2016 North American Soccer League season

North American Soccer League
Season 2016
Matches played 25
Goals scored 54 (2.16 per match)
Top goalscorer Four players (3)
Biggest home win 3 goals:
NYC 3–0 OTT
(Apr 3)
MNU 3–0 FTL
(Apr 16)
Biggest away win 2 goals:
FCE 0–2 MNU
(Apr 10)
TBR 1–3 CAR
(Apr 23)
Highest scoring 5 goals:
OKC 2–3 CAR
(Apr 9)
MIA 2–3 OKC
(Apr 22)
Longest winning run 4 games:
Carolina RailHawks
(Apr 2 – Apr 23)
Longest unbeaten run 4 games:
Carolina RailHawks
(Apr 2 – Apr 23)
Indy Eleven
(Apr 2 – present)
Longest winless run 5 games:
Miami
(Apr 2 – present)
Longest losing run 3 games:
Miami
(Apr 14 – present)
Highest attendance 10,156
MIA 1–1 TBR
(Apr 9)
Lowest attendance 1,086
FTL 0–1 TBR
(Apr 30)
Total attendance 125,496
Average attendance 5,020 (May 4)
← 2015

The 2016 North American Soccer League season is the 49th season of Division II soccer in the United States and Canada, and the 6th season of the modern North American Soccer League.

Three expansion clubs joined the league, with Miami FC and Rayo OKC joining in the Spring season and Puerto Rico FC beginning competition in the Fall season. On December 22, 2015, it was announced that the San Antonio Scorpions' home pitch, Toyota Field, had been bought by the city of San Antonio and would be used by Spurs Sports & Entertainment to host a club in the USL, forcing the Scorpions to cease operations.[1] On January 11, 2016, the NASL announced that it had suspended its operation of the Atlanta Silverbacks for the 2016 season and possibly beyond.[2] As a result, the Spring season will be contested by 11 clubs and the Fall season will feature 12. The New York Cosmos are defending Soccer Bowl and North American Supporters' Trophy champions. A split season format will once again be used for the 2016 season.

Teams, stadiums, and personnel

Stadiums and locations

Main article: List of NASL stadiums

Personnel and sponsorship

Team Head coach Captain Kit producer Shirt sponsor
Carolina RailHawks Northern Ireland Colin Clarke United States Nazmi Albadawi Adidas Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
FC Edmonton Canada Colin Miller Northern Ireland Albert Watson Adidas The Fath Group
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Brazil Caio Zanardi Haiti Jean Alexandre Inaria Guaraviton
Indy Eleven United States Tim Hankinson Republic of Ireland Colin Falvey Diadora Honda
Jacksonville Armada FC United States Tony Meola Republic of Ireland Richie Ryan Nike Winn-Dixie
Miami FC Italy Alessandro Nesta United States Jonathan Borrajo Macron
Minnesota United FC England Carl Craig United States Aaron Pitchkolan Inaria Atomic Data / Mall of America
New York Cosmos Venezuela Giovanni Savarese United States Carlos Mendes Under Armour Emirates
Ottawa Fury FC Scotland Paul Dalglish Canada Julian de Guzman Adidas Chartwells
Puerto Rico FC England Adrian Whitbread Nike
Rayo OKC Canada Alen Marcina Brazil Michel Kelme
Tampa Bay Rowdies Scotland Stuart Campbell England Tamika Mkandawire Nike Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Player transfers

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Puerto Rico Expansion team England Adrian Whitbread August 24, 2015[3]
Miami Italy Alessandro Nesta August 31, 2015[4]
Ottawa Fury Canada Marc Dos Santos End of contract November 20, 2015 Pre-season Scotland Paul Dalglish November 20, 2015[5]
Jacksonville Armada United States Eric Dade (interim) End of interim period November 24, 2015 United States Tony Meola November 24, 2015[6]
Indy Eleven United States Tim Regan (interim) End of interim period December 2, 2015 United States Tim Hankinson December 2, 2015[7]
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Austria Günter Kronsteiner End of contract November 16, 2015 Brazil Caio Zanardi December 2, 2015[8]
Minnesota United United States Manny Lagos Promotion to general manager December 3, 2015 England Carl Craig December 3, 2015[9]
San Antonio Scorpions Canada Alen Marcina Fired November 1, 2015[10] Club defunct[11]
Rayo OKC Expansion team Canada Alen Marcina January 7, 2016[12]
Atlanta Silverbacks England Gary Smith Released January 11, 2016 Pre-season Club on hiatus[13]

