1997 USISL A-League
The 1997 USISL A-League was an American Division II league run by the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues during the summer of 1997.
Overview
At the end of the 1996 A-League season, the U.S. second division A-League collapsed. Six of the seven teams in the A-League then joined the USISL which had three leagues in 1996, beginning with the third division USISL Select League.[1] With the collapse of the U.S. second division and the transfer of most of its teams to the USISL, the USISL reorganized its divisions to include the new teams. It moved most of the old second division USISL Select League, plus a few new teams, up to a second division level and merged the old A-League teams into this new U.S. second division which was renamed the USISL A-League.
Regular season
Northeast Division
Place | Team | GP | W | SW | SL | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Montreal Impact | 28 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 58 | 19 | +39 | 61 |
2 | Rochester Raging Rhinos | 28 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 56 | 47 | +9 | 42 |
3 | Long Island Rough Riders | 28 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 42 |
4 | Toronto Lynx | 28 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 44 | 43 | +1 | 38 |
5 | Connecticut Wolves | 28 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 31 | 45 | -14 | 28 |
6 | Worcester Wildfire | 28 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 26 | 61 | -35 | 19 |
Atlantic Division
Place | Team | GP | W | SW | SL | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hershey Wildcats | 28 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 56 | 33 | +23 | 55 |
2 | Carolina Dynamo | 28 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 63 | 33 | +30 | 50 |
3 | Richmond Kickers | 28 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 41 | 35 | +6 | 45 |
4 | Charleston Battery | 28 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 39 | 50 | -11 | 32 |
5 | Raleigh Flyers | 28 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 34 | 52 | -18 | 28 |
6 | Jacksonville Cyclones | 28 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 28 | 73 | -45 | 13 |
Central Division
Place | Team | GP | W | SW | SL | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers | 28 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 42 |
2 | Nashville Metros | 28 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 42 | 34 | +8 | 37 |
3 | Orlando Sundogs | 28 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 39 | 40 | -1 | 36 |
4 | Milwaukee Rampage | 28 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 33 | 36 | -3 | 36 |
5 | Minnesota Thunder | 28 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 30 | -8 | 35 |
6 | Atlanta Ruckus | 28 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 39 | 48 | -9 | 30 |
Pacific Division
Place | Team | GP | W | SW | SL | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | California Jaguars | 28 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 48 | 34 | +14 | 52 |
2 | Seattle Sounders | 28 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 42 | 19 | +33 | 50 |
3 | Vancouver 86ers | 28 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 50 | 29 | +21 | 46 |
4 | Colorado Foxes | 28 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 55 | 49 | +6 | 46 |
5 | Orange County Zodiac | 28 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 35 | 62 | -27 | 31 |
6 | El Paso Patriots | 28 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 30 | 50 | -20 | 18 |
Playoffs
Division Semi-finals
Northeast Semifinal 1
September 3, 1997 |
Rochester Raging Rhinos (NY) | 0-0 | Long Island Rough Riders (NY) |
---|---|---|
Penalties | ||
3 – 4 |
Frontier Field, Rochester, New York Attendance: 5,160 |
September 6, 1997 |
Long Island Rough Riders (NY) | 1-1 | Rochester Raging Rhinos (NY) |
---|---|---|
Carlos Ledesma 63' (pen.) | (Report) | 8' Nate Daligcon |
Penalties | ||
Travis Rinker Hector Wright Daniel Leon |
3 – 1 |
James M. Shuart Stadium, Hempstead, New York Attendance: 4,361 |
Northeast Semifinal 2
Toronto Lynx (ON) | 1-2 | Montreal Impact (QC) |
---|---|---|
Terry St. Louis 13' Peyvand Mossavat 31' Martin Dugas 42' Franco Spadafina 43' Paul Stalteri 45' |
(Report) | 8' Onandi Lowe 13' John Limniatis 25' Onandi Lowe 62' Mauro Biello |
September 7, 1997 |
Montreal Impact (QC) | 4-0 | Toronto Lynx (ON) |
---|---|---|
Darren Tilley 17' (pen.), 25', 26' Bill Sedgewick 45' |
Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, Montreal Attendance: 4,138 |
Montreal advances to the Division final
Atlantic Semifinal 1
September 5, 1997 |
Richmond Kickers (VA) | 1-2 | Carolina Dynamo (NC) |
