LD Update: NASL Semifinals Game Night; Molinari re-signs for Pioneers

Just as expected, the opening legs of the two semifinal series proved to be tight affairs, with only one goal total being the difference on the night. The defending league champion Minnesota Stars and reigning regular season champion San Antonio Scorpions played to a stalemate while the second-seeded Tampa Bay Rowdies return home with a one-goal lead over the Carolina RailHawks. The two semifinal series conclude next weekend with a game each on Saturday and Sunday.

LD Update: NASL Semis Preview; NASL Commish retires; MISL signings

Be prepared for the next two weekends of semifinal play of the North American Soccer League postseason to be close contests as they play out their two-leg series. In the eight previous matches this season in the two pairings, only one game saw a team leave victorious - and that was via a late penalty kick in a 1-0 decision. Low scoring is also likely as six of the other seven results between the teams finished in 1-1 or scoreless draws with one lone 3-3 exception. The regular season champion San Antonio Scorpions take on the defending league champion Minnesota Stars, who are looking to repeat as winners from the lowest seeded position. Meanwhile, the second-seeded Tampa Bay Rowdies are facing last season's regular season champion Carolina RailHawks, who are looking to get past the semifinals after falling to Minnesota a year ago.

LD Update: NASL Playoff Results; Phoenix announces first signing

The first round of the NASL Playoffs proved to be a break from form as the defending champion Minnesota Stars posted their first-ever win in Puerto Rico to advance and the Carolina RailHawks, 0-2-2 against the Strikers this season, scored three at home for a third time this season against Fort Lauderdale, this time keeping the visitors from doing the same. The Stars move on to face the regular season champion San Antonio Scorpions while the RailHawks take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a pair of two-leg, aggregate score series.

LD Update: NASL Playoff Preview; Edmonton dumps coaches; ACC set for 2013

Amway Canadian Championship: The Canadian Soccer Association announced Friday that the sixth edition of the event will kick off on April 24 with the semifinals next season, utilizing the same format as this year with the three MLS clubs and FC Edmonton of the NASL.

NASL News: Matt Horth of the Atlanta Silverbacks was recognized as the Player of the Month... Last place FC Edmonton announced it has cut ties with coaches Harry Sinkgraven and Hans Schrijver, due to budgetary reasons according to the release. 

LD Update: NASL weekly, season honors; MISL signing, combine news

CCL News: The Puerto Rico Islanders finished off their Champions League schedule with a 3-0 victory over Isidro Metapan, avoiding a winless campaign. The victory put them in second and clinched the quarterfinal berth for the group-leading LA Galaxy. Hector Ramos scored twice with Gregory Richardson adding the third. LA and Metapan play in the final match with Metapan having a chance to move back ahead of the Islanders for a second-place finish in the group, though only the winners advance to the quarterfinals.

LD Update: NASL Game Night; NASL playoff pairings set

All knotted up. That was the final weekend of the NASL season as Sunday duplicated Saturday's results with two more draws, leaving everyone right where they were in the league table going into the weekend.

The opening round of the NASL postseason is next weekend with the Carolina RailHawks playing host to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers Saturday and the defending champion Minnesota Stars, who won the title as the lowest seed last year, looking to repeat history as they travel to Puerto Rico Sunday. The two winners move on to face San Antonio and Tampa Bay in the Semifinals.

LD Update: NASL Game Night; Super-20 First 11; Sesay to Wave

A pair of draws in the first half of the final weekend of play kept everything as is in the top half of the NASL table heading into the final week with Tampa Bay's stalemate in Carolina locking the Rowdies into second and giving San Antonio, playing Sunday, the regular season title while also locking Carolina into fourth as they were unable to pass Puerto Rico, who played to a draw versus visiting Atlanta.

