Sonoma County Sol
Encyclopedia
Sonoma County Sol is an American soccer team based in Santa Rosa, California
, United States
. Founded in 2004, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League
(NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, in the Northwest Division.
The team plays its home games at Seawolf Stadium on the campus of Sonoma State University
in nearby Rohnert Park, California
, where they have played since 2011. The team's colors are blue and white.
The team has a sister organization, also called Sonoma County Sol
, which plays in the Women's Premier Soccer League
.
(NPSL), replaced the previous league and expanded on the territory of the MPSL by adding a Midwestern Division. The Sol was one of the founding clubs of the NPSL, specifically in the Western Division. Like the NPSL and its member clubs, the Sol falls under the auspices of the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA
) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
In 2005, the Sol finished second in the Western Division in the regular season standings, 3 points behind the Sacramento Knights
, attaining the number 2 seed in the NPSL West playoffs. In the Western Division playoffs, the Sol beat the number 3 seed Chico Rooks
at home in the semifinals and then traveled to Sacramento to face the Knights in the NPSL West Championship Game. The Sol triumphed over the Knights in a hard fought match at the soccer stadium at Sacramento State University, garnering the NPSL West Championship. The Sol then hosted Midwest Champion Detroit Arsenal for the inaugural NPSL National Championship game in Santa Rosa, California
.
Also in 2005, the Sol qualified as one of three NPSL West representatives for the Region IV U.S. Open Cup (U.S. Open Cup Website qualifying tournament, where the Sol won its group and then went on to beat the Salinas Valley Samba
for the tournament championship and a spot in the USASA National Open Cup. The Sol would later meet the Samba in Santa Rosa in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup itself. At the USASA National Open Cup in the August heat of Frisco, Texas
, in the semifinals the Sol faced the AAC Eagles of Chicago who prevailed 2-1. With this result, the Sol's 2005 campaign came to an end.
In 2006 however, the Sol bounced back and prevailed in the USASA Open Cup. It started with a road trip to Seattle for the Region VI championships. The Sol beat out the Chico Rooks (NPSL) in group play to advance to the finals, where they defeated the Suaharos (sp?) 2-1 in the finals. Beto Sanchez, the back up goalkeeper, was subbed on as a forward due to injuries in the 80th minute, and netted the game winner in the 85th minute on a diving header. The Sol then traveled to Frisco, TX for the national finals where they defeated the heavily favored (and over-rated) home side Dallas Roma FC 3-2 in double over time. They then went on to defeat the Lightning (Chicago) 1-0 in the finals to claim the USASA National open cup championship.
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 2004, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
(NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, in the Northwest Division.
The team plays its home games at Seawolf Stadium on the campus of Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
in nearby Rohnert Park, California
Rohnert Park, California
Rohnert Park is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located approximately north of San Francisco. The population at the 2010 United States Census was 40,971. It is an early planned city, modeled directly after Levittown, New York and Levittown, Pennsylvania. Rohnert Park is the...
, where they have played since 2011. The team's colors are blue and white.
The team has a sister organization, also called Sonoma County Sol
Sonoma County Sol (WPSL)
Sonoma County Sol was an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2005. The team was a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League, the third tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team played in the North Division of the Pacific Conference...
, which plays in the Women's Premier Soccer League
Women's Premier Soccer League
The Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
.
History
After the 2004 season, the MPSL disbanded but a new men's league, the National Premier Soccer LeagueNational Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
(NPSL), replaced the previous league and expanded on the territory of the MPSL by adding a Midwestern Division. The Sol was one of the founding clubs of the NPSL, specifically in the Western Division. Like the NPSL and its member clubs, the Sol falls under the auspices of the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA
USASA
The United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...
) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
In 2005, the Sol finished second in the Western Division in the regular season standings, 3 points behind the Sacramento Knights
Sacramento Knights
Sacramento Knights were an indoor soccer team that played from 1993 to 2001 in ARCO Arena and were owned by the NBA's Sacramento Kings. The team played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997. The team then moved to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1998 after the CISL folded...
