2020 NPSL season

108th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States

Football league season

National Premier Soccer LeagueSeason| 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 →

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.

On March 26, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

## Changes from 2019[edit]

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[edit]

### Incoming teams[edit]

Team  | Location  | Notes

|
|

AFC Mobile | Mobile, Alabama | Joined from Gulf Coast Premier League
Austin United FC | Austin, Texas | Expansion
Carpathia FC | Sterling Heights, Michigan | Joined from United Premier Soccer League
Coyotes FC | Temple, Texas | Joined from United Premier Soccer League
FC Brownsville | Brownsville, Texas | Returned from one-year hiatus
First State FC | Wilmington, Delaware | Expansion
Fort Wayne FC | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Expansion
Las Vegas Legends FC | Las Vegas, Nevada | Expansion
LSA Athletico Lanier | Gainesville, Georgia | Joined from United Premier Soccer League
Maryland Bobcats FC | Derwood, Maryland | Joined from United Premier Soccer League
Metro Louisville FC | Louisville, Kentucky | Expansion
Milwaukee Torrent | Wauwatosa, Wisconsin | Returned from one-year hiatus
Muskegon Risers | Muskegon, Michigan | Joined from United Premier Soccer League
Nashville United | Nashville, Tennessee | Joined from Middle Tennessee Soccer Alliance
New Orleans Jesters | New Orleans, Louisiana | Returned from one-year hiatus
North Alabama SC | Huntsville, Alabama | Expansion
Project 51O | Oakland, California | Expansion
Pensacola FC | Pensacola, Florida | Joined from Gulf Coast Premier League
Port City FC | Gulfport, Mississippi | Joined from Gulf Coast Premier League
Tacoma Stars | Waller, Washington | Expansion
Tallahassee SC | Tallahassee, Florida | Joined from Gulf Coast Premier League
Valeo FC | Newton, Massachusetts | Expansion

### Moved and/or rebranded teams[edit]

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[edit]

Team  | Location  | Notes

|
|

AFC Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Joined USL League Two
Asheville City SC | Asheville, North Carolina | Joined USL League Two
Atlanta SC | Atlanta, Georgia | Joined National Independent Soccer Association
Brooklyn Italians | Brooklyn, New York | Not listed on NPSL website
Chattanooga FC | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Joined National Independent Soccer Association
City of Angels FC | Los Angeles, California | Not listed on NPSL website
Detroit City FC | Hamtramck, Michigan | Joined National Independent Soccer Association
East Bay FC Stompers | Hayward, California | Hiatus[4]
FC Wichita | Wichita, Kansas | Joined USL League Two
Grand Rapids FC | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Joined USL League Two
Greenville FC | Greenville, South Carolina | Hiatus[5]
Katy 1895 FC | Katy, Texas | Not listed on NPSL website
Miami FC | Miami, Florida | Joined National Independent Soccer Association
Michigan Stars FC | Pontiac, Michigan | Joined National Independent Soccer Association
Minnesota TwinStars FC | Minnetonka, Minnesota | Not listed on NPSL website
New Jersey Copa FC | Metuchen, New Jersey | Joined USL League Two
New York Cosmos B | New York City, New York | Not listed on NPSL website
Orange County FC | Irvine, California | Not listed on NPSL website
San Ramon FC | San Ramon, California | Hiatus[6]
Sioux Falls Thunder FC | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Not listed on NPSL website
Tyler FC | Tyler, Texas | Not listed on NPSL website

### 2020 teams[edit]

| Midwest Region

Division  | Team
Great Lakes Conference | Carpathia FC
FC Columbus
FC Indiana
Fort Wayne FC
Kalamazoo FC
Muskegon Risers
Toledo Villa FC
North Conference | Dakota Fusion FC
Duluth FC
LaCrosse Aris FC
Med City FC
Milwaukee Torrent
Minneapolis City SC
Rust Belt Conference | Cleveland SC
Erie Commodores FC
FC Buffalo
Pittsburgh Hotspurs
Rochester Lancers
Syracuse FC
East Region

Division  | Team
Keystone Conference | Atlantic City FC
Electric City Shock SC
FC Monmouth
FC Motown
Hershey FC
Philadelphia Lone Star FC
Torch FC
West Chester United SC
Mid-Atlantic Conference | Charlottesville Alliance FC
FC Baltimore Christos
FC Frederick
First State FC
Maryland Bobcats FC
Northern Virginia United FC
Virginia Beach City FC
North Atlantic Conference | Boston City FC
Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds
Hartford City FC
Kingston Stockade FC
New York Athletic Club S.C.
Rhode Island Reds FC
Valeo FC
Southeast Conference | Georgia Revolution FC
Inter Nashville FC
LSA Athletico Lanier
Metro Louisville FC
Nashville United
North Alabama SC
| South Region

