# Fall 2021 National Independent Soccer Association season

The Fall 2021 NISA season was the third season of the National Independent Soccer Association's third-division soccer competition. The season took place only during the Fall in order to realign the league's seasons with the calendar year. The league also organized the second edition of its pre-season cup competition, the NISA Independent Cup.

## Teams

The nine teams that participated in the 2020-21 Spring season all returned. They were joined by expansion club Chicago House AC.

### Stadiums and locations

* Participating club
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| California United Strikers FC | Irvine, California | Championship Stadium | 5,000 |
| Chattanooga FC | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Finley Stadium | 20,668 |
| Chicago House AC | Bridgeview, Illinois | SeatGeek Stadium | 20,000 |
| Detroit City FC | Hamtramck, Michigan | Keyworth Stadium | 7,933 |
| Los Angeles Force | Whittier, California | Valley High School (Santa Ana, California) | |
| Maryland Bobcats FC | Boyds, Maryland | Maryland SoccerPlex | 4,000 |
| Michigan Stars FC | Pontiac, Michigan | Romeo High School | 4,000 |
| New Amsterdam FC | Hempstead, New York | Hofstra Soccer Stadium | 1,600 |
| San Diego 1904 FC | San Diego, California | Canyon Crest Stadium | |
| Stumptown AC | Matthews, North Carolina | Sportsplex at Matthews | 5,000 |

### Personnel and sponsorship

    Note: The league has signed a deal with Hummel to be the official kit manufacturer, but it still allows clubs to find their own provider.
| Team | Head coach | Captain(s) | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| California United Strikers FC | Don Ebert | Xavier Fuerte | Nike | Taco Bell |
| Chattanooga FC | Peter Fuller | Juan Hernandez | Hummel | Louisiana Hot Sauce, VfL Wolfsburg |
| Chicago House AC | C.J. Brown | Drew Conner | Nike | — |
| Detroit City FC | Trevor James | Stephen Carroll | Adidas | Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers |
| Los Angeles Force | Thales Peterson | Joshua Culwell | Xara | — |
| Maryland Bobcats FC | Phil Nana | Kay Banjo | Hummel | Dog Haus |
| Michigan Stars FC | Alexander Strehmel | Kyle Nuel | Hummel | HTC |
| New Amsterdam FC | Bouna Coundoul | Daniel Vicente | Icarus | Fruit Street |
| San Diego 1904 FC | Scott Morrison | Ozzie Ramos | Nike | Live Up Nutrition |
| Stumptown AC | Rod Underwood | Franky Martinez | Hummel | OrthoCarolina Healthcare |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| New Amsterdam FC | Maximilian Mansfield | Stepping down | July 20 | Preseason | Bouna Coundoul | July 20 |

## NISA Independent Cup

The NISA Independent Cup will start on July 9. It features seven of the ten NISA clubs, with Michigan Stars FC and Stumptown AC opting not to participate and San Diego 1904 FC withdrawing before the start of the tournament. They will be joined by 28 invited amateur teams and divided geographically into nine regions of four clubs each. Each region will play a single round robin tournament with the team earning the most points in each region declared regional champion. Like last year, there will be no interregional play or national champion.

### Participating Clubs

Great Lakes :
| Great Lakes StTeamLeague Cleveland SCNPSL Detroit City FCNISA FC BuffaloNPSL Livonia City FCMWPL | Mid-Atlantic StTeamLeague Allentown United FCUPSL Atlantic City FCNPSL Maryland Bobcats FCNISA Steel Pulse FCEPSL | Midwest StTeamLeague Chicago House ACNISA FC Milwaukee TorrentNPSL Med City FCNPSL Union Dubuque FCMWPL |
New England :
| New England StTeamLeague Lansdowne Yonkers FCEPSL Mass United Rush FCUPSL New Amsterdam FCNISA Newtown Pride FCConnecticut | Pacific StTeamLeague Bay Cities FCNone California Victory FCUPSL PDX FCUSL2 Space United FCStarfire Sports | South Central StTeamLeague Alexandria PBFCGCPL Lone Star RepublicUPSL Louisiana Krewe FCGCPL Texas Spurs FCUPSL |
Southeast :
| Southeast StTeamLeague Atletico AtlantaUPSL Chattanooga FCNISA Savannah Clovers FCUPSL Soda City FCUPSL | Southwest StTeamLeague Atletico OlympiansUPSL California United Strikers FCNISA FC ArizonaNPSL San Diego 1904 FCNISA | West Coast StTeamLeague ASC San DiegoNPSL Chula Vista FCSoCal Premier Los Angeles ForceNISA MAGIA Futbol AcademySoCal Premier |

