The 2023 NISA season is the fifth season of the National Independent Soccer Association's third-division soccer competition. Michigan Stars are the defending champions, after winning the 2022 season.
| Season | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Dates | Mar. 31 – Oct. 25 (regular season) Oct. 28 – Nov. 11 (playoffs) |
| Champions | City Union |
| Regular season title | Chattanooga FC |
| Matches played | 108 |
| Goals scored | 268 (2.48 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Markus Naglestad (15) |
← 2022 2024 →
All statistics correct as of November 11, 2023. | |
Teams
editOf the eight teams that finished the 2022 season, five return for 2023, two (Flower City Union and Syracuse Pulse) merge to form a new team branded City Union, and one, California United Strikers, is on hiatus, with the aim to return in 2024.[1]
The six teams are joined by three expansion clubs: Club de Lyon, Gold Star FC and Savannah Clovers FC.[1]
Stadiums and locations
edit
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albion San Diego | San Diego, CA | Canyon Crest Academy Stadium | 5,000 |
| Chattanooga FC | Chattanooga, TN | Finley Stadium | 20,668 |
| City Union | Rochester, NY Auburn, NY |
Marina Auto Stadium Falcon Park |
13,768 2,800 |
| Club de Lyon | Daytona Beach, FL | Daytona Stadium | 9,601 |
| Gold Star FC | Livonia, MI | Gold Star Stadium | 5,000 |
| Los Angeles Force | Irvine, CA | Championship Stadium | 5,000 |
| Maryland Bobcats | Boyds, MD | Maryland SoccerPlex | 4,000 |
| Michigan Stars | Washington, MI | Romeo High School | 4,000 |
| Savannah Clovers | Savannah, GA | Memorial Stadium | 5,000 |
Personnel and sponsorship
edit- Note: The league has signed a deal with Hummel to be the official kit manufacturer, but it still allows clubs to find their own provider.[2]
| Team | Head coach | Captain(s) | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion San Diego |  Diego Gómez
|
 Tyler Gabarra
|
Capelli
|
DarkHorse |
| Chattanooga FC | Rod Underwood
|
 Richard Dixon
|
 Hummel
|
Volkswagen |
| City Union |  Jordan Sullivan
|
Mumbi Kwesele
|
Hummel
|
— |
| Club de Lyon | Victor Balaguer
|
 Victor Rojas
|
 Adidas
|
— |
| Gold Star FC | Alex Lubyansky
|
Brandon Barnes
|
Adidas
|
— |
| Los Angeles Force | Matt Morse
|
Brandon Gomez
|
Xara
|
— |
| Maryland Bobcats |  Alex Kao
|
 Josselin Possian
|
Hummel
|
Holiday Inn College Park |
| Michigan Stars |  Tatenda Mkuruva
|
Hummel
|
HTC | |
| Savannah Clovers | David Proctor
|
Shandon Wright
|
Umbro
|
Castro Wood Floors |
Coaching changes
edit| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion San Diego | Jeff Korytoski
|
Signed by Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | December 14, 2022[3] | Preseason | Diego Gómez
|
February 23, 2023 |
| City Union | Colton Bly (interim)
|
End of interim period | February 10, 2023 | Jordan Sullivan
|
February 10, 2023[4] | |
| Maryland Bobcats |  Sylvain Rastello
|
Resigned | February 21, 2023 | Alex Kao
|
March 1, 2023[5] | |
| Los Angeles Force |  Jesus Ochoa (interim)
|
End of interim period | April 23, 2023 | 5th | Matt Morse
|
April 23, 2023[6] |
Regular season
editThe season started on March 31, with the nine teams playing an unbalanced schedule weighted on regional play.[7]
Standings
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga FC (X) | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 41 | 12 | +29 | 52 | Qualification for the semifinals |
| 2 | Michigan Stars | 24 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 37 | 21 | +16 | 46 | |
| 3 | Los Angeles Force | 24 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 21 | +12 | 44 | Qualification for the playoffs |
| 4 | Albion San Diego | 24 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 31 | 21 | +10 | 41 | |
| 5 | Maryland Bobcats | 24 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 31 | 22 | +9 | 36 | |
| 6 | City Union (C) | 24 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 30 | 34 | −4 | 27 | |
| 7 | Club de Lyon | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 45 | −22 | 23 | |
| 8 | Savannah Clovers | 24 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 47 | −28 | 19 | |
| 9 | Gold Star FC | 24 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 23 | 45 | −22 | 12 |
Source: nisasoccer.com
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) goal differential; 3) goals for; 4) head-to-head; 5) goals against
(C) Champions; (X) Regular season winner
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) goal differential; 3) goals for; 4) head-to-head; 5) goals against
(C) Champions; (X) Regular season winner
Results
editPlayoffs
editThe playoffs will keep the same format from last year, and feature the top six teams from the regular season. The top two teams receive a bye into the semifinals. Teams finishing third through sixth play in the quarterfinals, with the winners being re-seeded before playing in the next round.
