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NISA Independent Cup Spots On The Line As SWPL 2021-22 Season Wraps

Orange County, CA-based Pateadores Academy Has Two Paths To NISA Independent Cup Qualification
Published Apr 29, 2022

LA MIRADA, CA (April 29, 2022) -- The Southwest Premier League (SWPL) is about to double the fun.

Two spots in this summer’s National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) Independent Cup are on the line as the 2021-'22 Season comes to an exciting conclusion in the coming weeks.

“This is the culmination of a lot of incredibly dedicated work by the clubs and the league to crown champions and fill out the remaining NISA Independent Cup spots,” SWPL President Matt Morse said. “We are looking forward to some breath-taking moments over the next month as we aim to grab the attention of the country with some of the best amateur talent taking the pitch in these matches.”

Among the exciting matchups over the next month:

  • May 15: Pateadores Academy vs. Olympiacos CA
  • May 21: Pacific Premier Final (Teams TBA)
  • *May 22: Raul Briones Cup Final (Teams TBA)
  • May 29: SoCal Premier 1st Division Final (Teams TBA)
  • *June 5: SWPL Championship (SoCal Premier 1st Division champion vs. Pacific Premier champion)
    * - Winner earns spot in 2022 NISA Independent Cup

The winner of the Raul Briones Cup Final on May 22 will receive the first of the two qualifying spots in the NISA Independent Cup.

Currently, the Raul Briones Cup semifinal round is underway with Anaheim, CA-based Soul2Sole FC II defeating Culver City 2, 2-0 on Sunday, April 24, in the first of their two-leg aggregate series. The second leg is set for Sunday, May 1.

The other side of the bracket pits Pateadores Academy against Long Beach, CA’s Sporting Club California in a two-leg series on May 4 and 11.

The second qualifying spot in the NISA Independent Cup goes to the winner of the SWPL Championship on June 5

Pateadores Academy's second pathway is a victory over Huntington Beach, CA-based Olympiacos CA at Vanguard University in Irvine, CA, in the SoCal 2021-'22 Open Division season finale at 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 15. The winner of this match earns the right to advance to the SoCal 1st Division Final against the SoCal Premier Spring Season champion on May 29.

The SoCal Premier 1st Division Final winner then moves on to host the Pacific Premier League’s champion in the SWPL Championship in Southern California on June 5.

“It’s set up to be the most exciting month on record for the SWPL,” Morse said. “These are all top-quality clubs that deserve all the attention for their success on and off the field.”