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Miami Fusion at Chattanooga FC

2015 NPSL Combine Recap

First-Year Club Lansing United Advance To Final Four

A summer season began with 77 clubs now has four region champions: Chattanooga FC, Lansing United, New York Red Bulls U23 and Sonoma County Sol all advanced to the NPSL Final Four to be played on July 26-27 at a site TBA.

In the Midwest Region, two newcomers squared off in Michigan for the championship. Lansing United (10-4-2) defeated Fort Pitt Regiment 2-1 to advance in the clubs first season. The Great Lakes Conference winner, Lansing scored the game winner in extra time when long-time Michigan standout player Gabe Mateo found the back of the net in the 111'.

Mateo was one of the top scorers in the United States his final season of 2010-11 at The Potter's House School in Wyoming, Mich. scoring 50 goals and 23 assists. Now the 21-year old striker will have an opportunity to help Lansing win a national championship.

Sacramento Gold are the only club remaining with an NPSL championship. The 2010 winners will try to become the first NPSL repeat winner in the leagues 12-year history.

Midwest Region

Lansing United FC 2, Fort Pitt Regiment 1

Northeast Region

New York Red Bulls U23 1, Greater Binghamton FC 0

South Region

Chattanooga FC 2, Tulsa Revolution 0

West Region

 Sacramento Gold 2, Sonoma County Sol 0

2014 NPSL Playoffs Info

Northeast Region

Saturday, July 12

• Greater Birmingham FC vs Virginia Beach City FC
• Brooklyn Italians vs FC LVU Sonic

Wednesday, July 16

• D.C. United U23 vs GBFC/VBCFC winner
• New York Red Bulls U23 vs Brooklyn/FC LVU winner

Saturday, July 19

• Region Championship

South Central Region

Saturday, July 12

• FC Corinthians San Antonio vs Oklahoma City FC
• Tulsa Athletics vs Dallas City FC

Saturday, July 13

• Region Championship

Southeast Region

Friday, July 11

• Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves (1) vs New Orleans Jesters (4)
• Chattanooga FC (6) vs Nashville FC (1)

Saturday, July 19

• Region Championship- Chattanooga FC vs New Orleans Jesters

West Region

Saturday, July 12

• Sacramento Gold vs Force FC

Sunday, July 13

• Spartans FC vs Sonoma County Sol

Chattanooga FC Host Atlanta In U.S. Open Cup

NPSL Additions Offer Cup, Derby Opportunities

The aggressive expansion of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) over the past couple years has created opportunities around the country for true derby matches and regional cup competitions. A potential evolving partnership with the North American Soccer League (NASL) has already seen two reserves sides join the NPSL. Atlanta Silverbacks and Minnesota United FC have recently been announced as competitors for the 2014 season.

Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United FC Reserves have declared they will compete at the new club training grounds at Bielenberg Sports Complex in Woodbury. With existing NPSL clubs in Brooklyn Park (Minnesota TwinStars FC) and Eau Claire Aris FC just across the state border, there are now three clubs within 104 miles (see map) of each other.

The three Twin Cities-area clubs are part of the NPSL Central Conference, which includes Madison 56ers SC, Milwaukee Bavarian SC (NPSL), Quad City Eagles FC and expansion-side FC Bordo St. Louis. It is one of many regional conferences around a four-region national league. Each regular season is followed by region playoffs and a national championship between four region champions. In 2013, RVA Football Club were the national champion capping an undefeated 10-2-0 season.

A Minnesota TwinStars FC-Minnesota United FC Reserves matchup creates a Twin Cities Derby, with the west metro TwinStars FC presently calling the Prairie Seeds Academy pitch home. Woodbury-based United FC Reserves will also have a short 79-mile distance to travel as Eau Claire Aris FC compete at Bollinger Fields on the campus of UW-Eau Claire.

This “triangle” of clubs could possible create an opportunity for a cup competition, similar to the Cascadia Cup between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver of MLS. Currently there is one cup-style competition, the Rust Belt Derby, between NPSL clubs AFC Cleveland, Detroit City FC and FC Buffalo.

My idea? I-94 Cup  With all three teams located along the I-94 highway this competition could help build a rivalry, potential media and fan interest.

Have an idea for the competition name? Post it in the comments section here or go to the NPSL Google+ Page to discuss!

I-94 NPSL clubs - View Larger Map

NOTE: originally published at http://minnesotakicks.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/npsl-additions-offer-cupderby-opportunities/

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