2014 North American Soccer League season explained

Competition:North American Soccer League
Season:2014
Shieldtitle:North American Supporters' Trophy
Matches:135
Total Goals:374
League Topscorer:Christian Ramirez (20)
Biggest Home Win:SAN 7 vs TB 0
(10/11)
Biggest Away Win:NYC 3 @ TB 0
(5/17)
NYC 3 @ FTL 0
(5/31)
Highest Scoring:CAR 5 vs NYC 4
(9/20)
Longest Wins:MIN (4 games)
(4/12 – 5/3)
(9/13-10/4)
Longest Unbeaten:SAN (9 games)
(5/10 – 7/26)
Longest Winless:IND (9 games)
(4/12 – 6/7)
Longest Losses:ATL (6 games)
(9/6 – 10/4)
Highest Attendance:34,047
OTT @ MIN
(8/2)
Lowest Attendance:2,158
CAR @ OTT
(4/26)
Attendance:742,695
(Spring & Fall)
Average Attendance:5,501
Prevseason:2013
Nextseason:2015

The 2014 North American Soccer League season was the 47th season of Division II soccer in the United States and the fourth season of the revived North American Soccer League. It was contested by ten teams including two from Canada. Joining the NASL in the Spring of 2014 were two new franchises, Indy Eleven and Ottawa Fury FC; originally Virginia Cavalry FC were to begin play this season but now plan to join in the 2016 season.[1] The defending Soccer Bowl champions are the New York Cosmos, while the Carolina Railhawks are the defending North American Supporters' Trophy winners. A split season format was used again for the 2014 season.[2]

Teams, stadiums, and personnel

Stadiums and locations

See main article: List of NASL stadiums.

Personnel and sponsorship

TeamHead coachCaptainKit producerShirt sponsor
Atlanta Silverbacks Jason Smith Mike RandolphNikePeople HRO
Carolina RailHawks Colin Clarke Kupono LowAdidasBlue Cross Blue Shield of NC
FC Edmonton Colin Miller Albert WatsonAdidasThe Fath Group
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Günter Kronsteiner Iván GuerreroAcerbis
Indy Eleven Juergen Sommer Kristian NichtDiadoraHonda
Minnesota United FC Manny Lagos Aaron PitchkolanAdmiralAtomic Data / Mall of America
New York Cosmos Giovanni Savarese Carlos MendesNikeEmirates
Ottawa Fury FC Marc Dos Santos Richie RyanAdmiralHeart and Crown[3]
San Antonio Scorpions Alen Marcina Adrian CannNikeToyota
Tampa Bay Rowdies Ricky Hill Frankie SanfilippoAdmiralHard Rock

Player transfers

See main article: List of North American Soccer League transfers 2014.

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Atlanta Silverbacks Brian HaynesContract not renewed9 December 2013[4] Pre-Season 7 January 2014[5]
Atlanta Silverbacks Voluntary move to team technical director17 July 2014[6] 8th Jason Smith18 July 2014[7]
Atlanta Silverbacks Jason SmithFired5 October 2014[8] 10th Alejandro Pombo – Interim Head Coach5 October 2014
San Antonio Scorpions End of interim period22 November 2013Pre-Season 22 November 2013[9]
Indy ElevenExpansion team 11 June 2013[10]
Ottawa Fury FCExpansion team 23 May 2013[11]

Spring season

The Spring season lasted for 9 games beginning on April 12 and ending on June 8. The schedule featured a single round robin format with each team playing every other team in the league a single time.[12] Half the teams will host 5 home games and play 4 road games whereas the other half of the teams will play 4 home games and 5 road games. The winner of the Spring season earns one of four berths in the playoffs, now known as The Championship.[13]

Standings

Results

Fall season

The Fall season will begin following a break for the 2014 FIFA World Cup on July 19 and ending on November 2, with each team playing the others twice, once home and once away. The winner of the Fall season will earn automatic berth in The Championship.[13]

Standings

Results

Playoffs

The playoffs were 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 top two seeds, with the higher seed going to the team with the better full-season record. The two next-best teams earned the third and fourth seeds. The semifinals took place on November 8 and 9, with the #1 seed hosting the #4 seed and #2 hosting #3. The winners met in Soccer Bowl 2014 on November 15, hosted by the team with the higher seed.[14]

