Major Arena Soccer League 2

Major Arena Soccer League 2
Founded2017
CountryUnited States
Other club(s) fromMexico
Number of clubs16
Level on pyramid2
Current championsIowa Demon Hawks (2023–24)
Most championshipsSan Diego Sockers 2 (two titles)
Websitewww.m2soccer.com

The Major Arena Soccer League 2 is a North American indoor soccer league that serves as the developmental league of the Major Arena Soccer League.

History

MASL 2 launched in 2017 to "provide an outlet for teams to either reorganize for a re-emergence in the MASL or an avenue for teams to compete in smaller markets in hopes of rising to MASL status."[1] It was announced that MASL 2 would have between 8 and 12 teams.[2]

The 2018–19 season brought the total number of teams participating in the season up from 10 to 15. Stockton, California, was announced as a market and held a team naming contest, but all news stories from the league website and all mention of the Stockton franchised were dropped. The league changed from having "Conferences" to "Divisions." Expanding from the Eastern and Western conference's the MASL 2 now had the Eastern Division, Mountain Division, and Pacific Division.

On February 25, 2021, MASL 2 announced the return of the RGV Barracudas FC to the league to compete in the 2021–2022 season.[3]

On March 11, 2021, MASL 2 officially welcomed the Cleveland Crunch to the league.[4]

Sponsorship

The official game ball is made by Mitre,[5][6] based in Wakefield, England.

Teams

Division Team City/State Arena Founded Joined Head coach MASL affiliate
East
Baltimore Arsenal Towson, Maryland SECU Arena 2023 2023 Tarik Walker Baltimore Blast
Salisbury Steaks Salisbury, Maryland 2023 2025
Spice City FC Danbury, Connecticut Danbury Ice Arena 2024 2024 Onua Obasi
United Elite Krajisnik FC Utica, NY Adirondack Bank Center 2017 2023 Anel Pajazetovic Utica City FC
Midwest/West Certified Lions FC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Let's Play ISA Arena 2024 Thomaso Siranga
Chihuahua Savage II Chihuahua. Chihuahua Arena Corner Sport 2022, 2024
Empire Jets Upland, California Upland Arena 2017 2017 Anthony Perez Empire Strykers
New Mexico Runners Rio Rancho, New Mexico Rio Rancho Events Center 2018 2018 Steve Famiglietta
San Diego Sockers 2 Oceanside, California Frontwave Arena 2017 2017 Rene Ortiz San Diego Sockers
Turlock Cal Express Turlock, California Turlock Soccer Complex 2011 2021 Arturo Pulido
Wichita Wings Wichita, Kansas Hartman Arena 2019 2019 Roger Downing
North Iowa Demon Hawks Des Moines, Iowa Buccaneer Arena 2021 2022 Francisco Fernandes, Jr.
Minnesota Blizzard St. Paul, Minnesota Warner Coliseum 2024 2024
Muskegon Risers Muskegon, Michigan Mercy Health Arena 2014 2017 Ben Ritsema Milwaukee Wave
St. Louis Ambush II St Charles, Missouri Family Arena 2023 2023 Donnie Alberty St. Louis Ambush
Wisconsin Conquerers Marshfield, Wisconsin Greenheck Fieldhouse 2023 2024

Inactive teams

Team City/State Arena Founded Joined Last played
Iowa Raptors FC Cedar Rapids, Iowa Alliant Energy PowerHouse 2022 2022 2024
Kansas Bandits
Santa Fe Gloom Santa Fe, New Mexico 2023 2023 2024

Champions

Overview of Major Arena Soccer League 2 champions
Season Champions Runner-up Score Host
2017–18 Chicago Mustangs San Diego Sockers 2 7–0 Colorado Springs, Colorado
2018–19 San Diego Sockers 2 Cuervos de Juarez 7–5 Ontario, California
2019–20 Chihuahua Savage II[7] Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19
2020–21 Cleveland Crunch[8] Wichita Wings 11–6[9] Wichita, Kansas
2021–22 San Diego Sockers 2[10] Cleveland Crunch 7–4 Muskegon, Michigan
2022–23 Chihuahua Savage II Iowa Raptors FC 10–4 Mesquite, Texas
2023–24 Iowa Demon Hawks Rochester Lancers 8–3 Wichita, Kansas

References

  1. ^ Schaub, Joshua (19 September 2017). "From the desk of Commissioner Schaub". MASL. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Digest (Sept. 19): MASL places Blast in Eastern Division". The Baltimore Sun. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  3. ^ "MASL 2 WELCOMES BACK THE RETURN OF THE RGV BARRACUDAS FC FOR THE 2021-2022 SEASON". MASL 2 Website. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Return of the Crunch: After nearly 20 years, professional indoor soccer is returning to Cleveland". News 5 Cleveland. September 19, 2020.
  5. ^ Husted, Jeff (13 October 2017). "MASL ANNOUNCES LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH MITRE". MASL. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  6. ^ "MASL Announces Long-Term Partnership With Mitre". Harrisburg Heat. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Chihuahua 2019-20 regular season champs, M2 season completed". Major Arena Soccer League 2. September 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "Cleveland Crunch wins title in its first season back". Spectrum News 1. July 19, 2021.
  9. ^ "Led by Blue Streaks, Cleveland Crunch Wins MASL2 Championship". John Carroll Blue Streaks. July 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "San Diego takes home MASL2 title after championship weekend in Muskegon, tops defending champs Cleveland". Local Sports Journal. April 11, 2022.