2020 NPSL season
108th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States
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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 | 16 |
| Goals | 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.
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[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 |
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 had not played one another. Las Vegas Legends won the tiebreaker on total goal differential (+11 to +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 had not 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[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 |
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:
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) Champions