Combined standings

The Championship

Participants

Soccer Bowl 2014

Attendance

SeasonSpring Season Weekly Averages
width=45ATLwidth=45CARwidth=45EDMwidth=45FTLwidth=45INDwidth=45MNwidth=45NYwidth=45OTTwidth=45SAwidth=45TBwidth=75League avg.
Week 1---3,10511,048-7,906-7,3817,0037,289
Week 25,0004,0074,399-10,421--3,457--5,457
Week 3---3,515-5,2874,1302,158-4,6703,952
Week 43,9224,0663,276--4,913--5,595-4,354
Week 5---3,10910,285-3,0912,1645,834-4,897
Week 6-5,527--10,2855,325--7,0874,8556,616
Week 7--2,961--6,78435812,432-4,3314,018
Week 85,0007,856-5,57210,285--3,207--6,384
Week 95,000-3,641---6,495-6,4844,1325,150
Spring Total18,92221,45614,27715,31052,32422,30921,62213,41832,38124,991237,010
Spring Avg4,7305,3643,5693,82510,4655,1574,3232,6846,4764,9985,267
Bold denotes league's highest attendance for the week[15]
SeasonFall Season Weekly Averages
width=45ATLwidth=45CARwidth=45EDMwidth=45FTLwidth=45INDwidth=45MNwidth=45NYwidth=45OTTwidth=45SAwidth=45TBwidth=75League avg.
Week 1-3,0803,6093,092--3,806--3,8963,497
Week 23,011---10,5557,287-14,5936,958-8,481
Week 34,810-3,1523,257----7,8844,8684,711
Week 4-4,2942,8492,64810,28534,0474,649---10,896
Week 53,842---10,2855,1124,5244,814--5,652
Week 6-3,140---5,420-4,2777,8474,2734,209
Week 7-4,666-2,409-----4,2125,454
Week 8--3,111-10,285-3,9284,2065,734-4,755
Week 95,0003,1062,7963,00610,6597,024-5,269--5,303
Week 10-----6,2023,626-5,5944,3405,761
Week 113,0713,193----4,502---4,896
Week 123,0625,5934,3923,112---5,0948,3134,3135,568
Week 13--3,8303,05210,2855,744-3,105-3,8654,734
Week 14------6,225-5,963-5,009
Week 152,905-2,903-10,285-4,411-5,6832,5655,090
Week 163,0614,179-5,75610,9825,817-3,935--5,989
Week 175,000--5,756 -6,4548,5654,172--5,989
Week 18-6,4603,0355,505----8,2056,3775,914
Fall Total33,76237,62129,67737,59394,18883,10744,23644,65162,18138,669505,685
Fall Avg3,7514,1803,2974,17710,4659,2344,9154,9616,909 4,3005,619
Bold denotes league's highest attendance for the week

Statistical leaders

Top scorers

RankPlayerNationClubGoals
1Christian RamirezMinnesota United20
2Fafà PicaultFort Lauderdale Strikers12
3Jaime ChavezAtlanta Silverbacks9
Georgi HristovTampa Bay Rowdies9
Daniel MendesMinnesota United9
Zack SchilawskiCarolina RailHawks9
7Miguel IbarraMinnesota United8
KlébersonIndy Eleven8
9Rafael Castillo ColombiaSan Antonio Scorpions7
Lance Laing JamaicaEdmonton7
Oliver BrazilOttawa Fury7
Junior SandovalAtlanta Silverbacks7
Mads Stokkelien NorwayNew York Cosmos7

Source:[16]

Top assists

RankPlayerNationClubAssists
1Billy ForbesSan Antonio Scorpions7
2Lance Laing JamaicaFC Edmonton6
3Shawn ChinFort Lauderdale Strikers5
Miguel IbarraMinnesota United5
Christian RamirezMinnesota United5
Kevin VenegasMinnesota United5
714 players4

Source:[16]

Individual awards

Monthly awards

MonthNASL Player of the Month
PlayerNationClubLink
AprilZack SchilawskiCarolina RailHawks3G
May/JuneChristian RamirezMinnesota United FC3G 3A
JulyRafael Castillo ColombiaSan Antonio Scorpions3G
AugustChristian RamirezMinnesota United FC6G 1A
SeptemberMiguel IbarraMinnesota United FC4G 1A
October/NovemberChristian RamirezMinnesota United FC4G

League awards

NASL Best XI[25]
PositionPlayersTeam
Goalkeeper Jimmy MaurerNew York Cosmos
Defense Tiago CalvanoMinnesota United FC
Defense Justin DavisMinnesota United FC
Defense Darnell KingFort Lauderdale Strikers
Defense Carlos MendesNew York Cosmos
Midfield Miguel IbarraMinnesota United FC
Midfield Rafael CastilloSan Antonio Scorpions
Midfield Lance LaingFC Edmonton
Midfield Walter RestrepoSan Antonio Scorpions
Forward Fafà PicaultFort Lauderdale Strikers
Forward Christian RamirezMinnesota United FC

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia Cavalry FC To Begin Play In 2015. December 14, 2013.
  2. Web site: NASL 2014 Season Format Announced. July 26, 2013.
  3. OSEG Communications Heart and Crown Partners with OSEG and Fury FC", Ottawa Fury FC, Ottawa, 11 April 2014. Retrieved on 11 April 2014.
  4. Web site: Club Declines Contract Extension on Haynes . 2014-01-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140118141639/http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/fc/news/item/club-declines-contract-extension-on-haynes . 2014-01-18 . dead .
  5. Web site: Club Eliminates Coaching Position, Wynalda To Manage From Technical Director Role . 2014-01-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140107185743/http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/fc/news/item/wynalda-to-manage-from-technical-director-role . 2014-01-07 . dead .
  6. http://ajc.com/news/sports/pro-sports/wynalda-calls-silverbacks-decision-very-difficult/nghZt/ Wynalda calls Silverbacks decision very difficult
  7. Web site: Smith named head coach . 2014-08-17 . 2014-08-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140819130202/http://www.atlantasilverbacksfc.com/news/detail/uuid/1ujm954ii9pvo1q1mnam5wtlkc/smith-named-head-coach-wynalda-remains-technical-director#.U_EnkMVdWM5 . dead .
  8. Web site: Jason Smith relieved of head coaching duties . 2014-10-17 . 2014-10-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141009084634/http://www.atlantasilverbacksfc.com/news/detail/uuid/350fzym73bcn15fd4inc74es7/jason-smith-relieved-of-head-coaching-duties#.VEB9cPldWjU . dead .
  9. Web site: Alen Marcina Named Scorpions Head Coach. North American Soccer League. 22 November 2013.
  10. Web site: Juergen Sommer to Lead Indy Eleven as Head Coach . indyeleven.com . June 11, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131213091555/http://indyeleven.com/juergen-sommer-to-lead-indy-eleven-as-head-coach/ . 2013-12-13 . dead .
  11. Web site: Ottawa Fury to name Canadian Marc Dos Santos as head coach – reports . Canadian Soccer News . May 23, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131213002449/http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?4571-ottawa-fury-to-name-canadian-marc-dos-santos-as-head-coach-reports . December 13, 2013 . dead .
  12. http://nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=6054 Soccer Bowl Rematch Highlights 2014 NASL Season Openers
  13. Web site: Oops! Sorry, Something Went Wrong Nasl.
  14. Web site: NASL Clubs To Compete For 'The Championship'. February 27, 2014 . February 27, 2014.
  15. Web site: Schedule NASL.
  16. Web site: NASL Individual Leaders . November 4, 2014 .
  17. Web site: Minnesota United's Migual Ibarra Honored With The 2014 Golden Ball Award. North American Soccer League. November 14, 2014. November 14, 2014.
  18. Web site: Minnesota Uniteds Christian Ramirez Wins 2014 Golden Boot Award. North American Soccer League. November 10, 2014. November 10, 2015.
  19. Web site: FC Edmonton Goalkeeper John Smits Claims 2014 Golden Glove Award. North American Soccer League. November 13, 2014. November 13, 2014.
  20. Web site: Minnesota United's Manny Lagos Named 2014 Coach of the Year. North American Soccer League. November 14, 2014. November 14, 2014.
  21. Web site: Fans vote Christian Ramirez's Bicycle Kick as NASL Goal of the Year. North American Soccer League. November 10, 2014. November 13, 2014.
  22. Web site: Forward Christian Ramirez Named Young Player of the Year. North American Soccer League. November 12, 2014. November 13, 2014.
  23. Web site: Striker's Chris Nurse Named 2014 Humanitarian of the Year. North American Soccer League. November 12, 2014. January 2, 2015.
  24. Web site: Rowdies Win Fair Play Award. North American Soccer League. November 11, 2014. January 2, 2015.
  25. Web site: NASL Names 2014 Best XI. North American Soccer League. 13 November 2014. 13 November 2014.

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