2015–16 Major Arena Soccer League season

Major Arena Soccer League
Season2015–16
ChampionsBaltimore Blast
Matches played198
Goals scored2,630 (13.28 per match)
Top goalscorerFranck Tayou
(47 goals)
Longest winning run11 Games:
Baltimore Blast
(11/7-1/9)
Sonora Suns
(11/7-1/17)
Longest losing run18 games:
Harrisburg Heat
(11/6-2/27)
Highest attendance9,442
CHI @ BAL
(November 7)
Lowest attendance104
BAJ @ SAL
(February 5)
Average attendance2,405 [1]

The 2015–16 Major Arena Soccer League season was the eighth season for the league and the second since six teams from the former Major Indoor Soccer League defected to what was formerly called the Professional Arena Soccer League. The regular season started on October 24, 2015, and ended on March 4, 2016. Each team played a 20-game schedule. It was also the 38th season of professional indoor soccer in the United States.

Teams

Many of the 22 teams that completed the 2014–15 season returned for the 2015–16 season.[2][3][4] Teams not returning this season include Rochester Lancers, Wichita B-52s, Tulsa Revolution, and Monterrey Flash. In April 2015, Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale announced that his team was withdrawing from the MASL to form a new league.[5] No other teams announced their departure and the proposed new league never formed. The Blast quietly rejoined the league after agreeing to pay a fine. The Detroit Waza relocated to Flint, Michigan, and are operating this season as simply Waza Flo.[6]

The expansion Sonora Suns based in Hermosillo, Connecticut-based Hartford City FC, Iowa-based Cedar Rapids Rampage, and Tijuana-based Atletico Baja were formally accepted for membership in the MASL.[7][8] The fledgling Youngstown Nighthawks based in Ohio aimed to join the league but encountered financial issues.[9]

On October 28, 2015, the MASL announced that Hartford City FC would not be permitted to enter the league this season and began league-wide schedule changes to replace the failed franchise.[10][11] A new ownership group hoped to revive the team for the 2016–17 season.[10]

Unlike last season where some Eastern Division teams played with a variable-point scoring system, for 2015–16 the whole MASL will play with standard soccer scoring using goals, not points.[3]

Standings

As of March 4, 2016
  2015-16 League Championship
  2015-16 Playoff Team
(Bold) Division Winner

Eastern Conference

Place Team GP W L Pct GF GA GB Home Road
Eastern Division
1 Baltimore Blast 19 15 4 .789 129 57 - 9-1 6-3
2 Syracuse Silver Knights 20 11 9 .550 120 113 4.5 7-3 4-6
3 Waza Flo 18 9 9 .500 101 119 5.5 5-3 4-6
4 Harrisburg Heat 19 1 18 .053 75 152 14.0 0-10 1-8
Central Division
1 Missouri Comets 20 17 3 .850 153 95 — 7-3 10-0
2 Chicago Mustangs 20 13 7 .650 152 123 4 7-3 6-4
3 Milwaukee Wave 20 13 7 .650 131 114 4 7-3 6-4
4 St. Louis Ambush 20 5 15 .250 104 138 12 3-7 2-8
5 Cedar Rapids Rampage 20 5 15 .250 117 160 12 3-7 2-8

Western Conference

Place Team GP W L Pct GF GA GB Home Road
Southwest Division
1 Las Vegas Legends 20 14 6 .700 141 106 — 8-2 6-4
2 Atletico Baja 20 12 8 .600 178 161 2 8-2 4-6
3 Brownsville Barracudas 20 8 12 .400 134 145 6 6-4 2-8
4 Saltillo Rancho Seco 20 7 13 .350 150 170 7 5-5 2-8
5 Sacramento Surge 20 3 17 .150 114 180 11 3-7 0-10
6 Turlock Express 20 3 17 .150 98 174 11 3-7 0-10
Pacific Division
1 Sonora Suns 20 17 3 .850 219 134 — 9-1 8-2
2 San Diego Sockers 20 13 7 .650 138 111 4 7-3 6-4
3 Tacoma Stars 20 13 7 .650 116 109 4 7-3 6-4
4 Ontario Fury 20 12 8 .600 146 135 5 7-3 5-5
5 Dallas Sidekicks 20 7 13 .350 114 134 10 4-6 3-7

2016 Ron Newman Cup

Playoff format

Top three finishers in each division qualify for the playoffs. The winner of the playoff between the second and third place teams will play the first place team for the division title.

