2015 North American Soccer League season

Last updated

North American Soccer League
Season2015
Champions New York Cosmos
Spring Champions New York Cosmos
Fall Champions Ottawa Fury
Matches played165
Goals scored453 (2.75 per match)
Top goalscorer Stefano Pinho (16)
Biggest home win6 goals:
FTL 7–1 IND
(Aug 29)
Biggest away win4 goals:
JAX 0–4 CAR
(May 30)
Highest scoring8 goals:
FTL 7–1 IND
(Aug 29)
Longest winning run5 games:
Ottawa Fury
(Jul 19 – Aug 8)
Longest unbeaten run12 games:
Ottawa Fury
(May 9 – Aug 8)
Ottawa Fury
(Aug 26 – Oct 31)
Longest winless run8 games:
Atlanta Silverbacks
(Apr 25 – Jul 4)
Jacksonville Armada
(May 16 – Jul 15)
Longest losing run4 games:
Atlanta Silverbacks
(May 24 – Jul 4)
Carolina RailHawks
(Aug 12 – 30)
FC Edmonton
(Oct 4 – 17)
Highest attendance16,167
JAX 3–1 FCE
(Apr 4)
Lowest attendance1,112
FCE 4–0 SAS
(Jul 5)
Total attendance975,558
Average attendance5,912
← 2014
2016 →

The 2015 North American Soccer League season was the 48th season of Division II soccer in the United States and the fifth season of the North American Soccer League. It was contested by eleven teams including two from Canada. Jacksonville Armada FC made their NASL debut this season. The defending Soccer Bowl champions were the San Antonio Scorpions, while Minnesota United FC were the defending North American Supporters' Trophy winners. A split season format was used for the 2015 season.

Contents

Teams, stadiums, and personnel

Stadiums and locations

Personnel and sponsorship

TeamHead coachCaptainKit producerShirt sponsor
Atlanta Silverbacks Flag of England.svg Gary Smith Flag of England.svg Simon Mensing Reto Sports
Carolina RailHawks Ulster Banner.svg Colin Clarke Flag of the United States.svg Connor Tobin Adidas Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
FC Edmonton Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Colin Miller Ulster Banner.svg Albert Watson Adidas The Fath Group
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Flag of Austria.svg Günter Kronsteiner Flag of Honduras.svg Iván Guerrero Nike Azul Airlines
Indy Eleven Flag of the United States.svg Tim Regan (interim) Flag of Germany.svg Kristian Nicht Diadora Honda
Jacksonville Armada FC Flag of the United States.svg Eric Dade (interim) Flag of Argentina.svg Marcos Flores Nike Winn-Dixie
Minnesota United FC Flag of the United States.svg Manny Lagos Flag of the United States.svg Aaron Pitchkolan InariaAtomic Data / Mall of America
New York Cosmos Flag of Venezuela.svg Giovanni Savarese Flag of the United States.svg Carlos Mendes Nike Emirates
Ottawa Fury FC Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marc Dos Santos Flag of Ireland.svg Richie Ryan Admiral The Heart and Crown
San Antonio Scorpions Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alen Marcina Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Adrian Cann Nike Toyota
Tampa Bay Rowdies Flag of Scotland.svg Stuart Campbell Flag of Brazil.svg Marcelo Saragosa Nike Hard Rock

Player transfers

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Atlanta Silverbacks Flag of Uruguay.svg Alejandro PomboEnd of interim periodNovember 2, 2014Pre-Season Flag of England.svg Gary Smith December 23, 2014
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Flag of Austria.svg Günter Kronsteiner Not ReturningDecember 5, 2014Pre-Season Flag of Argentina.svg Marcelo Neveleff January 19, 2015
Jacksonville ArmadaExpansion team Flag of Argentina.svg José Luis Villarreal June 14, 2014 [1]
Tampa Bay Rowdies Flag of England.svg Ricky Hill FiredNovember 18, 2014Pre-Season Flag of the Netherlands.svg Thomas Rongen December 3, 2014 [2]
Jacksonville Armada Flag of Argentina.svg José Luis Villarreal ResignedMay 22, 20156th Flag of Argentina.svg Guillermo Ángel Hoyos June 14, 2015 [3]
Indy Eleven Flag of the United States.svg Juergen Sommer FiredJune 2, 201511th Flag of the United States.svg Tim Regan (interim)June 2, 2015 [4]
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Flag of Argentina.svg Marcelo Neveleff ResignedJune 7, 201510th Flag of Honduras.svg Iván Guerrero (interim)June 7, 2015 [5]
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Flag of Honduras.svg Iván Guerrero (interim)End of interim periodJune 30, 20158th Flag of Austria.svg Günter Kronsteiner June 30, 2015 [6]
Tampa Bay Rowdies Flag of the Netherlands.svg Thomas Rongen FiredAugust 21, 201510th Flag of Scotland.svg Stuart Campbell August 26, 2015 [7]
Jacksonville Armada Flag of Argentina.svg Guillermo Ángel Hoyos FiredSeptember 21, 201511th Flag of the United States.svg Eric Dade (interim)September 21, 2015 [8]

