The road to the North American Soccer League finals starts Saturday night for Minnesota United FC, and it could end as early as the Fourth of July this season.
Rather than a traditional postseason of playoffs, the NASL has split its schedule into halves this year. The winner of each half will meet for the league title in the Soccer Bowl in November.
Minnesota United, which opens against San Antonio at 7 p.m. at the Metrodome, completes the first half on July 4, its first home game at the National Sports Center in Blaine. The team will play its first five home games at the Metrodome.
If one team wins both seasons, it will play the team with the second-most points during the full season.
The team, formerly called Minnesota Stars FC, won the league title in 2011 and finished runner-up last year.
Minnesota United, under new owner Bill McGuire, has acquired two former league MVPs — Eitenne Barbara and Pablo Campos — and picked up top goaltender Daryl Sattler.
Paul Klauda
Hill-Murray job filled
Hill-Murray has hired Tony Danna as its new head football coach. Danna, 24, is a 2007 graduate of the school and was a Division III All-America linebacker at the University of St. Thomas in 2011. He was the Pioneers' defensive coordinator last season.
