# 2019–20 California United Strikers FC season

The 2019–20 California United Strikers FC season was the club's inaugural season in the National Independent Soccer Association, a newly established third division soccer league in the United States.

## Overview

Since 2017, Cal United had attempted to join two professional leagues, the North American Soccer League and National Premier Soccer League's proposed professional league (beginning with the NPSL Founders Cup tournament), with neither effort taking form. In June 2019 the team was accepted into NISA as a member for the league's inaugural season.
The Strikers finished the fall season in second place with a 2-3-1 (9 pts) record, clinching a spot in the West Coast Championship against LA Force. In the final, which was played at Championship Stadium with Cal being designated the "away" team due to seeding, the Strikers beat LA in a penalty kick shootout and won its first professional trophy.
In early July 2019, prior to the NISA season kicking off, the team beat 30-time Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala champions C.S.D. Municipal, 3–1, in the latter's pre-season tour of the United States.
On April 27, 2020, following a stoppage of play and subsequent extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NISA announced the cancellation of the 2020 Spring season.

## Players

    As of March 1, 2020
| No. | Position | Player | Nation |
| 0 | GK | Steven Barrera | United States |
| 1 | GK | Kifi Cabrera | United States |
| 2 | DF | Gonzalo Salguero | United States |
| 3 | DF | James McGhee | United States |
| 4 | DF | Juan Pablo Ocegueda | United States |
| 5 | DF | Xavier Ikaika Fuerte | United States |
| 6 | MF | Duncan Capriotti | United States |
| 7 | DF | Adan Coronado | United States |
| 8 | MF | Kyle O'Brien | United States |
| 9 | FW | Omar Nuño | Mexico |
| 10 | FW | Gustavo Villalobos | United States |
| 11 | MF | Abraham Villon | United States |
| 12 | FW | Miguel Sánchez Rincón | Mexico |
| 13 | FW | Michael Bryant | United States |
| 14 | MF | Alec Sundly | United States |
| 15 | MF | Evan Waldrep | United States |
| 16 | MF | Christian Thierjung | United States |
| 17 | FW | Andy Contreras | United States |
| 18 | MF | Kevin Jeon | United States |
| 19 | MF | Shane Kaemerle | United States |
| 20 | DF | Cashion London | Guyana |
| 21 | DF | Beto Navarro | United States |
| 23 | MF | Shinya Kadono | Japan |
| 24 | DF | Chris Klute | United States |
| 29 | MF | Tony Lopez | United States |
| 30 | GK | Jonathan Waterberg | Netherlands |
| 33 | DF | Kevin Garcia-Lopez | United States |

### Staff

* Don Ebert – Head coach
* Roy Chingirian – Assistant coach

## Transfers
### In

| # | Pos. | Player | Signed from | Details | Date |
| 18 | MF | Kevin Jeon | Orange County FC | Free transfer | August 2, 2019 |
| 24 | DF | Chris Klute | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 2, 2019 |
| 11 | MF | Abraham Villon | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 2, 2019 |
| 6 | MF | Duncan Capriotti | L.A. Wolves FC | Free transfer | August 2, 2019 |
| 10 | FW | Gustavo Villalobos | FC Golden State | Free transfer | August 2, 2019 |
| 5 | DF | Xavier Ikaika Fuerte | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 5, 2019 |
| 2 | DF | Gonzalo Salguero | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 5, 2019 |
| 7 | DF | Adan Coronado | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 5, 2019 |
| 8 | MF | Kyle O'Brien | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 6, 2019 |
| 20 | DF | Cashion London | Unattached | Free transfer | August 6, 2019 |
| 1 | GK | Kifi Cabrera | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 6, 2019 |
| 16 | MF | Christian Thierjung | Tulsa Roughnecks | Free transfer | August 7, 2019 |
| 4 | DF | Juan Pablo Ocegueda | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 7, 2019 |
| 17 | FW | Andy Contreras | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 7, 2019 |
| 7 | FW | Cristian Gordillo | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 8, 2019 |
| 19 | MF | Michael Sullivan | Unattached | Free transfer | August 8, 2019 |
| 12 | FW | Miguel Sánchez Rincón | California United FC II | Free transfer | August 8, 2019 |
| 15 | MF | Evan Waldrep | Phoenix Rising FC | Free transfer | August 12, 2019 |
| 3 | DF | James McGhee | Colorado Mesa Mavericks | Free transfer | August 12, 2019 |
| 14 | FW | Jackson Jellah | Grand Canyon Antelopes | Free transfer | August 12, 2019 |
| 0 | GK | Steven Barrera | Ventura County Fusion | Free transfer | August 13, 2019 |
| 9 | FW | Omar Nuño | FC Arizona | Free transfer | August 13, 2019 |
| 21 | DF | Beto Navarro | Fresno FC | Free transfer | August 13, 2019 |
| 13 | FW | Michael Bryant | Orange County FC | Free transfer | August 29, 2019 |
| 30 | GK | Jonathan Waterberg | TOP Oss | Free transfer | January 16, 2020 |
| 19 | MF | Shane Kaemerle | Strikers FC - Irvine | Free transfer | February 19, 2020 |
| 33 | DF | Kevin Garcia-Lopez | Las Vegas Lights FC | Free transfer | February 24, 2020 |
| 29 | MF | Tony Lopez | Rot-Weiss Walldorf | Free transfer | February 25, 2020 |
| 14 | MF | Alec Sundly | 1. FCA Darmstadt | Free transfer | February 26, 2020 |
| 23 | MF | Shinya Kadono | Loudoun United FC | Free transfer | February 26, 2020 |

