Playoff Bound: Pittsburgh Hotspurs beat Syracuse, 2-1, to earn first-ever NPSL postseason appearance

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Hotspurs

The Pittsburgh Hotspurs, only in its second full season in the National Premier Soccer League, earned its first-ever playoff berth by defeating Syracuse FC, 2-1, in Upstate New York on Saturday evening.

The Hotspurs (6-2-0), bounced back from his previous loss to Rust Belt Division leaders Cleveland SC, with an impressive road performance against Syracuse.

Rami Bensasi scored in the 32nd minute, then Tate Mohney added an important second tally in the 58th minute

This 2-1 win earned our Men's First Team their first playoff birth in the @NPSLSoccer!#hotspursway #homegrown #pittsburghsoccer #NPSL pic.twitter.com/rsk4AYVp8H

— Hotspurs Soccer Club (@HotspursClub) July 4, 2021

With the win, the Hotspurs secured second place in the Rust Belt Standings, and will almost assuredly get another crack at Cleveland SC, who secured first place with a 7-0-1.  Both clubs have two games remaining as they’ll prepare for the NPSL Playoff tournament.

The Hotpsurs will finish the regular season with two home matches, as they play Erie Commodores on Thursday (6 p.m.), then turn around and host Rochester for the regular season finale on Sunday (5 p.m.).  Both matches will be played at Founders Field.

FULL TIME:@HotspursClub 2-1 @Syracuse_FC @FcCarpathia 4-0 @MKETORRENT
–
As it stands:
Pittsburgh secured the 2nd Rust Belt Playoff spot. @FCBuffalo @Syracuse_FC @Erie_Commodores and @RLancers are all eliminated.

Carpathia’s win seeds @SoccerCLE #2 for the playoffs (for now).

— 6CS Cleveland (@6CSCleveland) July 4, 2021

For more details on how the NPSL Playoffs will be set up for the Midwest Region, click here.

As the second place team from the Rust Belt Division, the Hotspurs will be seeded between 4-6 (First place teams will be seeded 1-3) in the six-team bracket.

Additionally:

• Top 2 seeds receive a Bye into the Midwest Region Semifinals
• Seeds 3 thru 6 will be split geographically with the two western-most teams playing each other, and the two eastern-most teams playing each other
• #3 Seed will host a Quarterfinal match against the team seeded 4-6 that is closest to them, based on the geographical split noted above. The remaining two teams will play each other with the higher seed hosting.
• Semifinals & Final to be held at one to-be-determined location, as voted upon by Midwest Region club owners; home teams are determined by the highest seed in each match

NPSL Midwestern Region Playoffs Schedule 

2021 NPSL Midwest Region Quarterfinals – July 20: Each game hosted by higher seed
#3 seed x #4-6 seed closest geographically
Highest remaining seed x Lowest remaining seed

2021 NPSL Midwest Region Semifinals – July 23: Hosted at one to-be-determined location
#1 seed x Lowest remaining seed
#2 seed x 2nd Lowest remaining seed

2021 NPSL Midwest Region Final – July 25: Hosted at one to-be-determined location
Highest remaining seed x Lowest remaining seed