Premier League of America#2016 standings and playoffs

File:Great Lakes Premier League logo.png

Grand Rapids FC and AFC Ann Arbor both applied to become members of the National Premier Soccer League for the start of the 2015 season and they were both denied admission to the league.{{cite web|last1=Hicks|first1=Justin P.|title=NPSL denies Ann Arbor semi-pro soccer club's application; owners plan to establish new league|url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/12/npsl_denies_ann_arbor_semi-pro.html|website=mlive.com|date=2 December 2014|access-date=7 December 2015}} Instead of waiting a year or finding another league, the teams decided to start a league of their own. AFC Ann Arbor owner Jamey Amrine and Grand Rapids FC president Matt Roberts began discussions with other teams to gauge interest in forming a new league. Their work led to the formation of the Great Lakes Premier League.{{cite web|last1=Haapala|first1=Kelly|title=Local team owners announce plans to form new amateur soccer league in Michigan|url=http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/soccer/local-team-owners-announce-plans-to-form-new-amateur-soccer-league-in-michigan/30787936|website=ClickOnDetroit|date=18 January 2015|access-date=7 December 2015}} The new league held its inaugural league meeting on January 17, 2015 in Grand Rapids, MI.

The two clubs were joined as charter members by Oakland United - later Oakland County FC - based in Rochester, Michigan, and two decades-old Croatian American clubs, Croatian Eagles SC of Milwaukee and RWB Adria of Chicago.{{cite web|last1=Anderson|first1=Eric|title=Croatian Eagles join new Great Lakes Premier League, remain in WSL|url=http://www.wisconsinsoccercentral.com/news_article/show/476389?referrer_id=811630|website=Wisconsin Soccer Central|date=8 February 2015|access-date=7 December 2015}}

Before the inaugural season began, Milwaukee Bavarians was announced as the first expansion franchise, to begin play in 2016.{{cite web|last1=Anderson|first1=Eric|title=Bavarians to join Great Lakes Premier League in 2016|url=http://www.wisconsinsoccercentral.com/news_article/show/510825?referrer_id=954457|website=Wisconsin Soccer Central|date=3 May 2015|access-date=7 December 2015}} A second expansion team, Toledo United FC, joined in July 2015.{{cite web|title=Toledo United Joins Great Lakes Premier League|url=http://www.toledounited.com/toledo-united-joins-great-lakes-premier-league/|website=Toledo United FC|access-date=7 December 2015}}

In September 2015, AFC Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids FC left the GLPL for the NPSL.{{cite web|last1=Wallner|first1=Peter J.|title=Grand Rapids FC make change, joins National Premier Soccer League|url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2015/09/grand_rapids_fc_make_change_jo.html|website=mlive.com|date=26 September 2015|access-date=7 December 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Hicks|first1=Justin P.|title=A year after being denied, AFC Ann Arbor joins National Premier Soccer League|url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2015/09/afc_ann_arbor_joins_npsl_leave.html|website=mlive.com|date=22 September 2015|access-date=7 December 2015}} The following November, the Madison 56ers left the NPSL after eleven seasons to join the Great Lakes Premier League.{{cite web|last1=Anderson|first1=Eric|title=Madison 56ers leave NPSL, join Great Lakes Premier League for 2016|url=http://www.wisconsinsoccercentral.com/news_article/show/576451?referrer_id=776837|website=Wisconsin Soccer Central|date=12 November 2015|access-date=7 December 2015}}

The league announced on December 8, 2015 that they would be rebranding as Premier League of America, to more accurately reflect the potential growth of the league away from the Great Lakes area.

Two days later, Carpathia FC of Sterling Heights, Michigan in the Detroit suburbs was added as team number eight. The same month, Aris SC of La Crosse, Wisconsin and Aurora Borealis SC from Aurora, Illinois were added. Aris has since been removed from PLA announcements.{{cite web|url=http://www.pla-soccer.com/pla-announces-divisions-for-2016-season|title=PLA Announces Divisions for 2016 Season|date=13 January 2016|website=Premier League of America}}

A tenth team was added on January 11, 2016, as Minnesota United FC Reserves moved over from the NPSL. An eleventh team for 2016 was added on January 13, 2016, as Stegman's Soccer Club joined as Minneapolis City SC.{{cite web|url=http://fiftyfive.one/2016/02/ssc-minneapolis-city-stegmans-next-step/|title=SSC Minneapolis City: Stegman's Next Step|date=4 February 2016|website=Fifty Five One}} After their single season in the PLA, Minneapolis City announced their move to the NPSL.{{Cite web|url=http://fiftyfive.one/2016/12/minneapolis-city-join-npsl-part-rebranded-north-conference/|title=Minneapolis City Joins the NPSL as Part of Rebranded North Conference|date=14 December 2016|website=Five Fifty One}}

