2020–21 National Independent Soccer Association Season
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The 2020–21 NISA season was the second season of the
National Independent Soccer Association The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is previously in the third tier of American soccer and began play in 2019. NISA initially used a fall-to-spring season for ...
's third-division soccer competition. The regular season was split into two halves, Fall and Spring, with playoffs at the end of each, and a Championship Match that had the Fall champion host the Spring champion. This season also saw the introduction of a new cup competition, the
NISA Independent Cup The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is previously in the third tier of American soccer and began play in 2019. NISA initially used a fall-to-spring season for ...
, that features independent clubs from various professional and semi-professional leagues across the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
.


Teams

The eight teams that participated in the inaugural 2019-20 NISA season were joined by three expansion teams:
New York Cosmos New York Cosmos may refer to * New York Cosmos (1970–1985), a team in the North American Soccer League (then the top-tier soccer league in the United States and Canada) * New York Cosmos (2010), a team playing since 2020 in the National Indepen ...
and New Amsterdam FC for the full season. Two of the existing teams, San Diego 1904 and Stumptown Athletic, announced that they will not participate in the Fall season, but intend to return for the Spring season. On October 13, it was announced that
Maryland Bobcats FC Maryland Bobcats FC, formerly World Class Premier Elite (WCPE), are an American soccer team and academy based in Montgomery County, Maryland, which was founded in 2016. The organization's professional team competes within the National Independent ...
had been accepted into the league with the plan of starting play in Spring of 2021. The team had been taking part in the Mid-Atlantic region of the NISA Independent Cup and won the group following this announcement. On November 6, New Jersey Teamsterz FC announced that they were not joining for the Spring 2021 season, despite initially being included in the Spring 2021 competitors. Citing the on-going pandemic, they clarified they were joining the lower tiers of NISA in preparation for joining in Fall of 2021.


Stadiums and locations


Personnel and sponsorship

:''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.''


Managerial changes


NISA Independent Cup

Following the cancellation of the 2020 Spring Season on April 27, 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, NISA announced initial Fall 2020 season plans and the creation of a new tournament called the NISA Independent Cup. The region-based competition would include NISA clubs, including new expansion sides the
New York Cosmos New York Cosmos may refer to * New York Cosmos (1970–1985), a team in the North American Soccer League (then the top-tier soccer league in the United States and Canada) * New York Cosmos (2010), a team playing since 2020 in the National Indepen ...
and New Amsterdam FC, and both independent professional and high quality amateur teams. On July 1, NISA officially announced the cup along with the 15 teams that would be participating. In total, four member clubs took part with the rest of the field consisting of teams from the
National Premier Soccer League The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American men's association football, soccer league. The league is officially affiliated to the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and has automatic qualification for the U.S. Open Cup. ...
,
United Premier Soccer League The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is an American for-profit soccer league that was founded in Santa Ana in Southern California, with teams in regionalized conferences throughout the United States, and recently Canada and Mexico. The leagu ...
, and
Gulf Coast Premier League The Gulf Coast Premier League (GCPL) is a United States Adult Soccer Association affiliated Amateur Elite League that includes teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The regular season of the GCPL runs May through Jul ...
. The participants were split into four geographical regions with each operating independently and making decisions (format, tiebreaker rules, fan attendance policies, etc.) autonomously. All games were live streamed online through MyCujoo, with some also being broadcast on local television. The Great Lakes Division also served as a rekindling of the
Rust Belt Derby The Rust Belt Derby was a soccer derby played between Detroit City FC, FC Buffalo, and AFC Cleveland in the National Premier Soccer League, the fourth tier of American soccer. The derby was named for the Rust Belt region of the United State ...
, a former in-season competition previously held in the NPSL, with 2019 NPSL national semifinalist Cleveland SC taking the place of the now folded
AFC Cleveland AFC Cleveland was an Soccer in the United States, American semi-professional association football, soccer club based in the Cleveland suburb of Independence, Ohio. Founded in 2011 and playing its first season in 2012, the team spent six years in ...
.


Central Plains Region

The four teams were split into pairs before playing two games against one-another. If tied on aggregate after two games, with no away goal rule, teams would play two 10-minute overtime periods followed by a
penalty kick shootout In association football, a penalty shoot-out (previously known as kicks from the penalty mark) is a tie-breaking method to determine which team is awarded victory in a match that cannot end in a draw, when the score is tied after the normal time ...
if necessary. Winner of each aggregate competition meet in the Championship match. Both matches between Louisiana Krewe and Gaffa were played at Holden Stadium on the campus of
Pearl River Community College Pearl River Community College is a public community college in Poplarville, Mississippi. It was founded as Pearl River County Agricultural High School in 1909 and became the first junior college in Mississippi in 1921. Residents of Hancock, ...
in
Poplarville, Mississippi Poplarville is a city and the county seat of Pearl River County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,894. It hosts an annual Blueberry Jubilee, which includes rides, craft vendors and rodeos. History Pop ...
. Lone Star Republic hosted the first game against Mansfield Revolution at Greenhill School in
Addison, Texas Addison is an incorporated town in Dallas County, Texas, United States. The 2020 census population was 16,661. Addison is immediately north of Dallas. Addison and Flower Mound were the only two Texas municipalities labeled "towns" with a popul ...
. The Revolution hosted the second at
Mansfield Summit High School Mansfield Summit High School is a size 5A secondary school located in Arlington, Texas, and is part of the Mansfield Independent School District. The school serves a portion of Arlington. The school first opened in the Fall of 2002. As of 2024, ...
in
Arlington, Texas Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, Tarrant County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal c ...
.


