Eastern Premier Soccer League
| Founded | July 23, 2020 (As the Eastern Premier Soccer League) |
|---|---|
| First season | 2020–21 |
| Country | United States |
| Confederation | CONCACAF (North American Football Union) |
| Number of clubs | 36 |
| Relegation to | Metropolitan Conference Cosmopolitan Soccer League Garden State Soccer League Long Island Soccer Football League Mid-Atlantic Conference Maryland Major Soccer League Northeast Conference New England Champions League |
| Domestic cup(s) | U.S. Open Cup (via qualifying tournament & NAC) National Amateur Cup (via USASA Region I) |
| International cup(s) | CONCACAF Champions League (via U.S. Open Cup) |
| Current champions | NY Greek Americans (1st title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Northern Virginia FC (2 titles) |
| Website | apslsoccer |
The American Premier Soccer League (APSL) is a United States Adult Soccer Association affiliated amateur soccer league that includes teams from the Eastern United States. Currently the league has members from Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia competing in five regional conferences.
Playing its first season in 2020–21 as the Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL), the league began as a partnership between the New York City–based Cosmopolitan Soccer League and the Maryland Major Soccer League. It is also an affiliate of the National Independent Soccer Association, a professionally sanctioned third division soccer association, and serves as the Northeast Region of the semi-professional NISA Nation.
History
[edit]
The league was announced on July 23, 2020, in a joint effort between the Cosmopolitan Soccer League and Maryland Major Soccer League to create a regional based multi-league promotion and relegation system in the United States.[1][2] The league's goal is to have merit-based promotion from local amateur leagues, including champions, with the possibility of being relegated back into the local feeder leagues at the end of the season. The initial slate of members included many of the clubs that participated in the first division of the CSL the previous season.[3]
In the following months, the EPSL added teams from additional leagues such as the Woodbridge Soccer League and United Premier Soccer League.[4] On September 8, 2020, the league announced that the New Jersey–based Garden State Soccer League would become a feeder league for the EPSL.[5] A future promotion spot in the Metropolitan Conference of the EPSL will be determined in a playoff between the champion of the GSSL and the champion of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.
On September 4, 2020, the National Independent Soccer Association announced its latest amateur league affiliation with the EPSL.[6][7] It joined the previously announced Gulf Coast Premier League and Midwest Premier League in having in having an affiliation with the third division association. The affiliation includes at least two merit-based spots in the NISA Independent Cup tournament and participation on the NISA Alliance Board.
On February 20, 2025, prior to the second half of the 2024–25 season starting, the league officially changed its name to the American Premier Soccer League.
| Conference | Club | Location | Stadium | Founded | Joined | Conference Titles | League Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Conference | Doxa SC | New Rochelle, NY | Joseph F. Fosina Field | 1962 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| KidSuper Samba AC | New York City, NY | Baker Athletics Complex | 2017 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lansdowne Yonkers FC | Yonkers, NY | Tibbetts Brook Park | 1997 | 2020 | 0 | 1 | |
| Manhattan Celtic FC | New York City, NY | Randalls Island Icahn Stadium | 1998 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| New York Greek Americans | New York City, NY | Metropolitan Oval | 1941 | 2020 | 1 | 1 | |
| New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | New York City, NY | Belson Stadium | 1974 | 2020 | 3 | 0 | |
| New Amsterdam FC II | New York City, NY | Soundview Park | 2002 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Scots-American AC | Kearny, NJ | Kearny High School | 1931 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seft F.C. | Nutley, NJ | Frederick Douglass Field | 2017 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Zum Schneider FC 03 | New York City, NY | Jack McManus Field | 2003 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Delaware River Conference | Danubia SC | Philadelphia, PA | Bristol Township Municipal Park | 1957 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| International New Jersey FC | Burlington, NJ | Bristol Township Municipal Park | 2021 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kensington SC | Kensington, PA | Temple University Sports Complex | 2010 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Oaklyn United FC | Oaklyn, NJ | Rowan Soccer Complex | 2018 | 2020 | 0 | 1 | |
