CHICAGO (October 19, 2024) – No. 1 seed Los Angeles Force (LAF) earned its first National Independent Soccer Association title tonight with a penalty kicks triumph over No. 2 seed Irvine Zeta FC (IZFC). In front of 1,447 at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, Calif., LAF outscored IZFC from 12 yards out 1-1 (3-2).

A championship coming down to penalty kicks is fitting for two clubs featuring the 2024 Golden Glove winner Seth Torman (LAF) and runner up Mitch North (IZFC). Torman started out denying IZFC in the first two rounds, and from there, his teammates did the rest. As Shinya Kadono missed the fifth attempt from IZFC, the winner came from Victor Blanco in the fourth round.

LAF took the lead in the 36th minute with 22-yards, left-footed tally from Josue Cartagena – a member of 2023 NISA Champion City Union. George Almeida evened it all up for IZFC in the 55th with a bicycle kick finish. Nothing changed after 30 minutes of extra time.

During the season, a rivalry was forged as first-year club IZFC gave NISA-founding club LAF a run for the money taking a win and two ties over the six-match series. The last meeting between the clubs was a 0-2 decision to LAF on Sept. 15.

LAF has played in two NISA finals. They lost 0-1 in 2021 to Detroit City FC on an own goal.