December 31, 2020

It’s been – wow - a while since the last East Coast Bias. How’s it going? Scared? Depressed? Ready to kick 2020 to the curb? Sure, we’re all there. Trying to keep up with what’s been going on (or not been going on, as the case may be) with the leagues I follow has been the adventure I wasn’t fully anticipating. But 2020 has been a year none of us could have anticipated. Of the many jobs I would not want, maintaining a league schedule during a pandemic would be one of them.

Of course, this begs the question of whether amateur teams should have been playing at all right now – and you’re not wrong for asking that question.

As an outsider looking in, my hope is that every precaution that could have been taken was done so to keep players and staff safe.

UPSL

Despite having their run to a national title ended by Brockton FC United on December 13th, let’s take a moment to appreciate the season New York Contour United had this fall. The club went undefeated in the regular season (10 wins, one draw), won their conference championship with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over EFA Metro, and took out AC Commonwealth in the national playoffs with a convincing 3-0 win. I don’t see any reason why this club will be anything less than a dominant force in the Northeast in the seasons to come.

EPSL

The recent snowstorm essentially put an end to the fall portion of the inaugural Metropolitan Conference season in the EPSL. Two clubs managed to play ten games, including league-leading Lansdowne Yonkers FC. The Bhoys sit atop with 22 points, with Doxa SC (18 points) and NY Pancyprian Freedoms (17 points) right behind – and each with two games in hand.

As far as the three non-Cosmo League clubs, Philadelphia Lone Star FC has done the best of the bunch so far, currently sitting 7th in the standings having only played seven games. Clifton Elite is right behind in 8th, and SEFT FC find themselves in 11th place.

Makeup games from the fall are scheduled to be played on January 31st or February 7th.

NESL Super League

Scheduling has been a challenge for the fall portion of the NESL Super League season, between COVID and cup competitions. Only two of the six teams managed to get three games played. One of those teams, Christos FC, took home wins in all three games and stands on top of the table. West Chester United sits in second at six points and a game in hand. In watching some of the games, the one thing I can say about Christos FC is their level of composure. The club never looks rattled on the field. Can’t wait to see Christos and WCU face off.

No word yet on the schedule for 2021, but that’s to be expected.

Cosmopolitan Soccer League

The league that did its best to stick it out until late December eventually got shut down after the big snowstorm blew through. And as we look at the standings, we have a very intriguing three-team race for the top spot. Hoboken FC 1912 had been leading for most of the way, but now find themselves in third place after NY Shamrock SC and Manhattan Celtic kept on their winning ways. NY Shamrock currently hold the top slot with 26 points, with Celtic right behind at 25 and Hoboken in third with 22 points (and a game in hand).

Makeup games are currently scheduled for January 10th, 17th and 24th.

Long Island Soccer Football League

The LISFL is on its winter break after finishing up the fall portion of the season by the end of November. Still unblemished at the top of the Premier Division is Port Jefferson - a perfect seven wins in seven games. Even more impressive is that the squad has given up a paltry five goals so far this season. NY Irish Rovers and NY Hota Bavarians are still in shouting distance, but need a stumble from Port Jeff to catch up.

Looking down at the other divisions, it’s NYPD FC leading the way in Division 1, SS Cosma Damiano on top of Division 2, and Amigos FC ahead in Division 3. And if you haven’t seen it yet, check out Queens Calcio’s badge redesign. Clean and classic.

Garden State Soccer League

At a certain point I just gave up trying to follow the schedule for the GSSL. But as we stand here at the end of 2020, the dust has settled and this is what we do know:

The clubs that you would expect to be at the top are...at the top.

Despite only playing nine games, FC Motown is first in the Super Division with 24 points, with Clifton Elite FC’s 2 team right behind with 23 points. Jackson Lions FC find themselves tied for third with Sport Club Portug., each with 18 points.

Parsippany Football Club find themselves five points clear atop the A North Division, but they have also played at least two more games than any other club. Jackson Lions FC Reserves lead the way in A Division Central, three points ahead of FC Dynamo. In B North Division, it’s Sierra Stars SC on top of the table, having scored 39 goals in 9 games. And in B Central Division, Jersey Devils FC lead Giresun Spor USA by three points at the break.

In Women A Division, North Jersey Alliance FC hold a three point lead over Jackson Lions FC in a two-team race for the top. Meanwhile, there’s another two-team race in Women B Division between Bulldogs SC and Beachwood Bombshells. Both clubs have 13 points at the break. Somehow, Beachwood has managed to win four of its six games so far despite only scoring five goals.

NJ State Cup

While the GSSL has had its share of scheduling issues, the NJ State Cup has managed to weave its way to the quarterfinals. Here are the matchups:

SEFT FC (EPSL) v Jackson Lions FC (GSSL)

Hoboken FC 1912 (Cosmo League) v Milford FC (GSSL)

FC Motown (GSSL) v Clifton Elite FC (EPSL)

Parsippany Football Club (GSSL) v White Eagles SC (GSSL)

Dates and times of these games still to be determined.

CASA

The six divisions in CASA were able to, by and large, get through their Fall Season schedule. I’m going to flip the script and congratulate the division winners going from the bottom to the top. Telle Bouche FC finished first in the Sexto (6th) Division and will head up along with FC Delta who made it through the promotion playoff. Drexel Hill Elite FC will be moving on up from the Quinto (5th) Division. In Cuatro (4th) Division, Sunbears FC won their last five games and was able to pass FC Burlington and take the top spot and earn promotion. Rose Tree Gunners took a stranglehold of the Tercera (3rd ) Division early on and never let go – and will now be going up for the spring. Moving up to the first division is Drexel Shaft – and when the club takes the field for the spring season, the club will have a new name. Now under the Vidas family of clubs, the team will now be known as Real Vidas.

And, to the surprise of no one who has been following CASA, the Primera Division was won by FC Misconduct. The title never really seemed in doubt for the club, and when they defeated FC SouthHouse 3-2 on November 7th, it was all over. So congrats to FC Misconduct, showing us all once again that they are a CASA powerhouse.

United Soccer League of Pennsylvania

The fall season was shut down by mid-November, and maybe the extended break will give the rest of the Mens Major clubs time to figure out how to catch West Chester United. Six games, six wins – WCU sit six points clear of Vereinigung Erzgebirge and Lancaster City FC. West Chester’s reserve team are also sitting pretty on top of the Mens Major II table at the break. Here’s a stat: +35, as in the goal differential for WCU Reserves after six games.

In the Womens Major table, four clubs are still very much in the running. Lancaster City FC and United German Hungarians are currently tied with 19 points, with Huntingdon Valley Pride one point back. Danubia finished the fall with back to back wins to stay in the chase with 15 points.

EPSA Amateur Cup

If you needed yet another example to demonstrate the level of dominance West Chester United has displayed this fall, look no further than the EPSA Amateur Cup final. When the game gets to be played in 2021, it will be a meeting between WCU’s first team and its reserve team. In fact, the reserve side has reached the finals of the Amateur Cup three out of the last four years. Impressive.

I wish you all a healthy, safe and prosperous 2021, and look for some changes to the ECB. New in 2021 - the weekly post will alternate between the mens’ leagues and womens’ leagues, properly giving equal time. Also, look for more short interviews and news items as well as the scores and schedules. I’m looking forward to broadening the coverage with ECB, and I hope you’ll like the changes.