1996 USISL Premier League Season
Encyclopedia
Please note: page under construction
The 1996 USISL Premier League
season was its 2nd. The season began in April 1996 and ended in August 1996.
Central Coast Roadrunners
won the championship, defeating the San Francisco Bay Seals
3-2. Spokane Shadow
won the regular season title, winning 14 games to 2 losses.
Blue denotes team has won their division.
Green denotes team has won playoff spot.
Orange denotes team gets bye into semifinals as defending champion.
* Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lexington, and Michigan were all penalized 3 points.
** Grand Rapids did not have a home stadium this year, and played only road games.
* Sioux City was penalized 6 points.
NOTE: Game between Sioux City and Wichita was postponed and could not be resecheduled before end of the season. Game was cancelled because it had no effect on playoffs.
* Nahsville was penalized 6 points. Jackson was penalized 3 points.
* Cocoa, Florida, and Orlando were all penalized 3 points.
* Colorado Springs and Spokane were both penalized 3 points.
* Central Coast and San Diego were both penalaized 3 points
The top four teams from every division except the Southwest earn playoff spots. With Central Coast already receiving a bye, the top two teams from the Southwest Division will play each other, however if Central Coast is in the top two, then the third place team receives a playoff spot. The Division winners would then face each other in the Conference finals.
The 1996 USISL Premier League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
season was its 2nd. The season began in April 1996 and ended in August 1996.
Central Coast Roadrunners
Central Coast Roadrunners
Central Coast Roadrunners were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2002, after which the team left the league and the franchise rights were transferred to the...
won the championship, defeating the San Francisco Bay Seals
San Francisco Bay Seals
San Francisco Seals was an American soccer team based in San Francisco, California, United States. Founded in 1992, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise left the league.The team played its home games...
3-2. Spokane Shadow
Spokane Shadow
Spokane Shadow was an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the franchise was terminated by the PDL after the 10-year old artificial turf at their home...
won the regular season title, winning 14 games to 2 losses.
Name changes
- Ann Arbor Elites became the Michigan MadnessMichigan MadnessMichigan Madness were a USISL soccer club based in Ann Arbor, Michigan that played for two seasons. They began operations in 1995 as the Ann Arbor Elites and prior to the 1996 season, became the Madness. Before the 1997 season, the club folded....
. - Arizona Cotton became the Arizona PhoenixArizona SahuarosArizona Sahuaros is an American soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1989, the team is member of the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. - Montclair Standard Falcons moved to Fontana, CAFontana, CaliforniaFontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
and became the Fontana FalconsFontana FalconsThe Fontana Falcons were an American soccer team based in Fontana, California.They joined the USISL in 1993 as the Montclair Standard Falcons from Montclair, California and moved to the USISL Premier League in 1995....
. - Oklahoma City Slickers changed their name to the Oklahoma City HeatOklahoma City HeatThe Oklahoma City Heat were a Premier Development League franchise existing from 1995 to 1996. They played in Del City, Oklahoma....
. - San Francisco All-Blacks United changed their name to the San Francisco Bay SealsSan Francisco Bay SealsSan Francisco Seals was an American soccer team based in San Francisco, California, United States. Founded in 1992, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise left the league.The team played its home games...
. - Wichita Blue Angels changed their name to the Wichita BlueWichita BlueWichita Blue, known in 1994 as Wichita Blue Angels, was an American soccer club based in Wichita, Kansas. The Blue played in several leagues including the Heartland Soccer League, Lone Star Soccer Alliance and the USISL.-History:...
.
