 | |
| Founded | 1995 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2010 |
| Replaced by | USL Pro |
| Country | United States |
| Confederation | US Soccer |
| Number of clubs | 6–10 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Domestic cup | U.S. Open Cup |
| Last champions | Charleston Battery |
| Most championships | Charleston Battery Charlotte Eagles Long Island Rough Riders Richmond Kickers Utah Blitzz (2 titles each) |
TheUSL Second Division (commonly referred to asUSL-2) was a professional men'ssoccer league in theUnited States, operated byUnited Soccer Leagues (USL). It was at thethird tier ofsoccer in the United States, behindMajor League Soccer (top tier) and theUSL First Division (second tier), and one step up from theUSL Premier Development League and other leagues in the fourth tier.
In 1995 theUnited States Interregional Soccer League (USISL), the de facto second tier of American soccer at the time, the league changed its name to theUnited States International Soccer League, and split into two leagues, one professional and one amateur. The professional league, initially called theUSISL Pro League, was aFIFA-sanctioned Division 3 league, while the amateur league, (the 'Premier League'), was given Division 4 status and would later go on to become theUSL Premier Development League. The first champions of the new USISL Pro League were theLong Island Rough Riders, who beatMinnesota Thunder 2–1 in the championship game.[1]
In 1996, the USISL established a newUSISL Select League. The strongest USISL Pro League teams joined this new league, which was given Division 2 status alongside the existingA-League, while the remainder of the teams (plus expansion teams) remained at Division 3 level.Charleston Battery became the league's second champions in this year, beating theCharlotte Eagles in a penalty shootout in the 1996 USISL Pro League championship game.[2]
In 1997 the league changed its name to theUSISL D-3 Pro League to further distinguish itself from the A-League, and then in 1999 the umbrella USISL changed its name to the United Soccer Leagues (USL), and as such the Pro League officially became known as theUSL D3 Pro League. In 2003 the name was changed again to theUSL Pro Select League, but during the season had to be changed to theUSL Pro Soccer League for to legal reasons. In 2005 the league took its final name as theUSL Second Division.
The USL Second Division dissolved following the 2010 season to make way forUSL Pro, which combined the existing USL First and Second divisions and began play in 2011.[3][4]
Active in USL 2nd Division Club moved to USL First Division Club moved to USL PDL Club moved to USL Pro USSF D2 Season (2010) Club on hiatus
| Season | Champion | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| USISL Pro League | |||
| 1995 | Long Island Rough Riders | 2–1 | Minnesota Thunder |
| 1996 | Charleston Battery | 3–2 (SO) | Charlotte Eagles |
| USISL D-3 Pro League | |||
| 1997 | Albuquerque Geckos | 4–1 | Charlotte Eagles |
| 1998 | Chicago Stingers | 3–2 (OT) | New Hampshire Phantoms |
| USL D3 Pro League | |||
| 1999 | Western Mass Pioneers | 2–1 | South Jersey Barons |
| 2000 | Charlotte Eagles | 5–0 | New Jersey Stallions |
| 2001 | Utah Blitzz | 1–0 | Greenville Lions |
| 2002 | Long Island Rough Riders | 2–1 | Wilmington Hammerheads |
| USL Pro Select League (USL Pro Soccer League) | |||
| 2003 | Wilmington Hammerheads | 2–1 (2OT) | Westchester Flames |
| 2004 | Utah Blitzz | 2–2(5–4p) | Charlotte Eagles |
| USL Second Division | |||
| 2005 | Charlotte Eagles | 2–2(5–4p) | Western Mass Pioneers |
| 2006 | Richmond Kickers | 2–1 | Charlotte Eagles |
| 2007 | Harrisburg City Islanders | 1–1(8–7p) | Richmond Kickers |
| 2008 | Cleveland City Stars | 2–1 | Charlotte Eagles |
| 2009 | Richmond Kickers | 3–1 | Charlotte Eagles |
| 2010 | Charleston Battery | 2–1 | Richmond Kickers |
| Club | Winner | Seasons won |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Rough Riders | 2 | 1995, 2002 |
| Charleston Battery | 2 | 1996, 2010 |
| Charlotte Eagles | 2 | 2000, 2005 |
| Utah Blitzz | 2 | 2001, 2004 |
| Richmond Kickers | 2 | 2006, 2009 |
| Albuquerque Geckos | 1 | 1997 |
| Chicago Stingers | 1 | 1998 |
| Western Mass Pioneers | 1 | 1999 |
| Wilmington Hammerheads | 1 | 2003 |
| Harrisburg City Islanders | 1 | 2007 |
| Cleveland City Stars | 1 | 2008 |
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