2015–16 Major Arena Soccer League season

Major Arena Soccer League
Season 2015–16
Champions Baltimore Blast
Matches played 198
Goals scored 2630 (13.28 per match)
Top goalscorer Franck Tayou
(47 goals)
Longest winning run 11 Games:
Baltimore Blast
(11/7-1/9)
Sonora Suns
(11/7-1/17)
Longest losing run 18 games:
Harrisburg Heat
(11/6-2/27)
Highest attendance 9,442
CHI @ BAL
(November 7)
Lowest attendance 104
BAJ @ SAL
(February 5)
Average attendance 2,405 [1]
2016–17 →

The 2015–16 Major Arena Soccer League season is the eighth season for the league and the second since six teams from the former Major Indoor Soccer League defected to what was formerly called the Professional Arena Soccer League. The regular season started on October 24, 2015, and ended on March 4, 2016. Each team played a 20-game schedule. Also it is the 38th season of professional Division 1 indoor soccer in the USA and the second and final season for the MASL as the top league.

Teams

Many of the 22 teams that completed the 2014–15 season returned for the 2015–16 season.[2][3][4] Teams not returning this season include Rochester Lancers, Wichita B-52s, Tulsa Revolution, and Monterrey Flash. In April 2015, Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale announced that his team was withdrawing from the MASL to form a new league.[5] No other teams announced their departure and the proposed new league never formed. The Blast quietly rejoined the league after agreeing to pay a fine. The Detroit Waza relocated to Flint, Michigan, and are operating this season as simply Waza Flo.[6]

The expansion Sonora Suns based in Hermosillo, Connecticut-based Hartford City FC, Iowa-based Cedar Rapids Rampage, and Tijuana-based Atletico Baja were formally accepted for membership in the MASL.[7][8] The fledgling Youngstown Nighthawks based in Ohio aimed to join the league but encountered financial issues.[9]

On October 28, 2015, the MASL announced that Hartford City FC would not be permitted to enter the league this season and began league-wide schedule changes to replace the failed franchise.[10][11] A new ownership group hoped to revive the team for the 2016–17 season.[10]

Unlike last season where some Eastern Division teams played with a variable-point scoring system, for 2015–16 the whole MASL will play with standard soccer scoring using goals, not points.[3]

Standings

As of March 4, 2016
      2015-16 League Championship
      2015-16 Playoff Team
(Bold) Division Winner

Eastern Conference

Place Team GP W L Pct GF GA GB
Eastern Division
1 Baltimore Blast 19154.78912957—
2 Syracuse Silver Knights 20119.5501201134.5
3 Waza Flo 1899.5001011195.5
4 Harrisburg Heat 19118.0537515214.0
Central Division
1 Missouri Comets 20173.85015395—
2 Chicago Mustangs 20137.6501521234
3 Milwaukee Wave 20137.6501311144
4 St. Louis Ambush 20515.25010413812
5 Cedar Rapids Rampage 20515.25011716012

Western Conference

Place Team GP W L Pct GF GA GB
Southwest Division
1 Las Vegas Legends 20146.700141106—
2 Atletico Baja 20128.6001781612
3 Brownsville Barracudas 20812.4001341456
4 Saltillo Rancho Seco 20713.3501501707
5 Sacramento Surge 20317.15011418011
6 Turlock Express 20317.1509817411
Pacific Division
1 Sonora Suns 20173.850219134—
2 San Diego Sockers 20137.6501381114
3 Tacoma Stars 20137.6501161094
4 Ontario Fury 20128.6001461355
5 Dallas Sidekicks 20713.35011413410

2016 Ron Newman Cup

Playoff format

Top three finishers in each division qualify for the playoffs. The winner of the playoff between the second and third place teams will play the first place team for the division title.

Each round (including the Newman Cup Championship) will be a home and home series. Teams that win both games will advance. If the wins are split between the two teams, a fifteen-minute mini game will be played immediately after the second game to break the tie. The only exception will be the Eastern Division Semi-Final, where there will be a one game playoff (Syracuse hosting Waza Flo) because of arena availability issues.[12][13]

Eastern Conference Playoffs

Eastern Division Semi-Final

March 5, 2016
7:05 PM EST
Syracuse Silver Knights 5 - 3 Waza Flo
Report
Oncenter War Memorial Arena
Attendance: 1,815
Referee: Tim Tyma

Syracuse advances to the Eastern Division Final.

Eastern Division Final

March 11, 2016
7:35 PM EST
Game 1
Baltimore Blast 6 - 5
(3 OT) 		Syracuse Silver Knights
Report
Royal Farms Arena
Attendance: 4,041
Referee: Joe Della Penna

March 13, 2016
4:05 PM EDT
Game 2
Syracuse Silver Knights 3 - 4 Baltimore Blast
Report
Oncenter War Memorial Arena
Attendance: 2,042
Referee: Rich Grady

Baltimore wins series 2 games to 0.

