2018 Fall UPSL season explained

Competition:	United Premier Soccer League
Season:	2018 Fall
Winners:	California United FC II
Prevseason:	2018 Spring
Nextseason:	2019 Spring

The 2018 Fall United Premier Soccer League season is the 11th season of the UPSL. Milwaukee Bavarian SC are the reigning champions. However, the Midwest Conference will not participate in the fall season, and the Bavarians will not be able to defend their title.

For the Fall 2018 season, UPSL had 89 teams compete in 13 Pro Premier Divisions divided into 5 conferences. An additional 29 teams competed in 3 Championships Divisions from 2 Conferences. The overall structure of the League by Conference and roughly from west to east is represented in the table below

Conference		Western					Mountain		Colorado		Central				Southeast
Pro Premier Divisions	SoCal North	SoCal South	Wild West North	Wild West South	Mountain	Colorado	North	Heart	South	Mid-Atlantic North	Mid-Atlantic South	Florida Central	Florida South
Championship Divisions	SoCal North	SoCal South	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Florida Central	n/a

 * Not participating

Pro Premier

Team changes

Joined Heart Division

• Austin Real Cuauhtemoc — joined from Texas Premier Soccer League^[1]
• FC Thunder Boerne — new senior team of youth club^[2]
• Coyotes FC — new club^[3]
• FC Knights — transferred from South Division
• FC Waco — new club^[4]
• Major Academy Competitive FC — new senior team of youth club^[5]
• Round Rock SC — transferred from South Division
• San Antonio Runners SC — new club^[6]

Joined North Division

• Dallas City FC — joined from National Premier Soccer League during offseason
• FC Denton — joined from North Texas Premier Soccer Association^[7]
• Irving City FC
• Terrell FC — joined from North Texas Premier Soccer Association^[8]

Left North Division

• OKC 1889 FC — on hiatus^[9]
• Texas Spurs

Joined South Division

• Armadillos FC — new senior team of youth club^[10]
• FC Imperial — new senior team of youth club^[11]
• Houston FC — joined from Premier Development League during offseason^[12]

Left South Division

• FC Knights — transferred to Heart Division
• Round Rock SC — transferred to Heart Division

Joined Colorado Conference

• Bright Stars of Colorado SC — promoted from Pro Premier

Left Colorado Conference

• Colorado Springs FC
• Denver Metro FC
• FC Boulder — expelled from league^[13]
• FC Greeley — expelled from league^[13]
• Northern Colorado FC

Joined Mountain ConferenceNoneLeft Mountain Conference

• Idaho Lobos FC
• Provo Premier
• Magic Valley FC

Joined Florida Central Division

• Huracan ECUSA FC^[14]
• The Institute FC — new club^[15]

Left Florida Central Division

• Clay County SC — on hiatus
• Golden Goal Sports SC — on hiatus
• Macca Ballers FC — on hiatus
• St. Petersburg FC Aztecs — on hiatus

Joined Florida South Division

• Gold Coast Inter AFC — joined from Beaches Adult Soccer League^[16]
• International Soccer Association — new senior team of youth club^[17]
• FSI Vultures FC — new club^[18]
• Palm Beach Spartans — joined from American Premier Soccer League^[19]
• Sharks FC — new senior team of youth club^[20]
• UD Miami FC — joined from American Premier Soccer League

Left Florida South Division

• Broncos United FC — on hiatus
• Hialeah City FC — on hiatus
• Miami Dade FC — on hiatus
• Pinecrest SC — on hiatus

Joined Mid-Atlantic North Division

• Catrachos De INCAEF — transferred from Northeast Conference American Division
• Germantown City FC — joined from local amateur play^[21]
• Northern Virginia FC — new club

Joined Mid-Atlantic South Division

• San Lee FC — new senior team of youth club^[22]
• Soda City FC — new club^[23]
• Union FC — new senior team of youth club^[24]

Left Mid-Atlantic Division

• Atlanta ASA FC
• Bragg FC
• Lowcountry United FC — on hiatus

Joined SoCal North Division

• Cal FC — returned from hiatus; last played 2016 Spring season^[25]
• FC Santa Clarita — formed from merger of Santa Clarita Storm and San Fernando Valley Scorpions
• Kern County Mustangs FC — promoted from Championship
• San Nicolas FC — promoted from Championship

