UPSL Mid-Atlantic Premier Playoff preview
Playoff soccer this weekend across the Carolinas
The UPSL Mid-Atlantic Premier playoff field is set and will again follow the pathway created last spring with cross-over divisional matchups for the 2025 fall edition. The format has first-round matches across the North/South Mid-Atlantic conference boundary creating some exciting matches this coming weekend. There will be four matches, two in North Carolina and two in South Carolina, during this opening playoff round.
The Mid-Atlantic South conference was claimed again by Soda City FC with a perfect 10W-0L-0T (30 points) record. The South Carolina United Heat captured the second spot with 24 points. Charleston United picked up the third seed with 16 points and a +3 goal differential over the Coastal Kings also on 16 points but with a -1 goal differential.
The Mid-Atlantic North conference went to Pro-Finish Management FC with a 8W-1L-1T (25 points) record. North Carolina FC posted 24 points to claim the second seed while Combine Academy (17 points) took third place and AC Raleigh (16 points) rounds out the field in fourth place.
Playoff Matches:
Saturday, November 22
N4 AC Raleigh @ S1 Soda City: Irmo HS, Irmo, SC. 6 PM
N3 Combine Academy @ S2 SCU Heat: Southeastern Freight Lines, Columbia, SC. 6 PM
S4 Coastal Kings @1 Pro-Finish Management FC: OrthoCarolina Sportsplex, Pineville, NC. 5 PM
S3 Charleston United @ North Carolina FC: WRAL Soccer Park, Raleigh, NC. 5 PM
The story lines:
Soda City is cruising into the playoffs and has scored 40 goals while allowing just 5 goals in their 10 matches played this fall. The Coastal Kings are in excellent form entering the weekend after winning two recent matches at the Heat and home to Charleston to leapfrog over Mint Hill in the standings to enter the playoff field. The Heat are still smarting from the loss to the Kings and will be laser focused entering the postseason while Charleston enters the playoff mix on a two-match skid streak.
Pro-Finish Management FC suffered their first loss of the season last time out on the pitch falling 0-3 to Gastonia in what had to be a playoff round wake-up call. NCFC enters the playoffs on a two-match win streak and scored 32 goals during the season en route to the second seed. Combine Academy hold a four-game winning streak and were one of the stingiest defenses in the conference, only allowing 9 goals all season. AC Raleigh blasted a conference-high 40 goals this season but have been on a roller coaster ride of results lately with blow-out wins over Wake and close losses to NCFC and Gastonia.
It’s sure to be a great weekend of UPSL Playoff soccer in the Carolinas.