2021 NPSL North Season Preview

After a long long 24 months of waiting, local soccer finally returns with league action this weekend with two matches. Earlier this spring we covered the lineups of both the NPSL and WPSL North, but here is a more detailed lineup of the 2021 NPSL North Conference.

• Dakota Fusion FC - Dakota Fusion returns for their fourth season of play in the NPSL’s North Conference. Fusion finished second bottom back in 2019 so they’ll be looking to improve upon that performance. Once again Dakota makes their home out of Moorhead’s Jim Gotta Stadium.
• Duluth FC - Duluth FC also returns for their fourth season in the NPSL and fifth season overall since being founded. One of the top teams in the North, Duluth finished 3rd in 2019 and just missed the playoffs. The BlueGreens will look to jump back to the playoffs and return to Denfeld High School’s Public Schools Stadium as their home ground.
• Joy Athletic Club - The newest club joining the North Conference for 2021, Joy Athletic Club will make this season their debut not just in the NPSL but overall. Joy’s home field will be Oriole Stadium at St. Louis Park High School.
• La Crosse Aris FC - Aris is one of the older teams in the NPSL and has popped in and out of the NPSL over the last decade or so. Aris recently has also been perennially contending for the Wooden Spoon, including finishing at the bottom in 2019. Aris will return to Logan High School Stadium for 2021.
• Med City FC - The Mayhem are another club coming back for their fourth season of play, and are also coming off their best ever finish at second place in 2019. After finishing just one point back of Minneapolis in 2019 they’ll be gunning for first place this year. Med City will once again call Rochester Regional Stadium at RCTC their home.
• Minneapolis City SC - The Crows come into 2021 as the two-time defending North Conference Champions. Not only that but City has also developed their U23 side into a reserve side and launched Minneapolis City Futures. The Crows will look to fly high and stay on top in 2021 as they return to Edor Nelson Field.
• Sioux Falls Thunder FC - Sioux Falls returns in a bit of an odd spot. After the Thunder finished third bottom with just 8 points in 2019 they were not scheduled to return in 2020. However in December of 2020 the club and league announced that Daniel Haggerty would take over as Owner and GM of the Thunder. Sioux Falls will be looking to make a huge impact in 2021 as they return to the pitch for the first time in nearly two years. The Thunder will host their season opener at Yankton Trail Park before playing the rest of the season at O’Gorman Catholic’s McEneaney Field.

Week 1 Schedule:

Saturday:

Joy Athletic Club vs Dakota Fusion FC: Oriole Stadium, St. Louis Park - 7 PM

Sioux Falls Thunder vs Minneapolis City SC: Yankton Trail Park, Sioux Falls, SD - 7 PM