West Virginia Chaos - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

West Virginia Chaos is an American soccer team based in Charleston, West Virginia

Charleston, West Virginia

Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Founded in 2003, the team plays 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...

, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.

The team plays its home games at Schoenbaum Stadium

Schoenbaum Stadium

Schoenbaum Stadium is a soccer stadium in Charleston, West Virginia located in Coonskin Park. The 2,000-seat stadium is home to the West Virginia Chaos of the USL Premier Development League.-External links:*...

, where they have played since 2004. The team's colors are white, red and black.

History

West Virginia Chaos, which is part of the larger Chaos soccer club, joined the PDL in 2003, but suffered a disappointing first season, ending in 6th and last place in the Mid-Atlantic Division with a 2-14-1 record; their only wins came over Greenville Lions

Greenville Lions

Greenville Lions were an American soccer team, founded in 2001, and was a member of the United Soccer Leagues D-3 Pro League and Premier Development League , the third and fourth tiers of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2003, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The...

in May, 1-0 off a goal by Stuart Bracher, and over the Columbus Shooting Stars

Columbus Shooting Stars

Columbus Shooting Stars were an American soccer team, founded in 2003, and was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, for just one season...

in June, 3-2 with goals by Thomas Whittaker, Benjamini Chavolla and Hans Schubert.

2004 saw an improvement in form, with four wins on the season, but the team still finished last in their division, behind Chesapeake Dragons

Chesapeake Dragons

Chesapeake Dragons were an American soccer team, founded in 2001. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2004, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Dragons played their home...

on goal difference, and 21 points behind league leaders Carolina Dynamo

Carolina Dynamo

Carolina 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...

. The Chaos actually began the season strongly, winning three of their first four games (3-1 over Chesapeake Dragons

Chesapeake Dragons

, 4-0 over Raleigh CASL Elite and 1-0 over Williamsburg Legacy

Williamsburg Legacy

Virginia Legacy was an American soccer team based in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2002, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...

), and played out an astonishing 10-goal game against Carolina Dynamo

Carolina Dynamo

in which Chaos's Shaun Oliveira scored a hat trick but still ended up on the losing side. However, the Chaos suffered a dramatic downturn in form as the season progressed, suffering a 6-1 thrashing by Chesapeake Dragons

Chesapeake Dragons

, and three consecutive 4-0 losses to Raleigh, Williamsburg and Richmond Kickers Future

Richmond Kickers Future

Richmond Kickers Future was an American soccer team based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2002 as part of the development system of the Richmond Kickers USL Second Division franchise, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...

.

2005 was much of the same; a disappointing series of high-scoring losses peppered with one or two impressive wins left them Chaos fifth of six in the mid-Atlantic, with 5 victories on the board, but a much too leaky defense. The highlight of the year was a dramatic come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Richmond Kickers Future

Richmond Kickers Future

on the final day of the season, with the winning goal being scored by striker Stanton Smith. Unfortunately, too many comprehensive losses kept Chaos from progressing much further - Carolina Dynamo

Carolina Dynamo

beat them 4-0 in mid-May, Augusta FireBall

Augusta FireBall

Augusta FireBall United, more commonly known as simply Augusta FireBall, was the American soccer team for Augusta, Georgia, founded in 2005...

put six past them in mid-June, and Williamsburg Legacy

Williamsburg Legacy

out-shot them 5-2 at the end of June. Stanton Smith was the Chaos's top scorer, with 4 goals for the season, while Shaun Oliveira contributed 5 assists.

There wasn't much of a change in Chaos's fortunes in 2006, as for the fourth consecutive year they finished outside the playoffs - although the team did pick up six wins, their highest annual victory tally to date. Despite failing to put together a positive streak at any time in the year, Chaos did enjoy some encouraging results: they hammered Northern Virginia Royals

Northern Virginia Royals

Northern Virginia Royals is an American soccer team based in Woodbridge, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1998, 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...

on the road in early June off a brace by David Lilly

David Lilly

David Lilly is a Scottish footballer who played in the United Soccer Leagues.-College and Amateur:Lilly attended Milligan College which played in the NAIA Appalachian Athletic Conference . He was the AAC Player of the Year in 2005. In 2006, he was both the Conference and Regional Player of the...

and, most impressively, beat divisional champions Virginia Beach Submariners

Virginia Beach Submariners

Virginia Beach Piranhas is an American soccer team based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2006 as the Virginia Beach Submariners as part of the development system of the now-defunct USL First Division franchise, the Virginia Beach Mariners, the team plays in the USL Premier...