Joined SoCal South Division

• Cuervos FC — joined from California Champions League
• Gremio FC San Diego — new club^[26]
• OC Real Force SC — promoted from Championship and rebranded from CF Cachorros USA
• Orange County FC 2 — returned from hiatus; last played 2017 Fall season
• San Diego Zest FC — returned from hiatus; last played 2017 Fall season

Left SoCal Division

• La Máquina FC
• L.A. Galaxy OC PSC
• Ontario Fury II
• San Fernando Valley Scorpions — merged with Santa Clarita Storm to form FC Santa Clarita^[27]
• Santa Clarita Storm — merged with San Fernando Valley Scorpions to form FC Santa Clarita^[27]

Joined Wild West North Division

• Azteca FC — returned from hiatus; last played 2017 Fall season
• Vacaville Elite — joined from LIGA NorCal^[28]

Left Wild West Division

• AFC San Francisco Hearts — on hiatus
• California Victory FC — on hiatus
• Southern Oregon Starphire FC — on hiatus
• Redding Royals FC — on hiatus
• Visalia Golden Bears

Rebranded

• Interunited Academy rebranded from Internacional USA
• Oakland Stompers rebranded from East Bay FC Tecos Fire

Competition format

Teams are divided into five conferences, some of which are further subdivided into divisions. Unless specified otherwise, all playoff matches are contested over a single leg, hosted by the team with the best points-per-game ratio. Extra time is not used in any round; matches drawn after 90 minutes advance directly to a penalty shootout.

• Central Conference: Teams are divided into Heart, North, and South divisions. Each division plays a double round robin for 14, 12, and 10 matches respectively. The top two teams from each division plus the two best third place teams by points-per-game qualify for the playoffs.
• Colorado Conference: Teams play a double round robin in a single division for eight matches. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
• Mountain Conference: Teams play a double round robin in a single division for four matches. The top two teams qualify for the playoffs.
• Southeast Conference: Teams are divided into Mid-Atlantic, Florida Central, and Florida South divisions. Each division determines its own champion. The champions of the Florida divisions then play, with the winner facing the champion of the Mid-Atlantic division to determine the conference champion.
  • Florida Central Division: Teams play a double round robin for 14 matches. The top seven teams qualify for the playoffs with the division leader receiving a bye to the divisional semifinals.
  • Florida South Division: Teams play a single round robin for 13 matches. The top eight teams qualify for the playoffs.
  • Mid-Atlantic Division: Teams are further divided into north and south sections. Each section plays a double round robin for eight and ten matches respectively. The top eight teams by points-per-game across both sections qualify for the playoffs.
• Western Conference: Teams are divided into SoCal and Wild West divisions. Each division determines its own champion with the two divisional champions then matched up to determine the conference champion.
  • SoCal Division: Teams are further divided into north and south sections. Each section plays a single round robin for eight matches. The top three teams in each section qualify for the playoffs, with the section leaders receiving byes to the divisional semifinals. The last placed team in each section is relegated to the Championship.
  • Wild West Division: Teams are further divided into north and south sections. Each section plays a double round robin for eight matches. The top two teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, with the top seed in each section hosting the second seed in the other section.
• National Playoffs: The champions of the Colorado and Mountain conferences play. The winner of that match then plays the champion of the Western conference while the champions of the Central and Southeast conferences play. The two winners then contest the national championship.

Standings

Heart Division

North Division

South Division

Colorado Conference

Mountain Conference

Florida Central Division

Florida South Division

Mid-Atlantic Division North

Mid-Atlantic Division South

SoCal Division North

SoCal Division South

Wild West Division North

Wild West Division South

Playoffs

Mountain Conference playoffs

The match originally ended 5-1 in favor of San Juan FC, but they were subsequently ruled to have fielded an ineligible player. Boise Cutthroats FC was advanced to the next round.

National playoffs

Championship

Southeast Conference

Florida Central Division

The following 7 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season

• CD Miguelense
• Independiente FC
• Instituto Atletico FC II
• Millos United FC
  • Nationwide FC The A Team
• Valencia College FC

Standings

Western Conference

SoCal Division

SoCal North Division

The following 4 northern SoCal Championship clubs left the division before the season

• Kern County Mustangs FC — promoted to Pro Premier
• San Nicolas FC — promoted to Pro Premier
• USA/MEX SoCal
• USA Soccer Stars FC

The following 5 clubs joined the division before the season

• CD Independiente
• San Fernando Valley FC — returned from hiatus; last played 2017 Fall season
• Sporting San Fernando II — new reserve team of Pro Premier club
• Warriors FC — new club^[29]
• Xolos Academy L.A.

