Eastern Premier Soccer League
FoundedJuly 23, 2020; 3 years ago (2020-07-23)
First season2020–21
CountryUnited States
ConfederationCONCACAF
(North American Football Union)
Number of teams36
Relegation toMetroplitan Conference
Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Garden State Soccer League
Long Island Soccer Football League
Mid-Atlantic Conference
Maryland Major Soccer League
Northeast Conference
New England Champions League
Domestic cup(s)U.S. Open Cup
(via qualifying tournament & NAC)
National Amateur Cup
(via USASA Region I)
International cup(s)CONCACAF Champions League
(via U.S. Open Cup)
Current championsNorthern Virginia FC (2nd title)
(2021–22)
Most championshipsNorthern Virginia FC
(2 titles)
Websiteepslsoccer.com

The Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL) is a United States Adult Soccer Association and a National Independent Soccer Association affiliated Amateur Elite League that includes teams from the Eastern United States. Currently the league has members from Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

The league is a partnership between the New York City based Cosmopolitan Soccer League and the Maryland Major Soccer League. It is also an affiliate of the National Independent Soccer Association, a professionally sanctioned third division soccer association.

History

The league was announced on July 23, 2020, in a joint effort between the Cosmopolitan Soccer League and Maryland Major Soccer League to create a regional based multi-league promotion and relegation system in the United States.[1][2] The league's goal is to have merit-based promotion from local amateur leagues, including champions, with the possibility of being relegated back into the local feeder leagues at the end of the season. The initial slate of members included many of the clubs that participated in the first division of the CSL the previous season.[3]

In the following months, the EPSL added teams from additional leagues such as the Woodbridge Soccer League and United Premier Soccer League.[4] On September 8, 2020, the league announced that the New Jersey-based Garden State Soccer League would become a feeder league for the EPSL.[5] A future promotion spot in the Metropolitan Conference of the EPSL will be determined in a playoff between the champion of the GSSL and the champion of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.

On September 4, 2020, the National Independent Soccer Association announced its latest amateur league affiliation with the EPSL.[6][7] It joined the previously announced Gulf Coast Premier League and Midwest Premier League in having in having an affiliation with the third division association. The affiliation includes at least two merit-based spots in the NISA Independent Cup tournament and participation on the NISA Alliance Board.

2024 Spring Season Teams

Mid-Atlantic Conference

Team City Stadium Founded
Baltimore City F.C. Baltimore, MD Middle Branch Fitness Center 2023
Maryland Bobcats U23 Boyds, MD Maryland SoccerPlex 2018
Columbia FC Columbia, MD Cedar Lane Park 2017
Estudiantes FC Fairfax, VA Edison HS 2020
Glenmont FC Gaithersburg, MD Laytonia Recreational Park 2020
Golden Ball Soccer Academy Virginia Beach, MD TBA 2019
Grove Soccer United Glen Allen, MD Deep Run HS 2022
Northern Virginia FC Leesburg, VA Virginia Revolution Sportsplex 1998
Patuxent FA EPSL Great Mills, MD Chancellors Run Regional Park 2020
PW Nova Dumfries, VA Ali Krieger Sports Complex 2021
VA Marauders Fairfax, VA Woodson HS 2020

2020-21 Season Teams

Metropolitan Conference

Team City Stadium Founded
Clifton Elite FC Clifton, NJ Athenia Steel Complex 2017
Doxa SC New Rochelle, NY Joseph F. Fosina Field 1962
FC Westchester Yonkers, NY Tibbetts Brook Park 1986
KidSuper Samba AC New York City, NY Baker Athletics Complex 2017
Lansdowne Yonkers FC Yonkers, NY Fleming Field (Yonkers) 1997
New York Athletic Club S.C. Pelham Manor, NY New York Athletic Club 2008
New York Greek Americans New York City, NY Metropolitan Oval 1941
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms New York City, NY Belson Stadium 1974
New Amsterdam FC II New York City, NY Soundview Park 2002
Philadelphia Lone Star FC Philadelphia, PA South Philadelphia Athletic Super Site 2001
Seft F.C. Nutley, NJ Frederick Douglass Field 2017
Zum Schneider FC 03 New York City, NY Jack McManus Field 2003

Mid-Atlantic Conference

Team City Stadium Founded
All Star United FC Baltimore, MD Milford Mill Academy
Columbia FC Baltimore, MD Milford Mill Academy 2017
DMV Rangers FC Baltimore, MD Milford Mill Academy
Fredericksburg City United Fredericksburg, VA Smith Lake Park 2014
Maryland Bobcats FC II Boyds, MD Montgomery Blair High School 2016
Motorik FC Alexandria Alexandria, VA West Potomac High School 2017
Northern Virginia FC Leesburg, VA Evergreen Sportsplex 1998
Steel Pulse FC Baltimore, MD Banner Field at Latrobe Park 2018
Virginia United FC Woodbridge, VA Howison Homestead Soccer Complex 2016

Northeast Conference

Team City Stadium Founded
Boston Siege FC Boston, MA The Rotch Park 2017
Castle Island FC Boston, MA The Rotch Park 2021
Connecticut Rush North Branford, CT Guilford High School 2020
Mass United Rush Gloucester, MA Gloucester High School 2009

