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UPSL Playoffs Preview

06.01.2023

by: Salvador Torres

Fall
Semi-Pro
Tournaments
United States
UPSL Premier
Men
UPSL Premier - Men

As the new year starts, the UPSL national playoffs pick up steam with a couple of matches this weekend, mostly the round of 32 and 16. Here are the numbers for the five games.

Round of 32 OCFC vs. LA Galaxy Academy

OCFC

From the newly established SoCal central conference, Orange County FC finished first in their conference without losing a game. This is an addition to the club's success, as they were the UPSL national champions last spring.

Currently, they are on a seven-game winning streak, with their last match being a 3-0 win vs. Laguna United in the SoCal central final. Below is the scoring record of the season, including postseason goals.

GF (including postseason)	GA (Including postseason)	GD (including postseason)
47	12	+35

LA Galaxy Academy

One of the newer MLS academy additions to the UPSL, the boys in gold's debut season in the SoCal north conference placed second, suffering only one loss to Culver City 3-2 on match week 6.

From there, they went on a five-game winning streak when in their last game, they defeated their rivals LAFC academy on penalties to clinch the national playoffs. Below is the scoring record of the season, including postseason goals.

GF (including postseason)	GA (Including postseason)	GD (including postseason)
38	13	+25

The matchup's winner will advance to the national round of 16 vs. Olympians from Arizona.

Round of 16 Matias Almeyda FC vs. Austin FC Academy

Matias Almeyda FC

Matias Almeyda FC is a club founded by Matias Almeyda himself, the former Argentine defender and San Jose Earthquakes manager who established the club to help players in the Houston community reach the professional ranks. A recent example of a MAFC player going pro is Erick Morales, who signed a contract with CF Pachuca of Liga MX back in December.

MAFC placed 4th in the Texas south conference; however, it wasn't their first time making the conference postseason, as, in the spring season, they fell in the conference final match.

Their last defeat this season was a 1-0 loss to Houston FC in match week 9. Since then, they bounced back with a four-game winning streak through the texas south playoffs.

Nevertheless, the coach and president, Sebastian Zalzar, who has been in charge of the club for around five years, thinks this matchup will be the toughest. He mentions that they (Austin FC) are well prepared, treating the ball very well, and are aggressive.

The team's last matchup was a 2-1 win against the D10 Lions, a result that coach Zalzar reflects on calling for more attention on defense and crosses his fingers on injured players returning on time. Below is the scoring record of the season, including postseason goals.

GF (including postseason)	GA (Including postseason)	GD (Including postseason)
30	18	+12

Austin FC Academy

As another recent MLS academy addition, the boys in green finished 2nd in the Texas central conference. They suffered only one loss in the season, back on match week five vs. Alamo City by a score of 3-1.

Since then, they went on a seven-game winning streak, with their last matchup being a win via penalties vs. Alamo City to clinch the national playoffs. Below is the scoring record of the season, including postseason goals.

GF (including postseason)	GA (Including postseason)	GD (Including postseason)
46	11	+35

Round of 16 D'Feeters Kicks vs. Rush AMC3

D'Feeters Kicks

The cleverly named club from Dallas, Tx, is a relatively new club that started in 2019. Coach Edgar Hernadez has been involved with them since they were in the lower divisions of the UPSL and other competitions.

He said this upcoming match should be tough, but it will be business as usual since his team has been in these postseason games before. From what he learned in their last match on the road at River Valley Bullys, even when they're down, his players can keep composure to get the win by a score of 4-3.

DFK finished 2nd in the Texas north conference, suffering only one loss back on match week four vs. Foro 360 by a score of 7-3. DFK is currently on a four-game winning streak and beat their previous season's performance when they fell in the conference final game during the spring season. Below is the scoring record of the season, including postseason goals.

GF (including postseason)	GA (Including postseason)	GD (Including postseason)
44	21	+22

Rush AMC3

The El Paso, Tx branch of the Rush youth club made its UPSL debut this season, finishing 3rd in the West Texas-New Mexico conference. With a regular season record of 4-2-2, they are currently on a four-game winning streak, with their last result being a 1-0 win against Olimpia FC. Below is the scoring record of the season, including postseason goals.

GF (including postseason)	GA (Including postseason)	GD (Including postseason)
33	12	+21

Round of 16 Beaman United vs. SCU Heat

Beaman United

The spring national finalist is making a second run for the national title. They got to this position by placing 2nd in the KY-TN conference, suffering only one loss to Deportivo Mi Jalisco 4-2 back in match week 4.

They are on a four-game winning streak, with their last result being a win via penalties in the national round of 32 vs. LGSA. Below is the scoring record of the season, including postseason goals.

GF (including postseason)	GA (Including postseason)	GD (including postseason)
52	23	+29

SCU Heat

South Carolina United Heat are the current mid-Atlantic champions, who finished their regular season undefeated. They are currently on a 13-game winning streak, with their last result being a 2-0 win over Olympiacos DC in the national round of 32.

With that win, they beat their previous season's record when they fell in the spring national round of 32 by a score of 2-0 to Georgia FC. Below is the scoring record of the season, including postseason goals.

GF (including postseason)	GA (Including postseason)	GD (Including postseason)
64	10	+54

Round of 16 Little Haiti Supreme vs. Jacksonville FC

Little Haiti Supreme

For the last pair of the weekend, another undefeated team is Little Haiti Supreme. As the Florida South champions, they made the national round of 16 with a 14-game winning streak, with their last victory against Inter Miami Academy by a score of 2-0.

At this stage, LHS beats their previous season record, where they fell in the Florida south postseason last spring. Below is the scoring record of the season, including postseason goals.

GF (including postseason)	GA (Including postseason)	GD (including postseason)
41	14	+27

Jacksonville FC

Miles north of Miami is Jacksonville FC, who placed 4th in the Florida central conference. Since their last loss to AS Frenzi in match week nine by a score of 2-0, they went on to win their next five games.

Their latest result was a 2-1 win against Lakeland United in the national round of 32. Reaching this stage tops their previous season record when they were eliminated in the Florida central conference postseason. Below is the scoring record of the season, including postseason goals.