Central Division Semi-Final

March 5, 2016
3:05 PM CST
Game 1
Milwaukee Wave 7 - 2 Chicago Mustangs
Report

March 6, 2016
6:05 PM CST
Game 2
Chicago Mustangs 7 - 2 Milwaukee Wave
Report
Sears Centre
Attendance: 3,746
Referee: Ryan Cigich

March 6, 2016
9:05 PM CST
Mini-Game
Chicago Mustangs 0 - 2 Milwaukee Wave
Report
Sears Centre
Attendance: 3,746
Referee: Shane Butler

Milwaukee wins series 2 games to 1.

Central Division Final

March 11, 2016
7:05 PM CST
Game 1
Milwaukee Wave 5 - 10 Missouri Comets
Report

March 13, 2016
5:05 PM CDT
Game 2
Missouri Comets 8 - 2 Milwaukee Wave
Report
Silverstein Eye Centers Arena
Attendance: 3,004
Referee: Shane Butler

Missouri wins series 2 games to 0.

Eastern Conference Final

March 24, 2016
7:05 CDT
Game 1
Missouri Comets 3 - 4
(OT) 		Baltimore Blast
Report
Silverstein Eye Centers Arena
Attendance: 3,011
Referee: Ryan Cigich

March 29, 2016
7:05 EDT
Game 2
Baltimore Blast 4 -3
(2OT) 		Missouri Comets
Report
Royal Farms Arena
Attendance: 4,102
Referee: Rich Grady

Baltimore wins series 2 games to 0

Western Conference Playoffs

Southwest Division Semi-Final

March 4, 2016
7:35 PM CST
Game 1
Brownsville Barracudas 5 - 4 Atletico Baja
Report
Barracudas Sports Complex
Attendance: 1,168
Referee: Francisco Meraz

March 6, 2016
5:05 PM PST
Game 2
Atletico Baja 9 - 10
(OT) 		Brownsville Barracudas
Report
Unidad Deportiva Tijuana
Attendance: 1,760
Referee: Kia Depaneh

Brownsville wins series 2 games to 0

Southwest Division Final

March 12, 2016
4:05 PM PST
Game 1
Brownsville Barracudas 5 - 11 Las Vegas Legends
Report
Barracudas Sports Complex
Attendance: 1,183
Referee: Francisco Meraz

March 14, 2016
7:35 PM PDT
Game 2
Las Vegas Legends 11 - 9 Brownsville Barracudas
Report
Las Vegas Sports Park
Attendance: 403
Referee: Ramiro Cruz

Las Vegas wins series 2 games to 0

Pacific Division Semi-Final

March 2, 2016
7:35 PM PST
Game 1
Tacoma Stars 7 - 8
(2 OT) 		San Diego Sockers
Report
Report
ShoWare Center
Attendance: 2,036
Referee: Kia Depaneh

March 6, 2016
5:05 PM PST
Game 2
San Diego Sockers 11 - 3 Tacoma Stars
Report
Valley View Casino Center
Attendance: 2,774
Referee: Ron Cory

San Diego wins series 2 games to 0

Pacific Division Final

March 10, 2016
7:05 PM PST
Game 1
San Diego Sockers 5 - 10 Sonora Suns
Report
Valley View Casino Center
Attendance: 2,200
Referee: Ryan Cigich

March 12, 2016
6:05 PM MST
Game 2
Sonora Suns 10 - 13 San Diego Sockers
Report
El Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Kelly Mock

March 12, 2016
9:35 PM MST
Mini-Game
Sonora Suns 6 - 0 San Diego Sockers
Report
El Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Kelly Mock

Sonora wins series 2 games to 1.

Western Conference Final

March 23, 2016
7:05 MDT
Game 1
Sonora Suns 9 - 13 Las Vegas Legends
Report
El Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 6,841
Referee: Kia Depaneh

March 24, 2016
7:05 MDT
Game 2
Sonora Suns 13 - 10 Las Vegas Legends
Report
El Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 7,487
Referee: Kia Depaneh

March 24, 2016
10:45 PM MDT
Mini-Game
Sonora Suns 1 - 0
(2 OT) 		Las Vegas Legends
Report
El Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 7,487
Referee: Kia Depaneh

Sonora wins series 2 games to 1.

Newman Cup Championship

April 10, 2016
6:05 PM EDT
Game 1
Baltimore Blast 7 - 4 Sonora Suns
Report
Royal Farms Arena
Attendance: 7,243
Referee: Rich Grady

April 15, 2016
8:05 PM PDT
Game 2
Sonora Suns 13 - 14
(OT) 		Baltimore Blast
Report
El Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 8,324
Referee: Ryan Cigich

Baltimore wins Newman Cup 2 games to 0.