### Great Lakes Region
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Detroit City FC (C) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | +15 | 9 |
| 2 | FC Buffalo | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 6 |
| 3 | Cleveland SC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 | −10 | 1 |
| 4 | Livonia City FC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 15 | −13 | 1 |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | CLE | DET | FCB | LIV |
| Cleveland SC | — | 1–4 | | |
| Detroit City FC | | — | 3–1 | 10–0 |
| FC Buffalo | 7–0 | | — | 3–0 |
| Livonia City FC | 2–2 | | | — |

### Mid-Atlantic Region
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Maryland Bobcats FC (C) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 7 |
| 2 | Steel Pulse FC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 5 |
| 3 | Allentown United FC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 3 |
| 4 | Atlantic City FC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1 |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | ALL | ATL | MAR | STP |
| Allentown United FC | — | 2–1 | | |
| Atlantic City FC | | — | 0–1 | |
| Maryland Bobcats FC | 1–0 | | — | 0–0 |
| Steel Pulse FC | 3–0 | 1–1 | | — |

### Midwest Region
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FC Milwaukee Torrent (C) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 9 |
| 2 | Chicago House AC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 4 |
| 3 | Med City FC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 4 |
| 4 | Union Dubuque FC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | −11 | 0 |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | CHI | FCM | MED | UDU |
| Chicago House AC | — | | | |
| FC Milwaukee Torrent | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | |
| Med City FC | 1–1 | | — | 2–1 |
| Union Dubuque FC | 0–5 | 0–5 | | — |

### New England Region

The match between New Amsterdam FC and Lansdowne Yonkers FC was originally scheduled for July 17 and was to be hosted at Hudson Sports Complex in Warwick, New York. However, weather forced the match to be postponed to a later date. The game was played on July 28 but was instead hosted by Lansdowne at Flemings Field in Yonkers, New York.

#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Lansdowne Yonkers FC (C) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 9 |
| 2 | New Amsterdam FC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 |
| 3 | Newtown Pride FC | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 2 |
| 4 | Mass United Rush FC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 1 |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | LAN | MUR | NAM | NTP |
| Lansdowne Yonkers FC | — | 5–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Mass United Rush FC | | — | | 2–2 |
| New Amsterdam FC | | 2–0 | — | |
| Newtown Pride FC | | | 0–0 | — |

### Pacific Region

On July 22, the league announced that California Victory FC had withdrawn from the tournament after playing one match, a 1-1 draw against Bay Cities FC. This result was expunged.

#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | PDX FC (C) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 4 |
| 2 | Space United FC | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Bay Cities FC | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 1 |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | BAY | CAL | PDX | SPA |
| Bay Cities FC | — | 1-1 | | 2–2 |
| California Victory FC | | — | | |
| PDX FC | 5–3 | | — | |
| Space United FC | | | 2–2 | — |

### South Central Region
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Louisiana Krewe FC (C) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 7 |
| 2 | Lone Star Republic | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Texas Spurs FC | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Alexandria PBFC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1 |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | APB | LSR | LAK | TXS |
| Alexandria PBFC | — | | | 1–1 |
| Lone Star Republic | 2–1 | — | | 2–2 |
| Louisiana Krewe FC | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | |
| Texas Spurs FC | | | 0–0 | — |

### Southeast Region
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Chattanooga FC (C) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 9 |
| 2 | Atletico Atlanta | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 2 |
| 3 | Savannah Clovers FC | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 2 |
| 4 | Soda City FC | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 2 |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | ATL | CHA | SAV | SOD |
| Atletico Atlanta | — | | 4–4 | |
| Chattanooga FC | 1–0 | — | | 5–0 |
| Savannah Clovers FC | | 0–4 | — | 1–1 |
| Soda City FC | 1–1 | | | — |

### Southwest Region

The Southwest Region is the only region of the Independent Cup that does not consist of four clubs. On July 7, NISA announced on Twitter that 1904 FC had withdrawn from the tournament just 48 hours before the tournament was set to begin. Therefore, the Southwest Region would continue as a three team round-robin.

