American Soccer League (2014–2017)

The American Soccer League (ASL) was an American soccer league that held three seasons of play between August 2014 and 2017.[1] It is the fourth league in U.S. history to use that name. The league footprint was in the northeastern United States. ASL players were paid, making it different from the NPSL or PDL models in which college-eligible players can compete.

American Soccer League
Founded2014; 10 years ago (2014)
Folded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
CountryUnited States
ConfederationU.S. Soccer
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid5
Domestic cup(s)Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Last championsPhiladelphia Fury (2017)
Websitewww.aslsoccer.org

American Professional Soccer (APS) is the parent company of American Soccer League (ASL). The league's goal was to eventually achieve U.S. Soccer Division 3 status. However, this did not materialize. Initially, the league was sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).[2]

History

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Initially, the league played a traditional FIFA calendar schedule. After the first season, ASL switched formats to a Spring-Fall schedule. The ASL spring season ran from April to June. After a short break, the fall season continued in late August and ran until early November. In the league's initial season, an affiliation agreement was formalized with the Canadian Soccer League.[3][4]

Teams

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Team City Stadium Founded
AFC Lancaster Lions Ephrata, Pennsylvania Ephrata High School 2015
Atlanta Futuro FC Snellville, Georgia Shiloh High School 2015
CT United FC New Britain, Connecticut Veterans Stadium 2015
Long Island Express FC Uniondale, New York Mitchel Athletic Complex 2016
Maryland SGFC Eagles Silver Spring, Maryland Paint Branch HS Athletic Stadium 2017
Mass United FC Lynn, Massachusetts Manning Field 2009
Philadelphia Atoms SC Glenside, Pennsylvania Jean Lenox West Field 2017
Philadelphia Fury Glassboro, New Jersey Richard Wackar Stadium 2012
Virginia FC Leesburg, Virginia Evergreen Sport Complex 2017

Champions

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Season Champion Result Runner Up
2014–15 Icon FC[5] 0:0 (6–5 PKs) Western Mass Pro
2016 Long Island Express[6] 1:0 Philadelphia Fury
2017 Philadelphia Fury 3:1 Mass United FC

Rivalry Cups

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Competition Most Wins Titles Other Club(s) Titles Draws Recent winner
Commonwealth Derby Mass United FC 2 Western Mass Pioneers 0 4 Mass United FC[7]
Soccer Factory Derby Philadelphia Fury 2 AC Crusaders 1 1 Philadelphia Fury
Yankee Derby Mass United FC 1 Rhode Island Oceaneers 0 3 Mass United FC
Philadelphia Derby Philadelphia Fury 5 Philadelphia Atoms SC 0 0 Philadelphia Fury
Keystone Derby Philadelphia Atoms SC 2 AFC Lancaster Lions 0 1 Philadelphia Atoms SC

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About the League". American Soccer League. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  2. ^ "ASL Receives Provisional USASA Sanctioning". ASL. Retrieved March 6, 2014.[dead link]
  3. ^ "Partnership with American Soccer League a Historic Occasion". Canadian Soccer League. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  4. ^ Graham, Doug (17 April 2014). "'It is business as usual': Kingston FC owner". Kingston Whig Standard. pp. C1.
  5. ^ "Western Mass Falls on PKs in ASL Title Match". New England Soccer Today. 4 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Undefeated". American Soccer League. 13 November 2016. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016.
  7. ^ "United Gets It Done Against Pioneers". Mass United FC. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
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