1997 USISL A-League

The 1997 USISL A-League was an American Division II league run by the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues during the summer of 1997.

USISL A-League
Season1997
ChampionsMilwaukee Rampage
(1st title)
PremiersMontreal Impact
(3rd title)
Top goalscorerDoug Miller
(23 goals)
1998 →

Overview

At the end of the 1996 A-League season, the U.S. second division A-League collapsed. Six of the seven teams in the A-League then joined the USISL which had three leagues in 1996, beginning with the third division USISL Select League.[1] With the collapse of the U.S. second division and the transfer of most of its teams to the USISL, the USISL reorganized its divisions to include the new teams. It moved most of the old second division USISL Select League, plus a few new teams, up to a second division level and merged the old A-League teams into this new U.S. second division which was renamed the USISL A-League.

Regular season

Northeast Division
Pos Team Pld W SW SL L GF GA GD Pts
1 Montreal Impact 28 20 1 1 6 58 19 +39 61
2 Rochester Raging Rhinos 28 14 0 5 9 56 47 +9 42
3 Long Island Rough Riders 28 13 3 2 10 44 36 +8 42
4 Toronto Lynx 28 12 2 0 14 44 43 +1 38
5 Connecticut Wolves 28 8 4 1 15 31 45 −14 28
6 Worcester Wildfire 28 6 1 2 19 26 61 −35 19
Source:

Atlantic Division
Pos Team Pld W SW SL L GF GA GD Pts
1 Hershey Wildcats 28 18 1 1 8 56 33 +23 55
2 Carolina Dynamo 28 16 2 2 8 63 33 +30 50
3 Richmond Kickers 28 15 0 2 11 41 35 +6 45
4 Charleston Battery 28 10 2 3 13 39 50 −11 32
5 Raleigh Flyers 28 8 4 3 13 34 52 −18 28
6 Jacksonville Cyclones 29 4 1 1 23 28 73 −45 13
Source:

Central Division
Pos Team Pld W SW SL L GF GA GD Pts
1 New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers 28 13 3 2 10 45 42 +3 42
2 Nashville Metros 28 10 7 2 9 42 34 +8 37
3 Orlando Sundogs 28 12 0 4 12 39 40 −1 36
4 Milwaukee Rampage 28 11 3 2 12 33 36 −3 36
5 Minnesota Thunder 28 11 2 5 10 22 30 −8 35
6 Atlanta Ruckus 28 9 3 1 15 39 48 −9 30
Source:

Pacific Division
Pos Team Pld W SW SL L GF GA GD Pts
1 California Jaguars 28 17 1 0 10 48 34 +14 52
2 Seattle Sounders 28 16 2 3 7 42 19 +23 50
3 Vancouver 86ers 28 15 1 1 11 50 29 +21 46
4 Colorado Foxes 28 15 1 2 10 55 49 +6 46
5 Orange County Zodiac 28 10 1 0 17 35 62 −27 31
6 El Paso Patriots 28 5 3 3 17 30 50 −20 18
Source:

Division Semi-finals

Northeast Semifinal 1
Rochester Raging Rhinos (NY)0–0Long Island Rough Riders (NY)
Kevin Koetters Yellow card
Fuseini Dauda Yellow card
Andrew McKay Yellow card
Leon Minott Yellow card
Lenin Steenkamp Yellow card
Gustavo Villagra Red card 78'		 Report Yellow card ?' Yellow-red card 78' Tom Lips
Yellow card Daniel Leon
Yellow card Flávio Ferri
Penalties
Mali Walton soccer ball with check mark
Mike Kirmse soccer ball with check mark
Nate Daligcon soccer ball with check mark
Andrew McKay soccer ball with red X
Doug Miller soccer ball with red X
Fuseini Dauda soccer ball with red X
Chris Kennell soccer ball with red X		 3–4 soccer ball with check mark Daniel Leon
soccer ball with check mark David Price
soccer ball with check mark Laurence Piturro
soccer ball with red X Hector Wright
soccer ball with red X Ernest Inneh
soccer ball with red X Jim McElderry
soccer ball with check mark Sal Leanti
Attendance: 5,160