LD Update: Puerto Rico out of CCL; Tampa Bay clinches playoff bye

CCL News: The Puerto Rico Islanders were eliminated from Quarterfinal contention despite playing the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy, comprising mostly reserves, to a scoreless draw Wednesday evening. They have one game remaining versus Metapan at home next Thursday, just days before their opening round playoff game Sunday. - MORE

Atlanta Silverbacks 3 :: 1 San Antonio Scorpions - Perhaps a bit on cruise control having locked up a first round bye, the Scorpions dropped their second consecutive game and have now gone five games without scoring more than at least one goal. Atlanta's Danny Barrera was the star of the night, setting up all three goals. He delivered a corner for a Willie Hunt header three minutes in and sent a free kick off Blake Wagner's head for an own goal in the 41st. Leading 2-1, he connected with Pedro Mendes in the 75th to secure the win. - MORE

Tampa Bay Rowdies 1 :: 1 Carolina RailHawks - A Luke Mulholland corner kick 13 minutes in found the head of defender Andres Arango for the lead and Arango's back line allowed just one RailHawks goal, a strike from Ty Shipalane in the 61st minute, as the Rowdies held on for the sole point needed to clinch the remaining first round bye. - MORE
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LD Update: CCL for PR; NASL honors & final week

CCL News: The Puerto Rico Islanders resume Champions League play Wednesday with a second consecutive game against the LA Galaxy, who were victorious 4-0 three weeks ago. The Islanders have zero points at the midway point while the Galaxy are perfect.

NASL News: The league announced midfielder Ty Shipalane of the Carolina RailHawks as the Offensive Player of the Week and Puerto Rico Islanders defender Anthony Vasquez as the Defensive Player of the Week.

LD Update: NASL Game Night

It was a good night for the road teams Sunday, even if it was at the cost of the league-leading San Antonio Scorpions, who had already clinched a bye to the semifinals. Tampa Bay took advantage of a match against the last-placed side, using a big win in Edmonton to take command in the race for the second first round bye. Meanwhile, the Carolina RailHawks kept themselves within range of that second spot - five points back - with a victory against the Scorpions.

LD Update: NASL Game Night; NASL loans to & from

With just a few games remaining for each team in the NASL season and the playoff field set, all that is left is to determine is who will join San Antonio in the semifinals with the other first round playoff bye. The table went largely unchanged Saturday evening with the eliminated Silverbacks getting a win as well as the  Puerto Rico Islanders.

Atlanta Silverbacks 1 :: 0 Fort Lauderdale Strikers - Though eliminated midweek from postseason contention, the hosts took the lead in the 11th minute of the contest and held on against the Strikers. A streaking Matt Horth received the ball 30 yars from goal via Lucas Paulini, diving toward the box and firing inside the post. Fort Lauderdale's attempt for a rally was handicapped with 15 minutes remaining when Alfonso Motagalvan saw back-to-back yellow and red for dissent and abuslive language toward the referee. - MORE

LD Update: Rowdies extend lease; CSL match-fixing report statement

Wednesday - FC Edmonton 2 :: 2 Carolina RailHawks - Despite elimation from playoff contention the night before, the hosts did not give up after a fifth minute strike from Nick Zimmerman. Kyle Porter evened terms just four minutes later and gave Edmonton the lead four minutes after intermission. Zimmerman, however, put away the rebound of his own shot in the 56th minute for the draw. - MORE

NASL News: The Tampa Bay Rowdies will continue to play in a baseball stadium in St Petersburg, signing a new four-year deal to continue leasing Al Lang Stadium.

CSL News: The league released a statement in regards to a recent CBC report focused an alleged match-fixing incident that occured in 2009 and further attempts to affect the outcome of matches for European betting interests.

LD Update: Possible Atlanta name change - an homage or offensive?

The Atlanta Silverbacks are considering a name change, giving fans the option to re-brand the team as the former NASL name Chiefs or even as something completely different. The polling will run until the US Presidential Election Day.


The previous Chiefs were founded in 1967 and were original members of the previous NASL, winning the inaugural league championship in 1968.

Though it is obviously an attempt ride the retro branding wave around the league, the move is particularly surprising in a sports era in which teams and schools are moving away from and changing the verbiage used in regard to names and mascots. And particularly so considering the city's Atlanta Braves are one of the most cited teams, aside from the NFL's Redskins and MLB's Cleveland Indians, for being offensive.