2021-22 Season Teams

Northeast Conference

Team City Stadium Founded
Boston Rush Boston, MA Charlestown High School 2017
Fall River FC Fall River, MA Britland Park 2019
Fall River Marksmen Fall River, MA BMC Durfee High School 1922
International SC Nashua, NH Main Dunstable Field 1992
KO Elites Hartford, CT Annie Fischer School 2019
Mass United Rush Boston, MA Charlestown High School 2009
New Hampshire Bobcats Boston, MA Joe Moakley Park 2016
Ruggles FC Marlborough, MA ForeKicks Sports Complex 2020
Santa Cruz FC U23 Lowell, MA UMASS, Lowell 2021
Santa Cruz FC U20 Lowell, MA UMASS, Lowell 2021

Metropolitan Conference

Team City Stadium Founded
Doxa SC New Rochelle, NY Joseph F. Fosina Field 1962
KidSuper Samba AC New York City, NY Baker Athletics Complex 2017
Lansdowne Yonkers FC Yonkers, NY Tibbetts Brook Park 1997
Manhattan Celtic FC New York City, NY Randalls Island Icahn Stadium 1998
New York Greek Americans New York City, NY Metropolitan Oval 1941
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms New York City, NY Belson Stadium 1974
New Amsterdam FC II New York City, NY Soundview Park 2002
Scots-American AC Kearny, NJ Kearny High School 1931
Seft F.C. Nutley, NJ Frederick Douglass Field 2017
Zum Schneider FC 03 New York City, NY Jack McManus Field 2003

Delaware River Conference

Team City Stadium Founded
Albion SC Delaware Middletown, DE DE Turf Sports Complex 2021
Danubia SC Philadelphia, PA Bristol Township Municipal Park 1957
International New Jersey FC Burlington, NJ Bristol Township Municipal Park 2021
Kensington SC Kensington, PA Temple University Sports Complex 2010
Oaklyn United FC Oaklyn, NJ Rowan Soccer Complex 2018
Real Central New Jersey Trenton, NJ Mercer County Community College 2020
Salone FC Philadelphia, PA John Bartram High School 2001

Mid-Atlantic Conference

Team City Stadium Founded
AC Commonwealth Norfolk, VA Norfolk Collegiate School 2020
Columbia FC Columbia, MD Milford Mill Academy 2017
Dulles N-Lite FC Chantilly, VA Poplar Tree Park 2021
Fredericksburg City United Fredericksburg, VA Smith Lake Park 2014
Motorik FC Alexandria Alexandria, VA Thomas Jefferson High School 2017
Northern Virginia FC Leesburg, VA Virginia Revolution Sportsplex 1998
Patuxent FA EPSL Great Mills, MD Chancellors Run Regional Park 2020
Wheaton Lions S.A. Columbia, MD Cedar Lane Park 2016

Year by year

Champions

Season Champion Metropolitan Conference Mid-Atlantic Conference Northeast Conference Delaware River Conference
Regular Season Playoff Regular Season Playoff Regular Season Playoff Regular Season Playoff
2020–21 Lansdowne Yonkers FC[8] Lansdowne Yonkers FC[9] New York Pancyprian-Freedoms Steel Pulse FC DMV Rangers Connecticut Rush Mass United Rush N/A N/A
2021–22 Northern Virginia FC Doxa SC New York Pancyprian-Freedoms Northern Virginia FC Northern Virginia FC Fall River Marksmen Fall River Marksmen International New Jersey FC Salone FC
2022-2023 Northern Virginia FC New York Pancyprian-Freedoms New York Pancyprian-Freedoms Northern Virginia FC Northern Virginia FC Fall River FC Fall River FC Philadelphia Heritage SC Oaklyn United FC

EPSL Tier League System

Level Eastern Premier Soccer League
5 Delaware River Conference
9 clubs 		Metropolitan Conference
12 clubs 		Mid-Atlantic Conference
8 clubs 		Northeast Conference
6 clubs
6 CASA Select League
Liga 1
8 clubs 		Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Division 1
10 clubs 		Garden State Soccer League
Premier Division
10 clubs 		Long Island Soccer Football League
Premier Division
10 clubs 		Maryland Major Soccer League
Premier Division
10 clubs 		New England Champions League
7 Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Division 2
19 clubs 		Garden State Soccer League
A Division North
11 clubs 		Garden State Soccer League
A Division Central
11 clubs 		Long Island Soccer Football League
Division 1
9 clubs
8 Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Division 3
12 clubs 		Garden State Soccer League
B Division North
10 clubs 		Garden State Soccer League
B Division Central
9 clubs 		Long Island Soccer Football League
Division 2
9 clubs
9 Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Division 4
16 clubs

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References

  1. ^ Mwamba, Jay (September 2, 2020). "Lansdowne go semi-pro, join EPSL". Irish Echo. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Lewis, Michael. "REGIONALLY SPEAKING: CSL, Maryland Majors join Eastern Premier Soccer League". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  3. ^ Mwamba, Jay (August 27, 2020). "Lansdowne keep active during crisis". Irish Echo. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "EPSL Welcomes Northern Virginia FC". Eastern Premier Soccer League. August 26, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "EPSL Announces Feeder League Agreement with New Jersey's Garden State Soccer League". Eastern Premier Soccer League. September 8, 2020. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "NISA Expands Amateur Affiliations With the Eastern Premier Soccer League Agreement". nisaofficial.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  7. ^ Lewis, Michael. "ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP: Between NISA, Eastern Premier Soccer League". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Battista, Mike (July 29, 2021). "OaM Lower League Round-Up: July 29, 2020". Once A Metro. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  9. ^ Κήρυξ, Εθνικός (May 18, 2021). "Eastern Premier Soccer League: "Βράζει" με τη διαιτησία ο Παγκύπριος". ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ. Retrieved May 19, 2021.

External links

National Independent Soccer Association
Soccer in the United States
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