New teams
11 teams were added for the season.| Team | Area | Location | Previous affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Northwest Washington area Bellingham, Washington Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia... |
Bellingham, WA Bellingham, Washington Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia... |
expansion |
 Central Coast Roadrunners Central Coast Roadrunners were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2002, after which the team left the league and the franchise rights were transferred to the... |
Central West Coast area | San Luis Obispo, CA San Luis Obispo, California San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities... |
expansion |
 Fort Lauderdale Strikers (USISL) In 1994, the Fort Lauderdale Kicks began play in the USISL. The next year, with the folding of the American Professional Soccer League Strikers, the Kicks took the name Fort Lauderdale Strikers for themselves... |
Greater Miami area South Florida metropolitan area The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S... |
Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010... |
from USISL Pro USL First Division The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.... |
Miami Strike Force The Miami Strike Force were an American soccer team based around Miami, Florida.They joined the USISL PDSL as the Miami Tango in 1996 , and became the Miami Breakers in the next season. The moved up to the USISL D-3 Pro League in 1998. For the 1999 season, the team was relegated back to the PDL... |
Greater Miami area South Florida metropolitan area The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S... |
Miami, FL Miami, Florida Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625... |
expansion |
 Michigan Bucks Michigan Bucks is an American soccer team based in Pontiac, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at the... |
Flint/Tri-Cities area Flint/Tri-Cities The Flint/Tri-Cities Region or Saginaw Valley is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The region is composed of the area surrounding Flint, Michigan, the Tri Cities, the Saginaw Bay and Saginaw River . Flint's population is 102,434; it is the seventh largest city in Michigan... |
Saginaw, MI Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan... |
expansion |
 |
Omaha-Council Bluffs area Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area is a metropolitan area comprising the cities of Omaha, Nebraska, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and surrounding areas. The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area has a population of 865,350 . The metropolitan area, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget,... |
Omaha, NE Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River... |
expansion |
San Diego Top Guns The San Diego Top Guns were an American soccer team based in San Diego, California that played in the USISL.-Year-by-year:... |
San Diego area San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
San Diego, CA San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
from USISL Pro USL First Division The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.... |
|
Inland Empire area Inland Empire Inland Empire may refer to:In geography:* Inland Empire , a geographic region in Southern California* Inland Empire , a geographic region encompassing Eastern Washington and North IdahoIn entertainment:... |
San Bernardino, CA San Bernardino, California San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States... |
expansion |
Spokane Shadow Spokane Shadow was an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the franchise was terminated by the PDL after the 10-year old artificial turf at their home... |
Spokane area Spokane, Washington Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region... |
Spokane, WA Spokane, Washington Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region... |
expansion |
|
Emerald Coast area Emerald Coast The Emerald Coast is an area in the US state of Florida on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico which stretches about 100 miles through four counties, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay, from Gulf Breeze on the east side of Pensacola Bay to Panama City on the east side of the St... |
Pensacola, FL Pensacola, Florida Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752... |
expansion |
 Willamette Valley Firebirds Willamette Valley Firebirds were an American soccer team that played in Corvallis, Oregon.They began as the Palo Alto Firebirds based in Palo Alto, California. They moved to San Jose, California in 1994 and became the Silicon Valley Firebirds. They were renamed the Portland Firebirds after they... |
Corvallis area | Corvallis, OR Corvallis, Oregon Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462.... |
former Portland Firebirds of the USISL Pro League USL First Division The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.... |
Teams Leaving
5 teams folded after the 1995 season:- Arkansas A's
- Columbia HeatColumbia HeatColumbia Heat is a defunct soccer club which spent three seasons in the USISL.-History:In 1993, the Columbia Spirit entered the USISL. Following the season, the team was renamed the Columbia Heat. In 1995, the USISL split into two leagues, the Professional and Premier Leagues...
- Inland Empire Panteras
- North Bay BreakersNorth Bay BreakersThe North Bay Breakers were an American soccer team based in Santa Rosa, California.They joined the USISL in 1994 and moved to the USISL Premier League in 1995.-Year-by-year:...
- Shasta ScorchersShasta ScorchersShasta Scorchers were an American soccer team based in Redding, California that played in the USISL. The club moved to the USISL Premier League in 1995.-Year-by-year:...
Standings
under constructionBlue denotes team has won their division.
Green denotes team has won playoff spot.
Orange denotes team gets bye into semifinals as defending champion.
