USISL Select League
Encyclopedia
The USISL Select League was a professional men's soccer league which featured teams from the United States
, which existed for just one year in 1996. During its single season in 1996
it shared Division II status in the American soccer pyramid
with the A-League
, before the two leagues merged in 1997.
The USISL Pro League, which had been at the second tier of the pyramid in 1995, split into two leagues in 1996; the best teams joined the new USISL Select League, while the remainder (plus expansion teams) remained in the USISL Pro League, which retained its Division III status. Both the A-League and the new USISL Select League
had Division II status in 1996.
In an attempt to counteract the fact that a number of top A-League players had left to join MLS in 1995 and 1996 six of the seven remaining A-League teams - Montreal Impact
, Colorado Foxes
, Seattle Sounders
, Rochester Raging Rhinos
, Vancouver 86ers and Atlanta Ruckus, plus two planned A-League expansion teams (Toronto Lynx
and Hershey Wildcats
) merged with the USISL Select League to form a consolidated Division II league before the 1997
season. The resulting merged league retained the A-League name, and the USISL Select League name was abandoned.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which existed for just one year in 1996. During its single season in 1996
1996 USISL Select League
-League standings: GP W L SW GF GA PTS EASTERN CONFERENCE North Atlantic Division Long Island Rough Riders 18 11 7 0 39 31 33 Richmond Kickers 18 10 8 0 34 24 28...
it shared Division II status in 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...
with the A-League
A-League (1995–2004)
The A-League was a professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. The A-League emerged out of the restructured American Professional Soccer League in 1995 and operated until 2004, after which it was re-branded the USL First Division...
, before the two leagues merged in 1997.
History
The league had its origins in the United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL), which was the de-facto second tier of American soccer during the early 1990s, and until 1995 confined itself to organising regional leagues.The USISL Pro League, which had been at the second tier of the pyramid in 1995, split into two leagues in 1996; the best teams joined the new USISL Select League, while the remainder (plus expansion teams) remained in the USISL Pro League, which retained its Division III status. Both the A-League and the new USISL Select League
1996 USISL Select League
-League standings: GP W L SW GF GA PTS EASTERN CONFERENCE North Atlantic Division Long Island Rough Riders 18 11 7 0 39 31 33 Richmond Kickers 18 10 8 0 34 24 28...
had Division II status in 1996.
In an attempt to counteract the fact that a number of top A-League players had left to join MLS in 1995 and 1996 six of the seven remaining A-League teams - Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
, Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
, Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
, Rochester Raging Rhinos
Rochester Raging Rhinos
The Rochester Rhinos are an American professional soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having self-relegated from the USSF D2 Pro League...
, Vancouver 86ers and Atlanta Ruckus, plus two planned A-League expansion teams (Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx is a Canadian soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1997, 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....
and Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats were a professional soccer team, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, that played in the USL A-League between 1997 and 2001. The team was owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company...
) merged with the USISL Select League to form a consolidated Division II league before the 1997
1997 A-League
The 1997 USISL A-League season.-Overview:At the end of the 1996 A-League season, the U.S. second division A-League collapsed. Five of the six teams in the A-League then joined the USISL which had three leagues in 1996, beginning with the third division USISL Select League. With the collapse of...
season. The resulting merged league retained the A-League name, and the USISL Select League name was abandoned.
USISL Select League teams
- California JaguarsCalifornia JaguarsCalifornia Jaguars were an American soccer team that played in Salinas, California at the Salinas Sports Complex.They joined the USISL in 1995 as the Monterey Bay Jaguars, but changed the name a year later...
- Cape Cod CrusadersCape Cod CrusadersCape 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 , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...
(now in PDL) - Carolina DynamoCarolina DynamoCarolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
(joined A-League in 1997; now in PDL) - Chicago Stingers
- Connecticut WolvesConnecticut WolvesThe Connecticut Wolves were a soccer club that competed in the United Soccer Leagues from 1993 to 2002. Based in New Britain, Connecticut, and playing in Veteran's Stadium, the club started in the D-3 Pro League before moving to the A-League in 1997.-History:...
(joined A-League in 1997) - Delaware WizardsDelaware WizardsThe Delaware Wizards were soccer club based in Wilmington and New Castle, Delaware. The team played their first game in 1993 and their last in 2000...
- El Paso PatriotsEl Paso PatriotsChivas El Paso Patriots is an American soccer team based in El Paso, Texas, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference.The team plays its home games at...
(now in PDL) - Hampton Roads Mariners
- Long Island Rough RidersLong Island Rough RidersLong Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, 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...
(joined A-League in 1997; now in PDL) - Milwaukee RampageMilwaukee RampageThe Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems, despite winning the A-league championship that year, as well as in 1997. The Rampage was founded in 1994 as a member of the...
(joined A-League in 1997) - Minnesota ThunderMinnesota ThunderMinnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
(joined A-League in 1997)
- New Mexico ChilesNew Mexico ChilesThe New Mexico Chiles were an American soccer club established in 1990 which competed in the American Professional Soccer League. In 1991, the team merged with the New Mexico Roadrunners and moved to the USISL until its disestablishment in 1996....
- New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (joined A-League in 1997)
- New York/New Jersey StallionsNew Jersey StallionsThe New Jersey Stallions were an American soccer team, founded in 1996, which competed in various divisions of the United Soccer Leagues until 2004, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated....
- Ohio XoggzOhio XoggzOhio Xoggz were an American soccer team that played in Columbus, Ohio. In 1994 & 1995, the team was known as the Columbus Xoggz.-Year-by-year:...
- Raleigh Flyers (joined A-League in 1997)
- Reno RattlersReno RattlersThe Reno Rattlers were an American soccer team based in Reno, Nevada. The club began in the USISL and moved to the USL Second Division in 1995. The team moved up to the USISL Select League in 1996, but returned to the Pro League the next season.-Year-by-year:...
- Richmond KickersRichmond KickersThe Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(joined A-League in 1997; now in USL-2) - Sacramento ScorpionsSacramento ScorpionsThe Sacramento Scorpions were an American soccer team that played in Sacramento, California.-Year-by-year:...
- South Carolina ShamrocksSouth Carolina ShamrocksThe South Carolina Shamrocks were an American soccer team that played in Spartanburg, South Carolina.-Year-by-year:...
- Tampa Bay Cyclones (became Jacksonville Cylones and joined A-League in 1997)
Champions
- Regular Season: Carolina DynamoCarolina DynamoCarolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
(43 points, 14-3-1 record) - Playoff Winners: California JaguarsCalifornia JaguarsCalifornia Jaguars were an American soccer team that played in Salinas, California at the Salinas Sports Complex.They joined the USISL in 1995 as the Monterey Bay Jaguars, but changed the name a year later...
(beat Richmond Kickers 2-1)