Well, it’s been a while since I’ve done a NISA update for the site, so let’s check in on the state of the league.

Chattanooga Keeps on Chugging

Sure, last week saw the Tennessee powerhouse drop its first match of the season (2-1 to LA Force), but don’t think for a second that this means anything long term. In the end, CFC remains the most stacked lineup in the league, backed by the most stable front office and biggest fanbase. What’s not to love about the Blues? With six matches left in the regular season, the only hiccup is that all but one of those matches is on the road. Does this mean we should expect another loss before the playoffs? No. This is a team that looks every bit as strong as it did at the start of the season and I expect them to cruise through the rest of their schedule and into the top seed. Enjoy them while you have them, NISA fans.

Don’t Look Now, But Here Comes Los Angeles

Beginning July 30th, the Force have been on a streak, getting points in every match except its loss at Chattanooga. In that impressive run of results, LA became the first team to beat CFC this season and, in the process, jumped into second place on the table with 31 points. Holding onto that might be tough, given the two matches Michigan Stars have in hand, but its an impressive accomplishment for a club that some of us (not me, OBVIOUSLY) were questioning just a couple of months ago. Francis Avoce is a serious threat to score in a variety of ways and knows how to use his 6’4” height as a real advantage in the box. His continued success will be key for the Force to finish strong.

Orlando, We May Have a Problem

We’ve heard the rumors about Club De Lyon’s issues, including nonpayment of players, shoddy game day operations, inconsistent practice schedules, unprofessionalism in the front office. Honestly, you name it, and we’ve seen the rumors. But this last weekend exposed the first serious cracks to the public, when CDL was forced to forfeit a scheduled match with Flower City Union “due to lack of approved venue availability.” That’s a nice way to say CDL has been evicted, according to an article by Rick Lewis for Valiant33. “They were evicted from Daytona Stadium, as the checks that they had ‘paid’ bounced.” Lewis also claimed that players are not being paid due to a lack of available funds on the part of the club. Will the team finish the season? NISA needs them to.

We May Also Have a Problem in Livonia

If there’s fire in Orlando, there’s plenty of smoke in Livonia, where Gold Star seems to be falling apart. Aside from losing several players midseason (including its best threat, Max Rugova), there’s plenty of rumors swirling around the club regarding funding. Multiple anonymous sources have approached us regarding deteriorating circumstances at Gold Star. While it does appear players are still getting paid, we’ve been told there’s little to no support staff and unpaid interns are leaned on for almost everything. That’s on top of the long-promised stadium that has been publicly scratched, according to local reporting. The failure of Gold Star to deliver on almost any of its preseason promises may be the most disappointing aspect of the 2023 NISA season, if I’m honest. I’m aware that this doesn’t all fall on Alex Lubyansky, as his funding sources may have failed him, but he talked a massive game before the season and now? Nothing.

Golden Boot Race is Getting Tight

After jumping out to an early lead, Markus Naglestad has cooled a bit, going without a goal in his last four matches. That has opened the door for Maryland Bobcats target man Darwin Espinal to catch up. Naglestad holds the lead with 11 goals to Espinal’s 10. Should be interesting as the season winds down.

- Dan Vaughn