2005 NPSL season
# 2005 NPSL season

The 2005 National Premier Soccer League season was the 3rd season of the NPSL. Prior to the beginning of the year the league changed its name from the Mens Premier Soccer League to the National Premier Soccer League, to recognize the league's eastward expansion and the creation of the new Midwest Division.

Expansion franchise Detroit Arsenal finished the season as national champions, beating Sonoma County Sol in the NPSL Championship game

## Changes From 2004

### New franchises

* Eight franchises joined the league this year, all expansion franchises:

| Team Name | Metro Area | Location | Previous Affiliation |
| - | - | - | - |
| Detroit Arsenal | Detroit area | Berkley, MI | expansion |
| Grand Rapids Alliance | Grand Rapids area | Grand Rapids, MI | expansion |
| Milwaukee Bavarians | Milwaukee area | Milwaukee, WI | expansion |
| Minnesota Blast | Minneapolis area | Burnsville, MN | expansion |
| Princeton 56ers | Madison area | Madison, WI | expansion |
| San Diego Pumitas | San Diego area | San Diego, CA | expansion |
| Minnesota TwinStars (formerly St Paul TwinStars) | St. Paul area | St. Paul, MN | expansion |

### Folding

* Four teams left the league prior to the beginning of the season:
   * Arizona Sahuaros - Phoenix, Arizona
   * Idaho Wolves - Idaho Falls, Idaho
   * Northern Nevada Aces - Reno, Nevada
   * Utah Salt Ratz - Salt Lake City, Utah

## Final standings

Purple indicates division title clinched Green indicates playoff berth clinched

### West Division

| Place | Team | P | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sacramento Knights | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 42 | 20 | 22 | 38 |
| 2 | Sonoma County Sol | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 26 | 16 | 20 | 35 |
| 3 | Chico Rooks | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 32 | 27 | 5 | 28 |
| 4 | Salinas Valley Samba | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 29 | 25 | 4 | 24 |
| 5 | Albuquerque Asylum | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 32 | -9 | 19 |
| 6 | San Diego Pumitas | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 32 | 34 | -2 | 18 |
| 7 | Las Vegas Strikers | 18 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 24 | 52 | -28 | 10 |

### Midwest Division

| Place | Team | P | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Detroit Arsenal | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 5 | 37 | 26 |
| 2 | Milwaukee Bavarians | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 25 |
| 3 | Princeton 56ers | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 20 | -3 | 15 |
| 4 | Minnesota Blast | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 20 | -5 | 11 |
| 5 | Minnesota TwinStars | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 36 | -22 | 7 |
| 6 | Grand Rapids Alliance | 10 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 36 | -26 | 3 |

## Playoffs

### Semi finals

Sonoma County Sol beat Sacramento Knights Detroit Arsenal beat Milwaukee Bavarians

### Final

Detroit Arsenal 1-0 Sonoma County Sol

### Bracket

| Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Championship | Championship | Championship |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| W1 | Sacramento Knights | | | |
| W2 | Sonoma County Sol | | | |
| W2 | Sonoma County Sol | W2 | Sonoma County Sol | 0 |
| | | M1 | Detroit Arsenal | 1 |
| M1 | Detroit Arsenal | M1 | Detroit Arsenal | 1 |
| M2 | Milwaukee Bavarians | | | |
