Soccer in San Diego Heats Up with NPSL Playoffs Coming To America’s Finest City
Soccer News: ASC San Diego finished first in the NPSL Southwest Conference and now prepares to go for the National Championship trophy. The team ranks #5 in the NPSL National Power Rankings out of 98 NPSL teams across the USA and is the top of the Southwest Conference Division.
Noah Gins, CEO, and Co-Founder of ASC San Diego says, “I could not be more proud of the effort put in this season by a coaching staff our players our front office and the entire operation of the organization. The way in which our team has won this season is representative of three years of dedication and sacrifice. We now have given ourselves the opportunity to play for a national championship. This being the ultimate goal of our team.”
Calling all sports fans in San Diego — Come out on July 7 to cheer!
The Next NPSL Match: SW Regional Playoffs Game on Saturday, July 7th, 2018 at Mission Bay High 2475 Grand Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109
The Next NPSL ASC-San Diego Match: SW Regional Playoffs Game on Saturday, July 7th, 2018 will be played at Mission Bay High 2475 Grand Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109
“The playoffs will be a very competitive and exciting run and to get San Diego behind the team will be important as we gain our momentum,” says Gins.
ASC-San Diego Plays For San Diego
The team’s tagline is “We Play For San Diego” and as the professional soccer team in America’s Finest City, southern California civic pride and soccer passion should erupt soon with cheering at this upcoming match on July 7.
Diane Scavuzzo interviewed ASC-San Diego’s Head Coach Ziggy Korytoski on the recent battle to win the league and what is coming next for San Diego’s only professional soccer team.
Diane Scavuzzo: Congratulations on ASC-San Diego’s recent victory. What was the match for the top of the NPSL Southwest Division Conference like?
Ziggy Korytoski: It was a tough game. Golden State was the #1 seed going into the match and we were the #2 seed — and it was everything a championship game should be.
It was intense — it was two great teams and we went down 1-0 in the 43rd minute and we tried to regroup during halftime and then Golden State scored again 3 minutes into the second half on a corner kick.
We were having trouble breaking through and then in the 78th minute we started scoring and it was an unbelievable game. Both teams played well and both were deserving — I am just very proud of our guys.
At halftime, I told the guys to make sure they left it all on the field.
We talked about wanting to pressure them a bit more but it was really just making sure they were proud of the effort they put out in the second half.
Diane Scavuzzo: As a player, how mentally strong do you have to be to come back in an important match like this? When the opposition has scored a second goal at the top of the second half?
Ziggy Korytoski: Extremely. I think this is the key for players. There is so much talent in our country — the difference between winning and losing is the little extra edge.
I think this is a team that has shown resilience since the beginning of the season. We are a team that will just not quit and we will find a way. We want to inspire, we want it to be fun, we want to defend well and press well and stay extremely organized.
Diane Scavuzzo: When the final whistle blew, what went through your mind?
Ziggy Korytoski: It was just a job well done. To win a league, that happens over time and shows how consistent you are. It is a tough league with Orange County, Golden State, and Arizona — there is strong competition in the NPSL.
Ziggy Korytoski: The next match is the NPSL SouthWest Regional Playoffs on July 7 and we will be hosting.
Diane Scavuzzo: How are you preparing for the Playoffs?
Ziggy Korytoski: The recipe for success we have sustained it throughout the course of the year. We might make a few tactical changes and see if we can expose the weakness in our opponent but for the most part, it is business as usual.
Diane Scavuzzo: Does the team have any homegrown talent?
Ziggy Korytoski: Yes, we have a few homegrown players who have been through our Albion SC program and we are very proud of what they have been able to accomplish this season.
ASC Fan Appreciation Day – NPSL Playoffs Timeline on July 7 at Mission Bay Stadium
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- 4 PM: Pregame Albion SC Coaches vs. All-Stars Players
- 5 PM: Annual Albion SC Wide Picture and Albion JRs free clinics
- 5:30 PM: Tailgate Party with free BBQ, live band, vendors & charities booths, and a lot of great entrainment with futsal, streetsoccer, footvolley, face painting, balloon man, and more.
- 7 PM: Playoff kicks off – GET TICKETS