Each round (including the Newman Cup Championship) will be a home and away series. Teams that win both games will advance. If the wins are split between the two teams, a fifteen-minute mini game will be played immediately after the second game to break the tie. The only exception will be the Eastern Division Semi-Final, where there will be a one-game playoff (Syracuse hosting Waza Flo) because of arena availability issues.[12][13]

Eastern Conference Playoffs

Eastern Division Semi-Final

Syracuse Silver Knights5–3Waza Flo
Report
Attendance: 1,815
Referee: Tim Tyma

Syracuse advances to the Eastern Division Final.

Eastern Division Final

Game 1
Baltimore Blast6–5
(3 OT)		Syracuse Silver Knights
Report
Attendance: 4,041
Referee: Joe Della Penna
Game 2
Syracuse Silver Knights3–4Baltimore Blast
Report
Attendance: 2,042
Referee: Rich Grady

Baltimore wins series 2–0.

Central Division Semi-Final

Game 1
Milwaukee Wave7–2Chicago Mustangs
Report
Attendance: 3,475
Game 2
Chicago Mustangs7–2Milwaukee Wave
Report
Attendance: 3,746
Referee: Ryan Cigich
Mini-Game
Chicago Mustangs0–2Milwaukee Wave
Report
Attendance: 3,746
Referee: Shane Butler

Milwaukee wins series 2–1.

Central Division Final

Game 1
Milwaukee Wave5–10Missouri Comets
Report
Attendance: 2,717
Game 2
Missouri Comets8–2Milwaukee Wave
Report
Attendance: 3,004
Referee: Shane Butler

Missouri wins series 2–0.

Eastern Conference Final

Game 1
Missouri Comets3–4
(OT)		Baltimore Blast
Report
Attendance: 3,011
Referee: Ryan Cigich
Game 2
Baltimore Blast4–3
(2OT)		Missouri Comets
Report
Attendance: 4,102
Referee: Rich Grady

Baltimore wins series 2–0

Western Conference Playoffs

Southwest Division Semi-Final

Game 1
Brownsville Barracudas5–4Atletico Baja
Report
Barracudas Sports Complex
Attendance: 1,168
Referee: Francisco Meraz
Game 2
Atletico Baja9–10
(OT)		Brownsville Barracudas
Report
Unidad Deportiva Tijuana
Attendance: 1,760
Referee: Kia Depaneh

Brownsville wins series 2–0

Southwest Division Final

Game 1
Brownsville Barracudas5–11Las Vegas Legends
Report
Barracudas Sports Complex
Attendance: 1,183
Referee: Francisco Meraz
Game 2
Las Vegas Legends11–9Brownsville Barracudas
Report
Las Vegas Sports Park
Attendance: 403
Referee: Ramiro Cruz

Las Vegas wins series 2–0

Pacific Division Semi-Final

Game 1
Tacoma Stars7–8
(2 OT)		San Diego Sockers
Report
Report
Attendance: 2,036
Referee: Kia Depaneh
Game 2
San Diego Sockers11–3Tacoma Stars
Report
Attendance: 2,774
Referee: Ron Cory

San Diego wins series 2–0

Pacific Division Final

Game 1
San Diego Sockers5–10Sonora Suns
Report
Attendance: 2,200
Referee: Ryan Cigich
Game 2
Sonora Suns10–13San Diego Sockers
Report
Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Kelly Mock
Mini-Game
Sonora Suns6–0San Diego Sockers
Report
Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Kelly Mock

Sonora wins series 2–1.

Western Conference Final

Game 1
Sonora Suns9–13Las Vegas Legends
Report
Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 6,841
Referee: Kia Depaneh
Game 2
Sonora Suns13–10Las Vegas Legends
Report
Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 7,487
Referee: Kia Depaneh
Mini-Game
Sonora Suns1–0
(2 OT)		Las Vegas Legends
Report
Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 7,487
Referee: Kia Depaneh

Sonora wins series 2–1.

Newman Cup Championship

Game 1
Baltimore Blast7–4Sonora Suns
Report
Attendance: 7,243
Referee: Rich Grady
Game 2
Sonora Suns13–14
(OT)		Baltimore Blast
Report
Centro de Usos Múltiples
Attendance: 8,324
Referee: Ryan Cigich

Baltimore wins Newman Cup 2–0.