LD Update: NASL honors & midweek games

The Canadian Soccer League issued a statement today regarding fixture conflicts with national team matches - a matter that has plagued soccer in the United States for many years, whether it be professional clubs scheduling games at the same time as the national team(s) or local soccer organizations not scheduling in an effort to maximize support of the professional team.

LD Update: Battery win USL Pro title; Cunningham gets first NASL goal

Charleston celebrates title | courtesy Charleston Battery

Two rookies led the Battery, the playoff team with the most losses on the season (10), to the franchise's fourth championship in 20 years as Charleston defeated the Wilmington Hammerheads for the USL Pro title.

Meanwhile, in the NASL it was all ones... nearly. Three of the four matches concluded in 1-1 draws with the fourth finishing with just one strike between the two clubs.

LD Update: Bixler retires; USL Pro award winners; MISL sched released

USL Pro News: Veteran Harrisburg City Islanders defender Dustin Bixler, a three-time All-League selection and 2007 USL Second Division championship MVP, announced his retirement... The expansion club in Arizona announced it will play as Phoenix FC, unveiling Wolves as the mascot and prominent feature of the new logo... The league announced the season award winners at the championship banquet, honoring Kevin Molino (Orlando) as MVP, Adrian Heath (Orlando) as Coach of the Year, Troy Roberts (Rochester) as Defender of the Year and Jose Cuevas of the championship finalist Charleston Battery as the Rookie of the Year.  

LD Update: NASL adopts split season; USL Pro award finalists

The big news of the day was the announcement from the North American Soccer League that it is altering its competitive structure to a two-season format in which the spring season will be held from March to July 4 followed by a 3-4 week break before the fall season commences.

LD Update: USL Pro All-League honors; NASL honors; Blues to play Pachuca

LD News: Orlando City of USL Pro is loaning Jamie Watson to the NASL Minnesota Stars for the remainder of the season.

NASL News: The league recognized Matt Horth of the Atlanta Silverbacks as the Offensive Player of the Week and Frankie Sanfilippo of the Tampa Bay Rowdies as the Defensive Player of the Week... The Carolina RailHawks duo of Nick Millington (Guyana) and John Krause (Puerto Rico) have been called in for national team camps in preparation for World Cup qualifiers and the Digicel Caribbean Cup (qualifiers for Gold Cup).

LD Update: NASL Game Night

Home clubs were winless on the night, but with the playoffs looming all the attention is on positioning in the table. The Tampa Bay Rowdies joined the San Antonio Scorpions in the playoff field with a road win against state rival Fort Lauderdale that also allowed the Carolina RailHawks to jump into a tie for fourth with the Strikers with a victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders who only sit two points ahead of the duo in third. Defending champion Minnesota missed out on a chance to pull away and virtually lock up the sixth and final berth, but played to a draw against the league-leading San Antonio Scorpions.

LD Update: Champion Orlando City out; Charleston & Wilmington reach USL Pro Final

One upset was perhaps fathomable, but too was improbable. Both road teams, however, advanced Friday evening to reach the USL Pro championship game next Saturday.

The Wilmington Hammerheads, who accounted for Orlando City's lone loss this season, repeated the feat in stunning fashion. The Charleston Battery, meanwhile, battled the Rochester Rhinos to a 1-1 draw before prevailing in penalties.

LD Update: USL Pro semis tonight; PR pounded; player availability news

The USL Pro championship finalists will be determined tonight with both semifinals kicking off around 7:30 pm ET. The reigning two-time regular season champion and last year's league winners Orlando City play host to the Wilmington Hammerheads, the only team to hand them a loss in their amazing 17-1-6 campaign, while longtime foes Rochester Rhinos and Charleston Battery square off in New York.

Both matches will be streamed on USLnation.com.

LD Update: NASL honors, sponsor & SKC loan

NASL News: The San Antonio Scorpions ownership announced Toyota as the presenting sponsor of the stadium currently under construction as well as the associated theme park for special-needs individuals, Morgan's Wonderland... The league announced the weekly honors, naming Carolina RailHawks goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald as the Defensive Player of the Week and Fort Lauderdale Strikers forward Abe Thompson as the Offensive Player of the Week... The RailHawks announced the addition of Sporting Kansas City midfielder Konrad Warzycha via a loan for the rest of the season after playing just one minute in league play and making two US Open Cup appearances in the club's run to the tournament championship.   