Spring season

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Carolina RailHawks 5 4 0 1 9 5 +4 12 2016 NASL Spring season winner
2 Minnesota United 4 3 0 1 7 2 +5 9
3 New York Cosmos 5 3 0 2 7 3 +4 9
4 Indy Eleven 4 2 2 0 5 3 +2 8
5 Tampa Bay Rowdies 5 2 2 1 4 4 0 8
6 Edmonton 5 2 1 2 3 3 0 7
7 Rayo OKC 4 1 1 2 6 7 −1 4
8 Jacksonville Armada 4 1 1 2 3 5 −2 4
9 Ottawa Fury 5 1 1 3 3 7 −4 4
10 Miami 5 0 2 3 5 9 −4 2
11 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 4 0 2 2 2 6 −4 2
Updated to match(es) played on May 4, 2016. 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

Results

Home ╲ Away CAR FCE FTLINDJAXMIAMNUNYCOTTOKCTBR
Carolina RailHawks 2–1 1–0
Edmonton 0–2 2–0
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1–1 1–1 0–1
Indy Eleven 2–1 1–1
Jacksonville Armada 0–1 2–1
Miami 2–3 1–1
Minnesota United 3–0 1–0
New York Cosmos 1–0 2–0 3–0
Ottawa Fury 2–0
Rayo OKC 2–3 0–0 1–2
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–3 1–0 0–0

Source:
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Fall season

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Carolina RailHawks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2016 NASL Fall season winner
2 Edmonton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Indy Eleven 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Jacksonville Armada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Miami 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Minnesota United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 New York Cosmos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Ottawa Fury 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Rayo OKC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Tampa Bay Rowdies 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on July 2, 2016. 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

Results

Home ╲ Away CAR FCE FTLINDJAXMIAMNUNYCOTTPRFOKCTBR
Carolina RailHawks
Edmonton
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Indy Eleven
Jacksonville Armada
Miami
Minnesota United
New York Cosmos
Ottawa Fury
Puerto Rico
Rayo OKC
Tampa Bay Rowdies

Source:
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

Combined Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Carolina RailHawks 5 4 0 1 9 5 +4 12 North American Supporters' Trophy winner and 2016 NASL Playoffs
2 Minnesota United 4 3 0 1 7 2 +5 9 2016 NASL Playoffs
3 New York Cosmos 5 3 0 2 7 3 +4 9
4 Indy Eleven 4 2 2 0 5 3 +2 8
5 Tampa Bay Rowdies 5 2 2 1 4 4 0 8
6 Edmonton 5 2 1 2 3 3 0 7
7 Rayo OKC 4 1 1 2 6 7 −1 4
8 Jacksonville Armada 4 1 1 2 3 5 −2 4
9 Ottawa Fury 5 1 1 3 3 7 −4 4
10 Miami 5 0 2 3 5 9 −4 2
11 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 4 0 2 2 2 6 −4 2
12 Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on May 4, 2016. 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

The Championship

Participants:

Attendance

As of May 4, 2016
Club GP Total High Low Average Change
Indy Eleven 2 18,171 9,104 9,067 9,086 -7.4%
Minnesota United 2 18,128 9,078 9,050 9,064 3.4%
Ottawa Fury 1 7,023 7,023 7,023 7,023 36%
Miami 2 12,324 10,156 2,168 6,162 N/A
Rayo OKC 3 16,996 6,416 4,729 5,665 N/A
Tampa Bay Rowdies 3 16,117 5,948 4,429 5,372 -4.9%
Jacksonville Armada 2 8,629 5,112 3,517 4,315 -45.6%
Carolina RailHawks 2 8,367 4,208 4,159 4,184 -7.8%
New York Cosmos 3 11,198 5,094 2,419 3,733 -26.3%
Edmonton 2 4,231 2,731 1,500 2,116 -26.8%
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3 4,312 2,129 1,086 1,437 -67.9%
Total 25 125,496 10,156 1,086 5,020 -15.1%