Bracket
edit| Quarterfinal October 29 | ||||
| 3 | Los Angeles Force | 2 | ||
| 6 | Flower City Union | 4 | ||
| Quarterfinal October 28 | ||||
| 4 | Albion San Diego (p) | 0 (8) | ||
| 5 | Maryland Bobcats FC | 0 (7) | ||
| Semifinals November 4/5 | NISA Championship Final November 11 | ||||||||
| 1 | Chattanooga FC | 0 (0) | |||||||
| 6 | Flower City Union (p) | 0 (2) | |||||||
| 6 | Flower City Union | 1 | |||||||
| 2 | Michigan Stars FC | 0 | |||||||
| 2 | Michigan Stars FC | 3 | |||||||
| 4 | Albion San Diego | 2 | |||||||
Schedule
editQuarter-finals
edit| October 28, 2023 | Albion San Diego | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (8–7 p) | Maryland Bobcats FC | San Diego, California |
| 5:30 PM PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Canyon Crest Academy Stadium | |
| Penalties | ||||
| October 29, 2023 | Los Angeles Force | 2–4 | Flower City Union | Whittier, California |
| 6:00 PM PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Rio Hondo College Stadium |
Semi-finals
edit| November 4, 2023 | Michigan Stars FC | 3–2 | Albion San Diego | Washington Township, Michigan |
| 3:30 PM EST |
|
Report | Stadium: Romeo High School |
| November 5, 2023 | Chattanooga FC | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (0–2 p) | Flower City Union | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| 5:00 PM EST |
|
Report | Stadium: Finley Stadium | |
| Penalties | ||||
NISA Championship Final
edit| November 11, 2023 | Michigan Stars FC | 0–1 | Flower City Union | Washington Township, Michigan |
|
Report | Stadium: Romeo High School |
Player statistics
edit- As of October 25, 2023
Awards
editIndividual awards
edit| Award | Winner | Team | Reason | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Boot |  Markus Naglestad
|
Chattanooga FC | 15 goals in 23 games | [10] |
| Golden Glove |  Jean Antoine
|
Chattanooga FC | 15 shutouts in 23 matches; 9 goals against | [10] |
| Coach of the Year | Diego Gomez
|
Albion San Diego | 11-8-5 record in his debut season | [10] |
| Golden Ball (Most Valuable Player) |  Darwin Espinal
|
Maryland Bobcats | 11 goals, 5 assists in 22 matches | [10] |
NISA Best XI
edit| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean Antoine (CHA)
|
Aydan Bowers (CHA) Richard Dixon (CHA) Jimmy Filerman (MAR) Anatolie Prepeliță (CHA)
|
 Daniel Bedoya (ALB) Tyler Gabarra (ALB) Alex McGrath (CHA)
|
Darwin Espinal (MAR) Leon Maric (MIC) Markus Naglestad (CHA)
|
[10] |
Player of the Month
edit| Month | Winner | Team | Reason | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | Jean Antoine
|
Chattanooga FC | 4 clean sheets | [11] |
| May |  Ignacio Ten López
|
Club de Lyon | 4 goals scored | [12] |
| June | Edwin Rivas
|
Los Angeles Force | 3 assists in 136 minutes | [13] |
| July | Ben Roach
|
Albion San Diego | 3 clean sheets | [14] |
| August | Aldo Quintanilla
|
Los Angeles Force | Team went 4-0-0, scored hat-trick | [15] |
| September | Daniel Bedoya
|
Albion San Diego | 3 goals scored | [16] |
Coach of the Month
edit| Month | Winner | Team | Reason | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | Alex Kao
|
Maryland Bobcats FC | 2-0-0 in league play; win in US Open Cup | [11] |
| May | Diego Gómez
|
Albion San Diego | 3-1-0 in league play | [12] |
| June | Rod Underwood
|
Chattanooga FC | Undefeated in June | [13] |
| July | Rod Underwood
|
Chattanooga FC | 3-1-0 in league play | [14] |
| August | Matt Morse
|
Los Angeles Force | 2-2-0 in league play | [15] |
| September | Alex Kao
|
Maryland Bobcats FC | 2-1-0 in league play | [16] |
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "NISA announces 2023 clubs and format". www.nisaofficial.com. January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "NISA announces kit sponsorship deal". Twitter.com. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ "Ziggy Korytoski named head coach of Chattanooga Red Wolves SC". December 14, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ^ "Flower City Union Announces 2023 Head Coach". February 10, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ^ "President of the Youth Academy and Assistant Coach Alex Kao to become Head Coach of Maryland Bobcats FC Senior Team". March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "Matt Morse Named Los Angeles Force Coach". April 27, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "NISA releases opening weekend match schedule". www.nisaofficial.com. February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "NISA Match Forfeit and Postponement". Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c "NISA player statistics". nisasoccer.com. NISA. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "NISA Honors 2023 Annual Award Recipients". NISAofficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ a b "NISA Announces April 2023 Performers of the Month Awards". NISAofficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association. May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
- ^ a b "NISA Announces May 2023 Performers of the Month Awards". NISAofficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association. June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ a b "NISA Announces June 2023 Performers of the Month Awards". NISAofficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association. July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ a b "NISA Announces July 2023 Performers of the Month Awards". NISAofficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association. August 11, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ a b "NISA Announces August 2023 Performers of the Month Awards". NISAofficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association. September 12, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ a b "NISA Announces September 2023 Performers of the Month Awards". NISAofficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association. October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.