The 2008 National Premier Soccer League season was the 6th season of the NPSL. The season started in May, 2008, and ended with the NPSL Championship Game on August 3, 2008.
Pennsylvania Stoners finished the season as national champions, beating St. Paul Twin Stars in the NPSL Championship game in Uniondale, New York on 3 August 2008.
Pennsylvania Stoners forward Tom Ehrlich was named the National Premier Soccer League's Player of the Year. Tom Ehrlich was also the league's top scorer, with 11 goals.
Changes From 2007
New Franchises Twelve franchises joined the league this year, all expansion franchises: Team name Metro area Location Previous affiliation Alabama Spirit Birmingham area Birmingham, AL expansion - Provisional member Arizona Sahuaros Phoenix area Phoenix, AZ returned to league after several years in USASA Atlanta FC Greater Atlanta area Sandy Springs, GA expansion Lancaster Inferno Lancaster area Salunga-Landisville, PA expansion Maine Sting State of Maine Bangor, ME expansion Maryland United Harford County area Bel Air, MD expansion Morris County Colonials Morris County area Morristown, NJ expansion New York Athletic Club Wetschester County area Pelham, NY expansion Pennsylvania Stoners Lehigh Valley area Allentown, PA expansion Performance FC Phoenix Greenville area Greenville, SC expansion Rocket City United Huntsville area Huntsville, AL expansion San Diego United Greater San Diego area El Cajon, CA expansion
Name Changes Rockford Raptors changed its name to Chicago Fire NPSL (the actual organization did not change its name, just its NPSL competitive arm) Maryland United changed its name to Charm City FC mid-season
Folding Six teams left the league prior to the beginning of the season: Colorado Crimson - Broomfield, Colorado Denver Kickers - Golden, Colorado Indianapolis Braves - Lawrence, Indiana Real Shore FC - Lincroft, New Jersey San Diego Pumitas - San Diego, California Southern California Fusion - Carlsbad, California In addition, three 2007 teams chose to spend the 2008 season on hiatus, with plans to return in 2009: FC Indiana - Indianapolis, Indiana Indios USA - Canutillo, Texas Sacramento Knights - Sacramento, California
Final standings Purple indicates division title clinched
North Division PlaceTeamPWLTGFGAGDPoints1Pennsylvania Stoners10252Boston Aztec10193Queen City FC1074Maine Sting945Morris County Colonials91
Mid-Atlantic Division PlaceTeamPWLTGFGAGDPoints1Long Island Academy9232New York Athletic Club10143Maryland United9134Lancaster Inferno8115Atlantic City Diablos109
Southeast Division PlaceTeamPWLTGFGAGDPoints1Atlanta FC8620182Performance FC Phoenix8332113Rocket City United815254Alabama Spirit00
Midwest Division PlaceTeamPWLTGFGAGDPoints1Minnesota TwinStars6122Chicago Fire NPSL6113Princeton 56ers6114Milwaukee Bavarians60
Southwest Division PlaceTeamPWLTGFGAGDPoints1San Diego United8521162Arizona Sahuaros8341103Albuquerque Asylum82428
Northwest Division PlaceTeamPWLTGFGAGDPoints1Sonoma County Sol9212Santa Cruz County Breakers9203Real San Jose9104Salinas Valley Samba90
Playoffs
Divisional Rounds Sonoma County Sol 3-1 San Diego United Minnesota TwinStars beat Atlanta FC
Semi finals Pennsylvania Stoners beat Sonoma County SolMinnesota TwinStars 1-1 Long Island Academy (Minnesota TwinStars win 4-2 on penalties)
Final Pennsylvania Stoners 3-0 St. Paul Twin Stars
Bracket
References US soccer history archives for 2008