Lower League Action March 6-8

Dan Vaughn

Napa Valley 1839 vs Project 510 - It’s early going in the Golden Gate Conference of the NPSL, but the ball is rolling. Napa already picked up their first three points last week and will face Oakland Roots amateur side Project 510. Maybe Project 510 can do what Oakland’s pro side has been so far unable to do: win a match. Napa beat El Farolito last week, but only scored a single goal in the process. So getting more scoring opportunities and converting will be key for this season’s success. I think this is a fun one and will clearly be impossible to predict, so soon into 2020.

Josh Duder

UPSL Wild West Returns – In 2019 Contra Costa FC joined the UPSL Wild West from Liga NorCal and made an instant impact; winning the table with 27 points and a positive 22 goal difference. They followed that up by winning the division’s Fall table as well. On Saturday, March 7th, Contra Costa FC defend their title to newcomers NorCal United FC. NorCal United made a splash in the offseason by scheduling an exhibition match with NISA side Oakland Roots then followed that up with a friendly with NPSL side Napa Valley 1839 – showing their commitment to competing against the best clubs in their region and looking to put their team in the spotlight. Contra Costa FC and NorCal United kickoff 3:00 pm PST on the pitch at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek, California.

WISL Women’s Indoor Season Continues – Shannon McMahon of OlyTown Artesians and Kayla Carter of Tacoma Narrows are the WISL’s first ever women players of the week; McMahon scored a hatty in her debut for the club as they went on to defeat the Oly-Pen Force 7-4. Carter started in between the pipes for Tacoma and looked to shutout the Snohomish Skyhawks until the waning minutes of the match; however she only gave up the one goal and her side went on to win 8-1 in their debut game. This weekend Shannon and Olytown take on the Skyhawks at the Snohomish Soccer Dome at 7:00 pm on Saturday the 7th and a half-hour later Kayla and her Tacoma Narrows match up against the Force at the Oly-Pen Sports Center.

UPSL Semifinals

Shawn Laird

Soda City FC vs Maryland Bobcats FC

It’s that time of the year again folks. Yes, it is time for the 2019-20 UPSL Fall Season National Semifinals. It’s been a long and difficult road for the final four playing this weekend, but that trophy at the end is all worth it.

I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t think Soda City stood a chance against the unstoppable force of OFC Barca in the last round. But, they proved me wrong. It was a tightly contested match in Savannah but Soda City prevailed 2-1 over the Florida Champions on February 1st. Through their 4 match playoff run, Soda City have outscored their opponents 10-3. It’s easy to see that their regular season defensive form carried over to the playoffs.

Soda City’s opponents in this weekend’s semifinal, Maryland Bobcats FC, had a bit of an eventful path to get to this point. After dispatching Quake FC in mid-November 3-1, they faced off with Mass United FC for the chance to move on to this weekend. Unfortunately, due to outside interference on Mass United’s behalf, the match was abandoned at halftime and the league decided the winner. Obviously it’s not how anyone wants to advance, but it’s in the past and they face a strong Soda City side.

Judging by both teams’ regular season finishes, I’d say this will be one hell of a match. Both teams didn’t allow more than ten goals all season, while destroying everyone in their paths. I look forward to watching this game and I hope to see some great play. My prediction? Bobcats move on to the finals by a score of 4-3.

Dan Vaughn

Santa Ana Winds vs. Foro Soccer Club

Of course it would fall to me to pick a match involving Foro Soccer Club. I’ve made mistake after mistake predicting this club’s rise to the semifinals. They came out of the highly competitive Central conference and battled through the playoffs to get their spot, beating club after club. The Central conference might be one of the toughest in the country and Foro won against great teams on their way here.

If there is another conference as competitive it would be the Western Conference, home of Foro’s opponent, Santa Ana Winds. Winds has been dominant this season, losing zero matches during the regular season. Their last match was against Pajaro Valley United, which they won 2-1. This match comes almost three weeks since their last. Does that layoff hurt them? Particularly against an opponent that has been in action more recently and played most of their playoff matches at home?

I have learned one thing this season, don’t pick against Foro SC. Foro 2-1.

Quick Kicks: Best Matches of the Weekend 11/1-11/3

Shawn Laird

Deportivo Lake Mary vs Sporting Orlando

It’s game week 10 for Deportivo Lake Mary and Sporting Orlando in the UPSL fall season of the Florida Central Division 1. Deportivo is looking to keep their winning streak, which has seen them score six goals over the last two games against Huracan and Winter Haven United, going. They will also look to temporarily close the gap between themselves and OFC Barca to two points.

While Deportivo looks to continue their winning ways, Sporting will look to get back to winning ways after two consecutive draws against SportsParadize Soccer Academy and Huracan. With a win against a top two club, Sporting will be able to move up to a tie for fourth, however temporary that may be. At the same time, knocking off a top two team could give Sporting a confidence boost and allow them to make a winning run of their own.

Looking at everything concerning both clubs, I would have to say Deportivo has the upper hand in this one. However, I can’t discredit Sporting in this matchup. I think Sporting will give them a tough game but ultimately Deportivo takes the three points, 4-2.

Paul Kowalczyk

Cedar Stars Academy vs NY Pancyprian Freedoms

Cedar Stars Academy of The Bronx will be travelling to Queens to face the New York Pancyprians in this Cosmopolitan League week 8 matchup. Cedar Stars Academy started the season on a hot streak scoring 25 goals in their first five games, but have cooled off recently, dropping points in their past two games and falling into 3rd place. CSA will be looking to regain their form against last season’s winners and current sixth place, NY Pancyprian Freedoms. The Pancyprians have only played five games in the season’s first seven weeks, because of scheduling conflicts with the U.S. Open cup, but have only lost one out of those five. This matchup will be the teams’ second time facing one another with the 3-time US Open Cup Champion Pancyprians defeating CSA in the 2nd round of Open Cup qualifying 2-0.

The match will be at 8:00 am on Sunday, November 2nd at St. John’s University Belson Stadium. I expect both of these teams to be in the top four by season’s end and that this will be a close game with the Pancyprians winning by a goal.