USL Second Division

USL Second Division

Countries	United States Bermuda
Confederation	US Soccer
Founded	1990
Divisions	1
Number of teams	8
Promotion to	None
Relegation to	None
Levels on pyramid	Level 3
Domestic cup(s)	Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Current champions	Richmond Kickers (2009)
Most championships	Charlotte Eagles Long Island Rough Riders Utah Blitzz Richmond Kickers(2 titles each)
TV partners	Fox Soccer Channel
Website	Official site in English
USL 2009

The United Soccer Leagues Second Division (often referred to as simply, USL-2) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) league pyramid. It is the third division of soccer in the United States behind Major League Soccer (top division) and the USL First Division (second division). It was known as the USL Pro Soccer League until 2005.

History

In 1995 the USISL split into two leagues, one professional and one amateur. The United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues Pro Soccer League, more commonly known simply as the Pro League, was a FIFA sanctioned Division 3 league. In 1996, the USISL established the new Select League consisting of its strongest teams from the Pro League and Premier League in hopes of gaining FIFA Division 2 sanctioning. The next season, the Select League and independent Division 2 A-League merged to form a new A-League under the USISL umbrella. In 1999 the umbrella USISL changed its name to the United Soccer Leagues and the Pro League officially became known as the United Soccer Leagues D3 Pro League. In 2003 the name was changed again to the USL Pro Select League, but during the season had to be changed to the USL Pro Soccer League due to legal reasons. In 2005 the league took its current name as the USL Second Division.

2010 teams

• Note: This list of teams will most likely NOT be the actual list of teams competing in the USL Second Division in 2010. In November 2009 a number of USL1 teams - the Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Vancouver Whitecaps, plus the Atlanta Silverbacks, USL2's Crystal Palace Baltimore and a brand new team led by St. Louis Soccer United - announced their intent to leave the USL to become the co-founders of a new North American Soccer League, beginning play in 2010^[1]. The new NASL has yet to be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation or the Canadian Soccer Association, and has not yet finalized its membership, and as such the membership of the new NASL and both the USL First and Second Divisions remain in flux.

Complete list of current and former member clubs

Past champions

• 1995: Long Island Rough Riders 2-1 Minnesota Thunder
• 1996: Charleston Battery 3-2 (SO) Charlotte Eagles
• 1997: Albuquerque Geckos 4-1 Charlotte Eagles
• 1998: Chicago Stingers 3-2 (OT) New Hampshire Phantoms
• 1999: Western Mass Pioneers 2-1 South Jersey Barons
• 2000: Charlotte Eagles 5-0 New Jersey Stallions
• 2001: Utah Blitzz 1-0 Greenville Lions
• 2002: Long Island Rough Riders 2-1 Wilmington Hammerheads
• 2003: Wilmington Hammerheads 2-1 (2OT) Westchester Flames
• 2004: Utah Blitzz 2-2 (5-4 PK) Charlotte Eagles
• 2005: Charlotte Eagles 2-2 (5-4 PK) Western Mass Pioneers
• 2006: Richmond Kickers 2-1 Charlotte Eagles
• 2007: Harrisburg City Islanders 1-1 (8-7 PK) Richmond Kickers
• 2008: Cleveland City Stars 2-1 Charlotte Eagles
• 2009: Richmond Kickers 3-1 Charlotte Eagles

Championships by Team

• 2: Charlotte Eagles (2000, 2005); Long Island Rough Riders (1995, 2002); Utah Blitzz (2001, 2004); Richmond Kickers (2006, 2009)
• 1: Albuquerque Geckos (1997); Charleston Battery (1996); Chicago Stingers (1998); Cleveland City Stars (2008); Harrisburg City Islanders (2007); Western Mass Pioneers (1999); Wilmington Hammerheads (2003)

References