LD Update: Carolina clubs win dramatic USL Pro playoff openers; NASL Game Night

It was a dramatic night of rallies in the opening round of the USL Pro playoffs as the Carolina clubs Charleston Battery and Wilmington Hammerheads advanced to the semifinals. Charleston came from behind at home to knock out Harrisburg while Richmond and Wilmington played a back-and-forth contest that saw the visiting Hammerheads prevail on a late strike.

In the NASL, two matches were of note. The two sides tied for second squared off, but the Tampa Bay Rowdies and visiting Puerto Rico Islanders played to a scoreless stalemate. Meanwhile, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers moved within two points of the pair by downing the league-leading San Antonio Scorpions.

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro honors; PDL expansion club in FL

NASL News: Pablo Campos was honored as the league's Offensive Player of the Week after helping San Antonio clinch the first playoff berth while Fort Lauderdale Strikers midfielder Conor Shanosky was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Week.

USL Pro News: The league officially recognized on Monday the season's statistical award winners. Orlando City players nearly earned all four awards with Dennis Chin winning the double, capturing the scoring championship (24) and goal scoring title (11). Teammate Miguel Gallardo finished as the league's top netminder in goals-against average (0.780), beating out two others that finished under the goal-per-game mark. Orlando's Kevin Molino nearly captured the Assist Leader award, but was edged out by JC Banks of the Rochester Rhinos (8) for the honor.. The league unveiled Tuesday the final Team of the Week honors for the regular season, selecting Harrisburg City Islanders netminder Nick Noble as the Player of the Week.

PDL News: United Soccer Leagues announced Southwest Florida SC as an expansion club for 2013. The club, which announced its general manager and coaching staff, is holding a nickname vote, giving fans the choice of Adrenaline, Dynamite or Thunder.

LD Update: Dramatic finish of USL Pro ; Scorpions clinch in NASL

Clutch wins and missed opportunities highlighted a dramatic final night in the USL Pro regular season as the Charlotte Eagles failed to take advantage of prime position to clinch a playoff berth and the Richmond Kickers were unable to claim the second-place berth direct to the semifinals, leaving Rochester in second.

Meanwhile, Wilmington jumped over Charlotte in the table with a win over their state rivals after a loss the night before in their two-game series, and the Harrisburg City Islanders picked up a crucial win on the other side of the country to slip by the Eagles for the final playoff berth.

LD Update: One day left in USL Pro season; NASL Game Night

In USL Pro action Saturday, only two goals were scored in three matches with playoff implications. Charleston's scoreless draw cost them a shot at the second-place bye to the semifinals while Rochester's lone tally put the pressure on Richmond to win tomorrow in order to claim the second spot with their late-season surge (6-0-1). Charlotte's lone strike against state rival Wilmington put them in control of grabbing the final playoff berth in the second-half of the series Sunday as they now sit fifth with Wilmington and Harrisburg two points back.

The Eagles merely need a draw Sunday to clinch a berth while Wilmington needs to at the very least match what Harrisburg earns at eliminated LA, whom they tied 2-2 Friday.

LD Update: USL Pro Game Night - Blues eliminated; Atlanta's Cox to Tampa

With a one-goal decision on the road, the Richmond Kickers moved into a tie for second, looking to claim the second bye to the semifinals. The chase for the bye is wide open with four teams in the running with two nights of regular season play left. The night's other meaningful match saw the elimination of the LA Blues as Harrisburg separated themselves from the tie with Charlotte for the sixth and final berth.