---|---|---|
Rob Ukrop 63' | 23' Robert Rosario 31' Yari Allnutt |
Attendance: 1,362 |
September 6, 1997 |
Carolina Dynamo (NC) | 1-4 | Richmond Kickers (VA) |
---|---|---|
Keiran Breslin 32' | 14' Dian Anguelov 72' Brian Kamler 75' Mario Lone 82' Mac Cozier |
Attendance: 4,562 |
Atlantic Semifinal 2
Charleston Battery (CA) | 1-1 | Hershey Wildcats (PA) |
---|---|---|
Juan Castillo 38' Michael Anhaeuser 50' Patrick Olalere 85' |
(Report) | 78' Mark Waite |
Penalties | ||
1 – 3 |
Hershey Wildcats (PA) | 1-1 | Charleston Battery (CA) |
---|---|---|
Lee Tschantret 89' | (Report) | Juan Castillo 75' Patrick Olalere |
Penalties | ||
0 – 1 |
Central Semifinal 1
Orlando Sundogs (FL) | 1-2 | New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA) |
---|---|---|
Dylan Lewis 34' Greg Brick 54' |
(Report) | 12', 23' Stern John |
New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA) | 6-2 | Orlando Sundogs (FL) |
---|---|---|
Gabe Gentile 2' Stern John 10', 89' Louie Smothermon 23' Mickey Trotman 39' |
(Report) | 29' Sebastian Barnes 67' Sheldon Lee |
Tad Gormley Stadium, New Orleans Attendance: 653 |
Central Semifinal 2
September 4, 1997 |
Nashville Metros (TN) | 1-2 | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Tim Geltz 2' | 81' Nick Igel 85' David Marshall |
Attendance: 550 |
Pacific Semifinal 1
September 4, 1997 |
Colorado Foxes (CO) | 0-3 | Seattle Sounders (WA) |
---|---|---|
Rivers Guthrie | (Report) | Vicente Figueroa 20' Erik Storkson 26' Mike Gailey 84' (pen.) David Hoggan |
September 6, 1997 |
Seattle Sounders (WA) | 2-0 | Colorado Foxes (CO) |
---|---|---|
Henry Gutierrez Vicente Figueroa Vicente Figueroa 70' Esmundo Rodriguez 89' |
(Report) | Chad Ashton 87' Ray Tomlin 88' Ray Tomlin |
Pacific Semifinal 2
September 5, 1997 |
Vancouver 86ers (BC) | 4-1 | California Jaguars (CA) |
---|---|---|
Domenic Mobilio 2' (pen.) 54' (pen.) Steve Kindel 35' |
86' Paul Holocher |
Attendance: 2,716 |
September 7, 1997 |
California Jaguars (CA) | 2-2 | Vancouver 86ers (BC) |
---|---|---|
Mark Baena 55' Rick Iversen 89' |
22' Steve Kindel 73' Domenic Mobilio | |
Penalties | ||
1 – 2 |
Attendance: 1,859 |
Division Finals
Northeast Division final
September 12, 1997 |
Long Island Rough Riders (NY) | 2-2 | Montreal Impact (QC) |
---|---|---|
Hector Wright 4' Flavio Ferri 55' |
5' Lloyd Barker |
James M. Shuart Stadium, Hempstead, New York Attendance: 3,585 |
September 14, 1997 |
Montreal Impact (QC) | 2-0 | Long Island Rough Riders (NY) |
---|---|---|
Mauro Biello 34' Lyndon Hooper 77' |
Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, Montreal Attendance: 6,679 |
September 14, 1997 |
Montreal Impact (QC) | 0-0 | Long Island Rough Riders (NY) |
---|---|---|
Penalties | ||
1 – 4 |
Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, Montreal Attendance: 6,679 |
Atlantic Division final
September 12, 1997 |
Charleston Battery (SC) | 3-3 | Carolina Dynamo (NC) |
---|---|---|
Todd Miller 37' Juan Castillo 52' (pen.) Alvin Boisson 53' |
43' Danny Care 54' John Ball 81' Mike Saunders | |
Penalties | ||
4 – 3 |
Stoney Field, Charleston, South Carolina Attendance: 1,422 |
September 14, 1997 |
Carolina Dynamo (NC) | 2-1 | Charleston Battery (SC) |
---|---|---|
Maher Atta 29' Yari Allnutt 89' |
27' (pen.) Andy Schmetzer |
Attendance: 1,506 |
September 14, 1997 |
Carolina Dynamo (NC) | 1-0 | Charleston Battery (SC) |
---|---|---|
Ed Radwanski 12' |
Attendance: 1,506 |
Central Division final
September 12, 1997 |
Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | 2-1 (OT) | New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA) |
---|---|---|
Nick Igel 81', 92' | 9' Ricardo Blanchard |
Attendance: 2,818 |
September 14, 1997 |
New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA) | 3-4 | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Stern John 64' (pen.) Gabe Jones 67' Mickey Trotman 78' |
51' (pen.), 78' (pen.) Jon Szczepanski 60' Dan Stebbins 74' David Marshall |
Attendance: 898 |
Pacific Division final
September 12, 1997 |
Vancouver 86ers (BC) | 3-0 | Seattle Sounders (WA) |
---|---|---|
Craig Dalrymple Domenic Mobilio 62' Nico Berg 70' Chris Clarke 86' |
(Report) | Henry Gutierrez Kieran Barton Vicente Figueroa |
September 14, 1997 |
September 14, 1997 |
Conference finals
Eastern Conference
September 19, 1997 |
Long Island Rough Riders (NY) | 1-2 | Carolina Dynamo (NC) |
---|---|---|
Laurence Piturro 71' | 72', 89' (pen.) Brian Loftin |
Hofstra Stadium Hempstead, New York Attendance: 1,044 |
Carolina Dynamo (NC) | 2-0 | Long Island Rough Riders (NY) |
---|---|---|
Brian Loftin 84' Laurence Piturro 86' (o.g.) |
A.J. Simeon Stadium High Point, North Carolina Attendance: 2,105 |
The Carolina Dynamo advance.
