A Look at the NPSL Playoffs

Photo by Eldy Mendez

Michael Card, ArmadaFC.com

NPSL SUNSHINE CONFERENCE PLAYOFF STRUCTURE

The top three teams of the NPSL Sunshine Conference will play for a chance to represent the South Region in the NPSL Playoffs and claim the title of Conference Champion.

The top three teams qualify based on regular season average points-per-game (PPG). The No. 2 team will host the No. 3 team in the 2018 NPSL Sunshine Conference Semifinals on July 11.

The No. 1 team will clinch the No. 1 seed and host the winner of the Semifinals in the 2018 NPSL Sunshine Conference Final on July 14.

As of right now, Miami FC 2 is in first place in the conference with 2.18 PPG, Miami United FC is in second with 1.91, and the Jacksonville Armada FC is in third with 1.9. Miami FC 2 and Jacksonville each have one more match to play on Saturday, however.

ARMADA CHANCE TO HOST

The Armada FC clinched its first playoff berth in franchise history Wednesday night with a 4-0 victory on the road against Storm FC.

Two matches Saturday will determine the Armada FC’s seed in the Sunshine Conference Playoffs and if the team will host.  There are three potential scenarios.

If Jacksonville wins Saturday against Naples United FC and Miami FC 2 wins or draws against Boca Raton FC, the Armada FC will clinch the No. 2 seed in the NPSL Sunshine Conference and host Miami United FC Wednesday, July 11 at Hodges Stadium.

The Armada FC also has a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference with a win Saturday night and a Miami FC 2 loss against Boca Raton. If this happens, Jacksonville and Miami would both have 24 points (2 PPG), and the Armada FC would win the tiebreaker in head-to-head matchups because of its 1-0 win June 6 over Miami.

The No. 1 seed would give Jacksonville a bye in the Sunshine Conference Semifinals. The team would then face the winner of the Miami United FC and Miami FC 2 on July 14 at Hodges Stadium in the Final.

A loss or draw on Saturday for the Armada FC, or a loss for both the Armada FC and Miami FC 2, would keep the standings as it is today. Miami United FC would then host Jacksonville on July 11.

CONFERENCE CHAMPION IMPLICATIONS

If the Armada FC won the NPSL Sunshine Conference Championship, the team will move on the NPSL South Region Playoffs.

Winning the conference would also guarantee the team a spot in next year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament. Jacksonville qualified for this year’s Open Cup by winning the Play-In Round against The Villages SC.

NPSL SOUTH REGION PLAYOFFS

The four champions each of the Heartland Conference, Lone Star Conference, Southeast Conference and Sunshine Conference will play in the South Region Playoffs. The four teams will be seeded 1-4 based on regular season PPG for hosting purposes.

The Heartland Conference champion will face the Lone Star Conference champion and the Southeast Conference Champion will face the Sunshine Conference champion on Tuesday, July 17 in the South Region Semifinals.

The winners of those two matches will face each other for the South Region Finals on Saturday, July 21, with the highest-seeded team hosting the match.

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS AND CHAMPIONSHIP

The four champions of the West Region, Midwest Region, South Region and Northeast Region will be seeded based on regular season PPG.

The No. 1 seed will host the No. 4 seed, and the No. 2 seed will host the No. 3 seed on July 28 in the NPSL National Semifinals.

The remaining two teams will enter the NPSL National Championship on Aug. 4, with the highest-seeded team hosting the match.