Spring season

The Spring season began on April 4 and ended on June 13. The schedule featured a single round robin format with each team playing every other team in the league a single time. Each team hosted 5 home games and played 5 road games. The winner of the Spring season earned one of four berths in the playoffs, known as The Championship. [9]

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 New York Cosmos (S)10550189+920 Playoffs
2 Tampa Bay Rowdies 10541159+619
3 Carolina RailHawks 103521510+514
4 Minnesota United 103521513+214
5 Indy Eleven 103431312+113
6 Jacksonville Armada 103341518−312
7 San Antonio Scorpions 103341115−412
8 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 103251213−111
9 Ottawa Fury 1025358−311
10 FC Edmonton 102351622−69
11 Atlanta Silverbacks 10154713−68
Source: NASL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) head-to-head record; 5) away goal differential; 6) away goals scored
(S) Spring season champion

Results

Home \ Away ATL CAR FCE FTL IND JAX MNU NYC OTT SAS TBR
Atlanta Silverbacks 1–11–10–01–10–1
Carolina RailHawks 1–21–12–23–11–1
Edmonton 4–21–13–22–22–3
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 0–00–11–22–10–1
Indy Eleven 1–13–01–31–12–2
Jacksonville Armada 0–43–11–00–02–1
Minnesota United 1–02–33–21–12–2
New York Cosmos 4–23–31–03–02–0
Ottawa Fury 0–01–31–01–00–0
San Antonio Scorpions 1–01–11–20–01–3
Tampa Bay Rowdies 3–02–11–03–20–0
Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Fall season

The Fall season began on July 4 and ended on November 1. The schedule featured each team playing every other team in the league once at home and once away. The winner of the Fall season earned one of four berths in The Championship. [10]

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Ottawa Fury (F)2013613715+2245 Playoffs
2 Minnesota United 2011633926+1339
3 New York Cosmos 2010643121+1036
4 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 208663727+1030
5 FC Edmonton 207582524+126
6 Atlanta Silverbacks 206772427−325
7 Carolina RailHawks 2063112939−1021
8 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2055101828−1020
9 Indy Eleven 2055102336−1320
10 San Antonio Scorpions 204793037−719
11 Jacksonville Armada 2054111831−1319
Source: NASL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) head-to-head record; 5) away goal differential; 6) away goals scored
(F) Fall season champion

Results

Home \ Away ATL CAR FCE FTL IND JAX MNU NYC OTT SAS TBR
Atlanta Silverbacks 2–11–02–11–11–01–20–31–13–30–0
Carolina RailHawks 2–02–11–13–13–03–11–31–33–21–1
Edmonton 1–33–00–22–01–11–12–10–14–01–0
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2–24–01–17–12–02–53–30–20–02–1
Indy Eleven 0–12–10–22–13–03–11–11–41–22–0
Jacksonville Armada 1–03–03–20–11–13–31–01–30–02–0
Minnesota United 1–03–11–12–11–04–00–01–12–21–0
New York Cosmos 1–13–23–02–01–11–02–11–42–12–0
Ottawa Fury 2–12–12–00–04–22–01–20–01–02–2
San Antonio Scorpions 3–33–32–22–42–01–03–41–20–13–0
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–11–00–11–31–13–21–32–01–12–0
Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