Statistics

Top scorers

Rank Scorer Club Games Goals Assists Points
1 United States Franck Tayou Sonora Suns 20 47 15 62
2 United States Kraig Chiles San Diego Sockers 18 28 27 55
3 Canada Vahid Assadpour Missouri Comets 20 23 27 50
4 Brazil Mauricio Salles Ontario Fury 20 30 16 46
Mexico Efrain Martinez Chicago Mustangs 20 21 25 46
6 Canada Ian Bennett Milwaukee Wave 20 37 7 44
Liberia Leo Gibson Missouri Comets 18 21 23 44
8 Mexico Victor Baez Saltillo Rancho Seco 20 28 15 43
9 United States Moises Gonzalez Brownsville Barracudas 20 34 8 42
Brazil Hewerton Moreira Cedar Rapids Rampage 20 13 29 42

Last updated on March 4, 2016. Source: "Scoring Leaders". Major Arena Soccer League. 

Awards

Individual Awards

Award Name[14] Team
League MVP Franck Tayou Sonora Suns
Goalkeeper of the Year Danny Waltman Tacoma Stars
Defender of the Year Pat Healey Baltimore Blast
Rookie of the Year Alejandro Leyva Sonora Suns
Coach of the Year Darren Sawatzky Tacoma Stars
Aaron Susi Trophy (Playoff MVP) Lucas Roque Baltimore Blast

All-League First Team

Name[15] Position Team
Kraig Chiles F San Diego Sockers
Franck Tayou F Sonora Suns
Vahid Assadpour M Missouri Comets
Damian Garcia D Sonora Suns
Eric Guzman D Las Vegas Legends
Danny Waltman GK Tacoma Stars

All-League Second Team

Name[15] Position Team
Leo Gibson F Missouri Comets
Mauricio Salles F Ontario Fury
Ian Bennett M Milwaukee Wave
Victor Baez D Saltillo Rancho Seco
Pat Healey D Baltimore Blast
William Vanzela GK Baltimore Blast

All-League Third Team

Name[15] Position Team
Efrain Martinez F Chicago Mustangs
Max Ferdinand M Milwaukee Wave
Moises Gonzalez M Brownsville Barracudas
Luis Ortega D Chicago Mustangs
John Sosa D Missouri Comets
Boris Pardo GK Missouri Comets

All-Rookie Team

Name[16] Position Team
Alejandro Leyva F Sonora Suns
Adolfo Bautista F Chicago Mustangs
Mike Ramos M Tacoma Stars
Thiago Gonçalves D Waza Flo
Roberto Medina D Sonora Suns
Andrew Coughlin GK Syracuse Silver Knights

References

  1. ↑ "2015-16 League Attendance". Major Arena Soccer League. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  2. ↑ Carp, Steve (March 17, 2015). "Legends promise to return in 2016". Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV: GateHouse Media). Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "MASL adopts new scoring system, structure". The Examiner (Independence, MO: GateHouse Media). April 30, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Tacoma Stars Set To Relaunch in 2015". Tacoma, WA: Tacoma Stars. May 19, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  5. ↑ Krieger, Dan (May 11, 2015). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central (Press release). Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  6. ↑ Woodyard, Eric (September 29, 2015). "Major Arena Soccer League team moves home games to Flint's Dort Federal Event Center". The Flint Journal (Flint, MI: Booth Newspapers). Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  7. ↑ Cano, Guillermo (March 5, 2015). "MASL: Viene a Hermosillo el Comisionado Milliken". Triunfo Deportivo. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Soles de Sonora Introduced as First 2015/16 Expansion Team". Major Arena Soccer League. March 6, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  9. ↑ Skolnick, David (March 10, 2015). "A proposed soccer league wants to play its home games at the Covelli Centre". The Vindicator (Youngstown, OH: Vindicator Printing Company). Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Kauffman, Matthew; Carlesso, Jenna (October 28, 2015). "Arena Soccer League Drops Hartford Team Over Concerns About Federal Investigation". Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT: Tribune Publishing). Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  11. ↑ Cohen, Jeff (October 28, 2015). "Team Says Arena Soccer League Cancels Hartford City FC's Season". Hartford, CT: Connecticut Public Radio. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  12. ↑ "MASL Owners Announce Plans for 2015-16 Season". Major Arena Soccer League. April 29, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  13. ↑ "MASL Announces 2016 Ron Newman Cup Playoffs Schedule". Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  14. ↑ "MASL Announces Major Award Winners for 2015/16 Season". Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 "MASL Announces 2015/16 All-League Teams". Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  16. ↑ "MASL Announces Major Awards Finalists and 2015/16 All-Rookie Team". Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.

External links

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