Division  | Team
Gulf Coast Conference | AFC Mobile
Jacksonville Armada U-23
New Orleans Jesters
Pensacola FC
Port City FC
Tallahassee SC
Heartland Conference | Club Atletico Saint Louis
Dallas City FC
Demize NPSL
Little Rock Rangers
Ozark FC
Tulsa Athletic
Lone Star Conference | Austin United FC
Coyotes FC
Denton Diablos FC
FC Brownsville
Fort Worth Vaqueros FC
Laredo Heat SC
Midland-Odessa Sockers FC
Sunshine Conference | Boca Raton FC
Central Florida Panthers SC
Miami Dutch Lions FC
Miami United FC
Naples United FC
Storm FC
West Region

Division  | Team
Golden Gate Conference | Academica SC
El Farolito
FC Davis
Napa Valley 1839 FC
Project 51O
Sacramento Gold FC
Sonoma County Sol
Northwest Conference | Crossfire Redmond
International Portland Select FC
OSA Seattle FC
PDX FC
Spokane Shadow SC
Tacoma Stars
Southwest Conference | A.S. Los Angeles
ASC San Diego
Club Xolos USA U-23
FC Arizona
FC Golden State
High Desert Elite FC
Las Vegas Legends FC
Oxnard Guerreros FC
Temecula FC

## Standings and results[edit]

Only two of the three West Region conferences had begun play prior to the season being cancelled.

### West Region[edit]

#### Southwest Conference[edit]

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[a]
3  | FC Golden State | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 7  | 0  | +7  | 6
4  | Oxnard Guerreros FC | 1  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 6  | 1  | +5  | 3[b]
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[c]
9  | Club Xolos USA U-23 | 2  | 0  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 11  | −10  | 0

Updated to match(es) played on March 7, 2020. Source: NPSL standings
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:

1. ^ 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).
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ 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[edit]

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[a]
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[b]
6  | Sonoma County Sol | 2  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 2  | 5  | −3  | 1
7  | El Farolito | 1  | 0  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1  | −1  | 0

Updated to match(es) played on March 8, 2020. Source: NPSL standings
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:

1. ^ Project 51O and Napa Valley 1839 FC were tied on points. Project 51O won the tiebreaker based on head-to-head results.
2. ^ 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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Cleveland

Erie

Buffalo

Pittsburgh

class=notpageimage|

Location of the teams

### Standings[edit]

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

Source: NPSL.com
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[edit]

Home \ Away  | CSC | ERI | FCB | PIT

|
|
|
|

Cleveland SC | -- |  |  | 2–2
Erie Commodores FC |  | -- | 2–3  | 0–3
FC Buffalo | 1–3  |  | -- |
Pittsburgh Hotspurs |  |  |  | --

Source: NPSL.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

## See also[edit]

* 2020 U.S. Open Cup
* 2020 Hank Steinbrecher Cup

## References[edit]

1. ^ "A Message from Kenneth Farrell, NPSL Chairman of the Board". National Premier Soccer League. March 26, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
2. ^ "NPSL Announces Conference Alignment Ahead of 2020 Season". National Premier Soccer League. January 16, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
3. ^ Buhring, Lori (November 12, 2019). "New NPSL conference announced, Tallahassee SC a part of GCC". WTXL. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
4. ^ 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.""
5. ^ "Greenville FC to take a hiatus from 2020 NPSL Play". Greenville FC. January 28, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
6. ^ Staff, San Ramon FC (January 30, 2020). "Club Announcement on 2020 NPSL Season". San Ramon FC. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
7. ^ Norling, Ashle (March 26, 2020). "2020 NPSL Season Cancelled". E Pluribus Loonum. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
8. ^ Wharton, Chuck (March 30, 2020). "NPSL: First competition to fall to COVID-19". MLS Multiplex.
9. ^ "2020 NPSL Members Cup to Begin in Erie, PA". National Premier Soccer League. July 16, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
10. ^ Krysinsky, John (July 30, 2020). "Pittsburgh Hotspurs capture NPSL's Members Cup". Pittsburgh Soccer Now. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
11. ^ Tsujimoto, Ben (July 2, 2020). "FC Buffalo to join NISA Independent Cup, unveils anti-racism jerseys". The Buffalo News. Retrieved August 13, 2020.

## External links[edit]

* Official National Premier Soccer League website

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| Leagues|

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Team seasons

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|

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|

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[L]: Lost
*[T]: Tied
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[D]: Drawn
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template