2015 North American Soccer League Championship.png

The Championship, culminating with Soccer Bowl 2015, was contested by the winners of the spring and fall seasons hosting the next best two teams in the full year regular season table. The half-season champions earned the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, with the higher seed going to the team with the better full-season record. The two next-best teams earned the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds. The semi-finals had the No. 1 seed hosting the No. 4 seed and the No. 2 seed hosting the No. 3 seed. The winners met in the Soccer Bowl 2015 hosted by the team with the higher seed. [11]

Combined standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 New York Cosmos (C, X)30151144930+1956 Championship qualifiers [a]
2 Ottawa Fury 30151144223+1956 Championship qualifiers [b]
3 Minnesota United 30141155439+1553 Championship qualifiers [c]
4 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 30118114940+941
5 Tampa Bay Rowdies 30109113337−439
6 Carolina RailHawks 3098134449−535
7 FC Edmonton 3098134146−535
8 Atlanta Silverbacks 30712113140−933
9 Indy Eleven 3089133648−1233
10 San Antonio Scorpions 30710134152−1131
11 Jacksonville Armada 3087153349−1631
Source: NASL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) head-to-head record; 5) away goal differential; 6) away goals scored
(C) Champions; (X) Regular season champion
Notes:
  1. ↑ As spring season champions
  2. ↑ As fall season champions
  3. ↑ As next best teams in overall standings

The Championship

Participants

Bracket

Semifinals Soccer Bowl
      
1 New York Cosmos 2
4 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1
1 New York Cosmos 3
2 Ottawa Fury 2
2 Ottawa Fury (a.e.t.)2
3 Minnesota United 1

Semifinals

New York Cosmos 2–1 Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Cellerino Soccerball shade.svg37'Yellow card.svg 74'
Senna Yellow card.svg 58'
Raúl Soccerball shade.svg61'
Szetela Yellow card.svg 71'		 Report
Report 		PC Soccerball shade.svg16'
Thomas Yellow card.svg 33'
Attendance: 5,061
Referee: Sorin Stoica
Ottawa Fury 2–1 (a.e.t.) Minnesota United
Heinemann Yellow card.svg 9'Soccerball shade.svg47', 108'
Trafford Yellow card.svg 104'		 Report
Report 		Calvano Yellow card.svg 2'
Ramirez Soccerball shade.svg7' (pen.)
Ibson Yellow card.svg 45'
Mendes Yellow card.svg 45+'
Vicentini Yellow card.svg 100'
Jordan Yellow card.svg 120+'
Attendance: 9,346
Referee: Mathieu Bourdeau (CAN)

Soccer Bowl 2015

New York Cosmos 3–2 Ottawa Fury
Cellerino Yellow card.svg 7'Soccerball shade.svg8', 72', 85'
Maurer Yellow card.svg 41'
Guenzatti Yellow card.svg 60'		 Report
Report
Report 		Trafford Red card.svg 68'
Heinemann Soccerball shade.svg70', 90+2'
Falvey Yellow card.svg 76'
Ryan Yellow card.svg 76'
Attendance: 10,166
Referee: Alan Kelly

Attendance

ClubGPTotalHighLowAverageChange
Indy Eleven 15147,13910,5248,5009,809-6.3%
Minnesota United 15131,4999,4185,8908,7679.9%
Jacksonville Armada 15118,90516,1645,6527,927N/A
San Antonio Scorpions 15101,0438,0534,1056,736-0.3%
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1584,7397,0104,2195,64924.2%
Ottawa Fury 1577,4646,8993,0235,16424.5%
New York Cosmos 1575,92712,5503,3265,0627.6%
Carolina RailHawks 1568,0807,2173,0554,539-0.1%
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1567,06711,6911,2784,4719.9%
Atlanta Silverbacks 1560,3665,5112,3024,024-0.7%
FC Edmonton 1543,3294,2401,1122,889-14.6%
Total165975,55816,1641,1125,9127.5%