, attaining the number 2 seed in the NPSL West playoffs. In the Western Division playoffs, the Sol beat the number 3 seed Chico Rooks
Chico Rooks
The Chico Rooks was an American soccer team, founded in 1993 by Guido Barbero. The team was a member of the National Premier Soccer League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006...
at home in the semifinals and then traveled to Sacramento to face the Knights in the NPSL West Championship Game. The Sol triumphed over the Knights in a hard fought match at the soccer stadium at Sacramento State University, garnering the NPSL West Championship. The Sol then hosted Midwest Champion Detroit Arsenal for the inaugural NPSL National Championship game in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
.
Also in 2005, the Sol qualified as one of three NPSL West representatives for the Region IV U.S. Open Cup (U.S. Open Cup Website qualifying tournament, where the Sol won its group and then went on to beat the Salinas Valley Samba
Salinas Valley Samba
Salinas Valley Samba is an American soccer team based in Salinas, California, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Western Division.The team plays its home games in the...
for the tournament championship and a spot in the USASA National Open Cup. The Sol would later meet the Samba in Santa Rosa in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup itself. At the USASA National Open Cup in the August heat of Frisco, Texas
Frisco, Texas
Frisco is an affluent city in Collin and Denton Counties in the U.S. state of Texas and a rapidly growing suburb of Dallas. As of the 2010 Census, 116,989 people were living in Frisco up from 33,714 in the previous census. Frisco was the fastest growing city in the United States in 2009, and also...
, in the semifinals the Sol faced the AAC Eagles of Chicago who prevailed 2-1. With this result, the Sol's 2005 campaign came to an end.
In 2006 however, the Sol bounced back and prevailed in the USASA Open Cup. It started with a road trip to Seattle for the Region VI championships. The Sol beat out the Chico Rooks (NPSL) in group play to advance to the finals, where they defeated the Suaharos (sp?) 2-1 in the finals. Beto Sanchez, the back up goalkeeper, was subbed on as a forward due to injuries in the 80th minute, and netted the game winner in the 85th minute on a diving header. The Sol then traveled to Frisco, TX for the national finals where they defeated the heavily favored (and over-rated) home side Dallas Roma FC 3-2 in double over time. They then went on to defeat the Lightning (Chicago) 1-0 in the finals to claim the USASA National open cup championship.
2011 roster
Source: http://www.npsl.info/teams/33985895/14177866-35503834/TEAM.htmlYear-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 | MPSL | 6th | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | 4 | NPSL | 2nd, Western | Final | 1st Round |
| 2006 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, Northwest | Did not qualify | 2nd Round |
| 2007 | 4 | NPSL | 1st, Northwest | Semi Final | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 4 | NPSL | 1st, Northwest | Semi Final | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 4 | NPSL | 1st, Western | Champions | 2nd Round |
| 2010 | 4 | NPSL | 5th, Northwest | Did not qualify | 1st Round |
| 2011 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, Northwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Domestic
- National Premier Soccer LeagueNational Premier Soccer LeagueThe National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
- Winners (1): 2009
- Northwest Division (NPSL):
- Winners (3): 2007, 2008, 2009
Stadia
- Ernie Nevers Field at Santa Rosa High SchoolSanta Rosa High School (Santa Rosa, California)Santa Rosa High School is a secondary school located in Santa Rosa, California. It is part of the Santa Rosa City High School District, which is itself part of Santa Rosa City Schools. The main administration is formed by the Principal , a Vice Principal and an Assistant Principal...
; Santa Rosa, CaliforniaSanta Rosa, CaliforniaSanta Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
(2004–2010) - Seawolf Stadium at Sonoma State UniversitySonoma State UniversitySonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
; Rohnert Park, CaliforniaRohnert Park, CaliforniaRohnert Park is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located approximately north of San Francisco. The population at the 2010 United States Census was 40,971. It is an early planned city, modeled directly after Levittown, New York and Levittown, Pennsylvania. Rohnert Park is the...
(2011-present)