On August 1, 2016 it was announced that Muskegon Risers SC would join the Premier League of America for the 2017 season after a unanimous 12-0 vote by current team owners.{{Cite web|url=http://www.shorelinemedia.net/white_lake_beacon/sports/local/risers-to-join-premier-league-of-america-in/article_0f2a0de2-5d69-11e6-bbd6-13b8afaa24db.html|title=Risers to join Premier League of America in 2017|date=8 August 2016|website=White Lake Beacon}}

On September 6, 2017, the United Premier Soccer League announced that eleven of the twelve PLA clubs (all save Grand Rapids Ole SC) had joined its league and would comprise the UPSL's new Midwest Conference.

File:AFC Ann Arbor v. San Marino Soccer 2015 15.jpg in action against San Marino Soccer in a 2015 friendly at Hollway Field]]In 2015 the league had a schedule that featured round robin play, where each team played every other team home and away. The league did not host a post-season tournament in 2015 and determined its champion based on the final season standings.

As part of the re-branding announcement for 2016, it was announced there would be a two-division geographical split, with an end-of-season championship playoff. The league will host a championship tournament at a neutral site with the top two teams from each division qualifying.{{cite web|title=PLA Announces Divisions For 2016 Season|url=http://www.pla-soccer.com/pla-announces-divisions-for-2016-season/|access-date=January 13, 2016}}

• ¹ as Oakland United

{{Location map+ |Midwest USA | width=600|caption=Locations of PLA clubs for 2017 season|places=

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=43.116 |long=-87.921 |label=Bavarian|position=top|mark=Green pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=42.879 |long=-88.010 |label=Eagles|position=bottom|mark=Green pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=43.083 |long=-89.373 |label=56ers|position=left|mark=Green pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=41.820 |long=-88.328 |label=Borealis |position=bottom|mark=Green pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=41.721 |long=-87.527 |label=RWB|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=42.575 |long=-82.983 |label=Carpathia|position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=42.682 |long=-83.134 |label=Oakland|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=42.932 |long=-85.691 |label=Ole|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=41.584 |long=-83.643 |label=Villa|position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=41.981 |long=-91.669 |label=Rampage United|position=left|mark=Green pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=43.234 |long=-86.248 |label=Risers|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |Midwest USA |lat=42.037 |long=-88.312 |label=Pumas|position=left|mark=Green pog.svg}}

}}

{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc}}

{{Cnote2|A|^A No playoffs were held in the inaugural season. The champion was determined based on regular season record.}}

{{Cnote2 End}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=2015 standings

|update=July 25, 2015|source={{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20150413210131/http://www.greatlakespremierleague.com/standings/ GLPL standings]}} |teamwidth=200

|team1=RWB |team2=GRR |team3=ARB |team4=OAK |team5=CRE

|win_RWB=7 |draw_RWB=1 |loss_RWB=0 |gf_RWB=23 |ga_RWB=6 |status_RWB=C

|win_GRR=3 |draw_GRR=2 |loss_GRR=3 |gf_GRR=14 |ga_GRR=10 |status_GRR=

|win_ARB=2 |draw_ARB=4 |loss_ARB=2 |gf_ARB=8 |ga_ARB=8 |status_ARB=

|win_OAK=2 |draw_OAK=1 |loss_OAK=5 |gf_OAK=8 |ga_OAK=19 |status_OAK=

|win_CRE=1 |draw_CRE=2 |loss_CRE=5 |gf_CRE=9 |ga_CRE=19 |status_CRE=

|name_ARB= AFC Ann Arbor

|name_CRE= Croatian Eagles

|name_GRR= Grand Rapids FC

|name_OAK= Oakland United FC

|name_RWB= RWB Adria

|col_C=green1 |text_C=League champion

|class_rules=1) points; 2) wins; 3) goal differential

}}

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source = []