USL PRO

Antigua Barracuda 0:1 Richmond Kickers - David Bulow rose highest to get his head on the ball in the 61st minute to send Sascha Goerres' corner into the back of the net on the road for the only goal that mattered. - MORE

LD Update: Final weekend in USL Pro; Strikers minus two stars

Eight of the nine games in the final weekend of the USL Pro regular season this week will likely decide the playoff field as teams two through eight fight for the remaining three berths of six or playoff positions that that include a second bye to the semifinals. Orlando City clinched the top spot several weeks ago. With all but the top three teams having two games left to play and only five points separating second-place Rochester and the pair of sixth-place sides Charlotte and Harrisburg, plenty of scenarios are in play for the final weekend. The LA Blue, four points back of postseason position are also in the hunt with some help. Seven of the nine matches are available via online streams.

LD Update: International duty; USL's MAC Hermann watch list players

NASL Sunday - FC Edmonton 1:0 Puerto Rico Islanders - Shaun Saiko's return to the lineup proved fruitful as he volleyed home the winner in the 31st minute off a Kenny Caceros cross. - MORE

NASL News: The league honored Fort Lauderdale Strikers forward Andy Herron as the Offensive Player of the Week and selected Bryan Arguez of FC Edmonton as the Defensive Player of the Week... A pair of Carolina RailHawks will be in international action this week with Nick Millington joining Guyana to face Bolivia on the road and John Krause playing for Puerto Rico as they host 2010 World Cup champion Spain. 

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Night

It was a quiet night in the NASL with only two goals total in three matches. The only teams to find victory were the league-leading San Antonio Scorpions and Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

In USL Pro, the Charlotte Eagles' quest for the postseason stalled a bit with a draw versus Dayton, but the lone point was enough to pull even with the Harrisburg City Islanders for sixth as they fell in Richmond. Charleston moved within a point of the second-place Rhinos with a surprising 4-0 victory in Rochester while LA kept its slim chances alive with a narrow win versus Antigua two days after previously losing at home to them.

LD Update: Rowdies add ex-EPL player; USL Pro Game Night

USL PRO Thursday: LA Blues 1:2 Antigua Barracuda - The last place visitors delivered a tough blow to the California club's playoff chances with the surprise win. The Blues pressured from the start and after a couple close calls, Maykel Galindo connected with Max Griffin for the opening strike in the 34th minute. A fortunate bounce off the referee allowed Lawson Robinson to set up Orlando Mitchum for the equalizer in the 57th minute. Mitchum then turned provider in the 84th to give Antigua its fourth win, equal to Dayton and Pittsburgh. - MORE

USL PRO Friday: Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0:3 Charlotte Eagles - Nate Thornton gave the visitors the lead in the 39th minutes after acquiring a loose ball at the top of the area. A Riverhounds effort was denied by the post in the 66th, and it was all Charlotte from that point thought it was not until the final moments they secured the win with Chris Salvaggione scoring on a 90th minute rebound after a great save by Hunter Gilstrap on Miguel Ferrer. In stoppage time Mauricio Salles capped the scoring - MORE

NASL News: The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced the signing of former EPL player (Newcastle, 2000-01) Carl Cort, who last played for Brentford of League One after stints with five other clubs.
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LD Update: New women's league update; NASL & USL Pro Game Night

NASL: FC Edmonton 1:1 San Antonio Scorpions - The Scorpions failed to use their game in hand in a midweek contest to push their one-point lead to four. The visitors took the initial lead 23 minutes in when Jonathan Greenfield picked up a good through ball from Pablo Campos and put it past Lance Parker. Moments before the break Serisay Barthelemy connected with Yashir Pinto to level the score. Halftime turned into a three-hour break due to the weather and upon resumption of play, the two played to a stalemate despite San Antonion losing Josue Soto to a second yellow in the 64th. Pinto nearly scored on two late chances, failing to put away the rebound on a Kyle Porter shot in the 80th and sending another off the post five minutes later. - MORE

LD Update: NASL honors; Rowdies transfer

NASL Sunday: San Antonio Scorpions 1:2 Puerto Rico Islanders - Fresh off their CCL loss, the Islanders pulled back within a point of the NASL leaders courtesy of a pair of Nicholas Addlery goals in the 31st and 51st minutes. Pablo Campos struck back in the 71st, but the rally came up short for the league leaders. - MORE

NASL News: The league announced Puerto Rico Islanders defender Richard Martinez as the Defensive Player of the Week and Atlanta Silverbacks striker Pedro Mendes as the Offensive Player of the Week... The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced that forward Tsuyoshi Yoshitake is leaving on a transfer to Yokohama FC Hong Kong.
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LD Update: Historic PDL champ; NASL & USL Pro Game Night

A high scoring evening in NASL action as the three games finished with 14 total goals, with two finishing in a draw. In USL Pro, it was a great night in North Carolina as the Charlotte Eagles and Wilmington Hammerheads were victorious, keeping the Eagles in the playoff hunt and moving the Hammerheads into a tie for third with their opponent Charleston, whom they tied the night before on the road.

