2008 NPSL Season

The 2008 National Premier Soccer League season was the 6th season of the NPSL. The season started in May, 2008, and ended with the NPSL Championship Game on August 3, 2008.

Pennsylvania Stoners finished the season as national champions, beating St. Paul Twin Stars in the NPSL Championship game in Uniondale, New York on 3 August 2008.^[1]

Pennsylvania Stoners forward Tom Ehrlich was named the National Premier Soccer League's Player of the Year.^[2] Tom Ehrlich was also the league's top scorer, with 11 goals.^[3]

Changes From 2007

New Franchises

• Twelve franchises joined the league this year, all expansion franchises:

Team Name	Metro Area	Location	Previous Affiliation
Alabama Spirit	Birmingham area	Birmingham, AL	expansion - Provisional member
Arizona Sahuaros	Phoenix area	Phoenix, AZ	returned to league after several years in USASA
Atlanta FC	Greater Atlanta area	Sandy Springs, GA	expansion
Lancaster Inferno	Lancaster area	Salunga-Landisville, PA	expansion
Maine Sting	State of Maine	Bangor, ME	expansion
Maryland United	Harford County area	Bel Air, MD	expansion
Morris County Colonials	Morris County area	Morristown, NJ	expansion
New York Athletic Club	Wetschester County area	Pelham, NY	expansion
Pennsylvania Stoners	Lehigh Valley area	Allentown, PA	expansion
Performance FC Phoenix	Greenville area	Greenville, SC	expansion
Rocket City United	Huntsville area	Huntsville, AL	expansion
San Diego United	Greater San Diego area	El Cajon, CA	expansion

Name Changes

• Rockford Raptors changed its name to Chicago Fire NPSL (the actual organization did not change its name, just its NPSL competitive arm)
• Maryland United changed its name to Charm City FC mid-season

Folding

• Six teams left the league prior to the beginning of the season:
  • Colorado Crimson - Broomfield, Colorado
  • Denver Kickers - Golden, Colorado
  • Indianapolis Braves - Lawrence, Indiana
  • Real Shore FC - Lincroft, New Jersey
  • San Diego Pumitas - San Diego, California
  • Southern California Fusion - Carlsbad, California

• In addition, three 2007 teams chose to spend the 2008 season on hiatus, with plans to return in 2009:
  • FC Indiana - Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Indios USA - Canutillo, Texas
  • Sacramento Knights - Sacramento, California

Final standings

Purple indicates division title clinched

North Division

Mid-Atlantic Division

Southeast Division

Midwest Division

Southwest Division

Northwest Division

Playoffs

Divisional Rounds

Sonoma County Sol 3-1 San Diego United
St. Paul Twin Stars beat Atlanta FC

Semi finals

Pennsylvania Stoners beat Sonoma County Sol
St. Paul Twin Stars 1-1 Long Island Academy (St. Paul win 4-2 on penalties)

Final

Pennsylvania Stoners 3-0 St. Paul Twin Stars

References

• US soccer history archives for 2008