Cape Cod Crusaders
Encyclopedia
Cape Cod Crusaders were an American soccer team based in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
, United States
. Founded in 1994, the team played in the USL Premier Development League
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games at several different venues in eastern Massachusetts: mainly in stadium on the campus of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy
, but also at Whitman-Hanson High School in Whitman, Massachusetts
, and at Bowditch Stadium in Framingham, Massachusetts
. Also played at Barnstable High School
in the town of Hyannis, Massachusetts
. The Crusaders' historical home was the stadium on the grounds Dennis Yarmouth High School in the town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts
. Where they won back to back championships in 2002 and 2003. The team's colors were red and white.
The team had a sister organization, the Boston Renegades
, who play in the women's USL W-League. The club still fields a team in the USL’s Super-20 League
, a league for players 17 to 20 years of age run under the United Soccer Leagues
umbrella.
In 2007, Crusaders striker Ricardo Pierre-Louis
was part of the Haiti
squad which took part in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
. Pierre-Louis was the only PDL player to take part in the tournament, coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Costa Rica, and playing a full 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to Canada.
, 25 July 2008
Felix Brillant
David Bulow
Evan Bush
Edens Chery
Kevin Gnatiko
Bryan Harkin
Neil Jones Yan Klukowski
Neil Krause
Eoin Lynch
David Mahoney
Jason Massie
Drew McAthy
Kurt Morsink
Joseph Ngwenya
Stanley Nyazamba
Scott Palguta
Troy Perkins
Ricardo Pierre-Louis
Ricky Schramm
Nathaniel Short
Dan Stratford
Joel Thiessen
Luke Vercollone
Joey Worthen
Andrew Wright
Ethan Zohn
Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Buzzards Bay is a census-designated place in the town of Bourne in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The population was 3,549 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Buzzards Bay is located at...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1994, the team played in the USL Premier Development 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...
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games at several different venues in eastern Massachusetts: mainly in stadium on the campus of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a regionally accredited, coeducational, state college offering undergraduate degrees in maritime-related fields, as well as graduate degrees and professional studies. Established in 1891, Mass Maritime is the second oldest state maritime academy in the country...
, but also at Whitman-Hanson High School in Whitman, Massachusetts
Whitman, Massachusetts
Whitman is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,489 as of the 2010 census. It is notable as being the place where the chocolate chip cookie was invented....
, and at Bowditch Stadium in Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
. Also played at Barnstable High School
Barnstable High School
Barnstable High School is a public high school in the village of Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA, Town of Barnstable. It is the largest high school in Barnstable County on Cape Cod. It is divided into 5 "houses", described as "schools within a school". In the 2010–2011 school year, it had...
in the town of Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...
. The Crusaders' historical home was the stadium on the grounds Dennis Yarmouth High School in the town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Yarmouth is a New England town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 24,807 at the 2000 census....
. Where they won back to back championships in 2002 and 2003. The team's colors were red and white.
The team had a sister organization, the Boston Renegades
Boston Renegades
Boston Renegades was an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2003. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team plays in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference...
, who play in the women's USL W-League. The club still fields a team in the USL’s Super-20 League
Super-20 League
The United Soccer Leagues Super-20 League is an American-Canadian soccer league for players 17 to 20 years of age. Introduced in 2006 it took the place of the U-19 age bracket in the Super Y-League....
, a league for players 17 to 20 years of age run under the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
umbrella.
History
The Crusaders were one of the most successful minor-league soccer teams in the United States, having been national PDL champions twice, in 2002 and 2003. The team was also one of the most long-lasting teams, having played in four different leagues, at two different levels, over the course of more than a decade. In the mid 2000s the Crusaders became part of the Massachusetts Premier Soccer (MPS) organisation, which runs soccer schools and north senior and junior amateur leagues across Massachusetts, with the intent of developing and promoting the game.In 2007, Crusaders striker Ricardo Pierre-Louis
Ricardo Pierre-Louis
Ricardo Pierre-Louis is a Haitian soccer player, currently without a club.-College and amateur:Pierre-Louis played college soccer at Lee University, where he was a three-time all-Southern States Athletic Conference selection in 2005, 2006 and 2007, the SSAC Newcomer of the Year in 2005, a two-time...
was part of the Haiti
Haiti national football team
The Haiti national football team represents Haiti in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football, the governing body for football in Haiti. Haiti's home ground is Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince and their head coach is Edson Tavares...
squad which took part in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third...
. Pierre-Louis was the only PDL player to take part in the tournament, coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Costa Rica, and playing a full 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to Canada.
Final squad
vs. Brooklyn KnightsBrooklyn Knights
Brooklyn Knights is an American soccer team based in New York, New York, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home games at the...
