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 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: 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.