NASL Kicks off Fifth Season on Saturday with Five Games on ESPN3

Published on April 3, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release


After a thrilling finish in 2014, the North American Soccer League (NASL) will kick off its fifth season on Saturday. 10 clubs will be in action in Week 1 of the 2015 Spring Season, with all five games airing nationally on ESPN3.

"2015 is looking like it will be an incredible year in the NASL," NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson said. "All of our clubs have upgraded their rosters with some great players, and they have also worked hard in their communities during the offseason. It's going to be a competitive and exciting season."

The league features plenty of new faces this year, including Spanish legend Raî=BAl and 2014 FIFA World Cup participant Marvin Chavez, who will be two of the many players making their NASL debuts on Saturday.

"The soccer scene for fans across the country will only improve with the NASL season kicking off. It provides fans with great options of quality teams to follow and exciting players to watch," U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said.

"The continued growth of the NASL not only broadens the landscape of professional soccer for aspiring players and dedicated fans, but the quality of the league contributes in an important way to the sustainability of soccer in the U.S."

Week 1 will kick off at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, and will conclude with a slate of four night games in Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, and San Antonio.

Carolina RailHawks vs. Ottawa Fury FC

1:00 p.m. ET | Saturday, April 4

WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, N.C.

Watch | ESPN3 (National), Rogers TV (Local-OTT)

The Carolina RailHawks and Ottawa Fury FC get the ball rolling in the 2015 NASL Spring Season with an afternoon start. In Carolina, head coach Colin Clarke has assembled a very experienced side that will look to uphold their perennially strong home form at WakeMed Soccer Park. Fury FC has had a strong preseason and the Canadian side has reason to believe that their second season in the league will be much more fruitful than their inaugural year proved to be. | READ MORE

Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Indy Eleven

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, April 4

Atlanta Silverbacks Park | Atlanta, Ga.

Watch | ESPN3 (National)

Indy Eleven is another club entering their second NASL season, and they head down to Atlanta possessing what should be a potent attack. Charlie Rugg was a spark for the Boys in Blue at the tail end of last season, and he should form a dynamic partnership with Jamaican international Brian Brown, if paired together. The Silverbacks are under their first year of head coach Gary Smith's guidance. By making shrewd offseason moves like picking up veterans Hans Denissen and Kyle Porter, the Silverbacks could be one of the league's most surprising teams. | READ MORE

Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. New York Cosmos

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, April 4

Lockhart Stadium | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Watch | ESPN3, ONE World Sports (National)

In perhaps the weekend's marquee matchup, NASL Golden Era rivals, the New York Cosmos and Fort Lauderdale Strikers, square off in the season opener. Spanish icon Raî=BAl is slated to make his Cosmos debut, and looking on from the suites will be Brazilian great Ronaldo, who is a Strikers minority owner. The Cosmos will bring their stacked midfield to Lockhart Stadium to try and secure their first points of the season against last season's runners up. The Strikers, led by Flamengo legend Léo Moura, will want to show that the changes in the offseason have produced a squad capable of competing for a title once more in Marcelo Neveleff's debut season as head coach. | READ MORE

Jacksonville Armada FC vs. FC Edmonton

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, April 4

EverBank Field | Jacksonville, Fla.

Watch | ESPN3 (National), CWJax17 (Local)

After much anticipation, Jacksonville Armada FC will embark on its inaugural campaign, and could do so, in front of a record crowd. Co-head coaches José Luis Villarreal and Guillermo Hoyos, making their NASL coaching debuts, have a squad that is still coming together. They will certainly want to get off to a fast start in front of what will be a boisterous home crowd. The Eddies, on the other hand, are hoping consistency proves key. With their strong core from a year ago returning, and several weeks in Florida to prepare, the Canadian side will look to spoil the party in Jacksonville. | READ MORE

San Antonio Scorpions vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

8:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, April 4

Toyota Field | San Antonio, Texas

Watch | ESPN3 (National), KSAT MeTV 12.2 (Local)

The last time the San Antonio Scorpions played a match at Toyota Field, they were crowned NASL champions. Head coach Alen Marcina's side gets set to begin their title defense in earnest with several new additions giving them an even deeper roster in 2015. The club will be ramped up to get a result, but they will have to hope any championship festivities beforehand don't prove to be a distraction. San Antonio's opponent, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, have completely rebuilt their squad and look poised for a better year than the one they had in 2014. New head coach Thomas Rongen brings vast experience to the club, and much like FC Edmonton, the Rowdies will look to rain on the Scorpions' parade. | READ MORE

Week 1 Bye: Minnesota United FC

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North American Soccer League Stories from April 3, 2015


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