3-2 on the final day of the season, with two goals by Karim Boukhemis. Unfortunately, Chaos continued to be weak at the back, with Raleigh Elite, Atlanta Silverbacks U23's

Atlanta Silverbacks U23's

Atlanta Blackhawks was an American soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 2009, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...

and Virginia Beach Submariners

Virginia Beach Submariners

all putting four or more goals past them.

However, as encouraging as 2006 was, 2007 was - at the time - the worst season in Chaos's history. They picked up just three wins all year, and finished dead last of the 9-team Mid Atlantic Division, 34 points behind champions Hampton Roads Piranhas. The single bright spot of an otherwise dismal season was the 3-1 victory over Northern Virginia Royals

Northern Virginia Royals

at the end of May; elsewhere, however, Chaos suffered defeat after defeat, and having to endure a 7-game winless streak until the final game of the season, when they bested new boys Fredericksburg Gunners

Fredericksburg Gunners

Fredericksburg Gunners was an American soccer team based in Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The...

3-2. Chris Whalley, Stanton Smith and Chad Duernberger were the Chaos's top scorers, netting 13 of their 20 goals between them.

Chaos's poor form continued on into 2008, despite transferring from the Eastern Conference Mid Atlantic Division to the Central Conference Great Lakes Division, and despite hiring a young, talented head coach in the shape of Englishman Luke Ibbetson. Chaos endured a demoralizing 14-game winless streak from the beginning of the season through to mid-July, during which they picked up just 5 points from five tied games. They lost 3-0 to eventual division champs Michigan Bucks

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...

, were overpowered 5-0 by Cleveland Internationals

Cleveland Internationals

Cleveland Internationals was an American soccer team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Founded in 2004, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference...

, and suffered another 5-0 defeat, this time to Indiana Invaders

Indiana Invaders

Indiana Invaders is an American soccer team based in South Bend, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1998, 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...

at the end of June. They even managed to let winning positions slip, conceding two late goals in their tie with Chicago Fire Premier

Chicago Fire Premier

Chicago Fire Premier is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, 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...

; their single victory came in the penultimate game of the season when - out of the blue - they annihilated Fort Wayne Fever

Fort Wayne Fever

Fort Wayne Fever was an American soccer team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. Founded in 2003, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...

5-0 in front of a set of home fans who had waited three months for a victory. Ultimately, however, Chaos finished the season rooted to the bottom of the division, a full 31 points behind Michigan, and the overall fifth-worst team in the country. That the three players tied at the top of the goalscorers list - Matthew Clare, Luke Ibbetson and Avneet Shergill

Avneet Shergill

Avneet Shergill is an American soccer player currently free of club-References:...

- scored just two goals each highlighted perfectly the team's main problem.

Current roster

As of June 9, 2011.

Notable former players

This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.
Sterling Flunder

Sterling Flunder

Sterling Flunder is an American soccer player who currently plays for Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...

Chase Harrison

Chase Harrison is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...

Kolby LaCrone

Kolby LaCrone is an American soccer player, currently playing for Dayton Dutch Lions in the USL Professional Division.-Youth and Amateur:...

David Lilly

Nick Noble

Nick Noble is an American soccer player, currently playing for Ljungskile SK in the Swedish Superettan.-College and amateur:...

Year-by-year

Year	Division	League	Regular Season	Playoffs	Open Cup
2003	4	USL PDL	5th, Mid Atlantic	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2004	4	USL PDL	6th, Mid Atlantic	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2005	4	USL PDL	5th, Mid Atlantic	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2006	4	USL PDL	3rd, Mid Atlantic	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2007	4	USL PDL	9th, Mid Atlantic	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2008	4	USL PDL	5th, Great Lakes	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2009	4	USL PDL	5th, Mid Atlantic	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2010	4	USL PDL	7th, Mid Atlantic	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2011	4	USL PDL	4th, South Atlantic	Did not qualify	Did not qualify

Head coaches

Marty Martinez (2005-2007) Luke Ibbetson (2008) Chris Whalley (2009) Adam Mitchell

Adam Mitchell

Adam Mitchell may refer to:*Adam Mitchell *Adam Mitchell *Adam Mitchell , Canadian professional ice hockey player*Adam Mitchell , see Killers...

(2010-Present)

Stadia

Stadium at Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....

; Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...

(2003)
Schoenbaum Stadium
Schoenbaum Stadium
Schoenbaum Stadium is a soccer stadium in Charleston, West Virginia located in Coonskin Park. The 2,000-seat stadium is home to the West Virginia Chaos of the USL Premier Development League.-External links:*...

; Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...

(2004-present)
Beckley Soccer Complex; Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...

1 game (2006)

Average attendance

Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html.

2005: 372
2006: 279
2007: 341
2008: 303
2009: 179
2010: 157

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.