WEEK AHEAD PREVIEW
Week of Sat Sept 28 thru Fri Oct 4
Birmingham Legion
Sat Sept 28 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds 6:00
(Take a deep breath). Legion is on the road to face the team that might be the biggest thorn in their side. Pittsburgh has Birmingham's number, and this is just not a game that I'm looking forward to. Legion is coming off of a crucial win last week, and they're sitting fifth in the table, four points behind Detroit City. If Bham has any prayer of getting a home playoff game, the game is a must-win. Pittsburgh is sitting in 11th place in the East, and still has a chance to jump up and back into a playoff spot - so it's a must-win for them as well. Two teams with a lot to fight for, and they don't love each other. I can feel a red card coming for someone. I just hope that lands on the Riverhounds early enough to give Legion an edge.
Huntsville City FC
Sun Sept 29 at Carolina Core 4:00
Carolina Core began the season as road warriors while their home stadium was being completed. Huntsville was the first oponent in that new stadium, and at the time these two teams were at the bottom of the Eastern division table. Since then, a lot has changed. Huntsville has been greatly improved under their new head coach, and Core has won six out of their last nine games. Carolina sits just one point below the playoff line and are in a battle with about six teams that are all piled up within two points of each other. Also in the mix at the same total is Chattanooga FC, the almost-adjacent former NISA powerhouse. Huntsville will be looking to play spoiler in what should be a very interesting game.
FC Birmingham
FCB will be on the road at Potros FC Sat Sept 28 at 5:00. Potros is near the top of the table, and is another team that can put goals into the back of the net, while conceding very few. Like many of the UPSL games this week, there's a likelihood the game will be postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Helene. If the game does get played, a win or draw for FCB would be considered an upset.
FCB2 was scheduled for an away game at Limeno, but that has been postponed due to Hurricane Helene. To make sure things are thoroughly confusing, both Limeno and Limeno II are playing in UPSL 1.
The Adjacency
Fountain City was scheduled to play at Atlanta City FC on Sat Sept 28 at 5:00. The match has been postponed due to Hurricane Helene.
FC Columbus Elite was scheduled to face Limeno II on Saturday, but that match has been postponed due to Hurricane Helene.
Columbus Knight Eagles are scheduled to host North Georgia II Sun Sept 29 at 3:00. NGA2 currently sits at the bottom of the table, and has been giving up goals, but has scored more than Eagles. Eagles will be looking to bounce back after being manhandled in last week's game against Columbus Elite. Due to the expected size and strength of Helene, it could be optimistic to think this game won't be postponed.
Other news and tidbits
Image credit: the Rednour family
The wife of the founder and VP of the Gulf Coast Premier League, Jonathan Rednour, has passed away. Jonathan is an extremely influential person in the sport, and in the region, and is also folding Crescent City FC, his club in New Orleans. I would ask for your thoughts to be with him and their two young children.
Following up on a player from the where-are-they now posts, Tyler Freeman has been sent up to Hartford Athletic on loan from Carolina Core. I wish him the best, and hope he finds solid footing there.