2018 Spring UPSL season

The 2018 Spring United Premier Soccer League season was the 10th season of the UPSL.

In some parts of the country, UPSL is organized into Pro Premier and Championships Divisions with promotion and relegation between the Pro Premier division and the Championship Division. The 2018 Spring UPSL season had 136 clubs participate in the Pro Premier divisions and 28 clubs participate in the Championship divisions.

The overall structure of the League by Conference and roughly from west to east is represented in the table below

Central Conference
The Central Conference is new for this season. It was split geographically into two divisions.

North Division
The North Division covers the state of Oklahoma, as well as North Texas. The division will play an 8 game home-and-away double round robin.

The following 5 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * Dallas Elite FC
 * Inocentes FC — joined from Fort Worth Premier League
 * Keene FC — new team
 * OKC 1889 FC — new team
 * Texas Spurs — new team

South Division
The South Division covers South Texas. It will play an 8 game home-and-away double round robin.

The following 5 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * Atletico Katy — new team
 * FC Knights — joined from Texas Premier Soccer League
 * ISL USA FC
 * Round Rock SC — new team
 * Samba FC San Antonio — joined from Texas Premier Soccer League and rebranded from Genova FC San Antonio

Central Conference Playoffs
The 1st place team in each division will host the 2nd place team in the other division. The two winners will meet in the championship, hosted by the team with the most points.

Inocentes FC advance to the National Playoffs.

Pro Premier
The division will play an 8 game home-or-away single round robin.

The following 2 clubs left the division before the season -
 * Club El Azul — folded
 * FC United — folded

The following 3 clubs joined the division before the season -
 * Denver Metro FC — promoted from Championship Division
 * GAM United FC — promoted from Championship Division
 * Northern Colorado FC — promoted from Championship Division

Pro Premier Playoffs
FC Boulder advance to the National Playoffs.

Championship
The division will play a 10 game home-and-away double round robin.

The following 4 clubs left the division before the season
 * Denver Metro FC — promoted to Pro Premier Division
 * GAM United FC — promoted to Pro Premier Division
 * Legions FC — folded
 * Northern Colorado FC — promoted to Pro Premier Division

The following 5 clubs joined the division before the season
 * Athletic Club of Sloan's Lake — joined from Colorado Premier League
 * Bright Stars of Colorado SC — new team
 * Longmont Diablos FC — joined from local amateur league
 * Monaco Denver FC — joined from Colorado Premier League
 * Real Medina PSL — joined from local amateur league

Midwest Conference
The Midwest Conference is new for this season. It was founded through a merger with the Premier League of America. The conference was split geographically into four divisions.

Central Division
The Central Division covers the states of Illinois and Iowa. It will play a 10 game home-and-away double round robin.

The following 6 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * Aurora Borealis SC — joined from Premier League of America
 * DeKalb County United — new team
 * Elgin Pumas SC — joined from Premier League of America
 * Joliet United SC — new team
 * RWB Adria — joined from Premier League of America
 * Union Dubuque FC — new team

East Division
The East Division covers the states of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. It will play a 10 game home-and-away double round robin.

The following 6 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * AAFC Lumberjacks — joined from local amateur competition
 * Carpathia FC — joined from Premier League of America
 * Muskegon Risers SC — joined from Premier League of America
 * Oakland County FC — joined from Premier League of America
 * Toledo Villa FC — joined from Premier League of America
 * USAi Old Bhoys — new team

North Division
The North Division covers the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The following 6 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * Croatian Eagles SC — joined from Premier League of America
 * FC Minneapolis — joined from American Champions League
 * Granite City FC — joined from American Champions League
 * Green Bay United
 * Madison 56ers — joined from Premier League of America
 * Milwaukee Bavarian SC — joined from Premier League of America

West Division
The West Division covers the states of Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

The following 5 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * Barilleros FC — joined from local amateur league
 * Nebraska Bugeaters FC — new team
 * Quinto Elemento FC — joined from local amateur league
 * Santa Fe Wanderers — joined from local amateur league
 * St. Louis Maritsa — joined from local amateur league

Midwest Conference Playoffs
The regular season champions of each division advanced directly to the conference playoffs. All games were hosted at the Bavarian Soccer Complex, home of Milwaukee Bavarian SC. The semi-finals were seeded based on each participant's points-per-game average.

Milwaukee Bavarian SC advance to the National Playoffs.

Mountain Conference
The Mountain Conference is new for this season. It was formed from the Idaho and Utah clubs from the Desert Mountain Conference. The conference will play a 10 game home-and-away double round robin.

The following Utah club left the Desert Mountain Conference before the season
 * San Juan FC — folded

The following 6 clubs joined the conference for its inaugural season
 * Boise Cutthroats FC — transferred from Desert Mountain Conference
 * Idaho Lobos FC
 * Magic Valley FC — returned from 1 season hiatus
 * Provo Premier — transferred from Desert Mountain Conference
 * San Juan FC — transferred from Desert Mountain Conference
 * Utah Saints FC — new team

Mountain Conference Playoffs
Boise Cutthroats FC advance to the National Playoffs.

