West Chester advance in NPSL playoffs, Ocean City begin USL2 playoffs vs old rival

In National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) playoff action, the Keystone East Conference and Keystone West Conference playoffs took place on Saturday 7/15. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top two teams from each conference advanced to the playoffs.

FC Motown and Atlantic City FC finished first and second respectively in the Keystone East Conference. The two teams batted in a tight game on Saturday that ended 0-0 after 90 mins. However, in extra time, FC Motown would add 3 goals to win 3-0 and claim the Keystone East Conference playoff title.

In the Keystone West Conference, West Chester United and Hershey FC finished first and second respectively. They also played in a tight contest that saw West Chester claim the title with this game winning goal in the 86th minute, winning 2-1:

West Chester United wins with a goal in the 86 minute to advance @WCUSCPredators pic.twitter.com/xhp8lhNb3Y

— Tim Lutz (@SoccerLife_215) July 16, 2023

West Chester and FC Motown will now advance in the East Region playoffs where the playoff winners of the Mid-Atlantic Conference (Annapolis Blues FC) and North Atlantic Conference (Hartford City FC) await. The East Region champion will advance to the NPSL final four to face the winners of the West, Midwest and South regions to determine the NPSL champion. The NPSL champion receives an automatic berth to the US Open Cup.

The East Region playoff games will take place at Montclair State University with the semifinals on Friday 7/21 and the final on Saturday 7/22. East Region Semifinals:

• Annapolis Blues FC vs West Chester United at 4 p.m.
• FC Motown vs Hartford City FC at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Ocean City Nor’easters have won the Mid-Atlantic division in USL League Two (USL2) and will advance to the USL2 playoffs. Ocean City will be the lone representative from the Mid-Atlantic division for the playoffs this year. They will take on longtime rival, the Long Island Rough Riders in the first round of the playoffs. The two teams have been battling it out in the ever-changing American lower league soccer landscape for the better part of 20 years.  Through various leagues, conferences and divisions, Ocean City and Long Island have played each other 24 times with the first game taking place in 2001. Long Island leads the all-time series 10-9-5 so Ocean City will be looking to add a win and advance in the USL2 playoffs.

• Friday 7/21 – Long Island Rough Riders vs. Ocean City Nor’easters at 7 p.m.
  • The winner will play in the next round on Sunday 7/23