| update = July 25, 2015

| matches_style = FBR

| team1= ARB | team2= CRE | team3= GRR | team4= OAK | team5= RWB

| name_ARB = AFC Ann Arbor

| name_CRE = Croatian Eagles

| name_GRR = Grand Rapids FC

| name_OAK = Oakland United FC

| name_RWB = RWB Adria

| match_ARB_CRE = 1–0

| match_ARB_GRR = 0–0

| match_ARB_OAK = 4–0

| match_ARB_RWB = 1–1

| match_CRE_ARB = 0–0

| match_CRE_GRR = 1–3

| match_CRE_OAK = 1–2

| match_CRE_RWB = 3–6

| match_GRR_ARB = 5–1

| match_GRR_CRE = 0–0

| match_GRR_OAK = 3–0

| match_GRR_RWB = 1–3

| match_OAK_ARB = 1–1

| match_OAK_CRE = 3–4

| match_OAK_GRR = 2–1

| match_OAK_RWB = 0–4

| match_RWB_ARB = 1–0

| match_RWB_CRE = 4–0

| match_RWB_GRR = 3–1

| match_RWB_OAK = 1–0

}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=2016 East

|update=July 24, 2016|source=[http://www.pla-soccer.com/standings/ PLA standings]|teamwidth=200

|team5=AUR |team3=CAR |team4=OAK |team6=OLE |team1=RWB |team2=TOL

|result1=PQ |result2=PQ

|win_AUR=2 |draw_AUR=1 |loss_AUR=7 |gf_AUR=13 |ga_AUR=25 |status_AUR=

|win_CAR=6 |draw_CAR=1 |loss_CAR=3 |gf_CAR=17 |ga_CAR=17 |status_CAR=

|win_OAK=4 |draw_OAK=2 |loss_OAK=4 |gf_OAK=14 |ga_OAK=13 |status_OAK=

|win_OLE=1 |draw_OLE=0 |loss_OLE=9 |gf_OLE=12 |ga_OLE=32 |status_OLE=

|win_RWB=7 |draw_RWB=1 |loss_RWB=2 |gf_RWB=29 |ga_RWB=13 |status_RWB=

|win_TOL=7 |draw_TOL=1 |loss_TOL=2 |gf_TOL=22 |ga_TOL=7 |status_TOL=

|name_AUR= Aurora Borealis SC

|name_CAR= Carpathia FC

|name_OAK= Oakland County FC

|name_OLE= Ole SC

|name_RWB= RWB Adria

|name_TOL= Toledo United FC

|res_col_header=Q

|col_PQ=green1 |text_PQ=2016 PLA playoffs

|class_rules=1) points; 2) wins; 3) goal differential

}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=2016 West

|update=July 24, 2016|source=[http://www.pla-soccer.com/standings/ PLA standings]|teamwidth=200

|team2=CRR |team5=CRE |team6=M56 |team1=MIL |team4=MNU |team3=MNC

|result1=PQ |result2=PQ

|win_CRR=5 |draw_CRR=4 |loss_CRR=1 |gf_CRR=18 |ga_CRR=10 |status_CRR=

|win_CRE=2 |draw_CRE=3 |loss_CRE=5 |gf_CRE=12 |ga_CRE=15 |status_CRE=

|win_M56=2 |draw_M56=2 |loss_M56=6 |gf_M56=13 |ga_M56=26 |status_M56=

|win_MIL=6 |draw_MIL=3 |loss_MIL=1 |gf_MIL=19 |ga_MIL=7 |status_MIL=

|win_MNU=2 |draw_MNU=4 |loss_MNU=4 |gf_MNU=13 |ga_MNU=17 |status_MNU=

|win_MNC=3 |draw_MNC=4 |loss_MNC=3 |gf_MNC=15 |ga_MNC=15 |status_MNC=

|name_CRR= Cedar Rapids Rampage United

|name_CRE= Croatian Eagles

|name_M56= Madison 56ers

|name_MIL= Milwaukee Bavarians

|name_MNC= Minneapolis City SC

|name_MNU= Minnesota United FC Reserves

|res_col_header=Q

|col_PQ=green1 |text_PQ=2016 PLA playoffs

|class_rules=1) points; 2) wins; 3) goal differential

}}

{{anchor|2016 playoffs}}

The semifinals were played on July 30. The final and third place matches were played on July 31.{{Cite web|url=https://fiftyfive.one/2016/08/bavarians-crowned-premier-league-america-tournament-recap/|title = Bavarians Crowned: Premier League of America Tournament Recap|date = August 2016}}