| Real Central New Jersey | Trenton, NJ | Mercer County Community College | 2020 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Salone FC | Philadelphia, PA | John Bartram High School | 2001 | 2020 | 0 | 1 | |
| Mid-Atlantic Conference | Baltimore City F.C. | Baltimore, MD | Middle Branch Fitness Center | 2023 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| Maryland Bobcats U23 | Boyds, MD | Maryland SoccerPlex | 2018 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Christos FC | Glen Burnie, MD | Moose Soccer Park | 1999 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Jessup FC | Jessup, MD | TBA | 2020 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wave FC | Virginia Beach, VA | TBA | 2019 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grove Soccer United | Glen Allen, MD | Deep Run HS | 2022 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Northern Virginia FC | Leesburg, VA | Virginia Revolution Sportsplex | 1998 | 2020 | 3 | 2 | |
| Patuxent FA EPSL | Great Mills, MD | Chancellors Run Regional Park | 2020 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wolves United | Dumfries, VA | Ali Krieger Sports Complex | 2021 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| VA Marauders | Fairfax, VA | Woodson HS | 2020 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| Constitution Conference | Glastonbury Celtic | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Guanabara SC | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2024 | 0 | 0 | |
| Hermandad Connecticut | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2024 | 0 | 0 | |
| KO Elites | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2024 | 0 | 0 | |
| Villanovence FC | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2024 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wildcat FC | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2024 | 0 | 0 | |
| Northeast Conference | Sete de Setembro USA | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Praia Kapital | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2023 | 0 | 0 | |
| Jaguares United FC | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2023 | 0 | 0 | |
| Falcones FC | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2023 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tres Barras | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2023 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fitchburg FC | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2023 | 0 | 0 | |
| Project Football | TBD | TBD | TBD | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
Notable Former clubs
[edit]| Club | Location | Conference | Joined | Final season | Conference Titles | League Titles | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston City FC | Boston, MA | Northeast | 2022 | 2024 | 1 | 0 | USL-2 |
| Philadelphia Lone Star FC | Philadelphia, PA | Metropolitan | 2020 | 2021 | 0 | 0 | UPSL |
| Steel Pulse FC | Owings Mills, MD | Mid-Atlantic | 2020 | 2021 | 1 | 0 | MSSL |
| Scots-American AC | Kearny, NJ | Metropolitan | 2021 | 2023 | 0 | 0 | Hiatus |
2021–22 Season Teams
[edit]Northeast Conference
[edit]| Team | City | Stadium | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Rush | Boston, MA | Charlestown High School | 2017 |
| Fall River FC | Fall River, MA | Britland Park | 2019 |
| Fall River Marksmen | Fall River, MA | BMC Durfee High School | 1922 |
| International SC | Nashua, NH | Main Dunstable Field | 1992 |
| KO Elites | Hartford, CT | Annie Fischer School | 2019 |
| Mass United Rush | Boston, MA | Charlestown High School | 2009 |
| New Hampshire Bobcats | Boston, MA | Joe Moakley Park | 2016 |
| Ruggles FC | Marlborough, MA | ForeKicks Sports Complex | 2020 |
| Santa Cruz FC U23 | Lowell, MA | UMASS, Lowell | 2021 |
| Santa Cruz FC U20 | Lowell, MA | UMASS, Lowell | 2021 |
Metropolitan Conference
[edit]| Team | City | Stadium | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doxa SC | New Rochelle, NY | Joseph F. Fosina Field | 1962 |
| KidSuper Samba AC | New York City, NY | Baker Athletics Complex | 2017 |
| Lansdowne Yonkers FC | Yonkers, NY | Tibbetts Brook Park | 1997 |
| Manhattan Celtic FC | New York City, NY | Randalls Island Icahn Stadium | 1998 |
| New York Greek Americans | New York City, NY | Metropolitan Oval | 1941 |
| New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | New York City, NY | Belson Stadium | 1974 |
| New Amsterdam FC II | New York City, NY | Soundview Park | 2002 |
| Scots-American AC | Kearny, NJ | Kearny High School | 1931 |
| Seft F.C. | Nutley, NJ | Frederick Douglass Field | 2017 |
| Zum Schneider FC 03 | New York City, NY | Jack McManus Field | 2003 |
Delaware River Conference
[edit]| Team | City | Stadium | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albion SC Delaware | Middletown, DE | DE Turf Sports Complex | 2021 |