Western Conference
September 19, 1997 |
Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | 3-1 | Vancouver 86ers (BC) |
---|---|---|
Dan Stebbins 65', 82', 87' | 51' Domenic Mobilio |
Uihlein Soccer Park Milwaukee Attendance: 2,888 |
September 21, 1997 5:00 PM |
Vancouver 86ers (BC) | 1-0 | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Domenic Mobilio 63' (pen.) |
Swangard Stadium Vancouver Attendance: 4,323 |
September 21, 1997 7:00 PM |
Vancouver 86ers (BC) | 0-0 | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Penalties | ||
|
0 – 3 | Dan Stebbins Eddy Berdusco Nick Igel |
The Milwaukee Rampage advance, winning two out of three games.
Final
September 27, 1997 8:30 PM |
Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | 1-1 (a.e.t.) | Carolina Dynamo (NC) |
---|---|---|
Dan Stebbins 65' | (Report) | 80' Brian Loftin |
Penalties | ||
Jon Szczepanski Dan Stebbins Nick Igel |
3 – 0 | Maher Atta Yari Allnutt Ed Radwanski |
Uihlein Soccer Park Milwaukee Attendance: 6,381 |
MVP: Carmine Isacco, Milwaukee Rampage
Points leaders
Rank | Scorer | Club | Goals | Assists | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Doug Miller | Rochester Rhinos | 23 | 5 | 51 |
2 | Mark Baena | California Jaguars | 20 | 4 | 44 |
3 | Stern John | New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers | 16 | 5 | 37 |
4 | Steve Patterson | Colorado Foxes | 16 | 3 | 35 |
5 | Jamel Mitchell | Nashville Metros | 17 | 0 | 34 |
Jimmy Glenn | Rochester Rhinos | 13 | 8 | 34 | |
7 | Yari Allnutt | Carolina Dynamo | 12 | 9 | 33 |
Domenic Mobilio | Vancouver 86ers | 14 | 5 | 33 | |
Darren Tilley | Montreal Impact | 13 | 7 | 33 | |
Gustavo Leal | Orange County Zodiac | 16 | 1 | 33 | |
11 | Sebastian Barnes | Orlando Sundogs | 14 | 3 | 31 |
12 | Garret Kusch | Vancouver 86ers | 10 | 10 | 30 |
13 | Mike Gailey | Seattle Sounders | 10 | 7 | 27 |
Rob Ukrop | Richmond Kickers | 12 | 3 | 27 |
Honors
- MVP: Doug Miller
- Leading goal scorer: Doug Miller
- Leading goalkeeper: Dusty Hudock
- Rookie of the Year: Stern John
- Coach of the Year: Bob Lilley
- First Team All League
- Goalkeeper: Dusty Hudock
- Defenders: John Limniatis, Scott Schweitzer, Mark Watson, Travis Rinker
- Midfielders: Yari Allnutt, Mauro Biello, Garret Kusch
- Forwards: Mark Baena, Doug Miller, Stern John
- Second Team All League
- Goalkeeper: Paolo Ceccarelli
- Defenders: Don Gramenz, Robert Rosario, Bill Sedgewick, Dian Anguelov
- Midfielders: John Smith, Nick DeSantis, Domenic Mobilio
- Forwards: Steve Patterson, Darren Tilley, Mike Gailey