Carolina RailHawks 3:3 Tampa Bay Rowdies - In a wild back-and-forth affair, the visitors got on the board first when Shane Hill knocked a 12-yard effort in off the post in the 17th minute. Then Carolina went on a roll with three straight. Nick Zimmerman headed in a Kupono Low cross from six yards to make things even two minutes before the break, then scored four minutes into the second half off a cross from Jason Garey, who added one of his own three minutes later. Luke Mulholland, who set up Hill's opener keyed Tampa Bay's rally with a half volley four minutes from time and set up the equalizer in stoppage time with a corner to Takuya Yamada - MORE

LD Update: USL Pro Game Night; NASL honor

In a showdown of the USL Pro's top two sides, regular season champion Orlando City added even more to its lead over Rochester. Meanwhile, a draw between the third and fourth-place sides Charleston and Wilmington allowed Richmond to jump past the Hammerheads with their victory.

USL PRO

Rochester Rhinos 0:1 Orlando City - Rochester netminder Kristian Nicht could only hold back Orlando City for so long before a counter in the 65th minute gave Jamie Watson the opportunity to provide the winner. - MORE

LD Update: Puerto Rico falls in CCL opener; Hammerhead to Iceland; PDL award finalists

USL PRO: Harrisburg City Islanders 2:4 Orlando City - The Florida club may have already locked up first, but they certainly did not take it easy in Harrisburg. Jamie Watson struck six minutes in. After Garret Pettis equalized in the 10th, Watson would restore the advantage beore the break with his second in the 32nd. In the second half it was Dennis Chin, setting up defender Erik Ustruck with a rebound finish in the 52nd and scoring himself in the 75th to put the match out of reach. James McLaughlin provided a late effort for a rally in the 82nd. - MORE

LD Update: USL Pro Game Night; League honors; PDL signings

USL Pro: Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0:2 LA Blues - Maxwell Griffin played a role in both goals on either side of the break. He kicked it off by collecting a long diagonal ball in the 38th and sending it toward goal only to have it deflect off a defender and, fortunately, to the path of Brian Farber to give them the lead. Nine minutes into the second half a defensive giveaway forced by Matt Fondy allowed Maykel Galindo to find Griffin to double the lead. Galindo nearly made it three in the 73rd when Blum was tackled by the keeper, sending Galindo to the spot only to see him denied with a nice save by Greg Blum. - MORE

LD Update: Ottawa finally wins W-League; Gulf Coast & FC Sonic champs

While three of the elite amateur leagues were determing their championships Sunday (PDL to conclude next week), the bottom two sides in USL Pro squared off. With a victory over Antigua, Dayton jumped past Pittsburgh in the table.

USL PRO: Dayton Dutch Lions 3:1 Antigua Barracuda - The visitors took the initial lead when a shot from Stefan Smith rebounded to Tamarley Thomas in the 12th minute. Nixon Dias headed in a Eli Garner corner two minutes later for the hosts and things got worse in the 38th when Matthew Aldred was sent off for a bad tackle. Another corner just before the hour mark was put away by Mettin Copier after a scramble then Antigua lost George Dublin to a red. Neil Holowaty finished the scoring in the 72nd. - MORE

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Night; WNY champs, PDL final set

With fourth-place Fort Lauderdale winning the night before, the top three clubs answered right back with wins of their own Saturday with shutout victories at home, including one stunning scoreline that set a league record.

Harrisburg and Richmond made it a clean sweep for the home clubs on the night, giving themselves a little space from Charlotte in the race for the final playoff berth.