Long Island Rough Riders (NY)1–1Rochester Raging Rhinos (NY)
Carlos Ledesma 62:26' (pen.)
Ernest Inneh Red card 29'
Dahir Mohammed Yellow card ?' Yellow-red card 88'
Travis Rinker Yellow card		 Report 1
Report 2		 7:43' Nate Daligcon
Yellow card ?' Yellow-red card 82' Leon Minott
Yellow card Fuseini Dauda
Yellow card Nate Houser
Yellow card Jimmy Glenn
Penalties
Travis Rinker soccer ball with check mark
Hector Wright soccer ball with check mark
Daniel Leon soccer ball with check mark		 3–1 soccer ball with check mark Mali Walton
soccer ball with red X Garth Miller
soccer ball with red X Nate Houser
soccer ball with red X Kevin Koetters
Attendance: 4,361

Long Island advances to the Division final

Northeast Semifinal 2
Toronto Lynx (ON)1–2Montreal Impact (QC)
Terry St. Louis 13'
Peyvand Mossavat Yellow card 31'
Martin Dugas Yellow card 42'
Franco Spadafina Red card 43'
Paul Stalteri Yellow card 45'		 Report 8' Onandi Lowe
Yellow card 13' John Limniatis
Red card 25' Onandi Lowe
62' Mauro Biello
Attendance: 1,254
Referee: Tony Camacho (Canada)


Montreal Impact (QC)4–0Toronto Lynx (ON)
Darren Tilley 17' (pen.), 25', 26'
Bill Sedgewick 45'
Attendance: 4,138

Montreal advances to the Division final

Atlantic Semifinal 1
Richmond Kickers (VA)1–2Carolina Dynamo (NC)
Rob Ukrop 63' 23' Robert Rosario
31' Yari Allnutt
Attendance: 1,362


Carolina Dynamo (NC)1–4Richmond Kickers (VA)
Keiran Breslin 32' 14' Dian Anguelov
72' Brian Kamler
75' Mario Lone
82' Mac Cozier
Attendance: 4,562


Carolina Dynamo (NC)0–0Richmond Kickers (VA)
Penalties
3–1
Attendance: 4,562

Carolina advances to the Division final

Atlantic Semifinal 2
Charleston Battery (CA)1–1Hershey Wildcats (PA)
Juan Castillo Yellow card 38'
Michael Anhaeuser Yellow card 50'
Patrick Olalere 85'		 Report 78' Mark Waite
Penalties
1–3
Attendance: 2,024
Referee: Roger Sill


Hershey Wildcats (PA)1–1Charleston Battery (CA)
Lee Tschantret 89' Report Yellow card Juan Castillo
75' Patrick Olalere
Penalties
0–1
Attendance: 2,104
Referee: Yanich Wejlak


Hershey Wildcats (PA)0–0Charleston Battery (CA)
Report
Penalties
4–2
Attendance: 2,104
Referee: Yanich Wejlak

Hershey advances to the Division final

Central Semifinal 1
Orlando Sundogs (FL)1–2New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA)
Dylan Lewis Yellow card ?' Yellow-red card 34'
Greg Brick 54'		 Report 12', 23' Stern John
Referee: Robert Mann (USA)


New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA)6–2Orlando Sundogs (FL)
Gabe Gentile 2'
Stern John 10', 89'
Louie Smothermon 23'
Mickey Trotman 39'		 Report 29' Sebastian Barnes
67' Sheldon Lee
Attendance: 653

New Orleans advances to the Division final

Central Semifinal 2
Nashville Metros (TN)1–2Milwaukee Rampage (WI)
Tim Geltz 2' 81' Nick Igel
85' David Marshall
Attendance: 550


Milwaukee Rampage (WI)3–0Nashville Metros (TN)
Travis Roy 27'
Dan Stebbins 81', 83'
Attendance: 1,229

Milwaukee advances to the Division final

Pacific Semifinal 1
Colorado Foxes (CO)0–3Seattle Sounders (WA)
Rivers Guthrie Yellow card Report Yellow card Vicente Figueroa
20' Erik Storkson
26' Mike Gailey
84' (pen.) David Hoggan
Mile High Greyhound Park, Commerce City, Colorado
Attendance: 786
Referee: Rudy Bettmann (USA)


