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Tag Archives: NPSL

Danza Turns Pro in the PASL

Former Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves and Liverpool Warriors player Josh Danza has signed with the Tulsa Revolution of the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL).

Photo Credit: Tulsa Revolution

“Danza has the potential to be the biggest locker room presence on the team,” said Revolution head coach Michael Nsien. “Not to take away from his knowledge and skill base because he has that going for him as well. However, his intangibles are second to none. His approach to training and passion for the game has been contagious.”

Danza, a Baltimore native, was a standout for Towson University.  He is known for his versatility, being able to play almost any position on the field.

His biggest moment was playing with the Puerto Rico Men’s National Team in 2012.  His professional experience also includes time with the Ohio Vortex, where he played and worked in the team’s front office.

Danza has been the recipient of many awards, including being named to the U.S. Soccer Report’s PDL/NPSL Best XI along with being named an NPSL All-Star.

Off the field he serves as Director of Operations for True Student Athletes, an organization that assists student-athletes as they prepare for their collegiate experience.

Lansing, MI Joins the NPSL

Two more new teams expected in the next two days

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that Lansing, Michigan will field an expansion team in the Great Lakes Conference in 2014.

“As the sport of soccer continues to grow in the Midwest; the Great Lakes Conference in our Midwest Region continues to expand with the addition of Lansing,” NPSL Commissioner Michael Hitchcock stated.  “The NPSL is proud to welcome a quality ownership group who will successfully engage the local community as they launch the club for the 2014 NPSL season.  Lansing will be a great addition to an impressive conference.”

The Great Lakes Conference already includes AFC Cleveland, Zanesville Athletic, Cincinnati Saints, Detroit City FC, FC Sparta Michigan, Erie Admirals, and FC Buffalo.

The Lansing team is led by owner Jeremy Sampson. He is a former sports reporter for WLNS-TV and weekend sports anchor for WILX-TV. Sampson also brings experience from the Michigan State Athletic Department.

The head coach, who will also serve as the player personnel director, will be announced at a later date.

“We want to build on the success of what the NPSL has accomplished over the years,” Sampson commented. “The sport of soccer continues to grow in Mid-Michigan and we believe that the people of this community will band together to support their team.”

The soccer community has a unique opportunity to support this new team in a big way.

Beginning today and running through October 10th, fans will be able to submit their own team name. They can do so in several different ways:

  • By visiting  the team website at www.soccerinlansing.com
  • By visiting the team on their Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/soccerinlansing
  • By visiting the team’s Twitter page @soccerinlansing

Those that submit a team name and leave an email address will be invited to the logo and team name launch party.  The overall winner will receive 2 tickets to each home game for the 2014 season. They will also receive an autographed jersey and ball, signed by all the members of the inaugural 2014 squad.

“We are excited to be apart of the fastest growing soccer league in the country,” Sampson added.  “The NPSL has a tremendous track record of growing the game of soccer in the United States and we are honored to be a part of that tradition.”

The Lansing team has already done their part in growing the game.  They have formed a partnership with Michigan’s Capital Area Soccer League (CASL), an organization that serves 23 local communities with youth soccer programs. The goal is to have these communities come together to support the team in Lansing.

The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The NPSL is the fastest-growing national soccer league in the U.S., operating in 60+ markets across the country.  Two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, operate U-23 squads in the NPSL.

Flower Mound FC Joins the NPSL

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that Flower Mound FC has joined the league as an expansion team. FMFC will begin play in the South Central Conference in 2014.

The South Central already includes Houston Hurricanes FC, Houston Regals SCA, Liverpool Warriors, and Tulsa Athletics.

“The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is a soccer hotbed that is developing incredible players,” NPSL Commissioner Michael Hitchcock commented. “We are excited to welcome Flower Mound FC to the NPSL. Flower Mound FC joins Liverpool Warriors as our 2nd DFW area club in the South Central Conference of the NPSL. Flower Mound FC brings tremendous international soccer management experience to their community-based club and will be a great addition to the NPSL family.”

FMFC are led by Owner Jacob Tuygun and Rahim Zafer, General Manager Filiberto Gil, Marketing Director Nicolas Ayala, and Secretary Susana Velasqouez.

“We would like to generate awareness and make some noise about Flower Mound FC to engage our DFW community and share our FMFC vision with them,” Tuygun stated. “We want to provide the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex soccer players an opportunity to compete at the next level with FMFC under KLA Sports and Media Group.”

Founded in 2005, KLA Sports and Media Group brings years of experience in sports management, including FIFA Match Agent services, player representation, media broadcasting, event management, and venue design. KLA’s mission is to provide opportunities for soccer players to maximize their potential locally and internationally as players and individuals.