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Night; W-League & NPSL semi results

The NASL's lone match of the night had enough goals for an entire weekend's slate of games in the league as Fort Lauderdale won a thriller with Atlanta.

In USL Pro Friday night, all four home sides were victorious, three with shutouts. While Charlotte picked up another win, their sixth in a row, to continue their climb, the big news on the night was Orlando City clinching the regular season title and the accompanying home field advantage in the postseason.

LD Update: Pro signings; Women's championships

In a midweek showdown Wednesday night, the Wilmington Hammerheads and Orlando City played to a stalemate.

Orlando City 1:1 Wilmington Hammerheads - The game went past an hour of play before the visitors got on the board through Bryce Taylor, who beat two defenders to tally in the 68th minute, making the hosts regret a saved Rodrigo Lopez penalty kick from minutes earlier. Matt Luzunaris would provide the equalizer six minutes from time, heading in a cross from Dennis Chin. - MORE

LD Update: League honors; WPSL final four pairings

USL Pro News: After becoming the team's all-time leading scorer, Matthew Delicate was honored as the league's Player of the Week, highlighting the Team of the Week.

W-League News: In advance of the Final Four this weekend, the league unveiled the 2012 All-League Team.

WPSL News: The league unveiled the pairings for the Final Four in Pensacola, FL. The matches, determined in an unknown fashion, pit top seed (based on points-percentage) Gulf Coast Texans against the third seed Salt Lake United in a showdown of the two unbeaten teams in the semifinals. The other semifinal will see the second seed Aztec MA square off against Oklhahoma FC. - PLAYOFF BRACKET

Super-20 News: The league announced the Men's and Women's All-Tournament teams, recognizing Karisa Price of the Colorado Rapids as the Women's Most Valuable Player and the Chicago Fire's Felipe Cortez as the Men's MVP.

LD Update: Cunningham to San Antonio; Blues tie Municipal; W-League honors

NASL News: The San Antonio Scorpions have signed MLS all-time leading scorer Jeff Cunningham, most recently of Guatemala's Comunicaciones... In another move, the Carolina RailHawks transferred Chris Nurse to the Puerto Rico Islanders... Fort Lauderdale Strikers midfielder Mark Anderson was chosen as the league's Offensive Player of the Week while Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Frankie Sanfilippo was named the Defender of the Week.

USL Pro News: The LA Blues posted a positive result with a scoreless draw against Guatemala's Municipal, which kicks off its CONCACAF Champions League campaign next month... Orlando City announced that it will have San Jose Earthquakes player Jean Alexandre on loan for the remainder of the season after previous short-term loans.

LD Update: Amateur & elite youth league playoffs - MLS affiliate results & WPSL forfeit issues

Today was all about the amateur playoffs. In addition to the five elite semi-pro & amateur leagues, the USL Super-20 League and US Soccer Development Academy league crowned champions in a busy day that featured numerous MLS-affiliated sides.

PDL News: The Conference Championships were decided Sunday with only one of the three tournament hosts winning. The Carolina Dynamo advanced to the league semifinals next weekend with a stoppage time game-winner for a 1-0 decision against the Ottawa Fury. They will face Orlando City U23, who won in their home state, 4-2 in Ocala, against the Austin Aztex. The other semifinal will see the Seattle Sounders U23 side, 2-0 winners against host Ventura County Fusion, face Forest City London, who knocked off both division champions in the Central Conference, downing the host Michigan Bucks, 2-1, to avenge a series sweep during the season (1-0, 2-1). - PLAYOFF BRACKET

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Nights; Amateur league playoffs

San Antonio kept hold of first with a narrow victory while the Tampa Bay Rowdies used a showdown for second to leap over the Puerto Rico Islanders. The Carolina RailHawks used a storm-delayed victory against Minnesota to move within two points of the fourth-place side.

An off night for Charleston allowed the Rochester Rhinos to move into second with a victory while the Richmond Kickers, mired mid-table, celebrated Matthew Delicate becoming the team's all-time leading goal scorer with a late goal in a win.

LD Update: USL Pro Game Night; NASL signings; PDL/WPSL playoffs

With the Charlotte Eagles charging up the table, Harrisburg and Wilmington added a little space with a pair of two-goal wins Friday evening.

USL PRO

Wilmington Hammerheads 2:0 Dayton Dutch Lions - Two goals in the opening nine minutes were too much for the visitors to rally back from. Corey Hertzog's long throw proved fatal again, connecting with Dylan Riley, who headed in after just three minutes. Cody Arnoux doubled the lead six minutes later with a 40-yard rocket. - MORE

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Nights; WPSL Elite expansion; MLS player moves

In midweek action there were a couple surprising results as the defending NASL champion Minnesota Stars fell at home to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, who moved squarely into the mix to make a run for the regular season title down the stretch.

Meanwhile in USL, the Dayton Dutch Lions continue to improve and impress, upending the Harrisburg City Islanders after a scoreless draw between the two last week to move third from bottom in the table. League leader Orlando City nabbed a late win against second-place Charleston to increase the gap in the race to repeat as the regular season champions.

LD Update: Special - Amateur League Playoffs

THE ONLY PLACE TO FIND BRACKETS FOR ALL FOUR LEAGUES!

Initial rounds of the postseason for the WPSL, NPSL and USL's PDL and W-League kicked off this past weekend and have continued with midweek contests. They get into high gear this coming weekend as they set the stage for their respective championship events.

Of note, there are seven teams combined in the postseason across the four leagues that are directly affiliated with Major League Soccer clubs. The PDL playoffs boast four with the Reading United AC (Philadelphia Union), Seattle Sounders U23s and Portland Timbers U23s. The W-League features the DC United Women and Seattle Sounders Women while FC Dallas plays in the WPSL. The New York Red Bulls Academy is the lone team in the NPSL playoffs.

LD Update: Loans & Call-ups; Statistical award winners

NASL News: The Fort Lauderdale Strikers are getting former player Paulo Araujo Jr back, returning on loan from Real Salt Lake . Meanwhile the team also announced a contract extention with Walter Restrepo... The young Puerto Rico Islanders duo of defender Cesar Garcia (Dominican Republic) and Joseph Marrero (Puerto Rico) have been called up for their U-20 national teams for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Qualifying tournament.

USL Pro News: The league announced the Team of the Week, honoring Los Angeles Blues midfielder Bryan Burke as the Player of the Week.

LD Update: Honors & amateur league playoff news

NASL News: The league announced Pablo Campos of the San Antonio Scorpions as the Offensive Player of the Week while recognizing Tampa Bay Rowdies goalkeeper Jeff Attinella as the Defensive Player of the Week.

W-League: The Virginia Beach Piranhas advanced to the playoffs Sunday with a 2-0 victory in Fredericksburg... Colorado Rush W-League player Lindsey Horan has reportedly signed a six-figure deal with French club PSG.

PDL News: The Michigan Bucks claimed the league's regular season championship for a third time (2000, 2008) with a 4-0 win Sunday... Ocean City Nor'easters finished as the best team in the Eastern Conference with a 1-0 win Sunday against Brooklyn.

WPSL News: The Spokane Shine have withdrawn from the playoffs and will be replaced by Issaquah SC, who finished second in the Northwest Division.

NPSL News: The league announced New York Red Bulls Academy U23 striker John Gurel as the Player of the Week.

LD Update: NASL Game Night; Amateur league playoffs

FC Edmonton 0:1 Tampa Bay Rowdies - Despite losing Tsuyoshi Yoshitake to a red card 32 minutes in following a collision along the touchline. Despite the disadvantage, the Rowdies held strong and found the winner through Luke Mulholland in the 89th minute, giving Tampa Bay a fifth win in the last six for a surge that has put them in third position two points out of first. - MORE

PDL News: Forest City London advanced to the conference playoffs following news of the withdrawal by expected divisional round opponent River City, who claimed not to have enough available players after receiving two red cards versus Michigan Sunday... The Northwest Division's early playoff start continued with the Portland Timbers U-23s downing the defending champion Kitsap Pumas, 2-1, in the divisional round to reach the Western Conference final four set for Ventura, Calif.