Northern Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington Bluegrass Bandits Lexington Bluegrass Bandits Lexington Bluegrass Bandits were an American soccer team that played in Lexington, Kentucky.They joined the USISL in 1994, and moved to the USISL Pro League in 1995. They were relegated to the USISL Premier League the next year.-Year-by-year:... * |
14 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 18 | +14 | 28 |
| 2 | Michigan Madness Michigan Madness Michigan Madness were a USISL soccer club based in Ann Arbor, Michigan that played for two seasons. They began operations in 1995 as the Ann Arbor Elites and prior to the 1996 season, became the Madness. Before the 1997 season, the club folded.... * |
14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 28 | -4 | 25 |
| 3 | Detroit Dynamite* | 14 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 34 | 19 | +15 | 22 |
| 4 | Mid-Michigan Bucks* | 14 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 22 |
| 5 | Kalamazoo Kingdom Kalamazoo Kingdom Kalamazoo Kingdom were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Kingdom folded their... |
14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 18 | 22 | -4 | 15 |
| 6 | Grand Rapids Explosion West Michigan Edge West Michigan Edge was an American soccer team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played... ** |
7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 21 | +15 | 0 |
* Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lexington, and Michigan were all penalized 3 points.
** Grand Rapids did not have a home stadium this year, and played only road games.
Southern Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Lone Stars Austin Lone Stars The Austin Lone Stars were a soccer club that competed in the SISL, USISL and United Soccer Leagues from 1987 to 2000. The club originally started in 1987/88 as the Austin Sockadillos in the original indoor SISL league. They became the Austin Lone Stars in 1994.-History:In 1987, Fernando Marcos... |
14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 17 | +24 | 30 |
| 2 | Omaha Flames | 14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 22 | +17 | 24 |
| 3 | Sioux City Breeze Sioux City Breeze The Sioux City Breeze were a soccer club based in Sioux City, Iowa. The club began in the USISL and moved to the USISL Premier League in 1995.-Year-by-year:... * |
13 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 26 | 23 | +3 | 23 |
| 4 | Des Moines Menace Des Moines Menace Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at Valley... |
14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 21 |
| 5 | Oklahoma City Heat Oklahoma City Heat The Oklahoma City Heat were a Premier Development League franchise existing from 1995 to 1996. They played in Del City, Oklahoma.... |
14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 26 | -4 | 21 |
| 6 | Wichita Blue Wichita Blue Wichita Blue, known in 1994 as Wichita Blue Angels, was an American soccer club based in Wichita, Kansas. The Blue played in several leagues including the Heartland Soccer League, Lone Star Soccer Alliance and the USISL.-History:... |
13 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 33 | -15 | 15 |
* Sioux City was penalized 6 points.
NOTE: Game between Sioux City and Wichita was postponed and could not be resecheduled before end of the season. Game was cancelled because it had no effect on playoffs.
Northern Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roanoke River Dawgs | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 48 | 28 | +20 | 30 |
| 2 | Jackson Cougars* | 14 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 34 | 24 | +10 | 22 |
| 3 | Nashville Metros Nashville Metros Nashville Metros is an American soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference... * |
14 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 34 | 26 | +8 | 17 |
| 4 | Birmingham Grasshoppers Birmingham Grasshoppers Birmingham Grasshoppers were an American soccer team that played in Birmingham, Alabama from 1992-1996 as a member of the United States Interregional Soccer League. When the USISL split into two leagues in 1995, the Grasshoppers joined the Premier League... |
14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 20 | 33 | -13 | 12 |
* Nahsville was penalized 6 points. Jackson was penalized 3 points.
