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.

NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE

Wednesday: Minnesota Stars 1:2 Fort Lauderdale Strikers - Mark Anderson scored twice in the first half to put the hosts on their heels despite hitting the post twice, tallying in the 34th and 42nd. Simone Bracalello struck for the Stars in the 64th but that was all they could find in the rally attempt despite some close chances. - MORE

USL PRO

Wednesday: Dayton Dutch Lions 2:1 Harrisburg City Islanders - The visitors grabbed the initial lead when a Tom Mellor free kick was nearly saved by Matt Williams in the ninth minute only to see the  ball deflect up off the underside of the crossbar and in. A give-and-go between Akeem Priestley and Gerrit-Jan Bartels that took the ball into the penalty area in the 38th minute allowed the Dutch Lions to slip the ball out to Gibson Bardsley for the equalizer. Bartels would score himself, giving Dayton the winner six minutes into the second half when Kyle Knotek set him up with a nice back-heel. - MORE

Thursday: Charleston Battery 1:2 Orlando City - The Battery thought they had the win. Jose Cuevas received a cross and put it past the keeper from six yards after eluding a defender in the 64th minute. Then Luke Boden turned the match into a nightmare in the final moments. He set up Matt Luzanaris for an equalizing header in the 90th minute and then fired a corner in during stoppage time that former Battery midfielder Ian Fuller nodded in for the win. - MORE

NASL News: The Carolina RailHawks U-23's are in Chicago looking to repeat as the USASA's Men's U23 National Cup champions... After being released by the Vancouver Whitecaps, Floyd Franks has returned to the Carolina RailHawks, where he signed a multi-year deal.

USL Pro News: The Harrisburg City Islanders have picked up Greg Jordan and Jimmy McLaughlin on loan from their MLS affiliate Philadelphia Union for the remainder of the season... Former USL Seattle Sounder star Roger Levesque retired, playing his final game Wednesday in an friendly against Chelsea. 

PDL News: The league unveiled its final Team of the Week for the regular season, honoring WSA Winnipeg striker Moses Danto as the Player of the Week.

W-League News: The league announced its final Team of the Week for the regular season, recognizing Long Island Rough Riders goalkeeper Lauren Ferris as the Player of the Week.

WPSL News: The Final Four is set for the Elite league with the Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, New York Fury and host Western New York Flash having locked up the top four spots in the table with a final weekend of games remaining. The Chicago Red Stars are also aiming to win the USASA Women's Open Division national championship this weekend in Chicago.

The league also announced in the promotion of the Final Four that it is expanding the league to the west coast in 2013 with longtime clubs California Storm and San Diego SeaLions being the first two additions. The move is the first sign that the WPSL may be moving forward outside of what may have been discussed in the recent meeting among the various governing bodies in respect to the future of professional women's soccer.

Amateur League Playoffs: Check out this special page for links to all of the brackets to the PDL, W-League, WPSL and NPSL playoffs.
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