# 2012 North American Soccer League season

The 2012 North American Soccer League season was the 45th season of Division II soccer in the United States and the second season of the revived North American Soccer League. It was contested by eight teams including one from Canada and one from Puerto Rico. The Montreal Impact were self-promoted to Major League Soccer as an expansion franchise and the expansion San Antonio Scorpions were added to the NASL. The NASL received full sanctioning from the United States Soccer Federation on March 3, 2012 at their annual meeting. The defending Soccer Bowl champions were the NSC Minnesota Stars, while the Carolina Railhawks were the defending North American Supporters' Trophy winners.

## Personnel and sponsorship

| Team | Head Coach | Captain | Shirt sponsor |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | Adrian Whitbread | Noah Delgado | Toyota |
| Carolina RailHawks | Colin Clarke | Kupono Low | BCBSA |
| FC Edmonton | Harry Sinkgraven | Chris Kooy | Sears Canada |
| Atlanta Silverbacks | Brian Haynes | Martyn Lancaster | Reto Sports |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | Daryl Shore | Toni Ståhl | Joma |
| Minnesota Stars | Manny Lagos | Kyle Altman | Admiral |
| San Antonio Scorpions | Tim Hankinson | Kevin Harmse | Nike |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | Ricky Hill | Frank Sanfilippo | Mainsail Suites / United World Soccer |

## Regular season
### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | San Antonio Scorpions (X) | 28 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 46 | 27 | +19 | 47 | Playoff semifinals |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (C) | 28 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 37 | 30 | +7 | 45 | Playoff semifinals |
| 3 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 30 | +2 | 41 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 4 | Carolina RailHawks | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 44 | 46 | −2 | 40 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 5 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 28 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 40 | 46 | −6 | 36 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 6 | Minnesota United | 28 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 35 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 7 | Atlanta Silverbacks | 28 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 35 | 46 | −11 | 30 | |
| 8 | FC Edmonton | 28 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 26 | 36 | −10 | 25 | |

### Results

Abbreviation and Color Key: Atlanta Silverbacks – ATL • Carolina RailHawks FC – CAR • FC Edmonton – EDM • Fort Lauderdale Strikers – FTL Minnesota Stars FC – MIN • Puerto Rico Islanders – PRI • San Antonio Scorpions FC – SAS • Tampa Bay Rowdies – TAM
Win  • Loss  • Draw  • Home :
| Club | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match | Match |
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Atlanta Silverbacks | SAS | CAR | TAM | MIN | MIN | EDM | PRI | TAM | FTL | EDM | SAS | CAR | PRI | SAS | CAR | MIN | PRI | EDM | FTL | FTL | TAM | MIN | CAR | EDM | TAM | FTL | SAS | PRI |
| Atlanta Silverbacks | 0–0 | 4–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–5 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Carolina RailHawks | MIN | ATL | TAM | PRI | SAS | FTL | EDM | MIN | PRI | PRI | MIN | ATL | EDM | FTL | ATL | FTL | MIN | SAS | TAM | FTL | EDM | ATL | PRI | SAS | EDM | SAS | TAM | TAM |
| Carolina RailHawks | 0–0 | 4–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 0–8 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 |
| FC Edmonton | FTL | TAM | PRI | MIN | CAR | ATL | SAS | SAS | ATL | FTL | FTL | CAR | PRI | SAS | PRI | TAM | ATL | TAM | MIN | SAS | PRI | CAR | MIN | ATL | MIN | CAR | TAM | FTL |
| FC Edmonton | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–4 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | EDM | MIN | SAS | PRI | TAM | CAR | PRI | MIN | ATL | TAM | EDM | EDM | MIN | CAR | TAM | CAR | SAS | MIN | SAS | ATL | ATL | CAR | PRI | SAS | TAM | PRI | ATL | EDM |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 5–3 | 2–4 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 |
| Minnesota Stars FC | CAR | FTL | EDM | ATL | ATL | CAR | FTL | TAM | SAS | CAR | TAM | FTL | TAM | PRI | ATL | TAM | FTL | CAR | PRI | EDM | SAS | ATL | EDM | SAS | EDM | PRI | PRI | SAS |
| Minnesota Stars FC | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–5 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | TAM | SAS | EDM | CAR | FTL | FTL | ATL | CAR | CAR | TAM | SAS | ATL | EDM | MIN | EDM | SAS | ATL | TAM | MIN | SAS | EDM | FTL | TAM | CAR | FTL | MIN | MIN | ATL |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | 1–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio Scorpions FC | ATL | PRI | FTL | CAR | TAM | TAM | EDM | EDM | MIN | ATL | PRI | TAM | ATL | EDM | PRI | FTL | FTL | CAR | PRI | EDM | MIN | TAM | FTL | MIN | CAR | CAR | ATL | MIN |
| San Antonio Scorpions FC | 0–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 8–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | PRI | EDM | CAR | ATL | FTL | SAS | SAS | ATL | MIN | FTL | PRI | MIN | SAS | MIN | FTL | MIN | EDM | PRI | EDM | CAR | ATL | SAS | PRI | FTL | ATL | EDM | CAR | CAR |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 |
Final regular season results.

