The 2019–20 California United Strikers FC season was the club's inaugural season in the National Independent Soccer Association, a newly established third division soccer league in the United States.
Overview Since 2017, Cal United had attempted to join two professional leagues, the North American Soccer League and National Premier Soccer League's proposed professional league (beginning with the NPSL Founders Cup tournament), with neither effort taking form. In June 2019 the team was accepted into NISA as a member for the league's inaugural season.
The Strikers finished the fall season in second place with a 2-3-1 (9 pts) record, clinching a spot in the West Coast Championship against LA Force. In the final, which was played at Championship Stadium with Cal being designated the "away" team due to seeding, the Strikers beat LA in a penalty kick shootout and won its first professional trophy.
In early July 2019, prior to the NISA season kicking off, the team beat 30-time Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala champions C.S.D. Municipal, 3–1, in the latter's pre-season tour of the United States.
On April 27, 2020, following a stoppage of play and subsequent extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NISA announced the cancellation of the 2020 Spring season.
Players
No.PositionNationPlayer
Staff Don Ebert – Head coach Roy Chingirian – Assistant coach
Transfers
In #Pos.PlayerSigned fromDetailsDateSource18Orange County FCFree transfer24California United FC IIFree transfer11California United FC IIFree transfer6L.A. Wolves FCFree transfer10FC Golden StateFree transfer5California United FC IIFree transfer2California United FC IIFree transfer7California United FC IIFree transfer8California United FC IIFree transfer20UnattachedFree transfer1California United FC IIFree transfer16Tulsa RoughnecksFree transfer4California United FC IIFree transfer17California United FC IIFree transfer7California United FC IIFree transfer19UnattachedFree transfer12California United FC IIFree transfer15Phoenix Rising FCFree transfer3Colorado Mesa MavericksFree transfer14Grand Canyon AntelopesFree transfer0Ventura County FusionFree transfer9FC ArizonaFree transfer21Fresno FCFree transfer13Orange County FCFree transfer30 TOP OssFree transfer19Strikers FC - IrvineFree transfer33Las Vegas Lights FCFree transfer29 Rot-Weiss WalldorfFree transfer14 1. FCA DarmstadtFree transfer23Loudoun United FCFree transfer
Out #Pos.PlayerSigned toDetailsDateSource7Orange County FC 2Free transfer14UnattachedNot retained 19UnattachedNot retained
Friendlies
Competitions
NISA Fall season (Showcase)
Details for the 2019 NISA Fall season were announced July 25, 2019.
Standings
Results summary
Matches
Fall Playoff
NISA Spring Season
Details for the 2020 NISA Spring season were announced January 27, 2020.
Standings
Results summary
Matches
U.S. Open Cup
Cal United will enter the 2020 U.S. Open Cup with the rest of the National Independent Soccer Association teams in the Second Round. It was announced on January 29 that their first opponent would be USL Championship side Orange County SC.
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Goalkeepers
! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Defenders
! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Midfielders
! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Forwards
! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Left during season
Goal scorers PlacePositionNationNumberNameFall SeasonFall PlayoffSpring SeasonSpring PlayoffU.S. Open CupTotal1 MF16Christian Thierjung600--62 FW10Gustavo Villalobos410--53 FW9Omar Nuño200--2FW13Michael Bryant110--2FW17Andy Contreras200--2DF24Chris Klute200--24 MF18Kevin Jeon001--1
Disciplinary record NumberNationPositionNameFall SeasonFall PlayoffSpring SeasonSpring PlayoffU.S. Open CupTotal6 MFDuncan Capriotti001010----209 FWOmar Nuño100000----1010 FWGustavo Villalobos100000----1012 FWMiguel Sánchez Rincón101000----2013 FWMichael Bryant200000----2017 FWAndy Contreras100000----1024 DFChris Klute200000----20X -Don Ebert100000----10X -Roy Chingirian100000----10
References
External links