International Portland Select FC, which was decided by a controversial late penalty. What makes PDX an especially intriguing watch this weekend is the presence of established Cuban International Daniel Luis Saez. Luis Saez will be available for his second game for PDX after defecting from Cuba during the Gold Cup this past summer with nineteen caps to his name. The midfielder is listed at an imposing 6’5” and will certainly be one to watch as he attempts to assert his dominance in the midfield in hopes of propelling PDX up the table. Local gem Buckman Field plays host to this matchup. It would be hard to find a more quintessentially Portland place to watch a match, with the entrance to the field located just to the side of Voodoo Donuts’ eastside location. Another draw is the field’s proximity to venerable dive bar the Sandy Hut. It seems difficult to imagine a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than donuts, cheap beer and grassroots soccer.

Joshua Duder

UPSL Western Conference - SoCal North

This week I’ll be keeping an eye on the UPSL’s Western Conference – SoCal North – Division I; there is a tight race forming at the top. Orange County FC 2 are topping the table after five wins in five weeks and a +13 goal difference. They’ll be looking to make it 18 points on the trot when they face off against Sporting San Fernando, at the Lake Forest Sports Complex, with a 7:00 pm kickoff.

Santa Ana Winds FC are on 10 points from 4 matches, and after a 2-2 draw vs Oxnard Guerreros back in September, they’ve outscored their last two opponents 10-1. Winds FC will be looking to keep pace with Orange County in the table when they go away to Injen Total Football, who are winless, for a 6:00 pm kickoff at Rancho Jurupa Regional Sports Park.

Lastly, LA10 are also on 10 points so far this season, but gave up four goals on the road when the lost to Orange County FC 2 several weeks ago. Since then they’ve won at home and drawn on the road. This weekend they go away to Jerry Chabola Stadium to take on Lionside FC at 6:30 pm. All three matches are scheduled to be shown on MyCujoo.com

Quick Kicks: Best Matches of the Weekend 10/4

Joshua Duder

LA Force vs Oakland Roots

The Fall season has only just begun for NISA and this weekend offers up a battle at the bottom of the standings. LA Force, who have won one lost one, will host Oakland Roots at Rio Hondo College. Well-branded and flashy Oakland Roots haven’t won a match yet, drawing two and losing one – both teams have a -1 goal differential. The two teams have never faced each other and this match offers a great place to get started if you’re interested in supporting a new team. For those who cannot make it to Whittier, California to catch the game, MyCujoo will be hosting it live and it starts at 7:00 pm PST. However, if you can get there, tickets are on sale at the LA Force website starting at just $10.00

Dan Vaughn

Chattanooga FC vs Detroit City FC

Look, if you are a fan of the NPSL, hell, a fan of grassroots soccer, you have to be fired up everytime these two clubs play each other. Both clubs are set to hop ship for a new league next year and are finishing off their commitments to NPSL’s Member’s Cup. But if they are checked out, you wouldn’t know it by their level of play. Currently 2 and 3 in the MC’s standings, DCFC leads CFC by 2 points, a margin that could be surpassed if the home team takes all three points.

I’m a big fan of checking goals for and against when measuring a club’s success. Currently second in the standings, DCFC has done it with a staunch defense, only yielding 2 points in 5 matches, leading the league in that category. Their offense has been the third best, goals-wise, in the competition, but the gap between the bottom three and top three is wide. DCFC has managed 11 goals, good for just over 2 goals per match.

On the other side, CFC has almost double the goals scored, but has given up 9, tied for second worst in the league. That defense will need to get tighter against a side that is sure to not give up any cheap chances. CFC will have homefield advantage and, in this matchup, that’s an important part of the equation. At Keyworth earlier this season, DCFC won 2-1.

Can Detroit maintain that scoring pace, while locking up that backline? I say yes. DCFC wins and maintains their position in the standings.

Weekend of July 19-21

Shawn Laird

Miami FC vs. Tulsa Athletic

The path to the NPSL South Region Trophy once again runs through Miami FC. This year Miami’s opponent makes the trip to Barry University from the great city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. With both clubs achieving undefeated seasons during the regular season, I am officially dubbing this a clash of titans.

