As the regular season enters its final stretch, National Premier Soccer League teams in the area can either clinch a playoff spot or take some vital steps in securing to the postseason berths in games this weekend.

The Brooklyn Italians, Kingston Stockade FC, FC Motown, New Jersey Copa FC, FC Monmouth and Cosmos B are among the teams vying to continue their respective seasons.

In chronological order:

Saturday

Torch FC vs. FC Monmouth

Fifth-place FC Monmouth (3-3-1, 10 points) can keep its postseason hopes alive with a win at last-place Torch FC (0-6-0, 0) in a Keystone Conference Division encounter at Dock Mennonite Academy in Lansdale, Pa. at 6 p.m. The top four teams in the division qualify.

Hershey FC vs. New Jersey Copa FC

Off an 8-1 victory over Torch FC last Saturday, second-place New Jersey Copa FC (4-1-1, 13) can take a giant step in securing a Keystone Conference Division playoff position with a win at Hershey FC (2-4-1, 7 points) at Hershey High School Soccer Stadium in Hershey, Pa. at 6:30 p.m.

Brooklyn Italians vs. Kingston Stockade FC

In a battle for one of four North Atlantic Conference Division postseason spots, the fifth-place Brooklyn Italians (3-2-1, 10) and seventh-place Kingston Stockade FC (2-3-2, 8) both need three points to keep up their hopes. The Italians eliminated Cosmos B in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match in May, 3-2.

The game will be played at the Long Island University Athletic Complex in Brooklyn, N.Y. at 7 p.m.

Cosmos B vs. Elm City Express

Cosmos B (7-0-0, 21) can take a big step toward the playoffs by clinching a spot in the North Atlantic Conference Division with a win over the defending champion Elm City Express (2-2-2, 8) at Hofstra Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. at 7 p.m. Elm City, a sixth-place side, is still in the postseason chase. Cosmos B, No. 1 in the NPSL power rankings, has tallied a division-best 29 goals, 12 more than No. 2 Greater Lowell NPSL FC (4-3-0, 12), which has 17. New York’s goal differential is a plus 22.

Sunday

FC Motown vs. Electric City Shock

FC Motown (6-0-0, 18), the Keystone Conference Division leaders, can clinch one of four playoff spots with a home win over the eighth-place Electric City Shock (0-6-1, 1) at Drew University in Madison, N.J. at 5 p.m. FC Motown, in second place in the NPSL power rankings, has outscored its foes this season, 23-2.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.