, 25 July 2008
Notable former players
Dwight BarnettDwight Barnett
Dwight Barnett is a Jamaican footballer.-Youth and College:Barnett played two years of college soccer at Herkimer County Community College, captaining the Generals to a 2005 NJCAA Division III National Championship...
Felix Brillant
Felix Brillant
Félix Brillant is a Canadian soccer player, currently playing for Lasalle-Lakeshore United.-Youth and Amateur:...
David Bulow
David Bulow
David Bulow is an American soccer player who currently plays for Richmond Kickers in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
Evan Bush
Evan Bush
Evan Bush is an American soccer player currently playing for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
Edens Chery
Edens Chery
Edens Chery is a Haitian soccer player who currently plays for Western Mass Pioneers in the USL Second Division.-College and Amateur:...
Kevin Gnatiko
Kevin Gnatiko
Kevin Gnatiko is a Togolese-born American soccer player who currently plays for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Second Division.-College and Amateur:...
Bryan Harkin
Bryan Harkin
Bryan Harkin is a Northern Irish soccer player who currently plays for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Second Division.-College and amateur:...
Neil Jones Yan Klukowski
Yan Klukowski
Yan Klukowski is an English football player who is currently contracted to Forest Green Rovers.-Youth and College:...
Neil Krause
Neil Krause
Neil Krause is an American soccer player who currently plays for Western Mass Pioneers in the USL Second Division.-College and Amateur:...
Eoin Lynch
Eoin Lynch
Eoin Lynch is an American soccer player who last played for MPS Portland Phoenix in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
David Mahoney
David Mahoney
David Mahoney is an American soccer goalkeeper, who formerly played for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer....
Jason Massie
Jason Massie
Jason Massie is an English footballer who currently plays for MPS Portland Phoenix in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
Drew McAthy
Drew McAthy
Drew Alan McAthy is an American soccer striker, who last played for Portland Timbers of the USL First Division....
Kurt Morsink
Kurt Morsink
Kurt Morsink is an American soccer player currently playing for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
Joseph Ngwenya
Joseph Ngwenya
Joseph Ngwenya is a Zimbabwean footballer currently without a club.-College:Ngwenya attended the Mzilikazi High School in Bulawayo, leading them to the 1999 Zimbabwe National High School Championship, before coming to the United States in 2000 to attend and play college soccer at Coastal Carolina...
Stanley Nyazamba
Stanley Nyazamba
Stanley Nyazamba is a Zimbabwean footballer who currently plays for Richmond Kickers in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:Nyazamba moved from his native Zimbabwe to play college soccer at Lee University...
Scott Palguta
Scott Palguta
Scott Palguta is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
Troy Perkins
Troy Perkins
Troy Perkins is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-College and amateur:...
Ricardo Pierre-Louis
Ricardo Pierre-Louis
Ricardo Pierre-Louis is a Haitian soccer player, currently without a club.-College and amateur:Pierre-Louis played college soccer at Lee University, where he was a three-time all-Southern States Athletic Conference selection in 2005, 2006 and 2007, the SSAC Newcomer of the Year in 2005, a two-time...
Ricky Schramm
Ricky Schramm
-College career:Ricky Schramm grew up in Eastchester, New York. He went on to lead the Fordham Prep Rams to four successful seasons and holds the record for goals scored. After four years at the Prep, Ricky signed with Georgetown University in Washington D.C. In 2003, as a freshman, Ricky led...
Nathaniel Short
Nathaniel Short
Nathaniel "Nano" Short is a retired English footballer who last played for Rochester Rhinos in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-Early Life and College:...
Dan Stratford
Dan Stratford
Daniel Stratford is an English football midfielder currently without a club after leaving Hereford United. Born in London, Stratford last played for Scottish Division One side Inverness Caledonian Thistle, having previously played in the NCAA Division I for college side West Virginia University...
Joel Thiessen
Joel Thiessen
Joel Theissen is an Australian footballer who currently plays for MPS Portland Phoenix in the USL Premier Development League.-Early career in Australia:...
Luke Vercollone
Luke Vercollone
Luke Vercollone is an American soccer player who currently plays for Richmond Kickers in the USL Professional Division.-Youth and College:...
Joey Worthen
Joey Worthen
Joey Worthen is an American soccer player currently playing for Austin Aztex in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-College and Amateur:...
Andrew Wright
Andrew Wright (footballer)
Andrew David Wright is an English footballer who plays for Scunthorpe United as a midfielder.-Career:Born in Liverpool, Merseyside, Wright began his career at his hometown club Liverpool as a youth team player, however he was released from the Anfield club in 2004 and subsequently joined American...