The following club rebranded before the season

• LA 10 FC — rebranded from L.A. Roma FC

=Standings

=

SoCal South Division

The following 3 southern SoCal Championship clubs left the division before the season

• CF Cachorros USA — promoted to Pro Premier
• L.A. Galaxy OC PSC II
• La Habra City FC

The following 2 clubs joined the division before the season

• California Rush SC — new senior team of youth club^[30]
• City Legends FC — new club^[31]

The following club rebranded before the season

• Santa Ana Winds FC II — rebranded from MX Dream SC

=Standings

=

Playoffs

Notes and References

1. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Austin Real Cuauhtemoc FC as Central Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911153138/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/07/30/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-austin-real-cuauhtemoc-fc-as-central-expansion-team . 2020-09-11. live. United Premier Soccer League. July 27, 2018. July 30, 2018.
2. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Texas Expansion Club FC Thunder. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911144441/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/05/30/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-texas-expansion-club-fc-thunder . 2020-09-11. live. United Premier Soccer League. September 21, 2018. October 23, 2018.
3. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Coyotes FC as Central Conference Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911143424/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/09/21/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-coyotes-fc-as-central-conference-expansion-team . 2020-09-11. live. United Premier Soccer League. July 12, 2018. July 12, 2018.
4. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces FC Waco as Central Conference Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20180930060302/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/07/12/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-fc-waco-as-central-conference-expansion-team . 2018-09-30. live. United Premier Soccer League. July 12, 2018. July 12, 2018.
5. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces MAC Futbol Club as UPSL Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911141750/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/07/06/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-mac-futbol-club-as-upsl-central-conference-expansion-team . 2020-09-11. live. United Premier Soccer League. July 6, 2018. July 6, 2018.
6. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces New Texas Expansion Club San Antonio Runners SC. https://web.archive.org/web/20180821142630/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/07/31/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-new-texas-expansion-club-san-antonio-runners-sc . 2018-08-21. live. United Premier Soccer League. July 31, 2018. July 31, 2018.
7. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces FC Denton as New Texas Conference Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911002610/https://etradewire.com/news/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-fc-denton-as-new-texas-conference-expansion-team . 2020-09-11. live. United Premier Soccer League. February 10, 2018. May 2, 2018.
8. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Texas Expansion with Terrell Futbol Club. https://web.archive.org/web/20180628162029/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/06/13/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-texas-expansion-with-terrell-futbol-club . 2018-06-28. live. United Premier Soccer League. June 13, 2018. June 13, 2018.
9. 1025401262538477569. UPSLCentral. @APyramid_Blog @SambaFCSA @UPSLsoccer.... 3 August 2018.
10. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces New Texas Expansion Club Armadillos FC. https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001206/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/06/03/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-new-texas-expansion-club-armadillos-fc . 2018-06-20. live. United Premier Soccer League. June 4, 2018. June 6, 2018.
11. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Texas FC Imperial as New Central Conference Expansion. https://web.archive.org/web/20180627035828/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/05/14/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-fc-imperial-as-new-central-conference-expansion-team . 2018-06-27. live. United Premier Soccer League. May 14, 2018. May 15, 2018.
12. Web site: UPSL Announces Houston FC as Central Conference Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911133059/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/08/24/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-houston-fc-as-central-conference-expansion-team . 2020-09-11. live. United Premier Soccer League. August 24, 2018. August 30, 2018.
13. Web site: UPSL and FC Greeley soccer program in dispute after membership termination. https://web.archive.org/web/20180823110710/https://www.greeleytribune.com/sports/upsl-and-fc-greeley-soccer-program-in-dispute-after-membership-termination/ . 2018-08-23. live. Fernandez. Bobby. Greeley Tribune. August 22, 2018. October 23, 2018.
14. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Welcomes Huracan ECUSA FC as Central Florida Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20190202062513/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/09/08/united-premier-soccer-league-welcomes-huracan-ecusa-fc-as-central-florida-expansion-team . 2019-02-02. live. United Premier Soccer League. September 8, 2018. October 23, 2018.
15. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces IdeaSports The Institute FC as Florida Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20180605151207/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/05/24/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-ideasports-the-institute-fc-as-florida-expansion-team . 2018-06-05. live. United Premier Soccer League. May 24, 2018. May 25, 2018.
16. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Floridas Fan-Owned Gold Coast Inter AFC as Expansion Club. https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185632/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/06/18/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-floridas-fan-owned-gold-coast-inter-afc-as-expansion-club . 2018-06-25. live. United Premier Soccer League. June 18, 2018. June 19, 2018.
17. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Welcomes Inter Soccer Association as South Florida Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911153233/https://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/09/07/united-premier-soccer-league-welcomes-inter-soccer-association-as-south-florida-expansion-team . 2020-09-11. live. United Premier Soccer League. September 7, 2018. October 23, 2018.
18. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces South Floridas FSI Vultures FC as New Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20190628014009/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/09/05/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-south-floridas-fsi-vultures-fc-as-new-expansion-team . 2019-06-28. live. United Premier Soccer League. September 5, 2018. October 23, 2018.
19. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Palm Beach Spartans FC as South Florida Expansion Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911154942/https://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/09/14/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-palm-beach-spartans-fc-as-south-florida-expansion-team . 2020-09-11. live. United Premier Soccer League. September 14, 2018. October 23, 2018.
20. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Welcomes Sharks FC as Southeast Conference Expansion Team . https://web.archive.org/web/20200911145429/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/09/04/united-premier-soccer-league-welcomes-sharks-fc-as-southeast-conference-expansion-team . September 11, 2020 . live . United Premier Soccer League . September 4, 2018 . September 4, 2018.
21. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Germantown City FC as Northeast Conference Expansion Team . https://web.archive.org/web/20180909152707/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/07/19/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-germantown-city-fc-as-northeast-conference-expansion-team . 2018-09-09. live . United Premier Soccer League . July 18, 2018 . July 19, 2018.
22. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces North Carolina-Based San Lee FC as Expansion Team . https://web.archive.org/web/20180501192001/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/04/27/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-north-carolina-based-san-lee-fc-as-expansion-team . 2018-05-01. live . United Premier Soccer League . April 27, 2018 . April 27, 2018.
23. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces South Carolina-Based Soda City FC as New Expansion Club . https://web.archive.org/web/20180628172305/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/04/19/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-south-carolina-based-soda-city-fc-as-new-expansion-club . 2018-06-28. live . United Premier Soccer League . April 20, 2018 . April 20, 2018.
24. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Union Futbol Club as Southeast Conference Expansion Team . https://web.archive.org/web/20190102145017/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/08/17/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-union-futbol-club-as-southeast-conference-expansion-team . 2019-01-02. live . United Premier Soccer League . August 17, 2018 . August 17, 2018.
25. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Cal FC as UPSL Western Conference Expansion Team . https://web.archive.org/web/20180707013706/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/06/27/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-cal-fc-as-upsl-western-conference-expansion-team . 2018-07-07. live . United Premier Soccer League . June 27, 2018 . June 27, 2018.
26. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Gremio FC San Diego as Western Conference Expansion Club . https://web.archive.org/web/20180830201037/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/05/22/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-gremio-fc-san-diego-as-western-conference-expansion-club . 2018-08-30. live . United Premier Soccer League . May 22, 2018 . August 30, 2018.
27. Web site: Santa Clarita Storm & San Fernando Valley Scorpions Unite. Futbol Club Santa Clarita. July 24, 2018 . October 23, 2018.
28. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Vacaville Elite SC as Western Conference Expansion Team . https://web.archive.org/web/20200911141916/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/08/09/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-vacaville-elite-sc-as-western-conference-expansion-team . 2020-09-11. live . United Premier Soccer League . August 9, 2018 . August 9, 2018.
29. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces Warriors FC as Western Conference Expansion Team . https://web.archive.org/web/20200911142721/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/07/17/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-warriors-fc-as-western-conference-expansion-team . 2020-09-11. live . United Premier Soccer League . July 16, 2018 . July 17, 2018.
30. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces California Rush SC as Western Conference Expansion Team . https://web.archive.org/web/20180821120347/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/08/02/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-california-rush-sc-as-western-conference-expansion-team . 2018-08-21. live . United Premier Soccer League . August 2, 2018 . August 3, 2018.
31. Web site: United Premier Soccer League Announces City Legends FC as Western Conference Expansion Team . https://web.archive.org/web/20180422192626/http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/2018/04/11/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-city-legends-fc-as-upsl-championship-expansion-team- . 2018-04-22. live . United Premier Soccer League . April 11, 2018 . April 11, 2018.