2020_NPSL_season
2020 NPSL season
108th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States
The 2020 National Premier Soccer League season was part of the 108th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States and the 18th season of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). Miami FC, the defending league champions, left in the off-season and joined the National Independent Soccer Association and later the USL Championship.
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 22 – March 26 |
| Matches played | 16 |
| Goals scored | 56 (3.5 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Las Vegas Legends FC 8–0 Temecula FC (March 1) |
| Biggest away win | Club Xolos USA U-23 0–5 FC Golden State (February 29) |
| Highest scoring | Las Vegas Legends FC 8–0 Temecula FC (March 1) |
← 2019 2021 → | |
On March 26, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
Multiple changes were made to the league's conferences ahead of the season.[2] The Northeast Region was renamed to the "East Region." The Southeast Conference was moved from the South Region to the East Region and the Midwest Region's East Conference was renamed the “Rust Belt Conference.”
A new conference, the Gulf Coast Conference, was announced on November 12, 2019.[3] It would include new teams, mostly from the Gulf Coast Premier League, Jacksonville Armada U-23 from the Sunshine Conference, and the returning New Orleans Jesters.
Incoming teams
Moved and/or rebranded teams
| Team | Previous Name | Location | Previous Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club Xolos USA U-23 | Deportivo Coras USA | Riverside, California | Rebrand | |
| International Portland Select FC | FC Mulhouse Portland | Portland, Oregon | Rebrand | |
| Maryland Bobcats FC | World Class Premier Elite FC | Derwood, Maryland | Rebrand | |
| Miami Dutch Lions FC | Dutch Lions FC | Miami, Florida | Conroe, Texas | Relocation and rebrand |
| OSA Seattle FC | OSA FC | Seattle, Washington | Rebrand | |
Outgoing teams
2020 teams
Only two of the three West Region conferences had begun play prior to the season being cancelled.
West Region
Southwest Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC Arizona | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 |
| 2 | Las Vegas Legends | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | +11 | 6[lower-alpha 1] |
| 3 | FC Golden State | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 6 |
| 4 | Oxnard Guerreros FC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 3[lower-alpha 2] |
| 5 | ASC San Diego | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 3 |
| 6 | A.S. Los Angeles | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 3 |
| 7 | Temecula FC | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 12 | −10 | 1 |
| 8 | High Desert Elite FC | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0[lower-alpha 3] |
| 9 | Club Xolos USA U-23 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | −10 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head; 3) goal differential in head-to-head results; 4) wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) fewest losses; 7) coin toss. If three or more teams are tied on points, a mini-table involving only the tied teams is used, and teams are ranked in the mini-table on points. If two teams are tied on points in the mini-table, the two-team rules for classification apply. If three or more teams are tied on points in the mini-table, they are ranked based on 1) wins in conference competition; 2) total goal differential in conference competition; 3) fewest losses in conference competition; 4) coin toss.
Notes:
Golden Gate Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academica SC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 6 |
| 2 | Project 51O | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3[lower-alpha 1] |
| 3 | Napa Valley 1839 FC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Sacramento Gold | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | FC Davis | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 1[lower-alpha 2] |
| 6 | Sonoma County Sol | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 1 |
| 7 | El Farolito | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head; 3) goal differential in head-to-head results; 4) wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) fewest losses; 7) coin toss. If three or more teams are tied on points, a mini-table involving only the tied teams is used, and teams are ranked in the mini-table on points. If two teams are tied on points in the mini-table, the two-team rules for classification apply. If three or more teams are tied on points in the mini-table, they are ranked based on 1) wins in conference competition; 2) total goal differential in conference competition; 3) fewest losses in conference competition; 4) coin toss.
Notes:
The league intends to hold the second edition of its Members Cup tournament in autumn 2020, beginning in mid-August and concluding with the 2020 NPSL Members Cup Final in November.[7][8] On July 16, the league announced a four team tournament hosted by Erie Commodores FC, and including 2019 National Semifinalist Cleveland SC, along with FC Buffalo and Pittsburgh Hotspurs.[9] Pittsburgh won the "Rust Belt Group" on July 29 with a win over the Commodores.[10]
In addition, the July 29 match between Buffalo and Cleveland also served as a group stage game for the 2020 NISA Independent Cup, which both teams were also taking part in alongside former NPSL member Detroit City FC in that tournament's "Great Lakes Region".[11]
Teams
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rust Belt Group | ||||
| Cleveland SC | Cleveland, Ohio | Krenzler Field | 2018 |  Lewis Dunne |
| Erie Commodores FC | Erie, Pennsylvania | McConnell Family Stadium | 2009 |  Dale White |
| FC Buffalo | Buffalo, New York | All-High Stadium | 2009 | Frank Butcher |
| Pittsburgh Hotspurs | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | The Ellis School | 2019 |  Tom Campbell |
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh Hotspurs (C) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 4 |
| 2 | Cleveland SC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 4 |
| 3 | FC Buffalo | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 |
| 4 | Erie Commodores FC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head to head (if applicable); 3) goal differential in head-to-head results (if applicable); 4) wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) fewest losses; 7) coin toss.
(C) Champions
Fixtures and results
| Home \ Away | CSC | ERI | FCB | PIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland SC | — | 2–2 | ||
| Erie Commodores FC | — | 2–3 | 0–3 | |
| FC Buffalo | 1–3 | — | ||
| Pittsburgh Hotspurs | — |
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
- "A Message from Kenneth Farrell, NPSL Chairman of the Board". National Premier Soccer League. March 26, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- "NPSL Announces Conference Alignment Ahead of 2020 Season". National Premier Soccer League. January 16, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- Buhring, Lori (November 12, 2019). "New NPSL conference announced, Tallahassee SC a part of GCC". WTXL. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (January 27, 2020). "Soccer: Oakland Roots announce schedule, Olympic Club US Open Cup date set, 3 UPSL, NPSL clubs not playing in 2020". SFGate. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
East Bay Stompers responded with the following statement: "The East Bay FC Stompers have elected to go inactive for the 2020 NPSL season. We have been in talks with multiple groups interested in purchasing the NPSL spot from our club. We also have a few other interesting offers from investors wishing to join the club and restructure. The EBFC Stompers are taking the year to evaluate our options moving forward but fully intend to return to the NPSL in 2021, at this moment."
- "Greenville FC to take a hiatus from 2020 NPSL Play". Greenville FC. January 28, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- Staff, San Ramon FC (January 30, 2020). "Club Announcement on 2020 NPSL Season". San Ramon FC. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- Norling, Ashle (March 26, 2020). "2020 NPSL Season Cancelled". E Pluribus Loonum. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- Wharton, Chuck (March 30, 2020). "NPSL: First competition to fall to COVID-19". MLS Multiplex.
- "2020 NPSL Members Cup to Begin in Erie, PA". National Premier Soccer League. July 16, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
- Krysinsky, John (July 30, 2020). "Pittsburgh Hotspurs capture NPSL's Members Cup". Pittsburgh Soccer Now. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
- Tsujimoto, Ben (July 2, 2020). "FC Buffalo to join NISA Independent Cup, unveils anti-racism jerseys". The Buffalo News. Retrieved August 13, 2020.