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1 = Semifinal

| RD2 = Final

| RD2b = Third Place

| RD1-seed1 = 1W

| RD1-team1 = Milwaukee Bavarians

| RD1-score1 = 1

| RD1-seed2 = 2E

| RD1-team2 = Toledo United

| RD1-score2 = 0

| RD1-seed3 = 1E

| RD1-team3 = RWB Adria

| RD1-score3 = 2

| RD1-seed4 = 2W

| RD1-team4 = {{nowrap|Cedar Rapids Rampage United}}

| RD1-score4 = 0

| RD2-seed1 = 1W

| RD2-team1 = Milwaukee Bavarians

| RD2-score1 = 4

| RD2-seed2 = 1E

| RD2-team2 = RWB Adria

| RD2-score2 = 2

| RD2b-seed1 = 2E

| RD2b-team1 = Toledo United

| RD2b-score1 = 2

| RD2b-seed2 = 2W

| RD2b-team2 = {{nowrap|Cedar Rapids Rampage United}}

| RD2b-score2 = 1

}}Bold = winner
* = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=2017 East

|update=complete|source=[http://plasoccerleague.com/standings PLA standings]|teamwidth=200

|team2=CAR |team3=MSK |team5=OAK |team6=OLE |team1=RWB |team4=TOL

|result1=PQ |result2=PQ

|win_CAR=6 |draw_CAR=0 |loss_CAR=4 |gf_CAR=20|ga_CAR=13 |status_CAR=

|win_MSK=5 |draw_MSK=3 |loss_MSK=2 |gf_MSK=18|ga_MSK=12 |status_MSK=

|win_OAK=4 |draw_OAK=0 |loss_OAK=6 |gf_OAK=18|ga_OAK=28 |status_OAK=

|win_OLE=0 |draw_OLE=0 |loss_OLE=10|gf_OLE=4 |ga_OLE=30 |status_OLE=

|win_RWB=7 |draw_RWB=1 |loss_RWB=2 |gf_RWB=25|ga_RWB=14 |status_RWB=

|win_TOL=5 |draw_TOL=2 |loss_TOL=3 |gf_TOL=25|ga_TOL=13 |status_TOL=

|name_CAR= Carpathia FC

|name_MSK= Muskegon Risers

|name_OAK= Oakland County FC

|name_OLE= Ole SC

|name_RWB= RWB Adria

|name_TOL= Toledo Villa FC

|res_col_header=Q

|col_PQ=green1 |text_PQ=2017 PLA playoffs

|class_rules=1) points; 2) wins; 3) goal differential

}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=2017 West

|update=complete|source=[http://plasoccerleague.com/standings/ PLA standings]|teamwidth=200

|team5=AUR |team1=CRR |team4=CRE |team6=ELG |team3=M56 |team2=MIL

|result1=PQ |result2=PQ

|win_AUR=2 |draw_AUR=1 |loss_AUR=7 |gf_AUR=9 |ga_AUR=27 |status_AUR=

|win_CRR=9 |draw_CRR=0 |loss_CRR=1 |gf_CRR=31|ga_CRR=5 |status_CRR=

|win_CRE=2 |draw_CRE=4 |loss_CRE=4 |gf_CRE=19|ga_CRE=21 |status_CRE=

|win_ELG=0 |draw_ELG=3 |loss_ELG=7 |gf_ELG=8 |ga_ELG=23 |status_ELG=

|win_M56=3 |draw_M56=2 |loss_M56=5 |gf_M56=18|ga_M56=24 |status_M56=

|win_MIL=9 |draw_MIL=0 |loss_MIL=1 |gf_MIL=22|ga_MIL=7 |status_MIL=

|name_AUR= Aurora Borealis SC

|name_CRR= Cedar Rapids Rampage United

|name_CRE= Croatian Eagles

|name_ELG= Elgin Pumas

|name_M56= Madison 56ers

|name_MIL= Milwaukee Bavarians

|res_col_header=Q

|col_PQ=green1 |text_PQ=2017 PLA playoffs

|class_rules=1) points; 2) wins; 3) goal differential

}}

{{anchor|2017 playoffs}}

Played at Heartland Value Fund Stadium in Glendale, Wisconsin.

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1 = Semifinal
July 29

| RD2 = Final
July 30

| RD1-seed1 = W1

| RD1-team1 = {{nowrap|Cedar Rapids Rampage United}}

| RD1-score1 = 1

| RD1-seed2 = E2

| RD1-team2 = Carpathia FC

| RD1-score2 = 2

| RD1-seed3 = E1

| RD1-team3 = RWB Adria

| RD1-score3 = 2

| RD1-seed4 = W2

| RD1-team4 = Milwaukee Bavarians

| RD1-score4 = 4*

| RD2-seed1 = E2

| RD2-team1 = Carpathia FC

| RD2-score1 = 3

| RD2-seed2 = W2

| RD2-team2 = Milwaukee Bavarians

| RD2-score2 = 5

}}

Bold = winner
* = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

{{reflist}}

• [http://plasoccerleague.com/ Premier League of America]

{{USSoccer}}

Category:Defunct soccer leagues in the United States

Category:Summer association football leagues