Semifinals


Final


Great Lakes Region

The three teams competed in a round-robin competition, each playing a total of two games. Any games tied after 90 minutes were set to be decided by a
penalty kick shootout In association football, a penalty shoot-out (previously known as kicks from the penalty mark) is a tie-breaking method to determine which team is awarded victory in a match that cannot end in a draw, when the score is tied after the normal time ...
. Both games involving Detroit City took place at
Keyworth Stadium Keyworth Stadium is a 7,933 seat multi-purpose stadium located in Hamtramck, Michigan, an enclave of Detroit. It was opened by former president Franklin Delano Roosevelt on October 15, 1936, during his second campaign for president. Keyworth was ...
in
Hamtramck, Michigan Hamtramck ( ; ; ; ) is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An enclave of Detroit, Hamtramck is located roughly north of downtown Detroit, and is surrounded by Detroit on most sides. As of the 2020 census, the city had a po ...
. The remaining match between Cleveland and Buffalo was played at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium in
Erie, Pennsylvania Erie is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, fifth-most populous city in Pennsylvania and the most populous in Northwestern Pen ...
. The Great Lakes Champion was determined by most points, followed by head-to head, followed by goal differential.


Standings


Results


Mid-Atlantic Region

The four teams completed in a round-robin competition, playing a total of three games each. The Mid-Atlantic Champion was determined by most points, followed by head-to head, followed by goal differential. All games were originally going to be hosted by the Bobcats at the
Maryland SoccerPlex The Maryland SoccerPlex is a sports complex in Germantown, Maryland, although its mailing address is directed to Boyds, Maryland. The facility, completed in 2000 and operated by the Maryland Soccer Foundation (MSF), has 21 natural grass fields, ...
in
Germantown, Maryland Germantown is an urbanized census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. With a population of 91,249 as of the 2020 census, it is the third-most populous community in Maryland, after Baltimore and Columbia, Maryland, Col ...
behind closed doors. On July 24, NISA announced that region's tournament was postponed due to a surge of
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
cases in Maryland and the subsequent closing of Maryland SoccerPlex to professional sports. On July 28, NISA announced that five of the region's six games would be played at Evergreen Sportsplex in
Leesburg, Virginia Leesburg is a town in and the county seat of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. It is part of both the Northern Virginia region of the state and the Washington metropolitan area, including Washington, D.C., the nation's capital. European se ...
, with the August 2 match between New Amsterdam and the Cosmos being played at Hudson Sports Complex in
Warwick, New York Warwick is a town in the southwestern part of Orange County, New York, United States. Its population was 32,027 at the 2020 census. The town contains three villages (Florida, Greenwood Lake, and Warwick) and eight hamlets ( Amity, Bellvale, E ...
. The Thursday, August 6 match between New Amsterdam and Maryland Bobcats was called off mid-way through the first half due to inclement weather, with the following match between the Cosmos and Baltimore postponed. On August 22, NISA announced the first make-up date with New Amsterdam taking on Maryland on Sunday, August 23 at YSC Sports Complex in
Wayne, Pennsylvania Wayne is an unincorporated community centered in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, on the Main Line, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburbs located along the railroad tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad and one of the ...
. The second make-up was announced on September 25 with the Cosmos hosting Baltimore at
Mitchel Athletic Complex The Mitchel Athletic Complex is part of the Mitchel Field complex, located in the East Garden City section of Uniondale, New York, on the site of the decommissioned Mitchel Air Force Base. The facility is owned by Nassau County. It is used m ...
in
Uniondale, New York Uniondale is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in central Nassau County, New York, on Long Island, in the Town of Hempstead, within the New York metropolitan area. The population was 32,473 at the time of the 2020 United States census ...
on Saturday, October 10.


Standings


Results


Southeast Region

The four teams competed in a round-robin competition against one-another in various venues in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Both
Finley Stadium Finley Stadium is a stadium located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. Owned by the City of Chattanooga, it has served as home venue for several teams, including the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's football team and Chattanoog ...
in
Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga ( ) is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Tennessee River and borders Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the south. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, it is Tennessee ...
and Memorial Stadium in
Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-mo ...
hosted matches the first two weeks. The final group stage round that was set to be played at
Columbia International University Columbia International University (CIU) is a private Christian university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. It was founded in 1923. Academics CIU has six colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, Cook School of Bus ...
in
Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-mo ...
on July 25 was called off due to weather. The Southeast Regional Champion will now be determined by group stage points instead of the originally scheduled championship final and third place match, with the final set of games moved to Finley Stadium on August 1.