Source: NASL

Highest attendances

Regular season

Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Week Venue
1 Miami1 – 1Tampa Bay Rowdies10,156 April 92 FIU Stadium
2 Indy Eleven1 – 1Ottawa Fury9,104 April 92 Michael A. Carroll Stadium
3 Minnesota United1 – 0New York Cosmos9,078 April 234 National Sports Center
4 Indy Eleven2 – 1New York Cosmos9,067 April 163 Michael A. Carroll Stadium
5 Minnesota United3 – 0Fort Lauderdale Strikers9,050 April 163 National Sports Center

Statistical leaders

As of May 4, 2016

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Argentina Darío Cvitanich Miami 3
United States Austin da Luz Carolina RailHawks
Brazil Michel Rayo OKC
United States Christian Ramirez Minnesota United
5 Venezuela Juan Arango New York Cosmos 2
Scotland Adam Moffat New York Cosmos
Brazil Maicon Santos Fort Lauderdale Strikers
South Africa Ty Shipalane Carolina RailHawks
United States Ben Speas Minnesota United
Montenegro Nemanja Vuković Indy Eleven
Libya Éamon Zayed Indy Eleven

Source:[14]

Top assists

Rank Player Club Assists
1 United States Nazmi Albadawi Carolina RailHawks 4
2 United States Eric Avila Tampa Bay Rowdies 2
Brazil Pecka Rayo OKC
4 Twenty-five players 1

Source:[14]

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean
Sheets
1 United States Jimmy Maurer New York Cosmos 3
Cameroon Sammy Ndjock Minnesota United
United States Matt Pickens Tampa Bay Rowdies
United States Matt Van Oekel Edmonton
5 United States Jon Busch Indy Eleven 1
Portugal Daniel Fernandes Rayo OKC
United States Akira Fitzgerald Carolina RailHawks
France Romuald Peiser Ottawa Fury

Source: NASL

Hat-tricks

Awards

Monthly awards

Month NASL Player of the Month
Player Club Stats Ref
April United States Austin da Luz Carolina RailHawks 3G [15]

Weekly awards

Week NASL Player of the Week NASL Play of the Week
Player Club Player Club
Week 1 Venezuela Juan Arango New York Cosmos United States Christian Ramirez Minnesota United
Week 2 United States Austin da Luz Carolina RailHawks United States Ben Speas Minnesota United
Week 3 Libya Éamon Zayed Indy Eleven Libya Éamon Zayed Indy Eleven
Week 4 United States Christian Ramirez Minnesota United United States Christian Ramirez Minnesota United
Week 5 Venezuela Yohandry Orozco New York Cosmos Colombia Jair Reinoso Indy Eleven

References

  1. ↑ "Scorpions Soccer Club Thanks Fans for Supporting Soccer for a Cause". sascorpions.com. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "NASL Suspends Operation of Atlanta Silverbacks". nasl.com. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Puerto Rico Football Club Announces Head Coach And Technical Director". nasl.com. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Alessandro Nesta Becomes Miami FC's First Head Coach". nasl.com. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Paul Dalglish Appointed Ottawa Fury FC Head Coach". nasl.com. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "Legendary U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame Goalkeeper Tony Meola Hired as Armada FC Head Coach and Technical Director". Jacksonville Armada FC. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Tim Hankinson Takes Over Indy Eleven Head Coaching Position". nasl.com. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Caio Zanardi Appointed Strikers Head Coach". nasl.com. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Manny Lagos Becomes Minnesota's Sporting Director; Carl Craig Appointed Head Coach". nasl.com. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  10. ↑ "SCORPIONS PART WAYS WITH HEAD COACH ALEN MARCINA". sascorpions.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "NASL Releases Statement on San Antonio Scorpions". nasl.com. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Alen Marcina Named First Head Coach In Rayo OKC History". nasl.com. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "NASL Suspends Operation Of Atlanta Silverbacks". nasl.com. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  14. 1 2 "2016 NASL statistics". Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  15. ↑ "PLAYER OF THE MONTH RailHawks Midfielder Austin Da Luz". NASL. Retrieved 6 May 2016.

External links

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