2015–16 Major Arena Soccer League season

August 2023 March 2026 Major Arena Soccer League 2015–16 Baltimore Blast Franck Tayou(47 goals) 198 2630 11 Games:Baltimore Blast(11/7-1/9)Sonora Suns(11/7-1/17) 18 games:Harrisburg Heat(11/6-2/27) 9,442CHI @ BAL(November 7) 104BAJ @ SAL(February 5) 2,405 2014–15 2016–17 The 2015–16 Major Arena Soccer League season was the eighth season for the league and the second since six teams from the former Major Indoor Soccer League defected to what was formerly called the Professional Arena Soccer League. The regular season started on October 24, 2015, and ended on March 4, 2016. Each team played a 20-game schedule. It was also the 38th season of professional indoor soccer in the United States. Teams Many of the 22 teams that completed the 2014–15 season returned for the 2015–16 season. Teams not returning this season include Rochester Lancers, Wichita B-52s, Tulsa Revolution, and Monterrey Flash. In April 2015, Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale announced that his team was withdrawing from the MASL to form a new league. No other teams announced their departure and the proposed new league never formed. The Blast quietly rejoined the league after agreeing to pay a fine. The Detroit Waza relocated to Flint, Michigan, and are operating this season as simply Waza Flo. The expansion Sonora Suns based in Hermosillo, Connecticut-based Hartford City FC, Iowa-based Cedar Rapids Rampage, and Tijuana-based Atletico Baja were formally accepted for membership in the MASL. The fledgling Youngstown Nighthawks based in Ohio aimed to join the league but encountered financial issues. On October 28, 2015, the MASL announced that Hartford City FC would not be permitted to enter the league this season and began league-wide schedule changes to replace the failed franchise. A new ownership group hoped to revive the team for the 2016–17 season. Unlike the prior season where some Eastern Division teams played with a variable-point scoring system, for 2015–16 the whole MASL played with standard soccer scoring using goals, not points. Standings As of March 4, 2016 #CCCCFF 2015-16 League Championship 1px solid #AAAAAA #CCFFCC 2015-16 Playoff Team 1px solid #AAAAAA (Bold) Division Winner Eastern Conference PlaceTeamGPWLPctGFGAGBHomeRoad Eastern Division1Baltimore Blast19154.78912957-9-16-32Syracuse Silver Knights20119.5501201134.57-34-63Waza Flo1899.5001011195.55-34-64Harrisburg Heat19118.0537515214.00-101-8 Central Division1Missouri Comets20173.85015395—7-310-02Chicago Mustangs20137.65015212347-36-43Milwaukee Wave20137.65013111447-36-44St. Louis Ambush20515.250104138123-72-85Cedar Rapids Rampage20515.250117160123-72-8 Western Conference PlaceTeamGPWLPctGFGAGBHomeRoad Southwest Division1Las Vegas Legends20146.700141106—8-26-42Atletico Baja20128.60017816128-24-63Brownsville Barracudas20812.40013414566-42-84Saltillo Rancho Seco20713.35015017075-52-85Sacramento Surge20317.150114180113-70-106Turlock Express20317.15098174113-70-10 Pacific Division1Sonora Suns20173.850219134—9-18-22San Diego Sockers20137.65013811147-36-43Tacoma Stars20137.65011610947-36-44Ontario Fury20128.60014613557-35-55Dallas Sidekicks20713.350114134104-63-7 2016 Ron Newman Cup Playoff format Top three finishers in each division qualify for the playoffs. The winner of the playoff between the second and third place teams will play the first place team for the division title. Each round (including the Newman Cup Championship) will be a home and away series. Teams that win both games will advance. If the wins are split between the two teams, a fifteen-minute mini game will be played immediately after the second game to break the tie. The only exception will be the Eastern Division Semi-Final, where there will be a one-game playoff (Syracuse hosting Waza Flo) because of arena availability issues. Eastern Conference Playoffs Eastern Division Semi-Final March 5, 2016 7:05 PM EST Syracuse Silver Knights 5–3 Waza Flo Oncenter War Memorial Arena 1,815 Tim Tyma Report Syracuse advances to the Eastern Division Final. Eastern Division Final Game 1 March 11, 2016 7:35 PM EST Baltimore Blast 6–5(3 OT) Syracuse Silver Knights Royal Farms Arena 4,041 Joe Della Penna Report Game 2 March 13, 2016 4:05 PM EDT Syracuse Silver Knights 3–4 Baltimore Blast Oncenter War Memorial Arena 2,042 Rich Grady Report Baltimore wins series 2–0. Central Division Semi-Final Game 1 March 5, 2016 3:05 PM CST Milwaukee Wave 7–2 Chicago Mustangs UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena 3,475 Report Game 2 March 6, 2016 6:05 PM CST Chicago Mustangs 7–2 Milwaukee Wave Sears Centre 3,746 Ryan Cigich Report Mini-Game March 6, 2016 9:05 PM CST Chicago Mustangs 0–2 Milwaukee Wave Sears Centre 3,746 Shane Butler Report Milwaukee wins series 2–1. Central Division Final Game 1 March 11, 2016 7:05 PM CST Milwaukee Wave 5–10 Missouri Comets UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena 2,717 Report Game 2 March 13, 2016 5:05 PM CDT Missouri Comets 8–2 Milwaukee Wave Silverstein Eye Centers Arena 3,004 Shane Butler Report Missouri wins series 2–0. Eastern Conference Final Game 1 March 24, 2016 7:05 CDT Missouri Comets 3–4(OT) Baltimore Blast Silverstein Eye Centers Arena 3,011 Ryan Cigich Report Game 2 March 29, 2016 7:05 EDT Baltimore Blast 4–3 (2OT) Missouri Comets Royal Farms Arena 4,102 Rich Grady Report Baltimore wins series 2–0 Western Conference Playoffs Southwest Division Semi-Final Game 1 March 4, 2016 7:35 PM CST Brownsville Barracudas 5–4 Atletico Baja Barracudas Sports Complex 1,168 Francisco Meraz Report Game 2 March 6, 2016 5:05 PM PST Atletico Baja 9–10(OT) Brownsville Barracudas Unidad Deportiva Tijuana 1,760 Kia Depaneh Report Brownsville wins series 2–0 Southwest Division Final Game 1 March 12, 2016 4:05 PM PST Brownsville Barracudas 5–11 Las Vegas Legends Barracudas Sports Complex 1,183 Francisco Meraz Report Game 2 March 14, 2016 7:35 PM PDT Las Vegas Legends 11–9 Brownsville Barracudas Las Vegas Sports Park 403 Ramiro Cruz Report Las Vegas wins series 2–0 Pacific Division Semi-Final Game 1 March 2, 2016 7:35 PM PST Tacoma Stars 7–8(2 OT) San Diego Sockers ShoWare Center 2,036 Kia Depaneh ReportReport Game 2 March 6, 2016 5:05 PM PST San Diego Sockers 11–3 Tacoma Stars Valley View Casino Center 2,774 Ron Cory Report San Diego wins series 2–0 Pacific Division Final Game 1 March 10, 2016 7:05 PM PST San Diego Sockers 5–10 Sonora Suns Valley View Casino Center 2,200 Ryan Cigich Report Game 2 March 12, 2016 6:05 PM MST Sonora Suns 10–13 San Diego Sockers Centro de Usos Múltiples 7,000 Kelly Mock Report Mini-Game March 12, 2016 9:35 PM MST Sonora Suns 6–0 San Diego Sockers Centro de Usos Múltiples 7,000 Kelly Mock Report Sonora wins series 2–1. Western Conference Final Game 1 March 23, 2016 7:05 MDT Sonora Suns 9–13 Las Vegas Legends Centro de Usos Múltiples 6,841 Kia Depaneh Report Game 2 March 24, 2016 7:05 MDT Sonora Suns 13–10 Las Vegas Legends Centro de Usos Múltiples 7,487 Kia Depaneh Report Mini-Game March 24, 2016 10:45 PM MDT Sonora Suns 1–0(2 OT) Las Vegas Legends Centro de Usos Múltiples 7,487 Kia Depaneh Report Sonora wins series 2–1. Newman Cup Championship Game 1 April 10, 2016 6:05 PM EDT Baltimore Blast 7–4 Sonora Suns Royal Farms Arena 7,243 Rich Grady Report Game 2 April 15, 2016 8:05 PM PDT Sonora Suns 13–14(OT) Baltimore Blast Centro de Usos Múltiples 8,324 Ryan Cigich Report Baltimore wins Newman Cup 2–0. Statistics Top scorers RankScorerClubGamesGoalsAssistsPoints1USA Franck TayouSonora Suns204715622USA Kraig ChilesSan Diego Sockers182827553CAN Vahid AssadpourMissouri Comets202327504BRA Mauricio SallesOntario Fury20301646MEX Efrain MartinezChicago Mustangs202125466CAN Ian BennettMilwaukee Wave2037744LBR Leo GibsonMissouri Comets182123448MEX Victor BaezSaltillo Rancho Seco202815439USA Moises GonzalezBrownsville Barracudas2034842BRA Hewerton MoreiraCedar Rapids Rampage20132942Last updated on March 4, 2016. Source: Major Arena Soccer League http://majorarenasoccer.stats.pointstreak.com/scoringleaders.html?leagueid=1289&seasonid=14692 Scoring Leaders Awards Individual awards AwardNameTeamLeague MVPFranck TayouSonora SunsGoalkeeper of the YearDanny Waltman Tacoma StarsDefender of the YearPat HealeyBaltimore BlastRookie of the YearAlejandro LeyvaSonora SunsCoach of the YearDarren SawatzkyTacoma StarsAaron Susi Trophy (Playoff MVP)Lucas RoqueBaltimore Blast All-League First Team NamePositionTeamKraig ChilesFSan Diego SockersFranck TayouFSonora SunsVahid AssadpourMMissouri CometsDamian GarciaDSonora SunsEric GuzmanDLas Vegas LegendsDanny WaltmanGKTacoma Stars All-League Second Team NamePositionTeamLeo GibsonFMissouri CometsMauricio SallesFOntario FuryIan BennettMMilwaukee WaveVictor BaezDSaltillo Rancho SecoPat HealeyDBaltimore BlastWilliam VanzelaGKBaltimore Blast All-League Third Team NamePositionTeamEfrain MartinezFChicago MustangsMax FerdinandMMilwaukee WaveMoises GonzalezMBrownsville BarracudasLuis OrtegaDChicago MustangsJohn SosaDMissouri CometsBoris