2011 North American Soccer League season

The 2011 North American Soccer League season is the 44th season of second division soccer in the United States and the inaugural season of the newly created North American Soccer League.

North American Soccer League
Season2011
ChampionsNSC Minnesota Stars
North American Supporters' TrophyCarolina RailHawks
Matches played112
Goals scored290 (2.59 per match)
Top goalscorerEtienne Barbara (20)
Biggest home winEDM 4–0 TB
MTL 4–0 ATL
Biggest away winEDM 0–5 MTL
Highest scoring7 goals:
ATL 3–4 PUR
Longest winning run10 matches:
Carolina Railhawks
Longest unbeaten run13 matches:
Carolina Railhawks
Longest winless run9 matches:
Atlanta Silverbacks
Montreal Impact
Longest losing run6 matches:
Atlanta Silverbacks
Highest attendance12,060
FC Tampa Bay @ Montreal Impact
Lowest attendance797
Puerto Rico Islanders @ FC Edmonton
Average attendance3,770[1]
2012

Earlier in 2011, the league's likelihood of earning second tier sanctioning had been thrown into question when the U.S. Soccer Federation rejected the league in January due to its financial instability.[2] The USSF gave provisional sanctioning at the annual general meeting in Las Vegas on February 12, 2011.[3]

Competition format

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The NASL debuted in 2011 with 8 teams playing a 28-game regular season schedule, with 14 home and 14 away games, playing each opponent four times. The NASL’s playoff format consisted of the top six teams, with the first two teams receiving a bye until the semifinal round and the remaining four teams playing in a single-game playoff to advance to the semifinals. The semifinals and the finals will each consist of a two-game home and home aggregate goal system.[4]

Regular season

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Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Carolina RailHawks (X) 28 17 3 8 50 26 +24 54 Playoff semifinals
2 Puerto Rico Islanders 28 15 7 6 41 32 +9 52
3 Tampa Bay Rowdies 28 11 8 9 41 36 +5 41 Playoff quarterfinals
4 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 28 9 11 8 35 36 −1 38
5 FC Edmonton 28 10 6 12 35 40 −5 36[a]
6 NSC Minnesota Stars (C) 28 9 9 10 30 32 −2 36[a]
7 Montreal Impact 28 9 8 11 35 27 +8 35
8 Atlanta Silverbacks 28 4 4 20 25 63 −38 16
Source: NASL Standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored.[5]
(C) Champions; (X) Regular season champion
Notes:
  1. ^ a b EDM: 8 pts; MIN: 2 pts

Results

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Abbreviation and Color Key:
Atlanta Silverbacks – ATL • Carolina RailHawks – CAR • FC Edmonton – EDM • Ft. Lauderdale Strikers – FTL
NSC Minnesota Stars – MIN • Montreal Impact – MTL • Puerto Rico Islanders – PUR • FC Tampa Bay – TAM