Ethan Zohn
Ethan Zohn
Ethan Zohn is an American reality television series contestant who won $1,000,000 on Survivor: Africa, the third season of the reality TV series Survivor. He also appeared on the All-Stars edition of the show. After winning Survivor he co-founded Grassroot Soccer, which uses soccer to raise money...
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 3 | USISL | 3rd, Northeast | Divisional Semifinals | Did not enter |
| 1995 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 4th, Coastal | Divisional Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 1996 | 3 | USISL Select League | 5th, North Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 7th, Northeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 4th, Northeast | Division Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 1999 | 3 | USL D3-Pro League | 7th, Northern | Did not qualify | 1st Round |
| 2000 | 3 | USL D3-Pro League | 6th, Northern | Did not qualify | 2nd Round |
| 2001 | 4 | USL PDL | 6th, Northeast | Did not qualify | 2nd Round |
| 2002 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Northeast | Champion | Did not qualify |
| 2003 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Northeast | Champion | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Northeast | Conference Semifinals | 3rd Round |
| 2005 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, Northeast | Conference Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, New England | Conference Finals | 1st Round |
| 2007 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, Northeast | Conference Finals | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, New England | Conference Semifinals | Did not qualify |
Honors
- USL PDL New England Division Champion 2008
- USL PDL Northeast Division Champion 2007
- USL PDL New England Division Champion 2006
- USL PDL Northeast Division Champion 2005
- USL PDL Champion 2003
- USL PDL Eastern Conference Champion 2003
- USL PDL Champion 2002
- USL PDL Eastern Conference Champion 2002
Stadia
- Stadium at Dennis Yarmouth High School, South Yarmouth, MassachusettsSouth Yarmouth, MassachusettsSouth Yarmouth is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Yarmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,603 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(1994–2003) - Stadium at Barnstable High SchoolBarnstable High SchoolBarnstable High School is a public high school in the village of Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA, Town of Barnstable. It is the largest high school in Barnstable County on Cape Cod. It is divided into 5 "houses", described as "schools within a school". In the 2010–2011 school year, it had...
, Hyannis, MassachusettsHyannis, MassachusettsHyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...
(2004–2007) - Stadium at Nauset Regional High SchoolNauset Regional High SchoolNauset Regional High School an NEASC accredited High School located in North Eastham, Massachusetts. Nauset is the only high school on the East Coast located within a National Park. . The open campus is situated about a half-mile from Nauset Lighthouse...
, North Eastham, MassachusettsNorth Eastham, MassachusettsNorth Eastham is a census-designated place in the town of Eastham in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,915 at the 2000 census.The main visitor center of the Cape Cod National Seashore is located in North Eastham....
1 game (2005) - Stadium at Weymouth High SchoolWeymouth High SchoolWeymouth High School is a comprehensive public high school located in Weymouth, Massachusetts that serves students in grades nine through twelve...
, Weymouth, MassachusettsWeymouth, MassachusettsThe Town of Weymouth is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, Weymouth had a total population of 53,743. Despite its city status, it is formally known as the Town of Weymouth...
1 game (2006) - Stadium at Whitman-Hanson Regional High SchoolWhitman-Hanson Regional High SchoolWhitman-Hanson Regional High School is a public high school located in Whitman, Massachusetts. It is part of the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District....
, Whitman, MassachusettsWhitman, MassachusettsWhitman is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,489 as of the 2010 census. It is notable as being the place where the chocolate chip cookie was invented....
3 games (2007–2008) - Stadium at Massachusetts Maritime AcademyMassachusetts Maritime AcademyMassachusetts Maritime Academy is a regionally accredited, coeducational, state college offering undergraduate degrees in maritime-related fields, as well as graduate degrees and professional studies. Established in 1891, Mass Maritime is the second oldest state maritime academy in the country...
, Buzzards Bay, MassachusettsBuzzards Bay, MassachusettsBuzzards Bay is a census-designated place in the town of Bourne in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The population was 3,549 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Buzzards Bay is located at...
(2008) - Stadium at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High SchoolBridgewater-Raynham Regional High SchoolBridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, founded in 1960, is a regional high school in Bridgewater, Massachusetts shared by the towns of Bridgewater and Raynham. The high school, commonly referred to as B-R, relocated to a new building at 415 Center Street in 2007...
, Bridgewater, MassachusettsBridgewater, MassachusettsFor geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Bridgewater, please see the article Bridgewater , Massachusetts.The Town of Bridgewater is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, 28 miles south of Boston. At the 2000 Census, the population was 25,185...
1 game (2008) - Bowditch Stadium, Framingham, MassachusettsFramingham, MassachusettsFramingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
1 game (2008)