USSF Division 2 Professional League

USSF Division 2 Professional League
Founded 2010
Folded 2010
Country United States
Other club(s) from Canada, Puerto Rico
Confederation CONCACAF
Conferences USL Conference
NASL Conference
Number of teams 12
Level on pyramid 2
Promotion to None
Relegation to None
Domestic cup(s) Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Canadian Championship
Last champions Puerto Rico Islanders
(2010)
Website USSF D2 Pro League at ussoccer.com

USSF Division 2 Professional League (D2 Pro League)[1] was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL). The D2 Pro League was the second tier of the American and Canadian soccer pyramids below Major League Soccer.[2]

History

On August 27, 2009, Nike agreed to sell their stake in the United Soccer Leagues to investment company NuRock, instead of Jeff Cooper, who had aligned with a group of USL 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 the North American Soccer League. The leagues sued each other, but ultimately withdrew their lawsuits and agreed to mediate with the United States Soccer Federation.

The USSF found that three of the NASL teams (NSC Minnesota Stars, Rochester Rhinos, and FC 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]

Teams

Team City Stadium Founded Head Coach
USL Conference
Austin Aztex Austin, Texas House Park 2008 Adrian Heath
NSC Minnesota Stars Blaine, Minnesota National Sports Center 2009 Manny Lagos
Portland Timbers Portland, Oregon PGE Park 2001 Gavin Wilkinson
Puerto Rico Islanders Bayamón, Puerto Rico Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium 2003 Colin Clarke
Rochester Rhinos Rochester, New York Marina Auto Stadium 1996 Bob Lilley
FC Tampa Bay Tampa, Florida George M. Steinbrenner Field 2008 Perry Van der Beck (interim)
NASL Conference
Carolina RailHawks Cary, North Carolina WakeMed Soccer Park 2006 Martin Rennie
Crystal Palace Baltimore Catonsville, Maryland Ridley Athletic Complex 2006 Jim Cherneski
Miami FC Miami FIU Stadium, Lockhart Stadium 2006 Daryl Shore
Montreal Impact Montreal Saputo Stadium 1992 Marc Dos Santos
AC St. Louis Fenton, Missouri Anheuser-Busch Center 2009 Dale Schilly[4]
Vancouver Whitecaps Burnaby, British Columbia Swangard Stadium 1986 Teitur Thordarson

Competition format

Pods

It was announced that the season would be centered around what are called pods. The pods are constructed around geographic regions and do 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.

Playoff format

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 a two-game aggregate goal series (the away 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 of extra time. If the score is still tied after extra time, the series was to be decided by a penalty shootout.[7]

2010 season

USSF Division 2 Professional League
Season 2010
Champions Puerto Rico Islanders
Matches played 180
Goals scored 437 (2.43 per match)
Top goalscorer Ryan Pore (15 goals)
Biggest home win POR 3–0 STL (Apr 22)
STL 3–0 MTL (Jul 10)
MTL 3–0 STL (Jul 21)
STL 3–0 POR (Jul 28)
POR 3–0 CPB (Aug 29)
CAR 3–0 CPB (Sep 3)
ROC 3–0 TAM (Sep 11)
MTL 3–0 TAM (Sep 19)
TAM 6–3 CPB (Oct 1)
Biggest away win CPB 0–5 MTL (Aug 21)
Highest scoring TAM 6–3 CPB (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

NASL Conference Standings

NASL Conference
Pos Club Pts GP W L D GF GA GD Details
1 Carolina RailHawks 47 30 13 9 8 44 32 +12 Details
2 Vancouver Whitecaps 45 30 10 5 15 32 22 +10 Details
3 Montreal Impact 43 30 12 11 7 36 30 +6 Details
4 Miami FC 33 30 7 11 12 37 49 −12 Details
5 AC St. Louis 29 30 7 15 8 32 48 −16 Details
6 Crystal Palace Baltimore 24 30 6 18 6 24 55 −31 Details
Final regular season standings. Based on the results at the USSF D-2 schedule table
2010 USSF Division 2 playoff structure
Conference leaders automatically qualify for playoffs
The remaining six teams with the highest point totals, regardless of conference, also advance to the playoffs.

USL Conference Standings

USL Conference
Pos Club Pts GP W L D GF GA GD Details
1 Rochester Rhinos 54 30 16 8 6 38 24 +14 Details
2 Austin Aztex 53 30 15 7 8 53 40 +13 Details
3 Portland Timbers 49 30 13 7 10 34 23 +11 Details
4 NSC Minnesota Stars 40 30 11 12 7 32 36 −4 Details
5 Puerto Rico Islanders 37 30 9 11 10 37 35 +2 Details
6 FC Tampa Bay 32 30 7 12 11 41 46 −5 Details
Final regular season standings. Based on the results at the USSF D-2 schedule table
2010 USSF Division 2 playoff structure
Conference leaders automatically qualify for playoffs
The remaining six teams with the highest point totals, regardless of conference, also advance to the playoffs.

