For many of the divisions around the state, NPL matchday #5 marks the halfway point in the fall season that has delivered a tremendous amount of exciting and intense games thus far. As teams begin to separate themselves at the top and bottom of the table, earning three points this weekend is imperative for both title and relegation races.

Here are your NPL games of the week:

U19 Boys NPL East

9/25: California Odyssey – Blues FC 2:00 p.m. @ Buchanan High School

Headlining this weekend’s slate in the U19 Boys NPL East is a matchup between first and second as California Odyssey host Blues FC. So far neither side has dropped points yet on the season — California have a perfect nine points from three games, while Blues have collected six from two. If the Blues are to level with the Odyssey on points this weekend, they’ll need to stop a powerful attack that has hit the back of the net 14 times already, while California will have to put a few past a stingy Blues defense that has allowed just a single strike.

U15 Boys NPL West

9/25: 1974 Newark FC – San Francisco Elite 4:00 @ Newark Sportsfield Park – SFT #2

Combining for 30 goals so far this season, 1974 Newark FC and San Francisco Elite have shot to the top of the U15 Boys NPL West. Both sides have won all three of their games by multiple goals while allowing just a total of three in their six matches. If either side manage to win this weekend, they will be heavy favorites to take the overall fall title.

U16 Girls NPL 1 East

West Coast Soccer 1 – Mustang Soccer Club 5

Both West Coast Soccer and Mustang Soccer Club have garnered six points so far this season and sit in the top two places of the U16 Girls NPL 1 East. However this weekend’s hosts, West Coast, have played in one extra game — an opening day loss to Placer United. Mustang, meanwhile, have won both of their games and will head into this contest with a plus-12 goal differential.

U19 Girls NPL 1 East

Blues FC 1 – San Juan Soccer Club 1

Goalscorers:

Blues: Roche

San Juan: Quain

Playing in their first league game of the season, San Juan Soccer Club got off to the perfect start when Kylee Quilici Quain opened the scoring against Blues FC in just the 21st minute of a tough road contest. But the hosts were able to show why they sat at the top of the table heading into this match, with Caroline Roche scoring just before halftime to level the scoreline. In the end, that’s the way it stayed as the two Sacramento-area clubs split the points.