“I have personally witnessed years of fantastic soccer fan support around the DFW Metroplex,” Tuygun added. “Bringing another NPSL team to the DFW community will help sustain the game by establishing a rivalry between local teams thus increasing the fan experience and for someDFW fans a club to call their own.”

Flower Mound FC will scout local high schools, leagues, and associations for players that are ready to compete at the next level. The club is excited to welcome all talented players around the DFW area to come tryout for FMFC.

The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The NPSL operates in 60+ markets from across the country and is currently one of the fastest-growing soccer leagues in the U.S. Two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, operate U-23 squads in the NPSL.

Cincinnati Joins the NPSL

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that the Cincinnati Saints have joined the league as an expansion team. The Saints will begin play in the Great Lakes Conference in 2014.

The Great Lakes Conference already includes AFC Cleveland, Zanesville Athletic, Detroit City FC, FC Sparta Michigan, Erie Admirals, and FC Buffalo.

“Part of the NPSL expansion strategy is to strengthen existing conferences and regions with the right owners in the right markets,” NPSL Commissioner Michael Hitchcock said. “The Cincy Saints have a great ownership group in a terrific market and will be a great new member in our Great Lakes Conference in the Midwest Region where we have a strong foundation of teams. We would like to welcome Cincinnati to the NPSL family.”

The Cincinnati Saints Soccer Club was founded in 2009. The club consists of men’s and women’s semi-professional teams. The men’s team is referred to as the Cincy Saints, while the women’s team is called the Lady Saints. The Cincy Saints currently play year-round participating in the Premier Arena Soccer League and the Midwest Soccer League with the Lady Saints playing in the WLS (Womens League Soccer).The Cincinnati Saints Soccer Club has developed partnerships with three local soccer clubs: Northern Kentucky Soccer Academy, Star Soccer Club, and Thunder United FC. These partnerships bring 1,600 players under the Cincinnati Saints youth development umbrella.

The Saints are led by Owner David Satterwhite, General Manager Mackenzie Long, and Head Coach Gavin MacLeod.

“Our club is extremely excited to be taking this next step in our mission to bring professional soccer to Cincinnati,” Satterwhite stated. “We have spent the last four years building our infrastructure to make this jump to the NPSL. We are also very excited to play in a competitive and enthusiastic conference like the Great Lakes.”

They will play at Withrow High School, an 8,000 seat stadium that was renovated with a FieldTurf surface in 2007.

“This is an important step for Cincinnati’s talented, dedicated, and growing soccer community,” Long commented. “Joining the NPSL creates an expectation of excellence not only for the level of competition, but for our quality of players, coaches, fans, front office, youth development programs, and community involvement.”

The Cincinnati Saints are the second expansion team to be announced for the 2014 season, joining Virginia Legacy as new teams in the NPSL.

“We are not coming into the NPSL just to make up the numbers,” MacLeod concluded. “We are coming to win from day one and I know we have enough talent in Cincinnati and the surrounding area to make this a realistic goal. My challenge to elite players is to stop talking the talk and start to walk the walk. If you believe you have what it takes to play at this level then come out, prove it, and represent your city as we look to showcase the best of Cincinnati soccer.”

The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The NPSL operates in 60+ markets from across the country and is cur rently one of the fastest-growing soccer leagues in the U.S. Two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, operate U-23 squads in the NPSL.

One More in Richmond

The NPSL Championship game will be played Sunday, August 4th at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT in Richmond, VA. The match will be played at Sports Backers Stadium, the home of VCU soccer.  The match will feature RVA FC taking on the visiting Sonoma County Sol.

RVA won the right to host by defeating the Erie Admirals 4-0 in the first National Semifinal match Saturday night. It was a dominant and comprehensive win for the expansion side as they took down one of the league’s perennial contenders.

The first half had the home side pushing Erie’s defense to the max.  Somehow Erie and RVA went into the locker room scoreless at the half.

But the second half was a different story as RVA’s attack started clicking on all cylinders.  A brace from Kharlton Belmar led the way as Josh Grant and Gene Daniels each contributed goals of their own.

“The squad stuck together,” RVA defender Nick Rich stated. “It’s just everyone in the background staff, everyone putting in the hours when we come to game day. Without that, we wouldn’t have any of this now, the success we’re having. A lot of the credit has to go there.”

The Sol snuck past defending national champions FC LVU Sonic 3-2 in Saturday’s second National Semifinal match.  It took an 89th minute goal from Taylor Varnadore to to send Sonoma County to the finals.

“This is exactly where we want to and expected to be,” Varnadore commented. “We have played this way all year long and are continuing to come up with the right solutions to each game.”

Sonic, led by 2012 NPSL Goalkeeper of the Year Charlie Sales and playmaker Matt Baker, put up quite a fight.

Now the attention turns to the National Championship match in Richmond. It looks to be an exciting matchup with both sides playing attractive, attacking soccer.