### Out

| # | Pos. | Player | Signed to | Details | Date |
| 7 | DF | Cristian Gordillo | Orange County FC 2 | Free transfer | November 18, 2019 |
| 14 | FW | Jackson Jellah | Unattached | Not retained | December 1, 2019 |
| 19 | MF | Michael Sullivan | Unattached | Not retained | December 1, 2019 |

## Competitions
### NISA Fall season (Showcase)

Details for the 2019 NISA Fall season were announced July 25, 2019.

#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Los Angeles Force | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 11 | West Coast Championship |
| 2 | California United Strikers FC (O) | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 9 | West Coast Championship |
| 3 | San Diego 1904 FC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 15 | −6 | 6 | |
| 4 | Oakland Roots SC | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 3 | |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 11 November 2019. Source: Match reports

#### Fall Playoff
### NISA Spring Season

Details for the 2020 NISA Spring season were announced January 27, 2020.

#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Oakland Roots SC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 | Playoffs |
| 2 | California United Strikers FC (Q) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Detroit City FC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | Playoffs |
| 4 | Stumptown Athletic | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | Playoffs |
| 5 | San Diego 1904 FC | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 6 | Chattanooga FC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles Force | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 1 | |
| 8 | Michigan Stars FC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0 | |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 8 March 2020. Source: Match reports

#### Matches
### U.S. Open Cup

Cal United will enter the 2020 U.S. Open Cup with the rest of the National Independent Soccer Association teams in the Second Round. It was announced on January 29 that their first opponent would be USL Championship side Orange County SC.

## Squad statistics

    As of Match played 8 March 2020

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Fall Season | Fall Season | Fall Playoffs | Fall Playoffs | Spring Season | Spring Season | Spring Playoff | Spring Playoff | U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||||||
| 0 | GK | USA | Steven Barrera | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | GK | USA | Kifi Cabrera | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 30 | GK | NED | Jonathan Waterberg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| Defenders ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | USA | Gonzalo Salguero | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | DF | USA | James McGhee | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | DF | USA | Juan Pablo Ocegueda | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 5 | DF | USA | Xavier Ikaika Fuerte | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | DF | USA | Adan Coronado | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 20 | DF | GUY | Cashion London | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 21 | DF | USA | Beto Navarro | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 24 | DF | USA | Chris Klute | 10 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 33 | DF | USA | Kevin Garcia-Lopez | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | USA | Duncan Capriotti | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 8 | MF | USA | Kyle O'Brien | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 11 | MF | USA | Abraham Villon | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 14 | MF | USA | Alec Sundly | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 15 | MF | USA | Evan Waldrep | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 16 | MF | USA | Christian Thierjung | 10 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 18 | MF | USA | Kevin Jeon | 9 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 19 | MF | USA | Shane Kaemerle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 23 | MF | JPN | Shinya Kadono | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 29 | MF | USA | Tony Lopez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| Forwards ||||||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | MEX | Omar Nuño | 10 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | FW | USA | Gustavo Villalobos | 10 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 12 | FW | MEX | Miguel Sánchez Rincón | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 13 | FW | USA | Michael Bryant | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 17 | FW | USA | Andy Contreras | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| Left during season ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | FW | MEX | Cristian Gordillo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 14 | FW | CIV | Jackson Jellah | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 19 | MF | USA | Michael Sullivan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Number | Name | Fall Season | Fall Playoff | Spring Season | Spring Playoff | U.S. Open Cup | Total |
| 1 | MF | 16 | Christian Thierjung | 6 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 6 |
| 2 | FW | 10 | Gustavo Villalobos | 4 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 5 |
| 3 | FW | 9 | Omar Nuño | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 |
| 3 | FW | 13 | Michael Bryant | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 2 |
| 3 | FW | 17 | Andy Contreras | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 |
| 3 | DF | 24 | Chris Klute | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 |
| 4 | MF | 18 | Kevin Jeon | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | - | 1 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | Fall Season | Fall Season | Fall Playoff | Fall Playoff | Spring Season | Spring Season | Spring Playoff | Spring Playoff | U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup | Total | Total |
| 6 | MF | Duncan Capriotti | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Omar Nuño | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Gustavo Villalobos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | Miguel Sánchez Rincón | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | FW | Michael Bryant | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | Andy Contreras | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | Chris Klute | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| X | - | Don Ebert | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| X | - | Roy Chingirian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |