2020 NPSL season
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]
Changes from 2019
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.
Teams
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
Standings and results
Only two of the three West Region conferences had begun play prior to the season being cancelled.
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:
- Las Vegas Legends and FC Golden State were tied on points and hadn't played one another. Las Vegas Legends won the tiebreaker on total goal differential (+11 tp +7).
- Oxnard Guerreros FC, A.S. Los Angeles, and ASC San Diego were all tied on points. Oxnard Guerreros FC won the first tiebreaker based on total goal differential (+5 to +1 to +4). ASC San Diego won the second tiebreaker based on head to head results versus A.S. Los Angeles.
- High Desert Elite FC and Club Xolos USA U-23 were tied on points and hadn't played one another. High Desert Elite FC won the tiebreaker based on total goal differential (-3 to -10).
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:
- Project 51O and Napa Valley 1839 FC were tied on points. Project 51O won the tiebreaker based on head to head results.
- FC Davis and Sonoma County Sol FC were tied on points and never played head to head. FC Davis wins the tiebreaker based on total goal differential (-2 to -3).
Members Cup
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) Champion.
Fixtures and results
References
- "A Message from Kenneth Farrell, NPSL Chairman of the Board". National Premier Soccer League. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- "NPSL Announces Conference Alignment Ahead of 2020 Season". National Premier Soccer League. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- Buhring, Lori (12 November 2019). "New NPSL conference announced, Tallahassee SC a part of GCC". WTXL. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- Zimmerman, Douglas (27 January 2020). "Soccer: Oakland Roots announce schedule, Olympic Club US Open Cup date set, 3 UPSL, NPSL clubs not playing in 2020". SFGate. Retrieved 16 April 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. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- Staff, San Ramon FC (30 January 2020). "Club Announcement on 2020 NPSL Season". San Ramon FC. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- Norling, Ashle (26 March 2020). "2020 NPSL Season Cancelled". E Pluribus Loonum. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- Wharton, Chuck (30 March 2020). "NPSL: First competition to fall to COVID-19". MLS Multiplex.
- "2020 NPSL Members Cup to Begin in Erie, PA". National Premier Soccer League. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Krysinsky, John (30 July 2020). "Pittsburgh Hotspurs capture NPSL's Members Cup". Pittsburgh Soccer Now. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Tsujimoto, Ben. "FC Buffalo to join NISA Independent Cup, unveils anti-racism jerseys". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 13 August 2020.