The 2016–17 Major Arena Soccer League season was the ninth season for the league and the third since six teams from the former Major Indoor Soccer League defected to what was formerly called the Professional Arena Soccer League. The regular season started on October 29, 2016, and ended on March 5, 2017. Each team played a 20-game schedule. The defending champions were the Baltimore Blast. The Blast repeated in 2016–17, defeating the Sonora Suns in the Ron Newman Cup, 2–1.
Teams Of the 20 teams that competed in the 2015–16 season, the Waza Flo, Las Vegas Legends, Brownsville Barracudas, Saltillo Rancho Seco, and Sacramento Surge did not return for the 2016–17 season. The Florida Tropics SC and El Paso Coyotes joined the MASL for this season, bringing the total number of teams in the league to 17.
In the offseason, the Baltimore Blast, Harrisburg Heat, St. Louis Ambush left the MASL, and joined the expansion Tropics to form the Indoor Professional League. The Blast, Heat and Ambush re-joined the MASL in August 2016, with the Tropics being considered an expansion franchise for the MASL. Additionally the Missouri Comets announced in September 2016 that they were renaming themselves the Kansas City Comets.
Standings Final as of March 6, 2017
(Bold) Division Winner
Eastern Conference PlaceTeamGPWLPctGFGAGBHomeRoad Eastern Division1Baltimore Blast20146.70011369—8-26-42Harrisburg Heat201010.50011612446-44-63Florida Tropics SC20812.4009913866-42-84Syracuse Silver Knights20812.40013712765-53-7 Central Division1Kansas City Comets20155.75014292—8-27-32Milwaukee Wave20137.65013510328-25-53Cedar Rapids Rampage20128.60012612737-35-54Chicago Mustangs20119.55012413644-67-35St. Louis Ambush20119.05083150141-90-10
Western Conference PlaceTeamGPWLPctGFGAGBHomeRoad Southwest Division1Sonora Suns20173.850230120—10-07-32Atletico Baja201010.50013416777-33-73Dallas Sidekicks20713.350138144105-52-84El Paso Coyotes20020.000114223170-100-10 Pacific Division1San Diego Sockers20146.70014990—9-15-52Ontario Fury20128.60014813226-46-43Tacoma Stars201010.50011412048-22-84Turlock Express20812.40013217267-31-9
2017 Ron Newman Cup The Ron Newman Cup playoffs began after the regular season ended on March 5, 2017. The top two teams from each division qualified for the post-season, with each round being a 2-game home and home series, with a 15-minute mini-game played immediately after Game 2 if the series is tied.
Eastern Conference Playoffs
Eastern Division Final
Baltimore wins series 2–1
Central Division Final
Milwaukee wins series 2–1
Eastern Conference Final
Baltimore wins series 2–1
Western Conference Playoffs
Southwest Division Final
Sonora wins series 2–0
Pacific Division Final
San Diego wins series 2–1
Western Conference Final
Sonora wins series 2–0
2017 Ron Newman Cup Finals
Baltimore wins series 2–1
Statistics
Top Scorers RankScorerClubGamesGoalsAssistsPoints1Franck TayouSonora Suns20 57 15722Ian BennettMilwaukee Wave2053 1164 3Christian GutierrezAtletico Baja20 51 11624Taylor BondChicago Mustangs20 40 1454t5Kraig ChilesSan Diego Sockers20391251t5Leonardo de OliveiraOntario Fury1931 20517Max FerdinandMilwaukee Wave18 18 30488Cameron BrownDallas Sidekicks1929 1645 t9Kenardo ForbesSyracuse Silver Knights20 21 2142 t9Enrique CanezSonora Suns20321042t9Tony DonatelliBaltimore Blast20192342Last updated on March 6, 2017.
Awards
Individual awards AwardNameTeamLeague MVPFranck TayouSonora SunsGoalkeeper of the YearChris TothSan Diego SockersDefender of the YearStephen BassoHarrisburg HeatRookie of the YearStephen PatersonKansas City CometsCoach of the YearDenison CabralHarrisburg HeatAaron Susi Trophy (Playoff MVP)Vini DantasBaltimore Blast
All-League First Team NamePositionTeamMax FerdinandFMilwaukee WaveFranck TayouFSonora SunsIan BennettMMilwaukee WaveJohn SosaDKansas City CometsStephen BassoDHarrisburg HeatChris TothGKSan Diego Sockers
All-League Second Team NamePositionTeamChristian GutierrezFAtletico BajaKraig ChilesFSan Diego SockersTaylor BondMChicago MustangsDamian GarciaDSoles de SonoraChris MattinglyDSt. Louis AmbushWilliam VanzelaGKBaltimore Blast
All-League Third Team NamePositionTeamVictor QuirozFSan Diego SockersKenardo ForbesMSyracuse Silver KnightsVahid AssadpourMKansas City CometsErnesto LunaDAtletico BajaStephen PatersonDKansas City CometsLeonardo de OlivieraGKOntario Fury
All-Rookie Team NamePositionTeamLucas TeixeriaFFlorida Tropics SCElton de OliveiraDBaltimore BlastThiago FreitasMHarrisburg HeatManuel RojoDAtletico BajaGuerrero PinoMKansas City CometsStephen PatersonGKKansas City Comets
Attendances
TeamHome averageBaltimore Blast 6,300Soles de Sonora 4,900Milwaukee Wave 3,794Kansas City Comets 3,740San Diego Sockers 3,688Ontario Fury 3,024Tacoma Stars 2,894Florida Tropics 2,778Chicago Mustangs 2,623St. Louis Ambush 2,574Dallas Sidekicks 2,300Syracuse Silver Knights 2,300El Paso Coyotes 2,205Cedar Rapids Rampage 2,193Harrisburg Heat 1,449Turlock Express 556Atletico Baja 319
References
External links MASL official website