| Danubia SC | Philadelphia, PA | Bristol Township Municipal Park | 1957 |
| International New Jersey FC | Burlington, NJ | Bristol Township Municipal Park | 2021 |
| Kensington SC | Kensington, PA | Temple University Sports Complex | 2010 |
| Oaklyn United FC | Oaklyn, NJ | Rowan Soccer Complex | 2018 |
| Real Central New Jersey | Trenton, NJ | Mercer County Community College | 2020 |
| Salone FC | Philadelphia, PA | John Bartram High School | 2001 |
Mid-Atlantic Conference
[edit]| Team | City | Stadium | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC Commonwealth | Norfolk, VA | Norfolk Collegiate School | 2020 |
| Columbia FC | Columbia, MD | Milford Mill Academy | 2017 |
| Dulles N-Lite FC | Chantilly, VA | Poplar Tree Park | 2021 |
| Fredericksburg City United | Fredericksburg, VA | Smith Lake Park | 2014 |
| Motorik FC Alexandria | Alexandria, VA | Thomas Jefferson High School | 2017 |
| Northern Virginia FC | Leesburg, VA | Virginia Revolution Sportsplex | 1998 |
| Patuxent FA EPSL | Great Mills, MD | Chancellors Run Regional Park | 2020 |
| Wheaton Lions S.A. | Columbia, MD | Cedar Lane Park | 2016 |
2020–21 Season Teams
[edit]Metropolitan Conference
[edit]| Team | City | Stadium | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton Elite FC | Clifton, NJ | Athenia Steel Complex | 2017 |
| Doxa SC | New Rochelle, NY | Joseph F. Fosina Field | 1962 |
| FC Westchester | Yonkers, NY | Tibbetts Brook Park | 1986 |
| KidSuper Samba AC | New York City, NY | Baker Athletics Complex | 2017 |
| Lansdowne Yonkers FC | Yonkers, NY | Fleming Field (Yonkers) | 1997 |
| New York Athletic Club S.C. | Pelham Manor, NY | New York Athletic Club | 2008 |
| New York Greek Americans | New York City, NY | Metropolitan Oval | 1941 |
| New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | New York City, NY | Belson Stadium | 1974 |
| New Amsterdam FC II | New York City, NY | Soundview Park | 2002 |
| Philadelphia Lone Star FC | Philadelphia, PA | South Philadelphia Athletic Super Site | 2001 |
| Seft F.C. | Nutley, NJ | Frederick Douglass Field | 2017 |
| Zum Schneider FC 03 | New York City, NY | Jack McManus Field | 2003 |
Mid-Atlantic Conference
[edit]| Team | City | Stadium | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Star United FC | Baltimore, MD | Milford Mill Academy | |
| Columbia FC | Baltimore, MD | Milford Mill Academy | 2017 |
| DMV Rangers FC | Baltimore, MD | Milford Mill Academy | |
| Fredericksburg City United | Fredericksburg, VA | Smith Lake Park | 2014 |
| Maryland Bobcats FC II | Boyds, MD | Montgomery Blair High School | 2016 |
| Motorik FC Alexandria | Alexandria, VA | West Potomac High School | 2017 |
| Northern Virginia FC | Leesburg, VA | Evergreen Sportsplex | 1998 |
| Steel Pulse FC | Baltimore, MD | Banner Field at Latrobe Park | 2018 |
| Virginia United FC | Woodbridge, VA | Howison Homestead Soccer Complex | 2016 |
Northeast Conference
[edit]| Team | City | Stadium | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Siege FC | Boston, MA | The Rotch Park | 2017 |
| Castle Island FC | Boston, MA | The Rotch Park | 2021 |
| Connecticut Rush | North Branford, CT | Guilford High School | 2020 |
| Mass United Rush | Gloucester, MA | Gloucester High School | 2009 |
Year by year
[edit]League Champions
[edit]| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Lansdowne Yonkers FC[8] | New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | 2–0 | Capelli Sport Complex (Tinton Falls, New Jersey) |
| 2021–22 | Northern Virginia FC[9] | New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | 2–0 | Capelli Sport Complex (Tinton Falls, New Jersey) |
| 2022–23 | Northern Virginia FC | Fall River FC | 4–0 | VA Revolution Sportsplex (Leesburg, Virginia) |
| 2023–24 | New York Greek Americans | Northern Virginia FC | 2–0 | Lancaster Bible College (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) |
Conference Champions
[edit]Metropolitan Conference champions
[edit]| Season | Regular Season | Playoff Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Lansdowne Yonkers FC | New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | Doxa SC | 2–1 |
| 2021–22 | Doxa SC | New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | Zum Schneider FC 03 | 4–2 |
| 2022–23 | New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | New York Greek Americans | 2–1 |
| 2023–24 | New York Greek Americans | New York Greek Americans | Doxa SC | 2–1 |
Mid-Atlantic Conference champions
[edit]| Season | Regular Season | Playoff Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Steel Pulse FC | DMV Rangers | Northern Virginia FC | 1–1 (5:4 pks)[10] |
| 2021–22 | Northern Virginia FC | Northern Virginia FC | Columbia FC | 2–1[11] |
| 2022–23 | Northern Virginia FC | Northern Virginia FC | N-Lite FC | 2–1[12] |
| 2023–24 | Northern Virginia FC | Northern Virginia FC | Virginia Marauders FC | 4–3 |
