NPSL South Region Champions To Host Third-Seed Indiana Fire
Soccer News: Last Saturday Chattanooga Football Club won the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) South Region Championship over the Myrtle Beach Mutiny – its second title in a row. That win puts CFC in the final four teams in the league still competing for the national title.
By winning the South Region, Chattanooga FC became the number two seed in the country and will host the third-seeded Indiana Fire (the NPSL Midwest Region Champion) this Saturday, August 1 in Finley Stadium at 7:30pm.
Chattanooga FC is no stranger to National Semifinals, they have been in three previous semi’s and have won them all. Last year they hosted Sacramento Gold in front of an enormous home crowd of 8,878.
“The guys have worked very hard this year to get back to the National Semifinal,” said Head Coach Bill Elliott. “Being able to play at home in Chattanooga is a huge advantage. Last year the fan turnout and support was absolutely astounding, and we would love to see it be even greater this year.”
Chattanooga FC has had a very successful season to date: The club clinched its second straight NPSL South Region Championship as well as its fourth straight Southeast Conference Championship (and fifth overall). The team also added the Hank Steinbrecher Cup to the trophy collection by winning US Soccer’s Amateur National Championship tournament in May.
CFC’s opponents, Indiana Fire, had a late surge – winning four crucial games in a row – that catapulted them into the Midwest Region playoffs. There they upset the top seeds to win the region title and advance to the National Semi against CFC.
“In playoff situations – especially in the game of soccer – any team can win on any given night,” said General Manager Sean McDaniel. “Any advantage helps, and for us, playing here at home in front of such great fans gives our team an edge. The crowd is truly a twelfth man for us. We want to encourage all of Chattanooga to turn out to cheer the guys on to victory.”