## Playoffs

The six qualifying teams were seeded 1 through 6, with the top team in the standings receiving the number 1 seed.
The format of the playoffs consisted of quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final. The quarterfinals were single games while the semifinals and final were each a two-game series with each team playing at home once and the team with the greater number of aggregate goals in both games winning the series.
The number 1 seed and the number 2 seed received byes while the number 3 seed hosted the number 6 seed and the number 4 seed hosted the number 5 seed in the quarterfinal.
For the semifinal, the number 1 seed was paired with the lower seeded team to qualify from the quarterfinal and the number 2 seed paired with the higher seeded team to qualify from the quarterfinal.
The winners of each semifinal met in the final, known as the Soccer Bowl. In the event of a draw in either quarterfinal game, a 30-minute extra time period was to be played (with the golden goal rule not in effect). If the teams were still locked in a draw following the extra time period, the winner was to be determined by a penalty shootout.
In each semifinal and in the final, if the teams are tied on the number of aggregate goals scored in the series at the conclusion of the second game, the teams were to play a 30-minute extra time period. As in the quarterfinal, the golden goal rule was not in effect. If the teams were still locked in a draw following the extra time period, the winner of the series was to be determined by a penalty shootout.

### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 1 | San Antonio Scorpions | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| 3 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 1 | 6 | Minnesota Stars | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| 6 | Minnesota Stars | 2 | | | | | | 6 | Minnesota Stars | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | 2 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| | | | 2 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | |
| 4 | Carolina RailHawks | 3 | 4 | Carolina RailHawks | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | |
| 5 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Semifinals

    Tampa Bay Rowdies win 5–4 on aggregate.
    Minnesota Stars win 2–1 on aggregate.

### Soccer Bowl 2012

    Tied 3–3 on aggregate. Tampa Bay Rowdies win Soccer Bowl 2012, 3–2 on penalties.

## Statistical leaders
### Top goalkeepers

(Minimum of 1260 Minutes Played)
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Club | MINS | SVS | GA | GAA |
| 1 | Daryl Sattler | San Antonio Scorpions | 2151 | 66 | 19 | 0.795 |
| 2 | Jeff Attinella | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 2520 | 118 | 30 | 1.071 |
| 3 | Richard Martin | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2340 | 106 | 28 | 1.077 |
| 4 | Matt Van Oekel | Minnesota Stars FC | 2250 | 77 | 30 | 1.200 |
| 5 | Lance Parker | FC Edmonton | 1440 | 42 | 21 | 1.313 |
| 6 | Matt Glaeser | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 2430 | 108 | 44 | 1.630 |
| 7 | Ray Burse | Carolina RailHawks | 2160 | 82 | 41 | 1.708 |
| 8 | Dániel Illyés | Atlanta Silverbacks | 1980 | 86 | 39 | 1.773 |
Source: North American Soccer League

## Awards
### Monthly awards

| Month | NASL Player of the Month | NASL Player of the Month | NASL Player of the Month | NASL Player of the Month |
| Month | Player | Nation | Club | Link |
| April | Reinaldo Navia | CHL | Atlanta Silverbacks | 5G |
| May | Shaun Saiko | CAN | FC Edmonton | 5G 2A |
| June | Tsuyoshi Yoshitake | JPN | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 4G 1A |
| July | Pablo Campos | BRA | San Antonio Scorpions | 7G |
| August | Richard Martin | ENG | Puerto Rico Islanders | 13 Saves |
| September | Matt Horth | USA | Atlanta Silverbacks | 4G |
| October | Jeff Attinella | USA | Tampa Bay Rowdies | |