Northeast Conference champions
[edit]| Season | Regular Season | Playoff Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Connecticut Rush | Mass United Rush FC | Connecticut Rush | 4–0 |
| 2021–22 | Fall River FC | Fall River FC | Ruggles Pro FC | 3–1 |
| 2022–23 | Fall River FC | Fall River FC | Trem Bala FC USA | 3–0 FF[a] |
| 2023–24 | Fall: Sete de Setembro USA Spring: Boston City FC |
Sete de Setembro USA | Boston City FC | 7–3[13] |
Delaware River Conference champions
[edit]| Season | Regular Season | Playoff Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | International New Jersey FC | Salone FC | International New Jersey FC | 3–2 |
| 2022–23 | Philadelphia Heritage SC | Oaklyn United FC | Salone FC | 4–1[14] |
| 2023–24 | Alloy SC | Philadelphia SC | Oaklyn United FC | 1–0 |
EPSL Tier League System
[edit]| Level | Eastern Premier Soccer League | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Delaware River Conference 10 clubs |
Metropolitan Conference 12 clubs |
Mid-Atlantic Conference 10 clubs |
Northeast Conference 8 clubs |
Constitution Conference 6 clubs | |||
| 6 | CASA Select Liga 1 9 clubs |
Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 1 12 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League Premier Division 7 clubs |
Long Island Soccer Football League Premier Division 10 clubs |
Maryland Major Soccer League Premier Division 12 clubs |
CASA Select Liga 1 7 clubs |
||
| 7 | CASA Select Liga 2 6 clubs |
Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 2 17 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League A Division North 10 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League A Division Central 10 clubs |
Long Island Soccer Football League Division 1 9 clubs |
|||
| 8 | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 3 12 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League B Division North 10 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League B Division Central 10 clubs |
Long Island Soccer Football League Division 2 8 clubs |
||||
| 9 | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 4 12 clubs |
|||||||
Notes
[edit]- ^ Both teams won their respective semifinal matches but a championship final was never played and Fall River FC was declared the Northeast Conference champion.
References
[edit]- ^ Mwamba, Jay (September 2, 2020). "Lansdowne go semi-pro, join EPSL". Irish Echo. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (July 24, 2020). "REGIONALLY SPEAKING: CSL, Maryland Majors join Eastern Premier Soccer League". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ Mwamba, Jay (August 27, 2020). "Lansdowne keep active during crisis". Irish Echo. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "EPSL Welcomes Northern Virginia FC". Eastern Premier Soccer League. August 26, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "EPSL Announces Feeder League Agreement with New Jersey's Garden State Soccer League". Eastern Premier Soccer League. September 8, 2020. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "NISA Expands Amateur Affiliations With the Eastern Premier Soccer League Agreement". nisaofficial.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (September 4, 2020). "ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP: Between NISA, Eastern Premier Soccer League". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ Battista, Mike (July 29, 2021). "OaM Lower League Round-Up: July 29, 2020". Once A Metro. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "NYPF Fall to Nova FC in the 2022 EPSL Finals". Eleftheria Pancyprian Soccer Club. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Creel, Dan (July 23, 2021). "The Winding Road to the Final Four". Protagonist Soccer. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Vaughn, Dan (June 30, 2022). "8 Days, 3 Trophies". Protagonist Soccer. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
Wednesday, June 22nd, NoVa FC hosted Columbia FC for the Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship, with the winner advancing to the EPSL playoffs. Due to inclement weather, the match had to be moved indoors, but that didn't slow NVFC's roll. JP Ayolmbong scored the opener and Jhonny De Souza would add the eventual game winner, as they won the Mid-Atlantic Conference title, 2-1.
- ^ Vaughn, Dan (June 26, 2023). "NoVA FC Crowned EPSL Champions". Protagonist Soccer.
- ^ "2024 EPSL Northeast Conference Champions: Sete de Setembro". Massachusetts Adult Soccer. June 14, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Lutz, Tim (June 14, 2023). "Oaklyn United wins 2023 EPSL Delaware River Conference playoff championship". Philadelphia Soccer Now. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
External links
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Categories:
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