PardoGKMissouri Comets All-Rookie Team NamePositionTeamAlejandro LeyvaFSonora SunsAdolfo BautistaFChicago MustangsMike RamosMTacoma StarsThiago GonçalvesDWaza FloRoberto MedinaDSonora SunsAndrew CoughlinGKSyracuse Silver Knights References 30em Major Arena Soccer League 2015-16 League Attendance http://majorarenasoccer.stats.pointstreak.com/attendance.html?leagueid=1289&seasonid=14692 December 12, 2015 Guillermo Cano Triunfo Deportivo MASL: Viene a Hermosillo el Comisionado Milliken http://www.triunfodeportivo.com/vernoticias.php?artids=5288&categoria=5 March 5, 2015 March 5, 2015 Major Arena Soccer League Soles de Sonora Introduced as First 2015/16 Expansion Team http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_288559 March 6, 2015 March 6, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151224104454/http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_288559 2015-12-24 dead David Skolnick The Vindicator Vindicator Printing Company Youngstown, OH A proposed soccer league wants to play its home games at the Covelli Centre http://www.vindy.com/news/2015/mar/10/group-asks-city-to-pay-k-for-soccer-team/ March 10, 2015 March 17, 2015 September 2026 InternetArchiveBot Steve Carp Las Vegas Review-Journal GateHouse Media Las Vegas, NV Legends promise to return in 2016 http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/soccer/legends-promise-return-2016 March 17, 2015 March 19, 2015 Major Arena Soccer League MASL Owners Announce Plans for 2015-16 Season http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_299280 April 29, 2015 April 29, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150501213706/http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_299280 May 1, 2015 dead The Examiner GateHouse Media Independence, MO MASL adopts new scoring system, structure http://www.examiner.net/article/20150430/SPORTS/150439991/13809/SPORTS April 30, 2015 May 4, 2015 Dan Krieger Our Sports Central Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4967951 May 11, 2015 May 14, 2015 Tacoma Stars Tacoma, WA Tacoma Stars Set To Relaunch in 2015 http://pointstreaksites.com/view/tacomastars/news-1147/news_302507 May 19, 2015 May 20, 2015 Eric Woodyard The Flint Journal Booth Newspapers Flint, MI Major Arena Soccer League team moves home games to Flint's Dort Federal Event Center http://www.mlive.com/sports/flint/index.ssf/2015/09/major_arena_soccer_league_team.html September 29, 2015 October 29, 2015 Jeff Cohen Connecticut Public Radio Hartford, CT Team Says Arena Soccer League Cancels Hartford City FC's Season http://wnpr.org/post/team-says-arena-soccer-league-cancels-hartford-city-fcs-season October 28, 2015 October 29, 2015 Matthew Kauffman Jenna Carlesso Hartford Courant Tribune Publishing Hartford, CT Arena Soccer League Drops Hartford Team Over Concerns About Federal Investigation http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-soccer-league-drops-hartford-team-1029-20151028-story.html October 28, 2015 October 29, 2015 http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_402445 MASL Announces 2016 Ron Newman Cup Playoffs Schedule Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) March 2, 2016 March 2, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305213545/http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_402445 March 5, 2016 dead http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_417724 MASL Announces Major Awards Finalists and 2015/16 All-Rookie Team Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) March 11, 2016 March 11, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160312133539/http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_417724 March 12, 2016 dead http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_418451 MASL Announces 2015/16 All-League Teams Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) March 15, 2016 March 15, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160317132733/http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_418451 March 17, 2016 dead http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_418695 MASL Announces Major Award Winners for 2015/16 Season Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) March 17, 2016 March 17, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160323070858/http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_418695 March 23, 2016 dead External links MASL official website Major Arena Soccer League Major Arena Soccer League Category:Major Arena Soccer League seasons