2/11/10 - The Professional Arena Soccer League’s North American Championship will return to the state of California for the second straight year, but this year San Diego will be the host city.  Last year’s host, the Stockton Cougars, won the inaugural championship.

Per league rules the team that finishes with the best regular season record has the rights to host the following year’s finals.  That team last year was the 1790 Cincinnati Express who finished 13-3.  After evaluating many alternatives including their own home venue at Game Time Training Center, which has a limited capacity, the Express sacrificed their rights to host in a gesture they felt was better for the league as a whole.

"This is a big concession for us," said Cincinnati Director of Soccer Operations Craig Rhodis.  "We are 14-0 lifetime at home, but we think this will be better for everyone when you look at the big picture."

San Diego graciously accepted the opportunity to host March 11-13 at 3,500 seat Del Mar Arena where the Sockers are enjoying the league’s best attendance in their first year in the league.  "We’re proud to host the North American Championship in our first year," said Sockers GM and Head Coach Phil Salvagio.  "Everyone knows the Sockers are 10-time champions and now we will have a chance to go for number 11 in front of our great fans."

San Diego leads the Western Division with an 11-1 record and can clinch a playoff berth with a win in California this Saturday.  Cincinnati leads the Eastern Division with a 9-3 record and retains its automatic playoff berth that comes along with hosting.  The PASL-Pro will send three teams to the playoffs.  The most likely scenario would be San Diego, Cincinnati, and either California (10-4) or Louisville (9-4).

Joining the three PASL-Pro teams will be the eventual Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League champion, and La Raza de Guadalajara and Sidekicks del Estado de Mexico of the Liga Mexicana de Futbol Rapido.  Teams will be seeded by winning percentage with the top two seeds automatically advancing to the Semifinals of the single elimination event.

The Quarterfinals will be March 11 at 5:00pm and 7:30pm.  The Semifinals will be March 12 at 5:00pm and 7:30pm.  The Championship is set for 6:15pm on Saturday, March 13.

In the PASL-Pro’s inaugural season, the California Cougars beat the 1790 Cincinnati Express 13-5 to capture the first North American Championship at Stockton Arena.