Standings


Results


Fall season

On June 4, NISA announced the Fall season format. The season would be split into two separate formats: a regionalized regular season commencing in August, dividing the eight member teams into two conferences; Eastern and Western, followed by a single location tournament in late October that would determine a Fall Season champion. Following the
Shooting of Jacob Blake On August 23, 2020, Jacob S. Blake, a 29-year-old black man, was shot and seriously injured by police officer Rusten Sheskey in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Sheskey shot Blake in the back four times and the side three times after Blake opened the driv ...
on August 23, the three league matches scheduled for the weekend of August 29 were postponed in protest of racial injustice. The games were rescheduled for later dates.


Eastern Conference


Standings


Results


Western Conference


Standings


Results


Playoffs

All 8 teams competed in the 2020 Fall tournament, which happened from September 21 to October 2, at
Keyworth Stadium Keyworth Stadium is a 7,933 seat multi-purpose stadium located in Hamtramck, Michigan, an enclave of Detroit. It was opened by former president Franklin Delano Roosevelt on October 15, 1936, during his second campaign for president. Keyworth was ...
, in Hamtramack. The teams were split into two groups of four, based on their regular season records, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semifinals. The winner of the Fall tournament will host the winner of the Spring season in the inaugural NISA Championship match.


Group stage


=Group A

=


=Group B

=


=Knock-Out Round

=


Semifinals


NISA Fall Championship


Player statistics


Top goalscorers


Clean sheets


Spring season

The league saw an increase in the number of teams compared to the Fall season, with both
San Diego 1904 FC San Diego 1904 FC was an American professional soccer team based in San Diego, California. In December 2021, the team was absorbed by Albion San Diego, which effectively took over 1904's membership in the National Independent Soccer Association ...
and Stumptown Athletic returning from hiatus, and
Maryland Bobcats FC Maryland Bobcats FC, formerly World Class Premier Elite (WCPE), are an American soccer team and academy based in Montgomery County, Maryland, which was founded in 2016. The organization's professional team competes within the National Independent ...
joining as an expansion team. Meanwhile,
Oakland Roots SC Oakland Roots Sports Club is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in Oakland, California. The club competes in the USL Championship (USLC) as a member of the Western Conference (USL Championship), Western Conference. F ...
left the league in order to take part in
USL Championship The USL Championship (USLC) is a men's professional association football, soccer league in the second tier of the United States soccer league system#Men's leagues, United States league system. It is organized by the United Soccer League (USL) a ...
and the
New York Cosmos New York Cosmos may refer to * New York Cosmos (1970–1985), a team in the North American Soccer League (then the top-tier soccer league in the United States and Canada) * New York Cosmos (2010), a team playing since 2020 in the National Indepen ...
went on hiatus due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. The Spring season started on April 13, 2021, with a bubble tournament named the NISA Legends Cup and hosted by
Chattanooga FC Chattanooga Football Club is an American professional soccer team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 2009, the team is in MLS Next Pro starting in 2024. Prior to joining MLS Next Pro, the club played in the National Indep ...
, with the winner gaining entry into the Spring 2021 Final. Phase 2 began on May 1, 2021 and was a traditional regular season hosted in each team's markets. The highest finishing team in the table will face the winner of the Legends Cup in the Spring 2021 Final to determine the Spring champion.


NISA Legends Cup

The 9 teams were split into three groups of three teams. The best team at the end of the group stage qualified directly to the Legends Cup final, while the second and third seeds played a semifinal game to determine the second finalist.


Group 1


Group 2


Group 3


Overall standings


Knock-out round


Other Matches


Phase 2


Standings


Results


Player statistics


=Top goalscorers

=


=Clean sheets

=


Playoffs

Originally, the NISA Legends Cup champion and the highest finishing team in Phase 2 were scheduled to play in the 2021 NISA Spring Championship at
Keyworth Stadium Keyworth Stadium is a 7,933 seat multi-purpose stadium located in Hamtramck, Michigan, an enclave of Detroit. It was opened by former president Franklin Delano Roosevelt on October 15, 1936, during his second campaign for president. Keyworth was ...
on June 30 with the winner advancing to the 2020–21 Season Championship match three days later. However, since
Detroit City FC Detroit City FC is an American professional association football, soccer club based in Detroit, Michigan, that competes in the USL Championship. The club played in the National Premier Soccer League from 2012 to 2019 and the National Independen ...
won the Legends Cup and finished atop the Spring table the match simply became a semifinal between the runners-up of each competition.


Championship match

Detroit City FC Detroit City FC is an American professional association football, soccer club based in Detroit, Michigan, that competes in the USL Championship. The club played in the National Premier Soccer League from 2012 to 2019 and the National Independen ...
, the winner of the Fall season, hosted semifinal winner Los Angeles Force in the inaugural NISA Championship match on July 3, 2021.


Notes


See also

*
National Independent Soccer Association The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is previously in the third tier of American soccer and began play in 2019. NISA initially used a fall-to-spring season for ...


References


External links


NISA official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:NISA season 2020-21 2020-21 2020 in American soccer leagues 2021 in American soccer leagues Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports