NPL 1 EAST PREVIEW

Two of the five Champions League berths in the U16 Girls NPL 1 East have already been accounted for with Davis Legacy (21 points) and Lamorinda United SC (16 points) sitting at the top of the table ahead of their Sunday match where the Legacy can clinch the overall title with just a point regardless of their Saturday result against fourth-place Mustang (13 points). Mustang are one of five sides with realistic hopes of claiming the remaining three CL spots: Pleasanton Rage ECNL (13 points), Diablo NPL (11 points), Central California Soccer Alliance (8 points) and Ajax United Green (7 points). The Pleasanton – Diablo match Saturday is one of many games with huge implications this weekend to keep an eye on.

NPL 1 WEST PREVIEW

Force ECNL has already wrapped up the top overall spot in this division with an undefeated 7-0-1 record, but the remaining two Champions League spots should go down to the wire as the third and fourth-place sides are divided by just a single point. Second-place Marin FC Blue (15 points) looks the most likely to claim one of those two spots, but their Sunday fixture against fourth-place Santa Clara Sporting (10 points) could see a change of fortunes. SF Elite Academy (11 points) look to be in a good position for Champions League qualification, but face a stiff task in their Saturday match against Force.

NPL 2 EAST PREVIEW

Though they have just one match remaining on the schedule, Union Sacramento FC NPL have already run away with the division and its only NPL 1 spot after opening up a 10-point lead in the table with a 6-0-1 record. Still, three teams have much to play for as San Juan SC Spirits Blue (9 points), California Odyssey COSC (9 points) and Sacramento United Red (5 points) will fight for a second place finish which will grant the team a spot in the NPL 2. Though they’re four points off the mark, United still has a decent chance to qualify if San Juan and California draw their Saturday match and United defeat last-place Impact Green (1 point). Should those two results come to fruition, Sacramento could book their NPL 2 place with a Sunday win over San Juan and a California loss to Union.

NPL 2 WEST PREVIEW

Somehow seven of the nine teams in the U16 Girls NPL 2 West are still mathematically alive in the title race — first place and seventh are separated by just six points. Additionally, no team has clinched a top-five finish that would ensure at least qualification to the spring’s NPL 2. Vision Academy currently top the table with 13 points but could find themselves as low as fifth place before they even suit up Sunday as they’ve played one more game than all of the other six sides still in contention for the title. Vision’s only remaining game of the season will be one to watch when they face fourth-place PSV Union FC (10 points) in one of several matches with huge implications. Rounding out the contenders are: Castro Valley United (12 points), Pleasanton Rage Premier (11 points), Livermore Fusion (10 points), South San Jose YSL (9 points) and De Anza Force North (7 points).