Category: Sidewinder Insider

By Scott Adamson
Adamsonmedia.com

The United Soccer League continues to spread like wildfire.

And with its most recent expansion, the North American Soccer League was burned in the process.

On Thursday the USL announced that North Carolina FC will join Fresno FC, Las Vegas Lights FC, Nashville SC and a new franchise owned and operated by Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United FC in 2018.

In the case of North Carolina, however, the club is moving over from the NASL. That league is hoping for relief from the courts that will allow it to retain second division status: as of now, the USL will be the only Division II league in North America in 2018.

The United States Soccer Federation has denied the NASL DII status, due in part to its small footprint in the United States and Canada. It fielded only eight teams last season while the USL had 30.

“Today we are thrilled to announce the addition of another successful club to the USL,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said in a statement. “We were very impressed with the level of sophistication of the operations and the ownership of North Carolina FC, led by their visionary owner and chairman Steve Malik. Steve brings a wealth of business experience to the league and has strong local community support.

“This is a first-class club with premier facilities, in a desirable market with a strong base of support – all the qualities that make a club successful in the USL.”

The NASL released a terse statement after the move was made official.

“The NASL confirms that North Carolina FC has withdrawn from the league. The NASL is proud to have supported professional soccer in North Carolina for five years prior to Steve Malik’s acquisition of the club at the end of the 2015 season. North Carolina FC’s departure from NASL represents the damage caused by the U.S. Soccer Federation’s decision to revoke NASL’s Division II sanctioning for the 2018 Season. The NASL remains committed to pursuing its legal claims to ensure that the future of its players, fans, and clubs remains bright.”

North Carolina FC just completed its 11^th season in Cary, N.C. and was christened the Carolina RailHawks when it began play in 2006 – as a member of the USL. The team jumped to the fledgling NASL in 2010.

Last season while playing at 10,000-seat Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, it ranked among the top 15 in attendance outside of MLS.

“We are excited to be joining the USL effective immediately,” Malik said. “The USL has seen tremendous growth, not only in new markets and franchises, but in the quality of play and fan awareness. We look forward to contributing to that growth in years to come.”

By Scott Adamson
Adamsonmedia.com

Atlanta United FC became the biggest success story in Major League Soccer history this year, with an average attendance of 48,000 per game and a quality team that made the playoffs in its first year of existence.

On Tuesday, the organization took another step forward in building its brand.

The United Soccer League, which has designs on becoming one of the premiere second division soccer circuits in the world, announced that it will field a team in 2018 owned and operated by Atlanta United.

The club will play at Coolray Field in Gannett, Ga., which is home of the Gwinnett Braves International League baseball team. Seating capacity for soccer will be 10,427.

“Atlanta United’s organization has quickly proven itself among the leaders in Major League Soccer, and we are delighted to welcome them to our world-class ownership groups that make up the USL,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said in a statement. “The caliber of organization that has been assembled by Arthur Blank and his team has raised the bar for professional soccer in the United States, and their addition to our league is another step toward the USL’s goal of becoming one of the best Division II professional soccer leagues in the world, on par with the English Championship, Liga Adelante and 2. Bundesliga.”

The team’s name and logo will be released in the coming months.

All MLS franchises except Minnesota are affiliated with USL teams, with four (LA Galaxy II, New York Red Bulls II, Portland Timbers II and Seattle Sounders FC II) bearing the name of their parent club.

Atlanta already has a strong academy system, and in 2017 benefitted from a working relationship with the USL’s Charleston Battery.

“This is a great opportunity for our club’s long-term success to be able to bridge the gap between our best in class academy and our First Team,” Atlanta United President Darren Eales said. “Establishing a top-level academy was the first priority for our club, and while our staff has done a marvelous job in identifying and developing young players, the next step has always been to create the pathway for the 18-to-19-year-old player who needs to continue his development before competing for a starting position at the MLS level.

“We’ll now have the capability to develop players in our system from the time they’re 12 years-old until the minute they reach the First Team.”

Louisville wins USL title

Cameron Lancaster’s goal broke a scoreless draw in the 88th minute to give Louisville City FC a 1-0 victory over Swope Park Rangers in the 2017 USL Cup on Monday. The season finale was played in front of a sellout crowd of 14,456 at Slugger Field in Louisville; it was the second highest-attended USL Cup in the league’s history.

Speedy Williams crossed the ball into the center of the penalty area and Lancaster headed the ball into the right corner of the net for the game winner.

Goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh earned the clean sheet for the victors.

By Scott Adamson
Adamsonmedia.com

No. 1 Wake Forest, which finished as national runners-up last season, will enter the 2017 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament as the top seed.

The field of 48 was announced earlier today.

The Demon Deacons won the ACC regular season and tournament crowns, while the league tied its own NCAA record with nine teams in the field.

Joining Wake are North Carolina, Louisville, Duke, Clemson, Virginia, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State.

Champions of 24 conferences are automatic qualifiers and 24 at-large teams comprise the field. The top 16 teams were seeded and receive first round byes.

Those schools are, listed from 1-16, Wake Forest, Indiana, North Carolina, Louisville, Akron, Duke, Michigan State, Clemson, two-time defending national champion Stanford, Western Michigan, Virginia, Notre Dame, Michigan, Georgetown, Dartmouth and VCU.

All first-round games will be played this Thursday on campus sites and second-round games are set for Sunday.

The third round is Nov. 25- 26; the quarterfinals Dec. 1- 2; and the Men’s College Cup Dec. 8- 10 at Talen Energy Stadium in Philadelphia.

NCAA Men’s Soccer Tourney Bracket

Deltas claim NASL title

The North American Soccer League has a new champion.

Will it be its last?

On Sunday at Kezar Stadium, the San Francisco Deltas topped the New York Cosmos 2017 to win the 2017 Soccer Bowl.

And while 9,691 fans showed up to celebrate the expansion team’s victory, there are some dark clouds hovering over the league and the champs.

The NASL has been denied second division status by the United States Soccer Federation, and unless that ruling is overturned by an appeals court the league could fold.

As for the Deltas, the club is drowning in red ink and could also go out of business, regardless of the fate of the NASL itself.

For 90 minutes however, none of that mattered.

Tommy Heinemann and Devon Sandoval each scored goals for the victors while Romuald Peiser recorded the clean sheet.

It marked the Cosmos’ first loss in a modern NASL title game. New York won the Soccer Bowl in 2013, 2015 and 2016.

USL title game tonight

Louisville FC and Swope Park Rangers will meet at 9 p.m. tonight in the United Soccer League Cup final.

Swope Park (Kansas City) enters the fray with an 18-8-9 record while Louisville City is 20-6-9.

The USL featured 30 franchises in 2017 and has a working relationship with Major League Soccer.