1931 American Soccer League
Introduction Statistics of American Soccer League in season 1931.
Overview At the start of this season the American Soccer League was in decline, suffering from the effects of the Great Depression. Clubs had begun to fold, merge and disappear. The eventual champions, New Bedford Whalers, had been formed by Sam Mark following the merger of Fall River F.C. and New York Yankees. Long time ASL members Brooklyn Wanderers folded before the season. However New York Americans, later to become a perennial contender in the second ASL, made their debut.The season began on February 29, 1931.The first half ended on May 31, 1931.The second half began September 19, 1931, and the season concluded on December 27, 1931.The season saw strong performances by New Bedford Whalers,  New York Giants and a resurgent Pawtucket Rangers. Hakoah All-Stars improved markedly to take fourth place. Although the Whalers won this season, they lost the playoff series for the overall 1931 champion, being defeated by Spring 1931 champions New York Giants in a play-off. Whalers took the first game at home 8-3 before the Giants came back to win 6-0, taking the series on a 9-8 aggregate score.
League standings * The percentage is a percentage of points won to points available, not a win-lose percentage.===First half===PlaceTeamGPWDLGFGAPTSPCT1New York Giants1710254228'''22'''.6472Brooklyn Wanderers169253227'''20'''.6253New York Yankees179354027'''21'''.6194Pawtucket Rangers189364733'''21'''.5835Fall River168262825'''18'''.5586Hakoah All-Stars1752102541'''12'''.3537Newark Americans134181829'''9'''.3468New Bedford Whalers113261822'''9'''.3469Boston Bears71061030'''2'''.143===Second half===PlaceTeamGPWDLGFGAPTSPCT1New Bedford Whalers2114256032'''30'''.7142New York Giants2011455438'''26'''.6503Pawtucket Rangers2013075842'''26'''.6504Hakoah All-Stars2111464434'''26'''.6155Boston Bears1943123450'''11'''.2896New York Americans2033143269'''9'''.2257Newark Americans111281639'''4'''.183
Playoff '''New York Giants''' 9–8 New Bedford Whalers 3–8  6–0  January 1 •  Battery Park • ? ? ?January 3 • Polo Grounds • 4,000===First leg======Second leg===''New York Giants won, 9–8, on aggregate.''
Top goalscorers RankScorerClubGPG1Bob McIntyrePawtucket Rangers34382Bert PatenaudeNew York YankeesNew York Giants31333Willie CrilleyFall River F.C.Brooklyn WanderersNewark Americans22234Tommy FlorieNew Bedford WhalersFall River F.C.36225Werner NilsenNew York YankeesNew Bedford Whalers29216Billy GonsalvesNew York YankeesNew Bedford Whalers36207Davey BrownNew York Giants3018Rudolph NikolsbergerHakoah All-Stars35189Bill PatersonBrooklyn WanderersFall River F.C.301610Jimmy McAuleyPawtucket Rangers3515Moritz HäuslerHakoah All-Stars381511Nib HoggFall River F.C.Pawtucket Rangers271412Tec WhiteNew York YankeesNew Bedford Whalers381313Arthur ScottPawtucket Rangers351214George MoorhouseNew York YankeesNewark Americans3111Bart McGheeNew York Giants321116Herbert CarlssonNew York Giants3410
External links *  The Year in American Soccer - 1931*  The Year in American Soccer - 1932
References