2012 Year in Review

REGULAR SEASON

The 2012 season was the league's most competitive to date. Unlike previous seasons, the Honors Trophy race lasted until the final week of action with 3 clubs in contention up until the final days of play. In the end Gateway United would capture the Honors Trophy winning the original member its first league title. A high of 12 teams participated in the schedule in 2012. Instead of the usual 20 games with 2 bye weeks, the schedule was changed to 22 games. Nine of the previous 11 clubs returned, and three new members were added. Two of these new additions made an immediate impact. Spartans 1612, based out of New York, established itself quickly as a tough club to beat. The expansion side recorded a record setting 10 ties before the season was up completely detroying the previous record of 6 ties. Overall the Spartans finished with an impressive 8-4-10 record, but would not qualify for any post season action. Another new club, Rose City FC, made an even bigger splash into the league. Rose City finished in the top 4 of the league standings and then took care of its opposition in the playoffs to win the BSL Cup. Last years trifecta champion, the CD Gunners, began the year off slow, but got hot in the 2nd half of the season to post another winning season and qualified for a BSL best 3rd Majors Cup. Ofcourse not all clubs can claim success. With winners there must be losers to balance things out. Clubs like Gold Coast, Alliance and Second City, that saw post season action in 2011, finished at the bottom of the standings in 2012. 

PLAYOFFS

The four clubs that qualified for the playoffs were Gateway United(3rd time), Alamo City(2nd time), Pennsylvania(1st time), and Rose City(1st time). Rose City defeated Gateway United in the first Semi-Final game. Gateway United is now 0-3 in BSL playoffs. Pennsylvania defeated Alamo City in the other Semi-Final game. Rose City won 4-2 over Pennsylvania in the BSL Cup Final. 

MAJORS CUP

The four clubs that qualifed for the Majors Cup in 2012 were Gateway United(2nd time), CD Gunners(3rd time), Pennsylvania(2nd time), and Alamo City(2nd time). Alamo City and Pennsylvania were the two BSL clubs to advance out of the group stage and would eventually meet in the Majors Cup Final were Alamo City would claim the championship by a 6-1 score. Pennsylvania would end up losing in both championship games of 2012.

MINOR TROPHIES

Once again certain BSL clubs faced off in derbies. Gateway United won the Barium Cup once again over Alliance FC. In the California Cup, Union SC defeated the Gold Coast. The CD Gunners took another BSL Classic from Alamo City. The CD Gunners also captured the Empire Cup over Spartans 1612. The 4 BSL original clubs created the Founders Cup in 2012, with the CD Gunners capturing the first title. Alamo City was the best of Texas and won the Brass Cannon.  

2012 Majors Cup Champions

The Alamo City Battle's long season ended with a bang. Earlier in the year the club was a single win away from winning the Honors Trophy, but was defeated to close out the regular season and had to settle for 2nd place in the standings. Then in the playoffs, Alamo City fell short against Pennsylvania in the Semi-Finals. But, in the Majors Cup, the club went undefeated with a 4-0-1 record and avenged its playoff defeat, by defeating the same Pennsylvania team 6-1 in the championship game. Also of note, the club was able to defeat the CD Gunners and LA Galaxy leading up to the Majors Cup Final. In the end the Battle would indeed have a reason to celebrate in 2012. The title makes Alamo City the 2nd BSL club to be able to claim having won both a BSL Cup and a Majors Cup.

Alamo City Overtakes Pennsylvania to Win MC 2012

Battle Win Clubs 2nd League Trophy

MAJORS CUP 2012: CHAMPIONSHIP

ALAMO CITY    6  

PENNSYLVANIA  1

The first ever Majors Cup Final featuring 2 BSL clubs competing for the crown was a blow out. Alamo City built an early 3-0 lead, and slowly added more with little counter attack from Pennsylvania. A total of 6 players had scores for the new Majors Cup Champions. The loss is the 2nd championship match defeat for the Stoners this season. who played the maximum amount of league games a BSL club can participate in a single year. This is the first league sanctioned title for Alamo City since the clubs 2009 BSL Cup. BOXSCORE: Battle- DeLeon(G), Kandji(G), Boskovic(A), Gruenebaum(SP), Perez(G), E.Johnson(A), Henry(Y). Stoners- Keane(G), Kamara(Y), MacDonald(Y), Camilo(Y).

MATCH PREVIEW: Majors Cup Final 2012

For the first time in Majors Cup history, two clubs from the same league will meet up in the Final. Good news for the BSL since it will be guaranteed a champion for three out of the tournaments 4 years.

Pennsylvania is making its 2nd attempt at a Final in 2012 after falling just a bit short in the BSL Cup. Alamo City will look to become only the second BSL club to have won both a BSL Cup and a Majors Cup. 

This is the fourth time these clubs will have meet in 2012. Alamo City won both regular season matches this year, but the Stoners won in the BSL Playoff Semi-Finals!

Stoners Score A Huge 11 Points; Battle Also Advance

MAJORS CUP 2012: SEMI-FINALS

PENNSYLVANIA   11  

LA GALAXY       2

The Stoners took the Galaxy apart scoring 11 points on route to the clubs 2nd championship final this season. Seven players on the Pennsylvania roster scored in this semi-final match including 3 points from Camilo, 2 from Espindola, and 2 from Gspurning. Macdonald scored twice this week to average 1 point. The Stoners will now play Alamo City for the Majors Cup Championship starting on 10/17. BOXSCORE: Stoners- Espindola(G G), Macdonald(1T), Bruin(G), Keane(G), Farfan(1T), Camilo(G A A), Gspurning(CS SP). Galaxy- Keane(G), Juninho(A), Gaul(Y).

MAJORS CUP 2012: SEMI FINALS

ALAMO CITY    2 

TORONTO       0

Luck ran out for Toronto FC as the overachieving MLS side was shut out this week. Alamo City took a while to get going as the score remained 0-0 for much of the week. Finally on Sunday, Blas Perez broke the deadlock and later Eddie Johnson popped in another score. Alamo City advances to the Majors Cup Final to play the Pennsylvania Stoners, the same club that defeated the Battle in the BSL playoffs this season. BOXSCORE: Battle- Perez(G), E.Johnson(G), Henry(Y). Reds- R.Johnson(Y).   

MATCH PREVIEW: Majors Cup Semi-Finals

BATTLE vs REDS
Alamo City is coming off an impressive 7-1 win over the LA Galaxy. The result propelled the Battle to win group B with a 2-0-1 unbeaten record and the clubs first time in the Majors Cup semi's. Toronto finally advanced out of the group stage after 3 tries. The Reds offense has been a bit of a surprise in this tournament so far.
STONERS vs GALAXY
Both clubs have played well and scored well. Take away the Galaxies result last week and the club looked almost unstoppable. Pennsylvania finished the group stage unbeaten.