Miami once again impressed with their dominance by running through the Sunshine Conference, dropping two points en route to an undefeated season. Meanwhile, Tulsa achieved the same result but finished with three fewer points overall (Miami’s 27 to their 24). As they reached their playoff stretches, it was apparent that their roads would converge, so long as they ran their respective gauntlets.

As each club reached the region semifinals, it became clear who would have the tougher test to get to the final. Luckily, Miami passed with flying colors as they dispatched Chattanooga FC 2-0. For their part, Tulsa wasn’t much of a slouch in their semifinal either. They also passed a difficult test in the Vaqueros of Fort Worth, winning 3-1.

Now, the title is to be decided on what is likely to be a hot and humid night in Miami. Don’t get me wrong, Tulsa has its fair share of heat but the humidity may catch them off guard. At the same time, I don’t expect them to wilt and crumble under the pressure. I have a feeling that this goes to penalties, with Tulsa taking it 5-4. At least that’s what my heart says.

Joshua Duder

Capital FC Atletica vs Seattle Stars FC

Last week, in the NWPL semifinals, number one seed Seattle Stars shut out the Washington Timbers 1-0 and advanced to the Championship match to defend their title. Seattle will face the number two seed Capital FC Atletica of Salem, Oregon, who outscored Yakima United 3-1 in the opposite semi. The two sides first faced each other on June 22nd, with Seattle getting the 2-1 win at home that night. It turns out that was CFC Atletica’s only loss on the season and they’re eager to head back up to Washington to repay the favor.

This match has the potential to be a barnburner too, Seattle Stars finished the season with a +26 Goal Differential, while Atletica managed a, not-too-shabby, +19 GD of their own. CFC Atletica were led by Whitney Pitalo with 7 goals, while Vicky Cruz and Annouscka Kordom each had 5—there were five additional goal scorers with at least 1 goal; meanwhile, keeper Makenzie Pineda earned three shutouts on the year. Seattle’s scoring was much more spread out; while Braeden Small led the way with only 4 goals, the Stars had 16 additional scorers with at least one goal and three goalies with at least one shutout.

While Seattle clearly had a successful season, no Stars player brought home a NWPL player of the week award while CFC Atletica’s Vicky Cruz, Makenzie Pineda, and Whitney Pitalo each won the accolade. Seattle’s great season is coming off the back of having won the title last year, and with so many players contributing to their successes, it’s doubtful that missing out on individual awards will matter much if they can win back-to-back NWPL Championships. The final kicks off at 3:45 pm on Sunday, July 21st. Tickets are just $7 to get through the gate at Kent-Meridian High School’s French Field.

Dan Creel

Cleveland SC vs. Rochester Lancers/Detroit City FC vs Minneapolis City SC

I’m interested to see how these Midwest Region semifinals play out. Rochester had a good, but not great regular season and was able to take out favorite, Ann Arbor, in that uncanny two-day game which ended in a shootout.

Myself included, I don’t think Cleveland has gotten enough respect for the season they put together. Cleveland flew under the radar for me after back-to-back losses early on. But, since then they’ve gone on a five game winning streak. They can score goals and have a stingy defense. That’s a recipe for playoff success.

The game is this afternoon at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck. The presumed top dogs of the region, Detroit and Minneapolis, go at it in the night cap of the doubleheader. The regional finals are Sunday, 1pm at the same venue.

Paul Kowalczyk

Milwaukee Bavarians vs Mass United FC

The Road to Texas for the UPSL playoffs continues this weekend as the Midwest Division champions, the Bavarians SC, take on the Northeastern champions, Mass United FC, on Sunday the 21st at 1 p.m. ET. Zee Germans will be travelling to Chelmsford, Massachusetts in this quarterfinal matchup as the 8-time national champions from Milwaukee look to move one step closer to adding a ninth star to their crest in their 90th year of existence. Mass United FC might be at a bit of a disadvantage as the team has not played a game in three weeks, while the Bavarians have stayed in form winning two playoff games last week to become the Midwest Division Champions. The UPSL has ranked the Bavarians and Mass United at #2 and #3 in their most recent top 10 rankings with the winner of this game playing undefeated #1 ranked Florida Tropics SC in Weatherford, Texas on the 27th.