# 2011 North American Soccer League season

The 2011 North American Soccer League season is the 44th season of second division soccer in the United States and the inaugural season of the newly created North American Soccer League.
Earlier in 2011, the league's likelihood of earning second tier sanctioning had been thrown into question when the U.S. Soccer Federation rejected the league in January due to its financial instability. The USSF gave provisional sanctioning at the annual general meeting in Las Vegas on February 12, 2011.

## Competition format

The NASL debuted in 2011 with 8 teams playing a 28-game regular season schedule, with 14 home and 14 away games, playing each opponent four times. The NASL’s playoff format consisted of the top six teams, with the first two teams receiving a bye until the semifinal round and the remaining four teams playing in a single-game playoff to advance to the semifinals. The semifinals and the finals will each consist of a two-game home and home aggregate goal system.

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Carolina RailHawks (X) | 28 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 50 | 26 | +24 | 54 | Playoff semifinals |
| 2 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 28 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 41 | 32 | +9 | 52 | Playoff semifinals |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 41 | 36 | +5 | 41 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 4 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 28 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 35 | 36 | −1 | 38 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 5 | FC Edmonton | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 35 | 40 | −5 | 36 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 6 | NSC Minnesota Stars (C) | 28 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 30 | 32 | −2 | 36 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 7 | Montreal Impact | 28 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 35 | 27 | +8 | 35 | |
| 8 | Atlanta Silverbacks | 28 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 25 | 63 | −38 | 16 | |
* 1 2 EDM: 8 pts; MIN: 2 pts

### Results

Abbreviation and Color Key: Atlanta Silverbacks – ATL • Carolina RailHawks – CAR • FC Edmonton – EDM • Ft. Lauderdale Strikers – FTL NSC Minnesota Stars – MIN • Montreal Impact – MTL • Puerto Rico Islanders – PUR • FC Tampa Bay – 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 | MIN | EDM | FTL | TAM | EDM | MIN | FTL | CAR | MIN | MTL | TAM | PUR | CAR | PUR | FTL | MTL | TAM | CAR | TAM | PUR | MTL | EDM | CAR | PUR | EDM | MIN | FTL | MTL |
| Atlanta Silverbacks | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 3–4 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
| Carolina RailHawks | PUR | MTL | EDM | MIN | TAM | FTL | MTL | PUR | ATL | TAM | EDM | TAM | ATL | MTL | MIN | EDM | EDM | ATL | FTL | PUR | MIN | FTL | ATL | TAM | FTL | MTL | PUR | MIN |
| Carolina RailHawks | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| FC Edmonton | FTL | ATL | CAR | MTL | ATL | TAM | MIN | TAM | MTL | CAR | PUR | MIN | MTL | MIN | CAR | TAM | CAR | TAM | FTL | PUR | FTL | ATL | PUR | PUR | MIN | ATL | FTL | MTL |
| FC Edmonton | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | EDM | MIN | ATL | PUR | MIN | CAR | ATL | MTL | PUR | MIN | MTL | PUR | TAM | TAM | ATL | MTL | PUR | EDM | CAR | MIN | EDM | CAR | TAM | MTL | CAR | EDM | ATL | TAM |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 |
| NSC Minnesota Stars | ATL | FTL | PUR | CAR | FTL | ATL | PUR | EDM | TAM | PUR | ATL | FTL | EDM | EDM | CAR | PUR | MTL | MTL | FTL | TAM | CAR | MTL | MTL | EDM | TAM | ATL | TAM | CAR |
| NSC Minnesota Stars | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Montreal Impact | TAM | CAR | TAM | EDM | CAR | TAM | FTL | EDM | ATL | PUR | FTL | EDM | PUR | CAR | FTL | ATL | MIN | PUR | MIN | TAM | ATL | MIN | MIN | FTL | PUR | CAR | EDM | ATL |
| Montreal Impact | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 5–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | CAR | TAM | MIN | FTL | MIN | CAR | MIN | FTL | MTL | EDM | ATL | FTL | MTL | ATL | TAM | MIN | FTL | MTL | EDM | ATL | CAR | TAM | EDM | EDM | ATL | MTL | CAR | TAM |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| FC Tampa Bay | MTL | PUR | MTL | ATL | CAR | EDM | MTL | MIN | EDM | CAR | ATL | CAR | FTL | FTL | PUR | EDM | ATL | EDM | ATL | MTL | MIN | PUR | FTL | CAR | MIN | MIN | PUR | FTL |
| FC Tampa Bay | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 |
Source: NASL results table

## Playoffs

The 6 qualifying teams will be given seeds 1 through 6 with the top team in the standings receiving the number 1 seed.
The format of the Playoffs will consist of a Quarterfinal Round, Semifinal Round and a Final Round. The Quarterfinal Round will be a single game while the Semifinal and Final Rounds will each be a 2-game series with each team playing at home once and the team with the greater number of aggregate goals in both games winning each series.
The number 1 seed and the number 2 seed will receive a bye directly to the Semifinal Round while the number 3 seed will host the number 6 seed and the number 4 seed will host the number 5 seed in the Quarterfinal Round.
For the Semifinal Round, the number 1 seed will be paired with the lowest seeded team to qualify from the Quarterfinal Round with the number 2 seed being paired with the highest seeded team to qualify from the Quarterfinal Round.
The winners of each series in the Semifinal Round will meet in the Final Round known as the Soccer Bowl. In the event of a draw in either Quarterfinal Round game, such game will progress to a 30-minute extra time period (the golden goal rule will not be in effect). If the teams are still locked in a draw following the extra time period, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout.
In each Semifinal Round series and the Final Round series, if the teams are tied on the number of aggregate goals scored in the series at the conclusion of the second game, the teams will progress to a 30-minute extra time period. As in the Quarterfinal Round, the golden goal rule will not be in effect. If the teams are still locked in a draw following the extra time period, the winner of the series will be determined by a penalty shootout.

### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Soccer Bowl 2011 | Soccer Bowl 2011 | Soccer Bowl 2011 | Soccer Bowl 2011 | Soccer Bowl 2011 |
| | | | 1 | Carolina RailHawks FC | 0 | 4 | 4 (3) | | | | | |
| 3 | FC Tampa Bay | 0 | 6 | NSC Minnesota Stars | 1 | 3 | 4 (5) | | | | | |
| 6 | NSC Minnesota Stars | 1 | | | | | | 6 | NSC Minnesota Stars | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | 4 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | 2 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| 4 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 5 | 4 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | | | |
| 5 | FC Edmonton | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Semifinals

    Tied 4–4 on aggregate. NSC Minnesota Stars win 5–3 on penalties.
    Fort Lauderdale Strikers win 5–2 on aggregate.

### Soccer Bowl 2011

    NSC Minnesota Stars win Soccer Bowl 2011, 3–1 on aggregate.

## Attendance

| Club | GP | Total | High | Low | Average |
| Montreal Impact | 14 | 161,102 | 12,060 | - | 11,507 |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 14 | 52,769 | - | - | 3,769 |
| Carolina RailHawks | 14 | 46,942 | - | - | 3,353 |
| FC Tampa Bay | 14 | 42,138 | - | - | 3,010 |
| Atlanta Silverbacks | 14 | 40,117 | - | - | 2,866 |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | 14 | 30,247 | - | - | 2,161 |
| FC Edmonton | 14 | 25,434 | - | 797 | 1,817 |
| NSC Minnesota Stars | 14 | 23,463 | - | - | 1,676 |
| Total | 112 | 422,212 | 12,060 | 797 | 3,770 |
* Updated to games played on September 24, 2011

## Statistical leaders
### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Nation | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Etienne Barbara | MLT | Carolina RailHawks | 20 |
| 2 | Pablo Campos | BRA | Carolina RailHawks | 11 |
| 2 | Mike Ambersley | USA | FC Tampa Bay | 11 |
| 2 | Jonathan Faña | DOM | Puerto Rico Islanders | 11 |
| 5 | Shaun Saiko | CAN | FC Edmonton | 9 |
| 5 | Aaron King | USA | FC Tampa Bay | 9 |
| 7 | Matt Horth | USA | Atlanta Silverbacks | 8 |
| 8 | David Foley | ENG | Puerto Rico Islanders | 7 |
| 8 | Kyle Porter | CAN | FC Edmonton | 7 |
| 8 | Nicholas Addlery | JAM | Puerto Rico Islanders | 7 |
Source:

### Top goalkeepers

(Minimum of 1260 Minutes Played)
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Club | MINS | SVS | GA | GAA |
| 1 | Evan Bush | Montreal Impact | 1668 | 71 | 14 | 0.757 |
| 2 | Brad Knighton | Carolina RailHawks | 2480 | 115 | 26 | 0.942 |
| 3 | Matt Glaeser | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 1905 | 75 | 22 | 1.038 |
| 4 | Ray Burse | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2340 | 98 | 28 | 1.077 |
| 5 | Joe Warren | NSC Minnesota Stars | 2430 | 105 | 30 | 1.111 |
| 6 | Jeff Attinella | FC Tampa Bay | 2060 | 128 | 31 | 1.354 |
| 7 | Rein Baart | FC Edmonton | 2145 | 78 | 33 | 1.387 |
| 8 | Jimmy Maurer | Atlanta Silverbacks | 1531 | 93 | 41 | 2.412 |
Source:

## Awards
### League awards

* Golden Ball (MVP): Etienne Barbara (Carolina RailHawks)
* Golden Boot: Etienne Barbara (Carolina RailHawks)
* Golden Glove: Evan Bush (Montreal Impact)
* Coach of the Year: Manny Lagos (NSC Minnesota Stars)
* Fair Play Award: FC Tampa Bay
NASL Best XI :
| Position | Players | Team |
| Goalkeeper | Brad Knighton | Carolina RailHawks |
| Defense | Hassoun Camara | Montreal Impact |
| Defense | Lance Laing | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| Defense | Kupono Low | Carolina RailHawks |
| Defense | Toni Ståhl | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| Midfield | David Foley | Puerto Rico Islanders |
| Midfield | Pascal Millien | FC Tampa Bay |
| Midfield | Shaun Saiko | FC Edmonton |
| Midfield | Matt Watson | Carolina RailHawks |
| Forward | Mike Ambersley | FC Tampa Bay |
| Forward | Etienne Barbara | Carolina RailHawks |