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

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

Standings
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[lower-alpha 1]
6 NSC Minnesota Stars (C) 28 9 9 10 30 32 −2 36[lower-alpha 1]
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) Champion; (X) Regular season champion.
Notes:
  1. EDM: 8 pts; MIN: 2 pts

Results
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

ClubMatch
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
Atlanta SilverbacksMINEDMFTLTAMEDMMINFTLCARMINMTLTAMPURCARPURFTLMTLTAMCARTAMPURMTLEDMCARPUREDMMINFTLMTL
1–20–11–21–10–20–30–00–20–22–12–31–31–53–43–22–22–10–10–40–20–40–32–42–01–20–21–10–4
Carolina RailHawksPURMTLEDMMINTAMFTLMTLPURATLTAMEDMTAMATLMTLMINEDMEDMATLFTLPURMINFTLATLTAMFTLMTLPURMIN
1–22–12–01–13–14–22–13–02–02–11–03–15–12–00–11–14–11–01–20–21–12–04–22–00–10–10–11–2
FC EdmontonFTLATLCARMTLATLTAMMINTAMMTLCARPURMINMTLMINCARTAMCARTAMFTLPURFTLATLPURPURMINATLFTLMTL
2–11–00–20–52–01–12–14–00–20–13–01–11–01–11–11–21–41–30–30–11–13–02–31–13–12–11–20–2
Fort Lauderdale StrikersEDMMINATLPURMINCARATLMTLPURMINMTLPURTAMTAMATLMTLPUREDMCARMINEDMCARTAMMTLCAREDMATLTAM
1–21–12–12–21–12–40–00–03–23–00–01–11–12–42–31–11–33–02–11–01–10–20–21–01–02–11–10–2
NSC Minnesota StarsATLFTLPURCARFTLATLPUREDMTAMPURATLFTLEDMEDMCARPURMTLMTLFTLTAMCARMTLMTLEDMTAMATLTAMCAR
2–11–11–31–11–13–02–01–20–01–12–00–31–11–11–00–11–03–10–10–21–10–20–21–31–22–01–12–1
Montreal ImpactTAMCARTAMEDMCARTAMFTLEDMATLPURFTLEDMPURCARFTLATLMINPURMINTAMATLMINMINFTLPURCAREDMATL
0–11–20–05–01–20–30–00–21–21–20–01–00–00–21–12–20–11–01–33–34–02–02–00–11–11–02–04–0
Puerto Rico IslandersCARTAMMINFTLMINCARMINFTLMTLEDMATLFTLMTLATLTAMMINFTLMTLEDMATLCARTAMEDMEDMATLMTLCARTAM
2–12–03–12–20–20–31–12–32–10–33–11–10–04–31–11–03–10–11–02–02–02–13–21–10–21–11–01–0
FC Tampa BayMTLPURMTLATLCAREDMMTLMINEDMCARATLCARFTLFTLPUREDMATLEDMATLMTLMINPURFTLCARMINMINPURFTL
1–00–20–01–11–31–13–00–00–41–23–21–31–14–21–12–11–23–14–03–32–01–22–00–22–11–10–12–0

Source: NASL results table

Playoffs

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
  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
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
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
October 15, 2011 (2011-10-15) Carolina RailHawks 4–3 (a.e.t.)
(3–5 p)		 NSC Minnesota Stars Cary, North Carolina
7:00 pm EDT Pablo Campos  45+'  60' (pen.)  90+'  90+'
Jonny Steele  57'
Nick Zimmerman  63'
Devon McKenney  66'
Floyd Franks  85'
Chris Nurse  103'		 Report Brian Kallman  7'
Andrei Gotsmanov  10'  40'
Brian Cvilikas  36'
Kyle Altman  47'
Lucas Rodriguez  52'
Neil Hlavaty  67' (pen.)
Justin Davis  120+'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,002
Penalties
Jonny Steele
Etienne Barbara
Kupono Low
Brad Knighton 		Neil Hlavaty
Devin Del Do
Kyle Altman
Simone Bracalello
Lucas Rodriguez
Tied 4–4 on aggregate. NSC Minnesota Stars win 5–3 on penalties.


October 8, 2011 (2011-10-08) Puerto Rico Islanders 1–3 Fort Lauderdale Strikers Bayamón, Puerto Rico
7:30 pm EDT Jonathan Faña  84' Report Martin Nuñez  49'
Wálter Restrepo  82'
Brian Shriver  90+'		 Stadium: Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel
October 15, 2011 (2011-10-15) Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2–1 Puerto Rico Islanders Fort Lauderdale, Florida
7:30 pm EDT Brian Shriver  19'  59' Report David Foley  56' Stadium: Lockhart Stadium
Fort Lauderdale Strikers win 5–2 on aggregate.

Soccer Bowl 2011
NSC Minnesota Stars3–1Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Neil Hlavaty  4'
Luke Mulholland  53'
Lucas Rodriguez  77'		 Report 1
Report 2		 Justin Davis  52' (o.g.)
Attendance: 4,511
Fort Lauderdale Strikers0–0NSC Minnesota Stars
Gerson Mayen  90' Report
NSC Minnesota Stars win Soccer Bowl 2011, 3–1 on aggregate.

Attendance
Club GP Total High Low Average
Montreal Impact14161,10212,060-11,507
Fort Lauderdale Strikers1452,769--3,769
Carolina RailHawks1446,942--3,353
FC Tampa Bay1442,138--3,010
Atlanta Silverbacks1440,117--2,866
Puerto Rico Islanders1430,247--2,161
FC Edmonton1425,434-7971,817
NSC Minnesota Stars1423,463--1,676
Total112422,21212,0607973,770
  • Updated to games played on September 24, 2011

Source: Kenn.com

Statistical leaders

Top goalkeepers

(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:[8]

Awards

League awards

NASL Best XI [12]
Position Players Team
Goalkeeper Brad KnightonCarolina RailHawks
Defense Hassoun CamaraMontreal Impact
Defense Lance LaingFort Lauderdale Strikers
Defense Kupono LowCarolina RailHawks
Defense Toni StåhlFort Lauderdale Strikers
Midfield David FoleyPuerto Rico Islanders
Midfield Pascal MillienFC Tampa Bay
Midfield Shaun SaikoFC Edmonton
Midfield Matt WatsonCarolina RailHawks
Forward Mike AmbersleyFC Tampa Bay
Forward Etienne BarbaraCarolina RailHawks

References

  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". Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  8. "NASL Individual Leaders". Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  9. "Barbara Named NASL Golden Ball Winner". North American Soccer League. October 17, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  10. "NASL Announces Three Postseason Award Winners". North American Soccer League. September 27, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  11. "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.
  12. "NASL Announces 2011 Best XI Team". North American Soccer League. September 28, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
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