Northeast Conference
The Northeast Conference is new for this season. It was split geographically into two divisions.

American Division
The American Division covers the states of Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

The following 8 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * Catrachos De INCAEF — new team
 * First Touch Elite Soccer
 * Junior Lone Star FC II — reserve team of National Premier Soccer League club
 * New Jersey Teamsters FC — new team
 * Rochester Super 9 Pro FC — new team
 * Screaming Eagles FC
 * SGFC Eagles — joined from American Soccer League
 * Upper Darby FC — joined from CASA Soccer League

American Division Playoffs
All games will be played at Marina Auto Stadium, home of Rochester Super 9 Pro SC.

Rochester Super 9 Pro SC advance to the Northeast Conference Playoffs.

Patriot Division
The Patriot Division covers the states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

The following 9 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * Boston Siege FC — joined from Champions Soccer League USA
 * International SC — new team
 * Juve-Pro Soccer — joined from New England Luso American Soccer Association
 * Lincoln Club Futebol — joined from Champions Soccer League USA
 * Lynn United — joined from Champions Soccer League USA
 * Mass United FC — joined from American Soccer League
 * New Hampshire Rapids FC — joined from Champions Soccer League USA
 * Safira FC — joined from Champions Soccer League USA
 * Unations FC — joined from Bay State Soccer League

Patriot Division Playoffs
Mass United FC advance to the Northeast Conference Playoffs.

Northeast Conference Playoffs
Rochester Super 9 Pro SC, as the division champion with the most regular season points per game, will host.

Mass United FC advance to the National Playoffs.

Southeast Conference
The Southeast Conference is new for this season. It absorbed the South Florida Conference as its Florida South Division, and then added three addition divisions with all new teams.

Atlanta Caribbean Division
The Atlanta Caribbean Division was founded through a merger with the Atlanta Caribbean Soccer League. It overlaps geographically with the Mid-Atlantic Division, with all games taking place at the Southeast Sports Compelex in Lithonia, GA.

The following 8 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * Atlanta Generals FC
 * FC Stone Mountain
 * Inferno FC — joined from Atlanta Caribbean Soccer League
 * Reno United — joined from Atlanta Caribbean Soccer League
 * Sambo FC — joined from Atlanta Caribbean Soccer League
 * Seas Jamaica FC — joined from Atlanta Caribbean Soccer League
 * VaHi Atletic FC — joined from Atlanta Caribbean Soccer League
 * Yardaz FC — joined from Atlanta Caribbean Soccer League

Florida Central Division
The following 10 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * America SC — new team
 * Clay County SC — new team
 * Deportivo Lake Mary — joined from Orlando Premier Soccer League
 * Internacional USA — new affiliate team of Brazilian club
 * Inter Orlando FC — new team
 * Golden Goal Sports SC — new team
 * Macca Ballers FC
 * Sporting Orlando — joined from Central Florida Soccer League
 * St. Petersburg FC Aztecs — joined from Florida Suncoast Soccer League
 * Winter Haven United FC — joined from Champions Soccer League USA and rebranded from Sisonke Simunye - Together We Are 1

Florida Central Division Playoffs
America SC advance to the Southeast Conference Playoffs.

Florida South Division
The following 2 clubs left the South Florida Conference before the season
 * FC Ginga — folded
 * Plantation FC — folded

The following 12 clubs joined the division before the season
 * Broncos United FC — transferred from South Florida Conference
 * Fullersfield FC Lions — joined from local amateur competition
 * Florida Soccer Soldiers — new team
 * Hebraica Miami FC
 * Hialeah City FC — transferred from South Florida Conference
 * Hurricane FC — joined from American Premier Soccer League
 * Jupiter United SC — joined from American Premier Soccer League
 * Miami Dade FC — transferred from South Florida Conference
 * Miami Sun FC
 * Miami Wolves FC — transferred from South Florida Conference
 * Pinecrest SC — new team
 * West Park FC — transferred from South Florida Conference

Florida South Division Playoffs
Florida Soccer Soldiers advance to the Southeast Conference Playoffs.

Mid-Atlantic Division
The Mid-Atlantic Division covers the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The division will play a 14 game home-and-away double round robin.

The following 8 clubs joined the division for its inaugural season
 * Atlanta ASA FC — joined from Atlanta Caribbean Soccer League
 * Bragg FC — joined from local amateur league
 * Broncos United FC NC — second team of Broncos United FC of Florida South Division
 * C-Ville FC — new team
 * FC Cardinals — new team
 * Lowcountry United FC — joined from Charleston Soccer League
 * Savannah Clovers FC — new team
 * Sparta 20/20 FC — new team

Southeast Conference Playoffs
The champions of the Florida Central and Florida South divisions played at Ives Estates Park, home of Florida Soccer Soldiers. The champions of the Mid-Atlantic and Atlanta Caribbean divisions were originally to play at the neutral location of Spartanburg Day School, home of Sparta 20/20 FC. That match was abandoned due to lightning and was rescheduled for West Orange High School, home of America SC, immediately before the conference final at the same venue.