Win  • Loss  • Draw  • Home

Club Match
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Atlanta Silverbacks MIN EDM FTL TAM EDM MIN FTL CAR MIN MTL TAM PUR CAR PUR FTL MTL TAM CAR TAM PUR MTL EDM CAR PUR EDM MIN FTL MTL
1–2 0–1 1–2 1–1 0–2 0–3 0–0 0–2 0–2 2–1 2–3 1–3 1–5 3–4 3–2 2–2 2–1 0–1 0–4 0–2 0–4 0–3 2–4 2–0 1–2 0–2 1–1 0–4
Carolina RailHawks PUR MTL EDM MIN TAM FTL MTL PUR ATL TAM EDM TAM ATL MTL MIN EDM EDM ATL FTL PUR MIN FTL ATL TAM FTL MTL PUR MIN
1–2 2–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 4–2 2–1 3–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 3–1 5–1 2–0 0–1 1–1 4–1 1–0 1–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–2
FC Edmonton FTL ATL CAR MTL ATL TAM MIN TAM MTL CAR PUR MIN MTL MIN CAR TAM CAR TAM FTL PUR FTL ATL PUR PUR MIN ATL FTL MTL
2–1 1–0 0–2 0–5 2–0 1–1 2–1 4–0 0–2 0–1 3–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–4 1–3 0–3 0–1 1–1 3–0 2–3 1–1 3–1 2–1 1–2 0–2
Fort Lauderdale Strikers EDM MIN ATL PUR MIN CAR ATL MTL PUR MIN MTL PUR TAM TAM ATL MTL PUR EDM CAR MIN EDM CAR TAM MTL CAR EDM ATL TAM
1–2 1–1 2–1 2–2 1–1 2–4 0–0 0–0 3–2 3–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–3 1–1 1–3 3–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–2
NSC Minnesota Stars ATL FTL PUR CAR FTL ATL PUR EDM TAM PUR ATL FTL EDM EDM CAR PUR MTL MTL FTL TAM CAR MTL MTL EDM TAM ATL TAM CAR
2–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 1–2 0–0 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–0 3–1 0–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–2 2–0 1–1 2–1
Montreal Impact TAM CAR TAM EDM CAR TAM FTL EDM ATL PUR FTL EDM PUR CAR FTL ATL MIN PUR MIN TAM ATL MIN MIN FTL PUR CAR EDM ATL
0–1 1–2 0–0 5–0 1–2 0–3 0–0 0–2 1–2 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–1 1–0 1–3 3–3 4–0 2–0 2–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 2–0 4–0
Puerto Rico Islanders CAR TAM MIN FTL MIN CAR MIN FTL MTL EDM ATL FTL MTL ATL TAM MIN FTL MTL EDM ATL CAR TAM EDM EDM ATL MTL CAR TAM
2–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 0–3 1–1 2–3 2–1 0–3 3–1 1–1 0–0 4–3 1–1 1–0 3–1 0–1 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 3–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 1–0
FC Tampa Bay MTL PUR MTL ATL CAR EDM MTL MIN EDM CAR ATL CAR FTL FTL PUR EDM ATL EDM ATL MTL MIN PUR FTL CAR MIN MIN PUR FTL
1–0 0–2 0–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 3–0 0–0 0–4 1–2 3–2 1–3 1–1 4–2 1–1 2–1 1–2 3–1 4–0 3–3 2–0 1–2 2–0 0–2 2–1 1–1 0–1 2–0

Source: NASL results table

Playoffs

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The 6 qualifying teams will be given seeds 1 through 6 with the top team in the standings receiving the number 1 seed.

The format of the Playoffs will consist of a Quarterfinal Round, Semifinal Round and a Final Round. The Quarterfinal Round will be a single game while the Semifinal and Final Rounds will each be a 2-game series with each team playing at home once and the team with the greater number of aggregate goals in both games winning each series.

The number 1 seed and the number 2 seed will receive a bye directly to the Semifinal Round while the number 3 seed will host the number 6 seed and the number 4 seed will host the number 5 seed in the Quarterfinal Round.

For the Semifinal Round, the number 1 seed will be paired with the lowest seeded team to qualify from the Quarterfinal Round with the number 2 seed being paired with the highest seeded team to qualify from the Quarterfinal Round.

The winners of each series in the Semifinal Round will meet in the Final Round known as the Soccer Bowl. In the event of a draw in either Quarterfinal Round game, such game will progress to a 30-minute extra time period (the golden goal rule will not be in effect). If the teams are still locked in a draw following the extra time period, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout.

In each Semifinal Round series and the Final Round series, if the teams are tied on the number of aggregate goals scored in the series at the conclusion of the second game, the teams will progress to a 30-minute extra time period. As in the Quarterfinal Round, the golden goal rule will not be in effect. If the teams are still locked in a draw following the extra time period, the winner of the series will be determined by a penalty shootout.

Bracket

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Quarterfinals Semifinals Soccer Bowl 2011
1 Carolina RailHawks FC 0 4 4 (3)
3 FC Tampa Bay 0 6 NSC Minnesota Stars 1 3 4 (5)
6 NSC Minnesota Stars 1 6 NSC Minnesota Stars 3 0 3
4 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1 0 1
2 Puerto Rico Islanders 1 1 2
4 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 5 4 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3 2 5
5 FC Edmonton 0

Quarterfinals

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October 1, 2011 (2011-10-01) FC Tampa Bay 0–1 NSC Minnesota Stars St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 pm EDT Andres Arango   14' Report Luke Mulholland   27'
Jeff Cosgriff   50'
Kyle Altman   57'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 3,003
October 1, 2011 (2011-10-01) Fort Lauderdale Strikers 5–0 FC Edmonton Fort Lauderdale, Florida
7:30 pm EDT Brian Shriver   45'   54'   57'
Abe Thompson   46'   62'   77'
Report Antonio Rago   36'
Paul Hamilton   58'
Shaun Saiko   68'
Stadium: Lockhart Stadium

Semifinals

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October 8, 2011 (2011-10-08) NSC Minnesota Stars 1–0 Carolina RailHawks Blaine, Minnesota
7:30 pm CDT Brian Cvilikas   38'
Andrei Gotsmanov   56'   90'
Luke Mulholland   76'
Report Devon McKenney   45'
Pablo Campos   67'
Tony McManus   76'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 2,512
Tied 4–4 on aggregate. NSC Minnesota Stars win 5–3 on penalties.


