The 2015 NASL season came to an end on Sunday, as the New York Cosmos beat Ottawa Fury FC to lift the 2015 Soccer Bowl trophy.

This season proved a thriller as the playoff push went down to the final day of the Fall Season. Players from top-to-bottom in the league proved their worth with consistent exemplary performances.

While the playoffs gave fans of the league a few new heroes, the SBI Best XI takes into account the performances from players all year round.

Here are SBI’s selections for NASL Best XI, as determined by the SBI staff:

———-Ramirez—Pinho—————

Laing—-Ryan——Freitas—-Shipalane

Davis–Mendes–Mkandawire—Venegas

—————Peiser————————

SBI’s 2015 NASL Best XI

GK: ROMUALD PEISER 

The Golden Glove winner from the Ottawa Fury was one of the first names on this team sheet. The Frenchman recorded a 648-minute shutout streak this season, breaking a record in both the original and reincarnation of NASL. The Fury standout started 29 games, the most in the league, and recorded the lowest goals against average with just .76.

D: JUSTIN DAVIS

The Minnesota United fullback started 29 matches this season for his club, getting involved all over the field to earn his spot in this Best XI. Davis scored five times in 2015, and whipped in two assists for United. The left back played an important role in the fluid play that made the MLS-elect side a favorite this oseason.

D: CARLOS MENDES

While it was brilliance in the attack that handed the New York Cosmos the 2015 Soccer Bowl title, center back Carlos Mendes is their only representative on this Best XI. The 34-year-old defender started 28 games for the Cosmos this year, tallying two goals in that time. Mendes was exactly the veteran defensive presence that Gio Savarese’s men needed to bounce back from mid-season struggles and march toward the chamionship.

D: TAMIKA MKANDAWIRE 

This English central defender started all 30 league games for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2015, one of an elite group of players to do so this season. After spending 15 years in the English game, the center back joined up with Thomas Rongen and the Rowdies to help bring defensive stability in the summer of 2014. His calm and collected style kept his team in the playoff hunt all the way to the final day of the regular season. With his contribution, the Rowdies posted the third-best goals against in NASL with 37.

D: KEVIN VENEGAS

This dynamic right back was an absolute blast to watch in 2015 at Minnesota United. Kevin Venegas tallied a phenomenal six assists this year, tied for fourth-best in the league. The fullback also scored twice in 28 matches started this season. Specifically, Venegas took over a September 12 game against the Carolina RailHawks in spectacular fashion, creating and scoring two goals in a span of just five minutes to single-handedly win the match.

M: RICHIE RYAN

The Fury FC central midfielder bossed the play in Ottawa for a majority of the Fall champions’ stellar season. The Irish mid scored three times in 2015, but it was the captain’s even-keel attitude and presence all year long that earned him a spot in the Best XI.

M: LANCE LAING

This speedster racked up eight goals and seven assists with FC Edmonton this season to earn his spot in this team. Lance Laing won games on several occasions for the Eddies this year, creating and scoring chances from breakaways, free kicks, and much more. The Jamaican international also featured for his country in Copa America this summer, shedding positive light on the development of  NASL.

M: MARLON FREITAS

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers had an embarrassment of riches in Brazilian attackers this year, but Marlon Freitas was an integral part of that squad in all 30 matches. The central attacking mid tallied eight goals and five assists in 2472 league minutes, the second-best for the Strikers in 2015. Freitas was the one to fire his team into the post-season with a late winning goal on the final day of the regular season.

M: TIYI SHIPALANE

Although the Carolina RailHawks didn’t manage to fight for the playoffs late in 2015, Tiyi Shipalane is a name that fans of the league should now know well. The right winger recorded seven goals and nine assists for his club this season, and was a part of the dynamic attacking duo that made the RailHawks a fun team to watch this year.

F: STEFANO PINHO

Stefano Pinho is the other half of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers attacking line that gave the south Florida team a shot at the 2015 Soccer Bowl. The Brazilian won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball with his 16 goals this season, adding seven assists in his 28 league games. Alongside these tremendous honors, the league newcomer was twice named Player of the Month and four times named Player of the Week by NASL.

 

F: CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ

This man is a shoe-in for any NASL Best XI compiled this season. Ramirez scored 12 goals and recorded six assists in 2015 to help lead his Minnesota United team to a third overall finish in the combined standings. To top it off, this dynamic attacker did it all just a season after winning the Golden Boot in 2014.

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Honorable Mentions

M: DANNY SZETELA

Szetela came back onto the scene in NASL to provide a solid option for Gio Savarese at the Cosmos over the past two years. Szetela played 24 times for his club in the league this season, and proved a necessary component in the team’s aging attack and defense en route to the NASL title.

F: NACHO NOVO

Nacho Novo is a man that perhaps isn’t getting the love he deserves after a fine season with the Carolina RailHawks. His 11 goals account for 38% of his team’s goals this year, meaning the RailHawks would’ve likely been bottom-feeders without him. Novo recorded 197 minutes less on the field than any of the other top four goalscorers in 2015, making his goals all the more impressive.

M: PC (FTL)

A third component to the Brazilian connection in Fort Lauderdale, PC had a tremendous impact throughout the season for the Strikers. While not starting every game in the final playoff push due to injury, the Brazilian winger’s attacking mindset was important over the course of the season.

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What do you think of the selections? Who missed the cut that you feel should have made our Best XI? Who are you glad to see mentioned in one of the teams?

Share your thoughts below