Source: NASL

Statistical leaders

Awards

Monthly awards

Month NASL Player of the Month
PlayerClubStatsRef
April Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Maurer New York Cosmos 12SV, 1GA [13]
May Flag of Spain.svg Raúl New York Cosmos 3G [14]
June Flag of France.svg Romuald Peiser Ottawa Fury 9SV, 0GA [15]
July Flag of the United States.svg Christian Ramirez Minnesota United 4G, 2A [16]
August Flag of Brazil.svg Stefano Pinho Fort Lauderdale Strikers 6G, 1A [17]
September Flag of France.svg Romuald Peiser Ottawa Fury 11SV, 2GA [18]
October Flag of Brazil.svg Stefano Pinho Fort Lauderdale Strikers 4G, 3A [19]

Weekly awards

WeekNASL Player of the WeekNASL Play of the Week
PlayerClubPlayerClub
Week 1 Flag of Serbia.svg Stefan Antonijevic Tampa Bay Rowdies Flag of the United States.svg Jemal Johnson Jacksonville Armada
Week 2 Flag of Brazil.svg PC Fort Lauderdale Strikers Flag of Brazil.svg PC Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Week 3 Flag of The Gambia.svg Sainey Nyassi FC Edmonton Flag of Honduras.svg Sergio Peña Indy Eleven
Week 4 Flag of Brazil.svg Maicon Santos Tampa Bay Rowdies Flag of Georgia.svg Zourab Tsiskaridze San Antonio Scorpions
Week 5 Flag of Guinea.svg Alhassane Keita Jacksonville Armada Flag of Jamaica.svg Omar Cummings San Antonio Scorpions
Week 6 Flag of the United States.svg Carlos Mendes New York Cosmos Flag of Argentina.svg Bochy Hoyos Jacksonville Armada
Week 7 Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg Billy Forbes San Antonio Scorpions Flag of El Salvador.svg Andrés Flores New York Cosmos
Week 8 Flag of Spain.svg Raúl New York Cosmos Flag of Scotland.svg Nicki Paterson Ottawa Fury
Week 9 Flag of the United States.svg Kyle Hyland Indy Eleven Flag of the United States.svg Lionel Brown Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Week 10 Flag of the United States.svg Victor Pineda Indy Eleven Flag of the United States.svg Brian Shriver Tampa Bay Rowdies
Week 11 Flag of Haiti.svg Pascal Millien Jacksonville Armada Flag of the United States.svg Hagop Chirishian New York Cosmos
Week 12 Flag of Jamaica.svg Lance Laing FC Edmonton Flag of Poland.svg Wojciech Wojcik Indy Eleven
Week 13 Flag of Jamaica.svg Omar Cummings San Antonio Scorpions Flag of Poland.svg Wojciech Wojcik Indy Eleven
Week 14 Flag of Spain.svg Nacho Novo Carolina RailHawks Flag of the United States.svg Jaime Chavez Atlanta Silverbacks
Week 15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carl Haworth Ottawa Fury Flag of the United States.svg Dylan Mares Indy Eleven
Week 16 Flag of Brazil.svg Rafael Alves Ottawa Fury Flag of Brazil.svg Pedro Mendes Atlanta Silverbacks
Week 17 Flag of Brazil.svg Pedro Mendes Atlanta Silverbacks Flag of El Salvador.svg Junior Burgos Atlanta Silverbacks
Week 18 Flag of Colombia.svg Jaime Castrillón Jacksonville Armada Flag of Brazil.svg Stefano Pinho Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Week 19 Flag of Brazil.svg Stefano Pinho Fort Lauderdale Strikers Flag of the United States.svg Justin Davis Minnesota United
Week 20 Flag of Brazil.svg Stefano Pinho Fort Lauderdale Strikers Flag of Brazil.svg Stefano Pinho Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Week 21 Flag of the United States.svg Zach Steinberger Indy Eleven Flag of Guatemala.svg Marvin Ceballos Indy Eleven
Week 22 Flag of Colombia.svg Rafael Castillo San Antonio Scorpions Flag of Brazil.svg Pablo Campos Minnesota United
Week 23 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Siniša Ubiparipović Ottawa Fury Flag of Brazil.svg Pedro Mendes Atlanta Silverbacks
Week 24 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Heinemann Ottawa Fury Flag of Ghana.svg Kalif Alhassan Minnesota United
Week 25 Flag of Brazil.svg Stefano Pinho Fort Lauderdale Strikers Flag of the United States.svg Kris Tyrpak San Antonio Scorpions
Week 26 Flag of Brazil.svg Pablo Campos Minnesota United Flag of the United States.svg Giuseppe Gentile San Antonio Scorpions
Week 27 Flag of Brazil.svg Stefano Pinho Fort Lauderdale Strikers Flag of the United States.svg Brad Ring Indy Eleven
Week 28 Flag of El Salvador.svg Richard Menjivar Tampa Bay Rowdies Flag of Haiti.svg Mechack Jérôme Jacksonville Armada
Week 29 Flag of Spain.svg Raúl New York Cosmos Flag of El Salvador.svg Junior Burgos Atlanta Silverbacks

