AROUND THE LEAGUE: REWIND

by Joseph Reina

It’s hard to believe the MASL Season is only a short distance away. While most people see the days getting shorter and the temperature dropping as a general detriment, we, the indoor soccer fans, see a much happier reminder.


Our sport’s offseason is longer than most, but that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of activity. On the contrary, much has happened since the Savage became Tricampeónes on Sunday, April 20. From outdoor tournaments and player movement to expansion and restructuring, catch up as we recap everything you may have missed.


We’ll start with the annual TST 7v7 soccer tournament, which once again showcased the incredible talent our league has to offer, from June 4 to 9. The third edition saw over 110 MASL players swap turf for grass on a staggering 29 of 48 teams. Bumpy Pitch FC clinched its first-ever title thanks to a dramatic comeback in Target Score time.


San Diego Sockers midfielder Charlie Gonzalez scored both goals to come from behind and beat Pumas De Alabama 2-1. After a perfectly placed equalizer at 5v5, Gonzalez capitalized on a substitution mistake as he lobbed the defender from just inside the half to clinch the $1,000,000 prize for his side.


Alongside Gonzalez, Bumpy Pitch FC featured MASL stars such as Alan Perez (Empire Strykers), Andy Reyes (Empire Strykers), Cesar Cerda (San Diego Sockers), Christian Gutierrez (San Diego Sockers), Martin Lara (Chihuahua Savage), Mitchell Cardenas (San Diego Sockers), Mounir Alami (Empire Strykers), Moustapha Gueye (Empire Strykers), and Brandon Gomez (Empire Strykers).






Several players involved also took the summer to search for pastures new. USA Beach teammates Nick Perera and Chris Toth both traded Tacoma for San Diego, where they will be joined by Jesus Pacheco, who departed Baltimore. The 25-year-old averaged 1.2 points per game last season as the Blast returned to the MASL Ron Newman Cup semifinals.


Empire brought in former Sidekicks forward Anthony Powell and Outlaws midfielder Steven Chavez to support one of the league’s most exciting offences. They also re-signed many of last season’s stars, including Marco Fabián. The Blast followed a similar route, retaining the talent that propelled them up the table, while Tacoma hopes to find success after many key pieces departed.


In Kansas City, star forward Dominic Francis will return to the Comets, where he played in 2021. Former Texas Outlaw, David Stankovic, will also join the Comets after bagging 19 points in 23 appearances. These signings, alongside contract renewals for Leo Acosta and Stefen Mijatovic, are a clear statement of intent for Kansas City.


Across the state, St. Louis focused on re-signing many of the pieces from last year’s promising campaign, including William Eskay, Lucas Almeida, Robert Williamson, and, most recently, Riley Urie. Daniel Torrealba will add another weapon on offense after a promising 15-point freshman campaign with the Outlaws.


Utica City FC fans will miss a pair of iconic stalwarts on the field in 2025/26 after Goalkeeper Andrew Coughlin and captain Nate Bourdeau announced their retirements in letters to their supporters on social media. After nine and ten years in the MASL, respectively, their impact will continue to be felt for years to come. As the club moves into the new season, San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Xavier Snaer-Williams joined Utica on loan from San Diego, while midfielder Willie Spurr joined from Tacoma to bolster their already rapid midfield.


Milwaukee confirmed a change on the bench in September, with Marcio Leite taking over for Giuliano Oliviero after 10 years in charge of the Wave. On the turf, they announced the signings of Tyler Bagley and Grant Michaels from Texas as they attempt to improve on last season’s semifinal finish.


Speaking of Texas, the league announced that the Outlaws and Sidekicks will not participate in the 2025/26 MASL Season prior to the league’s Members Meeting in Kansas City. In the following days, Chihuahua removed itself from the league while Harrisburg announced it would step down to MASL 2 for a season to accommodate a move to the HersheyPark Arena in Hershey, Penn.


In a statement following the Savage’s departure, the league said, “We are confident in our teams to put on a memorable show this upcoming season, all campaign long, that engages fans while continuing to elevate the game on and off the field. The league is excited about the future expansion and the elevated and more consistent standards that will result in growth for the league and all its members.”


That expansion comes in the form of a franchise awarded to Sacramento, Calif., beginning in the 2027/28 season. The project centers around the new arena proposed in the Rancho Cordova area, with the building’s ownership group building the new home for sports, concerts, and community events around indoor soccer.

The eight-team league allowed for a revolutionary schedule, with every team facing off against every other team for the first time in MASL history. In fact, nearly every team will face each other home and away at least once, allowing for fans to see exactly how their team stacks up against the rest of the league during the regular season.


Finally, as fans prepare to watch games for the upcoming season, the league prepares to announce its own streaming service in collaboration with Visaic. Viewers will be able to watch every game in its entirety, in one place, free of charge.


Don’t miss a second of the action as the season kicks off. Be sure to follow the MASL on social media (links) and check back here for the latest news as it breaks.