### Weekly awards

| Week | Defensive Player of the Week | Defensive Player of the Week | Defensive Player of the Week | Offensive Player of the Week | Offensive Player of the Week | Offensive Player of the Week |
| Week | Player | Nat | Club | Player | Nat | Club |
| Week 1 | Ray Burse | USA | Carolina RailHawks | Andy Herron | CRC | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| Week 2 | Richard Martin | ENG | Puerto Rico Islanders | Jonathan Faña | DOM | Puerto Rico Islanders |
| Week 3 | Richard Martin | ENG | Puerto Rico Islanders | Andy Herron | CRC | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| Week 4 | Jeff Attinella | USA | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Reinaldo Navia | CHL | Atlanta Silverbacks |
| Week 5 | Cristiano Dias | BRA | Minnesota Stars | Shaun Saiko | CAN | FC Edmonton |
| Week 6 | Paul Hamilton | CAN | FC Edmonton | Pablo Campos | BRA | San Antonio Scorpions |
| Week 7 | Jonathan Greenfield | RSA | San Antonio Scorpions | Dan Antoniuk | USA | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| Week 8 | Frank Sanfilippo | USA | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Shaun Saiko | CAN | FC Edmonton |
| Week 9 | Matt Van Oekel | USA | Minnesota Stars | Ciaran O'Brien | USA | Atlanta Silverbacks |
| Week 10 | Lance Parker | USA | FC Edmonton | Pablo Campos | BRA | San Antonio Scorpions |
| Week 11 | Jack Stewart | USA | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | Tsuyoshi Yoshitake | JPN | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| Week 12 | Ray Burse | USA | Carolina RailHawks | Tsuyoshi Yoshitake | JPN | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| Week 13 | Jeff Attinella | USA | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Mark Anderson | ENG | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| Week 14 | Daniel Illyes | HUN | Atlanta Silverbacks | Mike Palacio | USA | Carolina RailHawks |
| Week 15 | Jeff Attinella | USA | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Pablo Campos | BRA | San Antonio Scorpions |
| Week 16 | Frank Sanfilippo | USA | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Mark Anderson | ENG | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| Week 17 | Jeff Attinella | USA | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Pablo Campos | BRA | San Antonio Scorpions |
| Week 18 | Richard Martinez | PUR | Puerto Rico Islanders | Pedro Mendes | BRA | Atlanta Silverbacks |
| Week 19 | Bryan Arguez | USA | FC Edmonton | Andy Herron | CRC | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| Week 20 | Conor Shanosky | USA | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | Pablo Campos | BRA | San Antonio Scorpions |
| Week 21 | Akira Fitzgerald | USA | Carolina Railhawks | Abe Thompson | USA | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| Week 22 | Frank Sanfilippo | USA | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Matt Horth | USA | Atlanta Silverbacks |
| Week 23 | Takuya Yamada | JPN | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Shaun Saiko | CAN | FC Edmonton |
| Week 24 | Anthony Vázquez | PUR | Puerto Rico Islanders | Tiyi Shipalane | RSA | Carolina Railhawks |
| Week 25 | Jeff Attinella | USA | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Danny Barrera | USA | Atlanta Silverbacks |

### League awards

* Golden Ball (MVP): Pablo Campos (San Antonio Scorpions)
* Golden Boot: Pablo Campos (San Antonio Scorpions)
* Golden Glove: Daryl Sattler (San Antonio Scorpions)
* Coach of the Year: Ricky Hill (Tampa Bay Rowdies)
* Play of the Year: Kevin Venegas (Minnesota Stars FC)
* Fair Play Award: Tampa Bay Rowdies
NASL Best XI :
| Position | Players | Team |
| Goalkeeper | Jeff Attinella | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| Defense | Kyle Altman | Minnesota United FC |
| Defense | Ryan Cochrane | San Antonio Scorpions |
| Defense | Paul Hamilton | FC Edmonton |
| Defense | Takuya Yamada | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| Midfield | Luke Mulholland | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| Midfield | Walter Ramírez | San Antonio Scorpions |
| Midfield | Walter Restrepo | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| Midfield | Nick Zimmerman | Carolina RailHawks |
| Forward | Mark Anderson | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| Forward | Pablo Campos | San Antonio Scorpions |