"Best of" 2016-17 MASL - Mid-Season

Closing out on 2016, having had a holiday bye-week, let's take a look at who your dear authors recognize as the best of the season so far, both here in the City of Five Seasons and around the MASL. We will do this hockey style, and announce the three stars in each category. Without further ado, here they are..


Best Player -

1st Star: Christian Gutierrez - Atletico Baja.
Franck Tayou may lead the league in points per game, but no player is more critical to his team's success than Gutierrez. Without Gutierrez's league leading goal and point totals, Baja is simply not in a playoff position without him. If that wasn't impressive enough, he also is one of the league leaders in blocks on the other end of the field.

2nd Star: Taylor Bond - Chicago Mustangs
When Taylor Bond plays well, the Mustangs win. Period. The big man is a force both passing and scoring when he is on the field, and is a big part of why the Mustangs raced out to a hot start.

3rd Star: Franck Tayou - Soles de Sonora
Very close to another MVP year. It is the defensive work of the above players that puts him here, but what he does is score goals, and do it well. Tied with Gutierrez for league lead for game winners scored.


Best Defender  -

1st Star: Stephen Basso - Harrisburg Heat.
Basso is a big part of the reason why Harrisburg has had arguably the biggest turn around in the league. His 22 blocks are second only to Chris Mattingly of St. Louis and Harrisburg has gone from a 1 win team a year ago to challenging for a playoff spot due to this massively improved defense.

2nd Star: Chris Mattingly - St. Louis Ambush
The league leader in blocks is relied on a lot, and has that huge number of blocks to prove it. St. Louis would be looking at an even tougher year without him.

3rd Star: Ernesto Luna - Atletico Baja
His teammate has one more block than he does for third in the league, but what separates Luna is his two way play. His 4 goals and 4 assists make Atletico a dangerous team to try and stretch.

Best Goalkeeper -

1st Star: William Vanzela - Baltimore Blast
The only goalkeeper in the top four in each major goalkeeping category. The champs have the top man in goal.

2nd Star: Chris Toth - San Diego Sockers. 
League leader in save percentage, second in goals against average, and solid in goal for another stellar Sockers squad.

3rd Star: Stephen Paterson - Kansas City Comets
The only goalkeeper in the league with both a goal and a shutout, Paterson is right with the other two at the top of the league leaders for goalkeeping categories.


Best Rookie -

1st Star: Brett Petricek - Cedar Rapids Rampage
Among the top five in each of the three main goalkeeping categories, Petricek has been a sometimes spectacular rock in goal ever since his surprise start in the season opener. His consistency is key for this Rampage team.

2nd Star: Hector Eugui Jr. - El Paso Coyotes. 
With Five goals and six assists, the son of the El Paso Coyotes manager has proven a bright spot on a capable offense in El Paso.

3rd Star: Jon Pachar - Cedar Rapids Rampage
The midfielder who had a breakout season in the PLA has added a level of hustle and awareness that goes beyond his two goals and three assists on the stat sheet.


Other Awards


Best Playmakers -

1st Star:  Leo Gibson - Kansas City Comets

2nd Star: Tony Donatelli - Baltimore Blast

3rd Star: Gordy Gurson - Cedar Rapids Rampage


Best Coach -

1st Star: Hewerton Moreira - Cedar Rapids Rampage

2nd Star: Armando Gamboa - Chicago Mustangs

3rd Star:Denison Cabral - Harrisburg Heat


Best Goal -

1st Star: Ricardo Diegues - Florida Tropics (vs. Kansas City Comets)

2nd Star: Stephen Paterson - Kansas City Comets (vs. St. Louis Ambush)

3rd Star: Pat Kelly - Cedar Rapids Rampage (vs. Milwaukee Wave)


Best Breakout Player -

1st Star: Cameron Brown - Dallas Sidekicks 

2nd Star: Ricardo Diegues - Florida Tropics

3rd Star: Hugo da Silva -  Harrisburg Heat

When Grumpy Crows Fly: What Minneapolis City SC leaving means for the PLA and Rampage United

  Word has broken today that Minneapolis City SC (nicknamed "Twitter SC" for their, shall we say "vociferous" social media account) will be taking their ball and smack talk to the larger and truly national NPSL. The NPSL seemingly has ambitions to become the 3rd Division in American pro soccer, now that the USL would seem to move up in the wake of NASL II's demise. They are agressively expanding their national footprint, particular in the midwest. Interestingly, they had a presence in Eastern Iowa for a few years with Quad City Eagles, which haven't fielded a men's team since 2013. Rumors swirled that Cedar Rapids Rampage United would join the NPSL, but it appears this won't come to fruition. So, where does that leave the PLA and Rampage United? 

  The answer to what does this all mean is quite clear if this is a single-defection: not much. With Muskegon Risers SC joining the PLA next season, the most logical conclusion is that Aurora Borealis SC moves to take Minneapolis' place in the West. Risers addition also means the league is large enough to qualify it's champion to the US Open Cup as it did last year. With any more defections, they would need to add a club to each defection in order to maintain that automatic qualifying spot. It appears to be an isolated team, but stay tuned...