#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | California United Strikers FC (C) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 6 |
| 2 | Atletico Olympians | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 3 |
| 3 | FC Arizona | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0 |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | ATL | CAL | FCA |
| Atletico Olympians | — | 1–4 | 2–1 |
| California United Strikers FC | | — | 1–0 |
| FC Arizona | | | — |

### West Coast Region
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Los Angeles Force (C) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 |
| 2 | MAGIA Futbol Academy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 4 |
| 3 | ASC San Diego | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 4 |
| 4 | Chula Vista FC | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 2 |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | ASC | CHU | LAF | MAG |
| ASC San Diego | — | | 1–0 | 1–4 |
| Chula Vista FC | 4–4 | — | | 3–3 |
| Los Angeles Force | | 2–0 | — | |
| MAGIA Futbol Academy | | | 2–3 | — |

## Regular season

The Fall season started on August 6, and saw the ten teams play each other twice, in a single-table format. There were no playoffs; the team leading the table at the end of the season was declared champion. The season ended on November 21.

### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Detroit City FC (C) | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 35 | 10 | +25 | 45 |
| 2 | California United Strikers FC | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 31 | 20 | +11 | 33 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Force | 18 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 20 | 14 | +6 | 30 |
| 4 | New Amsterdam FC | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 23 |
| 5 | Chattanooga FC | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 20 | 21 | −1 | 23 |
| 6 | Chicago House AC | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 18 | 26 | −8 | 23 |
| 7 | Michigan Stars FC | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 21 |
| 8 | Stumptown AC | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 18 | −5 | 20 |
| 9 | Maryland Bobcats FC | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 20 | 28 | −8 | 20 |
| 10 | San Diego 1904 FC | 18 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 17 | 37 | −20 | 9 |
* 1 2 The November 13 match between the LA Force and Detroit City FC was cancelled due to several players testing positive for COVID-19. The match was declared a 0-0 draw.

### Results

| Home \ Away | CAL | CHA | CHI | DET | LAF | MAR | MIC | NAM | SDG | STU |
| California United Strikers FC | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Chattanooga FC | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Chicago House AC | 1–3 | 1–0 | — | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–5 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Detroit City FC | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | — | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 |
| Los Angeles Force | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 |
| Maryland Bobcats FC | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | — | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Michigan Stars FC | 3–4 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–4 | 4–2 | 0–0 |
| New Amsterdam FC | 1–4 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–6 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | — | 4–0 | 1–2 |
| San Diego 1904 FC | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | — | 0–0 |
| Stumptown AC | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | — |

### Player statistics

    As of November 21, 2021

### Attendance

Games without fans reported are not counted in averages or games played.
| Rank | Team | GP | Cumulative | High | Low | Mean |
| 1 | Detroit City FC | 9 | 38,716 | 6,076 | 3,689 | 4,302 |
| 2 | Chattanooga FC | 9 | 19,580 | 2,916 | 1,420 | 2,176 |
| 3 | Michigan Stars FC | 7 | 14,105 | 3,786 | 506 | 2,015 |
| 4 | Chicago House AC | 9 | 9,448 | 1,420 | 663 | 1,050 |
| 5 | California United Strikers FC | 8 | 6,284 | 1,738 | 345 | 786 |
| 6 | New Amsterdam FC | 9 | 3,464 | 574 | 278 | 385 |
| 7 | Maryland Bobcats FC | 9 | 2,725 | 372 | 212 | 303 |
| 8 | Stumptown AC | 9 | 2,486 | 399 | 164 | 276 |
| 9 | San Diego 1904 FC | 9 | 2,391 | 393 | 168 | 266 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Force | 1 | 175 | 175 | 175 | 175 |
| Total | Total | 79 | 99,374 | 6,076 | 164 | 1,258 |

## League awards
### All-league teams

First team :
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| Nathan Steinwascher (DET) | Stephen Carroll (DET) Nick Spielman (CHT) Devon Amoo-Mensah (MIC) | Maxi Rodriguez (DET) Steven Juncaj (MIC) Diego Barrera (LAF) Connor Rutz (DET) | Omar Nuño (CAL) Mayele Malango (NAM) Wojciech Wojcik (CHI) |
Second team :
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| Kevin Gonzalez (STU) | Ian Cerro (CHI) Garrett Hogbin (CAL) Matt Lewis (DET) | Jimmy Filerman (DET) Edward Benito (SDG) Mohamed Sesay (MAR) Felipe Liborio, Jr. (CAL) | Shavon John-Brown (NAM) Olakunle Banjo (MAR) Christian Chaney (LAF) |