2011 Year in Review

REGULAR SEASON

The growth of the Bigtime Soccer League continued into its third season. After two steady years playing with 8 clubs and a 3 team playoff format, the league expanded to become an 11 team league and to accommidate this growth added a 4th playoff spot. 6 of 8 clubs from 2010 returned and the 20 game regular season schedule was extended from 20 weeks to 22 weeks. For the first time the BSL had a balanced schedule with each club playing each other twice. The only new rule added to the league in 2011 was the "Saves Rule" allowing BSL Keepers to earn a point for 5 saves or more on gameday. The regular season was extremely competitive with many of the expansion clubs showing impressive strength. Some new clubs like Second City SC obtained wins fairly quickly, while others like Alliance FC began the season poorly with a 1-5-0 start before finding form to eventually win 10 games on the season. Veteran BSL clubs found an array of fortunes. Clubs like CD Gunners, Gold Coast FC, and Gateway United enjoyed success, while other familiar clubs like Alamo City SC and even the defending BSL Champion, Union SC struggled to keep up. The playoff and Majors Cup race came down to the final week to determine the qualifiers.

PLAYOFFS

Only two clubs, the CD Gunners and Second City SC, clinched both the playoffs and Majors Cup. The other playoff partipants were Gateway United and Gold Coast FC. In the first round of the BSL playoffs the CD Gunners became the first Honors Trophy Champion to win a playoff game defeating Gateway United in the Semi Finals. Meanwhile Gold Coast FC defeated Second City in the other Semi Final match. The BSL Final gave the CD Gunners the league's first "Double" with a 5-1 win over Gold Coast FC.

MAJORS CUP

The 2011 Majors Cup saw new clubs Pennsylvania Stoners and Alliance FC as the other qualifiers. In the Group Stage, the BSL clubs to advance were the CD Gunners and Alliance FC. These two BSL clubs met each other in the Semi Finals where the Gunners prevailed 5-4. The Majors Cup Final pitted the CD Gunners against the Seattle Sounders who for the second year in a row represented the MLS in the Final. The CD Gunners completed a stellar season winning the Majors Cup Final 7-6 in overtime.

MINOR TROPHIES

In the leagues derbies, Gold Coast FC nabbed the California Cup over Union Southern California. The CD Gunners nabbed the BSL Classic over Alamo City. Gateway United took the Barium Cup over Alliance FC. Click on the boxes to see complete season stats, scores, and standings.

2011 Majors Cup Champions

What is there left to say about this club and its accomplishments this 2011 season. The club has just picked up its 4th BSL sanctioned Cup and all three for this year. In the Majors Cup tournament the club had a overcome a hard fought battle with Toronto FC in the Group Stage just to earn a point with an 8-8 tie. Then, after being dismantled by the LA Galaxy, faced elimination against the BSL's Pennsylvania Stoners only to edge the club out by a single point. That living dangerously, but never say die mentality, helped the Gunners also edge out the BSL's Alliance FC by 1 point as well in the Semi Finals. Finally, The club needed overtime to edge out the Seattle Sounders also by 1 point. Congrats to the CD Gunners!

Capital District Prevails In Overtime. A Trifecta Season!

2011 MAJORS CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

CAPITAL DISTRICT       7 

SEATTLE                6 (OT)

Mission accomplished as the CD Gunners have become the first BSL club to win the "Trifecta". All three League Championships, the Honors Trophy, The BSL Cup, and now the Majors Cup, were won by the club this season. It was not an easy journey, and the Majors Cup Final proved that. Both competitors fought hard. The Gunners got 2 big goals from Mendoza and a huge clean sheet and 5 saves from Tally Hall. The Sounders countered with a goal from Ochoa and plenty of assists and also 6 saves from Kasey Keller. Freddy Montero had double duty for both clubs with his goal. With the score tied 6-6 after full time, the Gunners Soolsma scored the game winner in overtime with his assist. BOXSCORE: Gunners- Montero(G), Mendoza(2G Y), Sanvezzo(G), Hall(CS SP), Soolsma(A). Sounders- Montero(G), Ochoa(G), Rosales(A), Neagle(A), Evans(A), Keller(SP), Ianni(Y).

Gunners VS Sounders in the Final

MAJORS CUP 2011: SEMI-FINALS
CAPITAL DISTRICT     5 
ALLIANCE             4

The CD Gunners got big goals from Montero and Pappa, but it was Javier Morales assist that was the difference in the match. Marco Pappa started the week with a hat trick and would end the scoring with a 2 point average. Then Alliance FC countered with goals from DeRosario and Najar to equalize. Freddy Montero reclaimed the lead for the Gunners with his 2 goals, while Alliance countered again with a goal from Barrett and Clean Sheet from Pickens. The Morales assist was the difference. The CD Gunners advance to the Majors Cup Finals with a chance to be the first BSL club to win all 3 League Championships in the same season. BOXSCORE: Gunners- Pappa(2T), Montero(2G Y), Morales(A). Lions- DeRosario(1T), Najar(1T), Pickens(CS), Barrett(G), Stephenson(Y).

MAJORS CUP 2011: SEMI-FINALS
SEATTLE           4 
L.A. GALAXY       2 

The Seattle Sounders are returning to the Majors Cup Final for the second straight year. BOXSCORE: Galaxy- Barrett(G), Beckham(A), Cardozo(Y), Gonzalez(Y). Sounders- Montero(2G Y), Jaqua(A), Keller(SP).