 | |
| Founded | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2010 |
| Country | United States |
| Other club(s) from | Canada, Puerto Rico |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Conferences | USL Conference NASL Conference |
| Number of clubs | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | U.S. Open Cup Canadian Championship |
| Last champions | Puerto Rico Islanders (2010) |
| Website | USSF D2 Pro League at ussoccer.com |
TheUSSF Division 2 Professional League (D2 Pro League)[1] was a temporary professionalsoccer league created by theUnited States Soccer Federation (USSF) for the 2010 season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feudingUnited Soccer Leagues (USL) and theNorth American Soccer League (NASL). The D2 Pro League was the second tier of theUnited States soccer league system belowMajor League Soccer.[2] The league also included two clubs from Canada and one club from Puerto Rico.
On August 27, 2009,Nike agreed to sell their stake in theUnited Soccer Leagues to investment company NuRock, instead ofJeff Cooper, who had aligned with a group ofUSL First Division team owners. Disappointed with the sale and state of the league, the ownership group broke away after the 2009 season with the intent to form a new incarnation of theNorth American Soccer League. The leagues sued each other, but ultimately withdrew their lawsuits and agreed to mediate with theUnited States Soccer Federation.
The USSF found that three of the NASL teams (NSC Minnesota Stars,Rochester Rhinos, andFC Tampa Bay) had binding contracts to play in the USL First Division in 2010, leaving the NASL with too few teams to be sanctioned. However, this left the USL First Division with only six teams, also too few for sanctioning. The USSF stripped the USL First Division of its sanctioning, and denied sanctioning to the NASL. After a week of negotiations among the three, the USSF agreed to run a 12-team interim league for 2010. The six extant teams in each league would each occupy their own conference, but teams belonging to both leagues would play each other.[3]
It was announced that the season would be centered around what are calledpods. The pods were constructed around geographic regions and did not follow conference lines.[5] Teams within the same pod played each other four times, twice at home and twice away. Teams played one team outside of their pod four times, twice at home and twice away, and played the rest of the teams outside their pod twice, once at home and once away. This resulted in a thirty-game season for each team, and had the additional advantage of reducing travel costs. The season ended a playoff format to crown a league champion.
| Pod | Teams |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 |
At the end of the regular season, the top teams in each conference qualified for the playoffs as the top two seeds. In addition, the remaining six teams with the highest point totals, regardless of conference, also advanced to the playoffs.[6]
Each round of the playoffs was atwo-game aggregate goal series (theaway goals rule was not applied as a tie-breaker). In the event that the aggregate score is tied after the second game of the series, the teams played two 15-minutes periods ofextra time. If the score is still tied after extra time, the series was to be decided by apenalty shootout.[7]
| Season | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Puerto Rico Islanders (1st Title) |
| Premiers | Rochester Rhinos (3rd Title) |
| Matches | 180 |
| Goals | 437 (2.43 per match) |
| Best Player |  Ryan PorePortland Timbers |
| Top goalscorer | Ryan PorePortland Timbers(15 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Jay Nolly Vancouver Whitecaps |
| Biggest home win | POR 3–0STL(Apr 22) STL 3–0MTL(Jul 10) MTL 3–0STL(Jul 21) STL 3–0POR(Jul 28) POR 3–0CPB(Aug 29) CAR 3–0CPB(Sep 3) ROC 3–0TAM(Sep 11) MTL 3–0TAM(Sep 19) TAM 6–3CPB(Oct 1) |
| Biggest away win | CPB 0–5MTL(Aug 21) |
| Highest scoring | TAM 6–3CPB(Oct 1) |
| Longest winning run | Rochester Rhinos(6 games, ended Aug 27) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Portland Timbers(10 games, to end the season) |
| Longest winless run | FC Tampa Bay(11 games, ended Oct 1) |
| Longest losing run | Crystal Palace Baltimore(8 games, to end the season) |
| Highest attendance | Portland Timbers(15,418; 4 times) |
| Lowest attendance | Crystal Palace Baltimore(507, Aug 4) |
| Average attendance | 4,449 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina RailHawks FC | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 44 | 32 | +12 | 47 | Conference leader, qualified for playoffs |
| 2 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 32 | 22 | +10 | 45 | Qualified for playoffs[a] |
| 3 | Montreal Impact | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 36 | 30 | +6 | 43 | |
| 4 | Miami FC | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 37 | 49 | −12 | 33 | |
| 5 | AC St. Louis | 30 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 29 | |
| 6 | Crystal Palace Baltimore | 30 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 24 | 55 | −31 | 24 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester Rhinos | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 38 | 24 | +14 | 54 | Conference leader, qualified for playoffs |
