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 was to begin playing this season but now plans to join in the 2016 season. 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.
Teams, stadiums, and personnel
Stadiums and locations
Personnel and sponsorship
Team Head coach Captain Kit producer Shirt sponsorAtlanta Silverbacks Jason Smith Mike RandolphNikePeople HROCarolina RailHawks Colin Clarke Kupono LowAdidasBlue Cross Blue Shield of NCFC Edmonton Colin Miller Albert WatsonAdidasThe Fath GroupFort Lauderdale Strikers Günter Kronsteiner Iván GuerreroAcerbisIndy Eleven Juergen Sommer Kristian NichtDiadoraHondaMinnesota United FC Manny Lagos Aaron PitchkolanAdmiralAtomic Data / Mall of AmericaNew York Cosmos Giovanni Savarese Carlos MendesNikeEmiratesOttawa Fury FC Marc Dos Santos Richie RyanAdmiralHeart and CrownOSEG Communications Heart and Crown Partners with OSEG and Fury FC" , Ottawa Fury FC, Ottawa, 11 April 2014. Retrieved on 11 April 2014.San Antonio Scorpions Alen Marcina Adrian CannNikeToyotaTampa Bay Rowdies Ricky Hill Frankie SanfilippoAdmiralHard Rock
Player transfers
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment Atlanta Silverbacks Brian Haynes Contract not renewed 9 December 2013 Pre-Season 7 January 2014 Atlanta Silverbacks Voluntary move to team technical director 17 July 2014Wynalda calls Silverbacks decision very difficult ajc.com 8th Jason Smith 18 July 2014 Atlanta Silverbacks Jason Smith Fired 5 October 2014 10th Alejandro Pombo – Interim Head Coach 5 October 2014 San Antonio Scorpions End of interim period 22 November 2013 Pre-Season 22 November 2013 Indy ElevenExpansion team 11 June 2013 Ottawa Fury FCExpansion team 23 May 2013
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.Soccer Bowl Rematch Highlights 2014 NASL Season Openers 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.
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.
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.
Combined standings
The Championship
Participants Minnesota United (Spring season champion) San Antonio Scorpions (Fall season champion) New York Cosmos Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Semifinals
Soccer Bowl 2014
Attendance SeasonSpring Season Weekly AveragesATLCAREDMFTLINDMNNYOTTSATBLeague avg.Week 1---3,10511,048-7,906-7,3817,0037,289Week 25,0004,0074,399-10,421--3,457--5,457Week 3---3,515-5,2874,1302,158-4,6703,952Week 43,9224,0663,276--4,913--5,595-4,354Week 5---3,10910,285-3,0912,1645,834-4,897Week 6-5,527--10,2855,325--7,0874,8556,616Week 7--2,961--6,78435812,432-4,3314,018Week 85,0007,856-5,57210,285--3,207--6,384Week 95,000-3,641---6,495-6,4844,1325,150Spring Total18,92221,45614,27715,31052,32422,30921,62213,41832,38124,991237,010Spring Avg4,7305,3643,5693,82510,4655,1574,3232,6846,4764,9985,267Bold denotes league's highest attendance for the week SeasonFall Season Weekly AveragesATLCAREDMFTLINDMNNYOTTSATBLeague avg.Week 1-3,0803,6093,092--3,806--3,8963,497Week 23,011---10,5557,287-14,5936,958-8,481Week 34,810-3,1523,257----7,8844,8684,711Week 4-4,2942,8492,64810,28534,0474,649---10,896Week 53,842---10,2855,1124,5244,814--5,652Week 6-3,140---5,420-4,2777,8474,2734,209Week 7-4,666-2,409-----4,2125,454Week 8--3,111-10,285-3,9284,2065,734-4,755Week 95,0003,1062,7963,00610,6597,024-5,269--5,303Week 10-----6,2023,626-5,5944,3405,761Week 113,0713,193----4,502---4,896Week 123,0625,5934,3923,112---5,0948,3134,3135,568Week 13--3,8303,05210,2855,744-3,105-3,8654,734Week 14------6,225-5,963-5,009Week 152,905-2,903-10,285-4,411-5,6832,5655,090Week 163,0614,179-5,75610,9825,817-3,935--5,989Week 175,000-- 5,756 -6,4548,5654,172--5,989Week 18-6,4603,0355,505----8,2056,3775,914Fall Total33,76237,62129,67737,59394,18883,10744,23644,65162,18138,669505,685Fall Avg3,7514,1803,2974,17710,4659,2344,9154,961 6,909 4,3005,619Bold denotes league's highest attendance for the week
Statistical leaders
Top scorers
RankPlayerNationClubGoals1Christian Ramirez Minnesota United202Fafà Picault Fort Lauderdale Strikers123Jaime ChavezAtlanta Silverbacks9Georgi HristovTampa Bay Rowdies9Daniel Mendes Minnesota United9Zack Schilawski Carolina RailHawks97Miguel Ibarra Minnesota United8Kléberson Indy Eleven89Rafael CastilloSan Antonio Scorpions7Lance LaingEdmonton7OliverOttawa Fury7Junior SandovalAtlanta Silverbacks7Mads StokkelienNew York Cosmos7
Source:
Top assists
RankPlayerNationClubAssists1Billy Forbes San Antonio Scorpions72Lance LaingFC Edmonton63Shawn ChinFort Lauderdale Strikers5Miguel Ibarra Minnesota United5Christian Ramirez Minnesota United5Kevin Venegas Minnesota United5714 players4
Source:
Individual awards
Monthly awards MonthNASL Player of the MonthPlayerNationClubLinkAprilZack SchilawskiCarolina RailHawks3GMay/JuneChristian Ramirez Minnesota United FC3G 3AJulyRafael CastilloSan Antonio Scorpions3GAugustChristian Ramirez Minnesota United FC6G 1ASeptemberMiguel Ibarra Minnesota United FC4G 1AOctober/NovemberChristian Ramirez Minnesota United FC4G
League awards
Golden Ball (MVP): Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC) Golden Boot: Christian Ramirez (Minnesota United FC) Golden Glove: John Smits (FC Edmonton) Coach of the Year: Manny Lagos (Minnesota United FC) Goal of the Year: Christian Ramirez (Minnesota United FC) Young (U24) Player of the Year: Christian Ramirez (Minnesota United FC) Humanitarian of the Year: Chris Nurse (Fort Lauderdale Strikers) Fair Play Award: Tampa Bay Rowdies
NASL Best XIPositionPlayersTeam 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
References
External links