League awards

NASL Best XI [28]
PositionPlayerTeam
Goalkeeper Flag of France.svg Romuald Peiser Ottawa Fury
Defense Flag of Brazil.svg Rafael Alves Ottawa Fury
Defense Flag of the United States.svg Justin Davis Minnesota United
Defense Flag of the United States.svg Carlos Mendes New York Cosmos
Defense Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Venegas Minnesota United
Midfield Flag of Ireland.svg Richie Ryan Ottawa Fury
Midfield Flag of Jamaica.svg Lance Laing FC Edmonton
Midfield Flag of Brazil.svg Ibson Minnesota United
Midfield Flag of Haiti.svg James Marcelin Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Forward Flag of Brazil.svg Stefano Pinho Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Christian Ramirez Minnesota United

References

  1. ↑ "Jacksonville Armada FC Names José Luis Villarreal as Inaugural Head Coach". armadafc.com. June 14, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Rowdies name Rongen new head coach". Tampa Bay Times. December 3, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ "VILLARREAL TO DEPART ARMADA FC AT END OF NASL SPRING SEASON". Jacksonville Armada. May 22, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Regan in as Interim Head Coach". Indy Eleven. June 2, 2015. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Strikers announce technical staff changes". Fort Lauderdale Strikers. June 7, 2015. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Strikers name gunter kronsteiner head coach". Fort Lauderdale Strikers. June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on August 4, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Rowdies Name Stuart Campbell Head Coach". rowdiessoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  8. ↑ "General Manager Dario Sala, Head Coach Guillermo Hoyos and Assistant Coaches Dismissed". armadafc.com. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  9. ↑ "OOPS! SORRY, SOMETHING WENT WRONG". nasl.com. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  10. ↑ "OOPS! SORRY, SOMETHING WENT WRONG". nasl.com. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  11. ↑ "NASL Clubs To Compete For 'The Championship'". February 27, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "2015 NASL statistics" . Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Player of the Month New York Cosmos Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer". North American Soccer League. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Player of the Month New York Cosmos Forward Raúl". North American Soccer League. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Player of the Month Ottawa Fury FC Goalkeeper Romuald Peiser". North American Soccer League. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Player of the Month Minnesota United Forward Christian Ramirez". North American Soccer League. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Player of the Month Fort Lauderdale Strikers Forward Stefano Pinho". North American Soccer League. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Player of the Month Ottawa Fury FC Goalkeeper Romuald Peiser". North American Soccer League. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  19. ↑ "PLAYER OF THE MONTH - FORT LAUDERDALE FORWARD STEFANO PINHO". North American Soccer League. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Fort Lauderdale Strikers Forward Stefano Pinho Claims NASL Golden Ball". North American Soccer League. November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Fort Lauderdale Strikers Forward Stefano Pinho Wins NASL Golden Boot Award". North American Soccer League. November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Ottawa Fury FC Goalkeeper Romuald Peiser Claims NASL Golden Glove Award". North American Soccer League. November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Ottawa Fury FC Head Coach Marc Dos Santos Named NASL Coach of the Year". nasl.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Fans Vote Atlanta Silverbacks Midfielder JuniorBurgos' Freekick As NASL Goal of the Year". nasl.com. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  25. ↑ "New York Cosmos Midfielder Leo Fernandes Named NASL Young Player of the Year". nasl.com. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Ottawa Fury FC Defender Drew Beckie Named NASL Humanitarian of the Year". North American Soccer League. November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Ottawa Fury FC Wins 2015 Fair Play Award". North American Soccer League. November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  28. ↑ "North American Soccer League Announces 2015 Best XI". nasl.com. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
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