Fort Lauderdale Strikers win 5–2 on aggregate.

Soccer Bowl 2011

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NSC Minnesota Stars win Soccer Bowl 2011, 3–1 on aggregate.

Attendance

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Club GP Total High Low Average
Montreal Impact 14 161,102 12,060 - 11,507
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 14 52,769 - - 3,769
Carolina RailHawks 14 46,942 - - 3,353
FC Tampa Bay 14 42,138 - - 3,010
Atlanta Silverbacks 14 40,117 - - 2,866
Puerto Rico Islanders 14 30,247 - - 2,161
FC Edmonton 14 25,434 - 797 1,817
NSC Minnesota Stars 14 23,463 - - 1,676
Total 112 422,212 12,060 797 3,770
  • Updated to games played on September 24, 2011
Source: Kenn.com

Statistical leaders

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Nation Club Goals
1 Etienne Barbara   MLT Carolina RailHawks 20
2 Pablo Campos   BRA Carolina RailHawks 11
Mike Ambersley   USA FC Tampa Bay 11
Jonathan Faña   DOM Puerto Rico Islanders 11
5 Shaun Saiko   CAN FC Edmonton 9
Aaron King   USA FC Tampa Bay 9
7 Matt Horth   USA Atlanta Silverbacks 8
8 David Foley   ENG Puerto Rico Islanders 7
Kyle Porter   CAN FC Edmonton 7
Nicholas Addlery   JAM Puerto Rico Islanders 7

Source:[6]

Top goalkeepers

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(Minimum of 1260 Minutes Played)

Rank Goalkeeper Club MINS SVS GA GAA
1   Evan Bush Montreal Impact 1668 71 14 0.757
2   Brad Knighton Carolina RailHawks 2480 115 26 0.942
3   Matt Glaeser Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1905 75 22 1.038
4   Ray Burse Puerto Rico Islanders 2340 98 28 1.077
5   Joe Warren NSC Minnesota Stars 2430 105 30 1.111
6   Jeff Attinella FC Tampa Bay 2060 128 31 1.354
7   Rein Baart FC Edmonton 2145 78 33 1.387
8   Jimmy Maurer Atlanta Silverbacks 1531 93 41 2.412

Source:[7]

Awards

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League awards

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NASL Best XI[11]
Position Players Team
Goalkeeper   Brad Knighton Carolina RailHawks
Defense   Hassoun Camara Montreal Impact
Defense   Lance Laing Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Defense   Kupono Low Carolina RailHawks
Defense   Toni Ståhl Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Midfield   David Foley Puerto Rico Islanders
Midfield   Pascal Millien FC Tampa Bay
Midfield   Shaun Saiko FC Edmonton
Midfield   Matt Watson Carolina RailHawks
Forward   Mike Ambersley FC Tampa Bay
Forward   Etienne Barbara Carolina RailHawks

References

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  1. ^ NASL Weekend in Review (18 July 2011).
  2. ^ Quarstad, Brian (January 21, 2011). "NASL Releases Press Statement Concerning US Soccer's Decision to Decline Sanctioning". Inside Minnesota Soccer. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  3. ^ "NASL Provisionally Sanctioned by USSF for 2011". North American Soccer League. February 12, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  4. ^ "NASL Provisionally Sanctioned by USSF". North American Soccer League. November 21, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  5. ^ "NASL Standings".
  6. ^ "NASL Individual Leaders". Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  7. ^ "NASL Individual Leaders". Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  8. ^ "Barbara Named NASL Golden Ball Winner". North American Soccer League. October 17, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c "NASL Announces Three Postseason Award Winners". North American Soccer League. September 27, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  10. ^ "Minnesota Stars FC Coach Manny Lagos Named Field Turf 2011 NASL Coach of the Year". IMSoccer News. January 17, 2012. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  11. ^ "NASL Announces 2011 Best XI Team". North American Soccer League. September 28, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
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