Playoff Standings

USSF Division 2 Pro League
Pos Club Pts GP W L D GF GA GD Details
1 Rochester Rhinos 54 30 16 8 6 38 24 +14 Details
2 Carolina RailHawks 47 30 13 9 8 44 32 +12 Details
3 Austin Aztex 53 30 15 7 8 53 40 +13 Details
4 Portland Timbers 49 30 13 7 10 34 23 +11 Details
5 Vancouver Whitecaps 45 30 10 5 15 32 22 +10 Details
6 Montreal Impact 43 30 12 11 7 36 30 +6 Details
7 NSC Minnesota Stars 40 30 11 12 7 32 36 −4 Details
8 Puerto Rico Islanders 37 30 9 11 10 37 35 +2 Details
9 Miami FC 33 30 7 11 12 37 49 −12 Details
10 FC Tampa Bay 32 30 7 12 11 41 46 −5 Details
11 AC St. Louis 29 30 7 15 8 32 48 −16 Details
12 Crystal Palace Baltimore 24 30 6 18 6 24 55 −31 Details
Final regular season standings. Based on the results at the USSF D-2 schedule table
2010 USSF Division 2 playoff structure
Conference leaders automatically qualify for playoffs
The remaining six teams with the highest point totals, regardless of conference, also advance to the playoffs.

Match results

Abbreviation and Color Key:
Austin Aztex – AUS • Carolina RailHawks – CAR • Crystal Palace Baltimore – CPB • Miami FC – MIA • NSC Minnesota Stars – MIN
Montreal Impact – MTL • Portland Timbers – POR • Puerto Rico Islanders – PUE • Rochester Rhinos – ROC • AC St. Louis – STL
FC Tampa Bay – TAM • Vancouver Whitecaps FC – VAN

Win  • Loss  • Draw  • Home

ClubMatch
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Austin AztexMTL 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
2–02–11–22–12–22–13–33–12–02–10–01–23–12–11–10–02–03–14–20–23–21–12–22–01–31–11–24–21–30–2
Carolina RailHawksSTL 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
2–00–11–11–11–22–12–01–11–11–12–22–02–00–11–00–12–22–00–21–22–12–32–12–33–00–00–14–22–13–1
Crystal Palace BaltimoreTAM 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
0–11–30–10–01–01–21–02–10–23–31–21–11–31–00–20–02–10–11–10–10–02–10–20–50–30–30–32–41–33–6
Miami FCROC 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
1–10–01–11–11–11–01–32–41–13–31–01–31–21–10–21–31–10–21–31–01–13–31–21–31–32–12–14–21–01–1
NSC Minnesota StarsVAN 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
0–21–01–31–00–31–21–21–10–11–33–20–01–01–00–23–10–11–02–21–11–12–22–20–10–10–23–01–01–03–1
Montreal ImpactAUS 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
0–21–11–02–10–01–00–21–10–12–11–12–21–21–20–31–01–23–00–11–10–20–01–25–02–02–11–23–01–02–0
Portland TimbersROC 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
1–03–01–12–10–11–10–11–21–10–00–10–12–01–00–02–02–10–32–20–12–21–01–01–13–01–00–01–03–12–2
Puerto Rico IslandersMIN CPB MTL CAR TAM MIA AUS STL VAN TAM ROC AUS CPB CAR TAM MIA MIN ROC MIA TAM AUS STL CAR POR VAN MTLAUS POR CAR MIA
3–13–10–11–21–24–21–20–11–11–00–31–12–00–20–01–11–13–11–11–12–01–13–20–10–01–23–10–11–21–1
Rochester RhinosMIA 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
1–10–12–13–01–12–10–10–22–10–02–11–13–02–10–00–00–11–01–31–01–02–02–12–03–10–23–01–20–12–1
AC St. LouisCAR 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
0–21–20–30–11–01–21–10–32–31–00–00–21–13–02–20–20–31–03–02–20–00–11–12–23–10–32–12–42–41–2
FC Tampa BayCPB 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
1–00–11–12–22–13–33–03–12–10–11–20–10–11–10–10–00–12–02–22–41–13–31–11–22–20–31–10–31–36–3
Vancouver Whitecaps FCMIN 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
2–00–01–01–20–00–02–01–21–01–12–11–10–02–10–01–13–11–21–11–02–20–01–01–12–20–03–00–10–12–2

Final regular season results. Based on the results at the NASL results table and USL schedule table

Playoffs

Each round was a two-game aggregate goal series. Home teams for the first game of each series listed at the bottom of the bracket.
  Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                         
1 Rochester Rhinos 0 2 2  
8 Puerto Rico Islanders 2 1 3  
  5 Vancouver Whitecaps 0 0 0  
  8 Puerto Rico Islanders (a.e.t.) 0 2 2  
4 Portland Timbers 0 1 1
5 Vancouver Whitecaps 2 0 2  
  2 Carolina RailHawks 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 0 2 2
  6 Montreal Impact 1 0 1  
2 Carolina RailHawks 0 4 4
7 NSC Minnesota Stars 0 0 0  

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

Statistical leaders

Individual awards

Best XI

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. Soccer Division 2 Professional League Schedule Announced". ussoccer.com. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  2. ↑ "U.S. Soccer Conference Call Regarding 2010 Division 2 Soccer League". ussoccer.com. 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
  3. ↑ "Division 2 Professional League To Operate in 2010". ussoccer.com. 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
  4. ↑ http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/jun/25/ac-st-louis-fires-head-coach-claude-anelka-dale-sc/
  5. ↑ "U.S. Soccer Division 2 Professional League Schedule Announced". www.ussoccer.com. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  6. ↑ "2010 USSF Division-2 Pro League Kicks Off this Weekend with Eight Teams in Action". www.ussoccer.com. 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  7. ↑ "USSF D-2 Pro League Postseason To Get Underway on Oct. 6 as Playoff Seeding Determined". www.ussoccer.com. 2010-10-03. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
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