| 2 | Austin Aztex | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 53 | 40 | +13 | 53 | Qualified for playoffs[a] |
| 3 | Portland Timbers | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 34 | 23 | +11 | 49 | |
| 4 | NSC Minnesota Stars | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 32 | 36 | −4 | 40 | |
| 5 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 37 | 35 | +2 | 37 | |
| 6 | FC Tampa Bay | 30 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 41 | 46 | −5 | 32 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester Rhinos | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 38 | 24 | +14 | 54 | Conference leaders, qualified for playoffs |
| 2 | Carolina Railhawks FC | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 44 | 32 | +12 | 47 | |
| 3 | Austin Aztex | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 53 | 40 | +13 | 53 | Qualified for playoffs[a] |
| 4 | Portland Timbers | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 34 | 23 | +11 | 49 | |
| 5 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 32 | 22 | +10 | 45 | |
| 6 | Montreal Impact | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 36 | 30 | +6 | 43 | |
| 7 | NSC Minnesota Stars | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 32 | 36 | −4 | 40 | |
| 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders(C) | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 37 | 35 | +2 | 37 | |
| 9 | Miami FC | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 37 | 49 | −12 | 33 | |
| 10 | FC Tampa Bay | 30 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 41 | 46 | −5 | 32 | |
| 11 | AC St. Louis | 30 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 29 | |
| 12 | Crystal Palace Baltimore | 30 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 24 | 55 | −31 | 24 |
| Color Key:Home • Away • Win • Loss • Draw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Match | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | |
| Austin Aztex (AUS) | MTL | STL | ROC | MIN | TAM | CPB | TAM | MIA | CPB | PUE | POR | VAN | MIA | MIA | PUE | ROC | STL | MIA | TAM | PUE | CAR | POR | VAN | MIN | PUE | TAM | STL | STL | CAR | MTL |
| 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | |
| Carolina RailHawks (CAR) | STL | MIN | ROC | MIA | TAM | PUE | MTL | POR | VAN | CPB | MTL | STL | PUE | MTL | ROC | ROC | VAN | MTL | ROC | CPB | MIA | AUS | TAM | PUE | CPB | POR | MIN | CPB | PUE | AUS |
| 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | |
| Crystal Palace Baltimore (CPB) | TAM | PUE | STL | VAN | POR | AUS | ROC | POR | AUS | MIA | ROC | CAR | MIN | MIN | PUE | ROC | MTL | STL | MTL | MIA | MTL | CAR | ROC | MTL | POR | CAR | VAN | CAR | POR | TAM |
| 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 3–6 | |
| Miami FC (MIA) | ROC | VAN | TAM | CAR | MIN | MIN | AUS | PUE | MTL | CPB | POR | AUS | AUS | TAM | POR | VAN | PUE | TAM | AUS | CPB | PUE | TAM | CAR | ROC | STL | MTL | ROC | STL | ROC | PUE |
| 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| NSC Minnesota Stars (MIN) | VAN | CAR | PUE | TAM | ROC | AUS | MTL | MIA | MIA | TAM | STL | ROC | MTL | POR | POR | CPB | CPB | TAM | STL | PUE | VAN | STL | POR | VAN | POR | AUS | STL | CAR | VAN | TAM |
| 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | |
| Montreal Impact (MTL) | AUS | POR | PUE | MIN | VAN | POR | CAR | MIA | MIN | TAM | ROC | CAR | VAN | ROC | STL | CAR | CPB | STL | VAN | CPB | CAR | CPB | ROC | CPB | ROC | PUE | MIA | TAM | VAN | AUS |
| 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | |
| Portland Timbers (POR) | ROC | STL | MTL | VAN | CPB | STL | MTL | CPB | CAR | AUS | MIA | MIN | MIN | TAM | VAN | MIA | VAN | STL | TAM | ROC | MIN | STL | MIN | AUS | CPB | PUE | CAR | PUE | CPB | VAN |
| 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | |
| Puerto Rico Islanders (PUE) | MIN | CPB | MTL | CAR | TAM | MIA | AUS | STL | VAN | TAM | ROC | AUS | CPB | CAR | TAM | MIA | MIN | ROC | MIA | TAM | AUS | STL | CAR | POR | VAN | MTL | AUS | POR | CAR | MIA |
| 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | |
| Rochester Rhinos (ROC) | MIA | POR | AUS | MIN | CAR | STL | CPB | VAN | VAN | MIN | CPB | MTL | PUE | MTL | AUS | CPB | CAR | TAM | PUE | CAR | POR | CAR | MTL | CPB | MIA | MTL | TAM | MIA | MIA | STL |
| 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | |
| AC St. Louis (STL) | CAR | AUS | POR | VAN | CPB | ROC | POR | TAM | MIN | PUE | VAN | CAR | VAN | MTL | MIN | AUS | MTL | CPB | POR | MIN | VAN | POR | PUE | TAM | MIA | MIN | AUS | MIA | AUS | ROC |
| 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–2 | |
| FC Tampa Bay (TAM) | CPB | MIN | MIA | AUS | CAR | AUS | STL | MIN | PUE | VAN | MTL | PUE | POR | MIA | MIN | PUE | ROC | MIA | POR | AUS | PUE | MIA | VAN | CAR | STL | ROC | AUS | MTL | MIN | CPB |
| 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 6–3 | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC (VAN) | MIN | MIA | STL | POR | CPB | MTL | ROC | ROC | TAM | CAR | AUS | PUE | STL | MTL | POR | STL | MIA | POR | MIN | MTL | CAR | STL | MIN | TAM | AUS | PUE | CPB | MIN | MTL | POR |
