Minnesota Stars survive wild game, bound for NASL championship series


The Stars will begin the two-game, total-goals championship series against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CDT at NSC Stadium.

http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1444

Shriver Double puts Strikers Through to First NASL Championship

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Oct. 15, 2011) – Three semifinal goals in the series from Brian Shriver enabled the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to defeat the Puerto Rico Islanders 5-2 on aggregate Saturday, Oct. 15, at Lockhart Stadium to move on to their first NASL Championship series.

http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1443

NSC Minnesota Stars capture the NASL Championship

The NSC Minnesota Stars won the first North American Soccer League title against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on a 3-1 aggregate following a 0-0 draw Saturday, October 29th, on a wet Lockhart Stadium.

Being the lowest ranked seed in these playoffs, the NSC Minnesota Stars went through a tough gauntlet of teams to get to this point. They had to go through the third-seeded FC Tampa Bay, the regular season champion Carolina RailHawks, and finally, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

The match tonight was tough for both teams. A rainstorm prior to the match caused the field to be very wet, making the ball tough to play with a simple touch or pass.

http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1505

FC Edmonton Signs Kevin Hatchi


Posted on Thu, Nov 17, 2011

EDMONTON, AB. – FC Edmonton have come to terms with import defender/midfielder Kévin Hatchi on a one year contract.
Hatchi last played in the NASL for the Montreal Impact in 2011 before being released from the team in June.

http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1562

The Rowdies Return


The Rowdies are back!

Citrus Sports Group, LLC, the ownership group of FC Tampa Bay, today announced that the team name will be changed from FC Tampa Bay to the Tampa Bay Rowdies starting immediately for the 2012 season and beyond.

Citrus Sports Group reached an agreement with Texas-based Classic Ink, Inc. giving Citrus Sports Group immediate exclusive rights and future ownership of the Rowdies trademark.

“The Rowdies name has been synonymous with the highest level of professional soccer in the Tampa Bay area for decades,” said Citrus Sports Group President Andrew Nestor. “We are thrilled to bring it back for soccer fans in Tampa Bay, around the country and around the globe. The Rowdies were Tampa’s first ever pro sports franchise and claimed Tampa Bay’s first pro championship in 1975 winning the NASL Championship. We are appreciative of Classic Ink and their willingness to work with us on this agreement.”

The club unveiled today a new primary team logo, which prominently features the word Rowdies and is a direct link to the original Rowdies logo. The team’s new website will be located at RowdiesSoccer.com. The team will unveil new uniforms and secondary branding leading up to the 2012 season.


http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1609

2012 NASL Combine Now Accepting Player Applications


Last week, the North American Soccer League (NASL) announced that it will hold its 2012 combine from February 10-12 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The annual event allows players the opportunity to display their talents to coaches, scouts and staff from all eight NASL clubs.

Beginning December 19, players are invited to apply for participation in the combine via an application form on the league website. The application period will close on January 10, 2012. The NASL expects to invite no more than 66 players from the applicant pool to participate. Players will be notified if they have been accepted on a rolling basis.

Email inquiries about the 2012 NASL Combine will be received at combine@nasl.com.

Silverbacks Partner with Coca-Cola

The only thing better than attending an Atlanta Silverbacks game is enjoying an ice-cold Coca-Cola® while you’re there. The Atlanta Silverbacks today announced a five-year agreement with The Coca-Cola Company, making it the Silverbacks’ official beverage provider.

“We’re extremely excited to be partnering with such an incredible Company,” said Silverbacks Director of Corporate Partnerships Scott Flood. “Coca-Cola has been a household name in Atlanta for more than 125 years. We look forward to working with the Company not only at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, but also in the local community in the coming years.”

With the new agreement, both of the organization’s facilities, Atlanta Silverbacks Park and Suwanee Indoor, will serve Coca-Cola products such as Coca-Cola, POWERADE® and DASANI®. The deal also includes consumer promotions aimed at maximizing marketing collaboration.

http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1834

NASL Receives Full USSF Sanctioning

MIAMI, Fla. (March 3, 2012) – The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) today formally admitted the North American Soccer League (NASL) as a member to continue operating as a Division 2 men’s outdoor professional soccer league in the United States. The NASL’s candidacy for full membership was approved this morning by a vote of the USSF National Council at the USSF Annual General Meeting in Miami.

“We’ve worked tirelessly over the past several years to create a new, sustainable long-term platform for Division 2 professional soccer in North America and the Caribbean. We thank the Federation for their leadership and cooperation in helping us elevate second division standards in order to make our vision a reality,” said Aaron Davidson, Chairman of the NASL Board of Governors.

“After a successful inaugural campaign in which we worked to stabilize Division 2, we are pleased to have the formal approval that fully empowers us to move ahead with our plans to grow our league. We look forward to continuing to play a critical role in the development and maturation of soccer in North America and the Caribbean,” said David Downs, NASL Commissioner.

The 2012 NASL Regular Season kicks off on April 7 with all eight active teams in action on that Saturday night.

http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1808

IT'S OFFICIAL

Cosmos to play in NASL for 2013 season

The North American Soccer League announced on Thursday that the Cosmos have joined the league and will begin league play in the 2013 season.
The NASL Board of Governors unanimously approved the Cosmos’ membership during its meetings this week.

It has been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos have played in a professional league, last performing in the original NASL in 1984.

It was not immediately known as to whether the club's NASL presence will open up possibilities of playing in Major League Soccer.

It is not immediately known whether performing in the NASL was a prelude play in Major League Soccer, which is gung-ho on adding a 20th franchise, an expansion team in New York City. The league is hopeful of building a new stadium in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens.

http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=30806