Statistics

Top scorers

Rank Scorer Club Games Goals Assists Points
1 United States Franck Tayou Sonora Suns 20 47 15 62
2 United States Kraig Chiles San Diego Sockers 18 28 27 55
3 Canada Vahid Assadpour Missouri Comets 20 23 27 50
4 Brazil Mauricio Salles Ontario Fury 20 30 16 46
Mexico Efrain Martinez Chicago Mustangs 20 21 25 46
6 Canada Ian Bennett Milwaukee Wave 20 37 7 44
Liberia Leo Gibson Missouri Comets 18 21 23 44
8 Mexico Victor Baez Saltillo Rancho Seco 20 28 15 43
9 United States Moises Gonzalez Brownsville Barracudas 20 34 8 42
Brazil Hewerton Moreira Cedar Rapids Rampage 20 13 29 42

Last updated on March 4, 2016. Source: "Scoring Leaders". Major Arena Soccer League.

Awards

Individual awards

Award Name[14] Team
League MVP Franck Tayou Sonora Suns
Goalkeeper of the Year Danny Waltman Tacoma Stars
Defender of the Year Pat Healey Baltimore Blast
Rookie of the Year Alejandro Leyva Sonora Suns
Coach of the Year Darren Sawatzky Tacoma Stars
Aaron Susi Trophy (Playoff MVP) Lucas Roque Baltimore Blast

All-League First Team

Name[15] Position Team
Kraig Chiles F San Diego Sockers
Franck Tayou F Sonora Suns
Vahid Assadpour M Missouri Comets
Damian Garcia D Sonora Suns
Eric Guzman D Las Vegas Legends
Danny Waltman GK Tacoma Stars

All-League Second Team

Name[15] Position Team
Leo Gibson F Missouri Comets
Mauricio Salles F Ontario Fury
Ian Bennett M Milwaukee Wave
Victor Baez D Saltillo Rancho Seco
Pat Healey D Baltimore Blast
William Vanzela GK Baltimore Blast

All-League Third Team

Name[15] Position Team
Efrain Martinez F Chicago Mustangs
Max Ferdinand M Milwaukee Wave
Moises Gonzalez M Brownsville Barracudas
Luis Ortega D Chicago Mustangs
John Sosa D Missouri Comets
Boris Pardo GK Missouri Comets

All-Rookie Team

Name[16] Position Team
Alejandro Leyva F Sonora Suns
Adolfo Bautista F Chicago Mustangs
Mike Ramos M Tacoma Stars
Thiago Gonçalves D Waza Flo
Roberto Medina D Sonora Suns
Andrew Coughlin GK Syracuse Silver Knights

References

  1. ^ "2015-16 League Attendance". Major Arena Soccer League. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  2. ^ Carp, Steve (March 17, 2015). "Legends promise to return in 2016". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Las Vegas, NV: GateHouse Media. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "MASL adopts new scoring system, structure". The Examiner. Independence, MO: GateHouse Media. April 30, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "Tacoma Stars Set To Relaunch in 2015". Tacoma, WA: Tacoma Stars. May 19, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  5. ^ Krieger, Dan (May 11, 2015). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central (Press release). Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  6. ^ Woodyard, Eric (September 29, 2015). "Major Arena Soccer League team moves home games to Flint's Dort Federal Event Center". The Flint Journal. Flint, MI: Booth Newspapers. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  7. ^ Cano, Guillermo (March 5, 2015). "MASL: Viene a Hermosillo el Comisionado Milliken". Triunfo Deportivo. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "Soles de Sonora Introduced as First 2015/16 Expansion Team". Major Arena Soccer League. March 6, 2015. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  9. ^ Skolnick, David (March 10, 2015). "A proposed soccer league wants to play its home games at the Covelli Centre". The Vindicator. Youngstown, OH: Vindicator Printing Company. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  10. ^ a b Kauffman, Matthew; Carlesso, Jenna (October 28, 2015). "Arena Soccer League Drops Hartford Team Over Concerns About Federal Investigation". Hartford Courant. Hartford, CT: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  11. ^ Cohen, Jeff (October 28, 2015). "Team Says Arena Soccer League Cancels Hartford City FC's Season". Hartford, CT: Connecticut Public Radio. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  12. ^ "MASL Owners Announce Plans for 2015-16 Season". Major Arena Soccer League. April 29, 2015. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  13. ^ "MASL Announces 2016 Ron Newman Cup Playoffs Schedule". Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). March 2, 2016. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  14. ^ "MASL Announces Major Award Winners for 2015/16 Season". Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). March 17, 2016. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c "MASL Announces 2015/16 All-League Teams". Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). March 15, 2016. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  16. ^ "MASL Announces Major Awards Finalists and 2015/16 All-Rookie Team". Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). March 11, 2016. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.