| 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | |
Final regular season results. Based on the results at theNASL results table andUSL schedule table
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Rochester Rhinos | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders (a.e.t.) | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Portland Timbers | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Carolina RailHawks FC | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Austin Aztex | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Montreal Impact | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Carolina RailHawks FC | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Montreal Impact | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Carolina RailHawks FC | 0 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | NSC Minnesota Stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| October 7, 2010 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2–0 | Rochester Rhinos | Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| 8:05PMAST | Faña 44'Foley 77' | Report | Stadium:Bayamón Soccer Complex |
| October 9, 2010 | Rochester Rhinos | 2–1 (2–3agg.) | Puerto Rico Islanders | Rochester, New York |
| 7:00PMEDT | Hoxie 39' Hamilton 54' | Report | Rivera 21' | Stadium:Marina Auto Stadium Attendance: 4,620 |
| October 7, 2010 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2–0 | Portland Timbers | Burnaby, British Columbia |
| 7:30PMPDT | Koffie 1' Nash 13' (pen.) | Report | Stadium:Swangard Stadium Attendance: 5,018 Referee: Mathieu Bourdeau |
| October 10, 2010 | Portland Timbers | 1–0 (1–2agg.) | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Portland, Oregon |
| 6:00PMPDT | Marcelin 49' | Report | Stadium:Merlo Field Attendance: 4,884 |
| October 6, 2010 | Montreal Impact | 2–0 | Austin Aztex | Montreal, Quebec |
| 7:30PMEDT | Gerba 39',76' | Report | Stadium:Stade Saputo Attendance: 7,962 Referee: Daniel Belleau |
| October 9, 2010 | Austin Aztex | 2–3 (2–5agg.) | Montreal Impact | Austin, Texas |
| 7:30PMCDT | Griffin 43' Johnson 57' | Report | Gerba 4',49' Sebrango 89' | Stadium:House Park Attendance: 2,872 |
| October 6, 2010 | NSC Minnesota Stars | 0–0 | Carolina RailHawks FC | Blaine, Minnesota |
| 7:00PMCDT | Report | Stadium:National Sports Center Attendance: 686 |
| October 9, 2010 | Carolina RailHawks FC | 4–0 (4–0agg.) | NSC Minnesota Stars | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00PMEDT | Paladini 64' Gardner 72'Lowery 84'Kallman 88' (o.g.) | Report | Stadium:WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,556 |
| October 14, 2010 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 0–0 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| 8:05PMAST | Report | Stadium:Bayamón Soccer Complex Attendance: 2,831 |
| October 17, 2010 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 0–2 (0–2agg.) | Puerto Rico Islanders | Burnaby, British Columbia |
| 4:00PMPDT | Report | Addlery 113',120' | Stadium:Swangard Stadium Attendance: 5,325 |
| October 14, 2010 | Montreal Impact | 1–0 | Carolina RailHawks FC | Montreal, Quebec |
| 7:30PMEDT | Di Lorenzo 35' | Report | Stadium:Stade Saputo Attendance: 7,502 |
| October 17, 2010 | Carolina RailHawks FC | 2–0 (2–1agg.) | Montreal Impact | Cary, North Carolina |
| 5:00PMCDT | Rusin 73' Heinemann 90' | Report | Stadium:WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,869 |
| October 24, 2010 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2–0 | Carolina RailHawks FC | Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium,Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| 7:05PMAST | Gbandi 4' Faña 20' | Report | Attendance: 6,257 |
| October 30, 2010 | Carolina RailHawks FC | 1–1 (1–3agg.) | Puerto Rico Islanders | WakeMed Soccer Park,Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00PMEST | Heinemann 10' | Report | Gbandi 7' | Attendance: 5,074 |
Top scorers[edit]
| Top assists[edit]
|
| Award | Winner | Club | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Ryan Pore | Portland Timbers | [8] |
| Defender of the Year | Greg Janicki | Vancouver Whitecaps | |
| Goalkeeper of the Year | Jay Nolly | Vancouver Whitecaps | |
| Rookie of the Year | Maxwell Griffin | Austin Aztex FC | |
| Coach of the Year | Bob Lilley | Rochester Rhinos |
| Best XI[8] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| Jay Nolly (VAN) | Greg Janicki (VAN)Aaron Pitchkolan (ROC)Troy Roberts (ROC) | Ryan Pore (POR) Martin Nash (VAN)Jamie Watson (AUS) Paulo Araujo Jr. (MIA)Daniel Paladini (CAR) |  Eddie Johnson (AUS)Ali Gerba (MTL) |
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| Men's outdoor leagues |
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| Other | |||||||||
| Associations | |||||||||
| Overview | |||||
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| National teams |
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| League system |
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| Domestic cups |
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