NPSL Update

DOWNTOWN. Santa Ana Winds FC of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) came close to qualifying for the US Open Cup, the oldest soccer tournament in the United States that involves the top leagues in the country including Major League Soccer (MLS), United Soccer Leagues (USL PRO), the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the NPSL.

The NPSL is a robust league comprised of six divisions competing nationwide, for a total of thirty seven teams. The Santa Ana Winds compete in the West / Flight Southwest division with the San Diego Flash, San Diego Boca FC, Rattlers FC of Lancaster and FC Hasental of the San Fernando Valley. The club is also paired up with the West / Flight Northwest divisions teams of Hollywood United, Sonoma County Sol, Bay Area Ambassadors and Real San José.

The NPSL was allowed four teams with the best record after seven games to qualify for the US Open Cup, which is run by the United States Soccer Federation. The best team in each NPSL division earns a berth.

Santa Ana came very close to qualifying, they lost their opening game against the eventual qualifying team Hollywood United 1-0 at Centennial Park in Santa Ana. That first game made all of the difference and tipped the division in Hollywood’s favor. Hollywood (7, 1, 0) and Santa Ana (5, 0, 1) are currently the top two teams in the West, both are offensive powerhouses though Hollywood has been pummeling the competition with the exception of Santa Ana. Click here for team info and the rest of the western standings.

The Santa Ana Winds next play Real San Jose on Saturday, May 21 at Santa Ana Stadium at 12:00 pm. The Chivas USA and LA Galaxy youth academies square off later on that day at 5 pm Santa Ana Stadium.

ABOUT SANTA ANA WINDS FC

A new addition to the NPSL, the club was founded in 2009 and has played locally the past few years. This is the club’s first campaign to qualify for the US Open Cup.

ABOUT THE NPSL

The NPSL is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the ruling body for soccer in the United States and FIFA the world’s ruling body for soccer. The NPSL operates and is managed as a team run league. The structure of the league will allow each participating team to have one vote on the executive committee. Each team is owned and operated individually, and is responsible for maintaining league minimum standards and for raising its own operating cash. The existing team owners, that comprise the league management team, approve all new teams who desire to join the league.