Florida Soccer Soldiers advance to the National Playoffs.

Southwest Conference
The Southwest Conference is new for this season. It was formed from the Arizona clubs from the Desert Mountain Conference, and also includes New Mexico and West Texas. The conference was originally going to contain Nevada clubs as well, but ultimately none competed in this season.

The following 3 Nevada clubs left the Desert Mountain Conference before the season
 * Las Vegas City FC — folded
 * Las Vegas Mobsters — folded
 * Las Vegas Soccer Club — folded

The following 6 clubs joined the conference for its inaugural season
 * Arizona Scorpions — returned from 1 season hiatus
 * FC Grande — joined from Mesilla Valley Soccer League
 * MSC United — new team
 * Southwest FC — new team
 * Sporting AZ FC — transferred from Desert Mountain Conference
 * Sporting AZ FC II — new reserve team of Sporting AZ FC

Southwest Conference Playoffs
Sporting AZ FC advance to the National Playoffs.

Pro Premier
The following 6 clubs left the division before the season
 * Anaheim Legacy FC — relegated to Championship Division
 * Bell Gardens FC — relegated to Championship Division
 * Orange County FC 2 — hiatus, due to Spring NPSL season
 * San Diego Zest FC 2 — hiatus, due to Spring PDL season
 * Strikers FC South Coast — folded
 * Vanquish FC — folded

The following 5 clubs joined the division before the season
 * Lionside FC — promoted from Championship Division
 * Newcastle United FC — promoted from Championship Division
 * Ontario Fury II — new outdoor team of Major Arena Soccer League club
 * Panamerican FC — promoted from Championship Division
 * San Diego Premier Pros FC

The following 2 clubs rebranded before the season
 * California United FC II — rebranded from OC Invicta.
 * L.A. Galaxy OC PSC — rebranded from PSC Football Club

Championship
The following 12 clubs left the division before the season
 * Atlas FC USA — folded
 * Black Gold Oil FC — folded
 * Del Rey City SC — folded
 * L.A. Wolves FC Reserves — folded
 * Lionside FC — promoted to Pro Premier Division
 * Long Beach City FC — folded
 * Newcastle United FC — promoted to Pro Premier Division
 * Pacific Side FC — folded
 * Panamerican FC — promoted to Pro Premier Division
 * San Fernando Valley FC — folded
 * Strikers FC SC Reserves — folded
 * United Football Academy Hawks — folded

The following 14 clubs joined the division before the season
 * Anaheim FC
 * Anaheim Legacy FC — relegated from Pro Premier Division
 * Bell Gardens FC — relegated from Pro Premier Division
 * Disciples FC
 * High Desert FC — new team
 * Inland Empire FC — returned from 2 season hiatus
 * Kern County Mustangs FC — new team
 * L.A. Galaxy OC PSC II — second team of Pro Premier club
 * La Habra City FC — returned from 2 season hiatus
 * MX Dream Soccer Club
 * Revolution FC
 * San Nicolas FC — returned from 1 season hiatus
 * USA/MEX SoCal
 * USA Soccer Stars FC — returned from 1 season hiatus

Wild West Division
For this season, the Red and Blue divisions were merged into a single Wild West Division as a part of the Western Conference. The division was expanded to include the state of Oregon. It will play a 12 game home-or-away single round robin.

The following 4 clubs left the Wild West Conference before the season
 * Azteca FC — folded
 * CD Aguiluchos USA U23 — folded
 * FC Sacramento — folded
 * Oakland Pamperos — folded

The following 7 clubs joined the division before the season
 * AFC San Francisco Hearts — new team
 * Chico City Rangers FC — joined from Pacific Premier League
 * Napa Sporting SC — joined from NorCal Liga
 * Redding Royals FC — joined from Pacific Premier League
 * San Leandro United FC
 * Southern Oregon Starphire FC — joined from Pacific Premier League
 * Visalia Golden Bears

The following 2 clubs rebranded before the season
 * East Bay FC Tecos Fire rebranded from East Bay FC Stompers Juniors
 * Nevada Coyotes FC rebranded from Western Nevada FC

Wild West Division Cup
Concurrently with the season, all Wild West Division teams except for Visalia Golden Bears took part in a knockout competition.

Western Conference Playoffs
Santa Ana Winds FC advance to the National Playoffs.

National Playoffs
The national playoffs will be played in Arvada, Colorado and Lakewood, Colorado on August 10–12, hosted by Athletic Club of Sloan's Lake. Teams were randomly paired by draw on July 30.

Qualified teams:
 * Central Conference: Inocentes FC
 * Colorado Conference: FC Boulder
 * Midwest Conference: Milwaukee Bavarian SC
 * Mountain Conference: Boise Cutthroats FC
 * Northeast Conference: Mass United FC
 * Southeast Conference: Florida Soccer Soldiers
 * Southwest Conference: Sporting AZ FC
 * Western Conference: Santa Ana Winds FC