NFPL Team of the Month - March 2022

Top futsal teams and players were on display in the NFPL in March! We have some new and some familiar faces on your Team of the Month - meet your NFPL Kings of the Court: 

GOALKEEPER: Victor Barbosa

Victor Barbosa of Columbus Futsal anchors the NFPL Team of the Month on the back of several big games over the past few weeks. A massive game in the Battle for Ohio in Matchweek 9 earned Barbosa his first NFPL Player of the Week Award and he has solidified himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the league. A big month for Columbus that saw them go 3-2 and rise up to 4th in the standings was highlighted by a tough defense and goalkeeper that only allowed 7 goals in 3 home games. The shotstopper will need to be at his best as Columbus fight an uphill battle away from home in the upcoming NFPL playoffs.

ALA: Cole Russell

Cole Russell has lit up the scoresheet in the second half the season as the Grand Rapids OLé ala/pivo has racked up 11 goals and 4 assists in 4 games this month, helping OLé plow their way to a regular season NFPL championship. Russell earned Player of the Week honors in Matchweek 12 for two performances that saw OLé see off Futsal Factory Academy on the road and Ginga FS at home. Given his hot form right now, Grand Rapids OLé will be looking forward to their playoff run in front of their home fans. 

ALA: Matthew Maciulis

The young Cadence SFC lineup has been led by some outstanding performances by Matthew Maciulis. The ala scored two in their Matchweek 12 rout of Futsal Indy and got on the scoreboard during their Matchweek 11 win over Columbus Futsal. With only a few games left in the season, Cadence SFC will be looking to put together a string of good performances before heading into the playoffs as they will undoubtedly face a tough road trip to Grand Rapids or Minnesota. Maciulis will need to be firing on all cylinders if Cadence want to make a postseason run for the trophy. 

Ala: Diego Paulin

NFPL newcomers Joy Athletic have been a delight to watch this season as the second-youngest team in the league have played beyond their years, locking in a second-place finish and home-court advantages in the early playoff rounds. Ala Diego Paulin has played a big role in the club's success in March, putting 3 goals and 2 assists on the scoreboard during their Matchweek 9 victories over Cadence SFC and Futsal Indy. Another brace against Cadence SFC at home in Matchweek 12 was enough to earn Paulin his first Team of the Month honors. As Joy Athletic prepare for the playoffs, expect Paulin and the rest to be in top shape as they welcome teams to Minnesota, a home court where they have only lost once all season.

PIVO: Luis Soriano

Futsal Indy pivo Luis Soriano rounds out the starters of our Team of the Month as he helped Futsal Indy break a brutal losing streak with some sublime performances. A goal in Matchweek 10 was buoyed by a hat trick against Futsal Factory Academy in Matchweek 11. Soriano remained an influential player as March came to a close and Futsal Indy took down Cadence SFC in Matchweek 13, scoring another hat trick in a big home victory for the Indianapolis futsal club and bringing his tally to 7 goals in the month.

6TH MAN: Edrick Padilla

Cadence SFC fixo Edrick Padilla finds himself on the NFPL Team of the Month after a Player of the Week display. A goal at home against Joy Athletic in Matchweek 9 was a launchpad as he added 4 goals and 2 assists in the Matchweek 11 victory over Columbus Futsal. The young fixo will have to be at his best as Cadence SFC hit the road to take on either Joy Athletic or Grand Rapids OLé in the NFPL playoffs in April. 

MANAGER: Fabian Rodriguez 

Grand Rapids OLé manager Fabian Rodriguez leads our March Team of the Month as his team have put together an astounding run of wins and performances. 4 wins from 4 games, including two on the road, were built on the league's best offense and league's best defense. In those 4 games in March, Grand Rapids have scored 51 and conceded just 12 on their way to a regular-season NFPL championship. Rodriguez's leadership has ensured home-court advantage throughout the playoffs for OLé and an incredibly impressive +94 goal differential. 

Congratulations to our March Kings of the Court and best of luck in the upcoming matches during the NFPL playoffs! Find the full schedule and the full standings here.