Lower League Round-Up: Week of May 1

Table standings and playoff seedings are coming down to the wire with only a few games remaining in both the EPSL and USLPA schedules. Meanwhile, Philadelphia Lone Star FC are in first place as their UPSL season begins to enter the home stretch. With local teams from two more lower leagues kicking off in NPSL and USL League 2, we are officially in peak local lower league soccer season. Enjoy:

Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL)

• Saturday 5/6 – Kensington SC 2-1 Philadelphia Heritage
• Sunday 5/7 – Inter Vidas 4-1 FC Neman Philadelphia
• Sunday 5/7 – Salone FC 0-4 Philadelphia SC
• Sunday 5/7 – Real Central NJ 3-1 Albion SC Delaware

Next Up…

• Saturday 5/13 – Kensington SC vs Real Central NJ at 7pm at Cristo Rey HS Field
• Sunday 5/14 – Albion SC Delaware vs Inter Vidas at 6pm
• Sunday 5/14 – Oaklyn United vs FC Neman Philadelphia at 6pm at Rowan
• Sunday 5/14 – Philadelphia SC vs Philadelphia Heritage at 6pm at Northeast HS Field

With two match days left, Heritage need a win or a draw to win the Delaware River Conference. The top 4 teams make the Delaware River Conference playoffs with the winner of the playoffs advancing to the EPSL Final Four to face off against the three other conference playoff champions (Northeast, Metropolitan, Mid-Atlantic) to determine the EPSL champion. Check out the updated standings here.

United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)

• Sunday 5/7 – NYC Haiti United SC 1-1 Philadelphia Lone Star
• Saturday 5/6 – Union SC 2-1 Pennsylvania Prime
• Saturday 5/6 – Javier Velasco Soccer Academy 2-1 Lancaster Elite

Next Up…

• Sunday 5/14 – Philadelphia Lone Star vs Real New York FC at 5pm at Bartram HS Field
• Sunday 5/14 – Pennsylvania Prime vs Javier Velasco Soccer Academy at 1pm
• Saturday 5/13 – Lancaster Elite vs Pathfinder FC at 2pm

With four games remaining, Philadelphia Lone Star FC are top of the table with a 5-2-0 (W-D-L) record as they look to continue to stay undefeated in the UPSL Northeast – American division.

United Soccer League of Pennsylvania (USLPA)

• Friday 5/5 – Lighthouse United 0-8 West Chester United
• Sunday 5/7 – Vereinigung Erzgebirge 7-0 Lighthouse United
• Sunday 5/7 – Phoenix SC 3-4 Ukrainian Nationals

Next Up…

• Wednesday 5/10 – Lancaster City FC vs West Chester United at 8pm
• Friday 5/12 – Colonial SC vs West Chester United at 8 p.m. at Plymouth-Whitemarsh HS Field
• Sunday 5/14 – Phoenix SC vs Lancaster City at 2:30 p.m.
• Sunday 5/14 – Vereinigung Erzgebirge vs West Chester United at 2:30 p.m. at VE

A busy week ahead for West Chester United as they play a few make up games due to previous schedule changes from state and national cup games. VE is trying to defend their USLPA title and hold the lead in the standings while West Chester makes up games and inches closer to the top. A big showdown between the two teams is set for Sunday at 2:30pm at VE.

National Premier Soccer League (NPSL)

The NPSL season kicks off this week for a few of the local area teams:

• Thursday 5/11 – First State FC vs Atlantic City FC at 7 p.m.
• Saturday 5/13 – Philadelphia Union Development Squad vs Jackson Lions FC at 6 p.m. at YSC Sports Complex
• Saturday 5/13 – West Chester United SC vs PA Classics at 7 p.m.

USL League 2 (USL2)

This week also marks the start of the local USL2 season as Philadelphia Lone Star play at home at Bartram HS Field at 5pm on Saturday vs Lehigh Valley United. Ocean City, Real Central NJ and West Chester all begin league play the following week.