Southern Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cocoa Expos Cocoa Expos Cocoa Expos was an American soccer team, founded in 1993. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home matches at... * |
14 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 45 | 22 | +23 | 28 |
| 2 | Orlando Lions Orlando Lions The Orlando Lions was an American soccer team from Orlando, Florida which existed from 1985 to 1996. Over the years, the Lions competed at both the amateur and professional levels including some seasons as an independent team.... * |
14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 25 | 28 | -3 | 25 |
| 3 | Florida Strikers Fort Lauderdale Strikers (USISL) In 1994, the Fort Lauderdale Kicks began play in the USISL. The next year, with the folding of the American Professional Soccer League Strikers, the Kicks took the name Fort Lauderdale Strikers for themselves... * |
14 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 31 | 33 | -2 | 19 |
| 4 | West Florida Fury | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 29 | 36 | -7 | 15 |
| 5 | Miami Breakers Miami Strike Force The Miami Strike Force were an American soccer team based around Miami, Florida.They joined the USISL PDSL as the Miami Tango in 1996 , and became the Miami Breakers in the next season. The moved up to the USISL D-3 Pro League in 1998. For the 1999 season, the team was relegated back to the PDL... |
14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 29 | 37 | -8 | 12 |
| 6 | South Florida Future | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 63 | -46 | 0 |
* Cocoa, Florida, and Orlando were all penalized 3 points.
Northern Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane Shadow Spokane Shadow Spokane Shadow was an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the franchise was terminated by the PDL after the 10-year old artificial turf at their home... * |
14 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 17 | +17 | 34 |
| 2 | San Francisco Bay Seals | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 35 | 15 | +20 | 30 |
| 3 | Colorado Springs Stampede Colorado Springs Ascent Colorado Springs Ascent were an American soccer team who were members of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in 2000 and 2001, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.-Year-by-year:... * |
14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 25 |
| 4 | Puget Sound Hammers Seattle BigFoot The Seattle BigFoot were an American soccer team. After the 1996 season, the Everett BigFoot of the USISL Pro League and the Puget Sound Hammers of the USISL Premier League merged to become the Puget Sound BigFoot who played in the USISL PDSL during the 1997 season... |
14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 31 | 23 | +8 | 24 |
| 5 | Willamette Valley Firebirds Willamette Valley Firebirds Willamette Valley Firebirds were an American soccer team that played in Corvallis, Oregon.They began as the Palo Alto Firebirds based in Palo Alto, California. They moved to San Jose, California in 1994 and became the Silicon Valley Firebirds. They were renamed the Portland Firebirds after they... |
14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 21 | 31 | -10 | 15 |
| 6 | Bellingham Orcas | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 50 | -33 | 9 |
* Colorado Springs and Spokane were both penalized 3 points.
Southern Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Coast Roadrunners Central Coast Roadrunners Central Coast Roadrunners were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2002, after which the team left the league and the franchise rights were transferred to the... * |
14 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 16 | +22 | 34 |
| 2 | San Diego Top Guns San Diego Top Guns The San Diego Top Guns were an American soccer team based in San Diego, California that played in the USISL.-Year-by-year:... * |
14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 28 | 22 | +6 | 25 |
| 3 | Arizona Phoenix Arizona Sahuaros Arizona Sahuaros is an American soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1989, the team is member of the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid... |
14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 32 | 31 | +1 | 21 |
| 4 | Tucson Amigos Tucson Amigos The Tucson Amigos were a soccer club based in Tucson, Arizona that competed in the SISL, USISL and United Soccer Leagues. Founder of the Tucson Amigos was Dennis Archer a local business owner of the Tucson Amigos Indoor Soccer Center.-Year-by-year:... |
14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 24 | 29 | -5 | 21 |
| 5 | Fontana Falcons Fontana Falcons The Fontana Falcons were an American soccer team based in Fontana, California.They joined the USISL in 1993 as the Montclair Standard Falcons from Montclair, California and moved to the USISL Premier League in 1995.... |
14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 31 | 32 | -1 | 15 |
| 6 | Southern California Gunners | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 19 | 28 | -9 | 9 |
* Central Coast and San Diego were both penalaized 3 points
Format
Central Coast received a bye to the PDL Semifinals as the defending champion.The top four teams from every division except the Southwest earn playoff spots. With Central Coast already receiving a bye, the top two teams from the Southwest Division will play each other, however if Central Coast is in the top two, then the third place team receives a playoff spot. The Division winners would then face each other in the Conference finals.