Seattle Sounders (WA)2–0Colorado Foxes (CO)
Henry Gutierrez Yellow card
Vicente Figueroa Yellow card
Vicente Figueroa 70'
Esmundo Rodriguez 89'		 Report Yellow card Chad Ashton
Yellow card 87' Yellow-red card 88' Ray Tomlin
Attendance: 6,927
Referee: Mohammad Zarrabi-Kashani (USA)

Seattle advances to the Division final

Pacific Semifinal 2
Vancouver 86ers (BC)4–1California Jaguars (CA)
Domenic Mobilio 2' (pen.)
54' (pen.)
Steve Kindel 35'		 86' Paul Holocher
Attendance: 2,716


California Jaguars (CA)2–2Vancouver 86ers (BC)
Mark Baena 55'
Rick Iversen 89'		 22' Steve Kindel
73' Domenic Mobilio
Penalties
1–2
Attendance: 1,859

Vancouver advances to the Division final

Division Finals

Northeast Division final
Long Island Rough Riders (NY)2–1Montreal Impact (QC)
Hector Wright 4'
Flavio Ferri 55'		 5' Lloyd Barker
Attendance: 3,585


Montreal Impact (QC)2–0Long Island Rough Riders (NY)
Mauro Biello 34'
Lyndon Hooper 77'
Attendance: 6,679


Montreal Impact (QC)0–0Long Island Rough Riders (NY)
Penalties
1–4
Attendance: 6,679

Atlantic Division final
Charleston Battery (SC)3–3Carolina Dynamo (NC)
Todd Miller 37'
Juan Castillo 52' (pen.)
Alvin Boisson 53'		 43' Danny Care
54' John Ball
81' Mike Saunders
Penalties
4–3
Attendance: 1,422


Carolina Dynamo (NC)2–1Charleston Battery (SC)
Maher Atta 29'
Yari Allnutt 89'		 27' (pen.) Andy Schmetzer
Attendance: 1,506


Carolina Dynamo (NC)1–0Charleston Battery (SC)
Ed Radwanski 12'
Attendance: 1,506

Central Division final
Milwaukee Rampage (WI)2–1 (OT)New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA)
Nick Igel 81', gold-colored soccer ball 92' 9' Ricardo Blanchard
Attendance: 2,818


New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA)3–4Milwaukee Rampage (WI)
Stern John 64' (pen.)
Gabe Jones 67'
Mickey Trotman 78'		 51' (pen.), 78' (pen.) Jon Szczepanski
60' Dan Stebbins
74' David Marshall
Attendance: 898

Pacific Division final
Vancouver 86ers (BC)3–0Seattle Sounders (WA)
Craig Dalrymple Yellow card
Domenic Mobilio 62'
Nico Berg 70'
Chris Clarke 86'		 Report Yellow card Henry Gutierrez
Yellow card Kieran Barton
Yellow card Vicente Figueroa
Attendance: 3,607
Referee: Rene Perott (Canada)


Seattle Sounders (WA)0–0 (a.e.t.)Vancouver 86ers (BC)
Neil Megson Yellow card
Henry Gutierrez Yellow card		 Report Yellow card Chris Franks
Yellow card Richie Sumner
Penalties
Bernie James soccer ball with check mark
David Hoggan soccer ball with red X
Henry Gutierrez soccer ball with red X
Esmundo Rodriguez soccer ball with red X		 1–0 soccer ball with red X Domenic Mobilio
soccer ball with red X Ollie Heald
soccer ball with red X Jason Jordan
soccer ball with red X Paul Dailly
soccer ball with red X Chris Franks


Seattle Sounders (WA)1–1 (a.e.t.)Vancouver 86ers (BC)
Erik Storkson 29' Report 7' Domenic Mobilio
Penalties
Bernie James soccer ball with red X
David Hoggan soccer ball with red X
Vicente Figueroa soccer ball with check mark
Esmundo Rodriguez soccer ball with red X		 1–3 soccer ball with check mark Domenic Mobilio
soccer ball with check mark Ian Clarke
soccer ball with check mark Steve Kindel
soccer ball with red X Doug Muirhead

Conference finals

Eastern Conference
Long Island Rough Riders (NY)1–2Carolina Dynamo (NC)
Laurence Piturro 71' 72', 89' (pen.) Brian Loftin
Attendance: 1,044


Carolina Dynamo (NC)2–0Long Island Rough Riders (NY)
Brian Loftin 84'
Laurence Piturro 86' (o.g.)
Attendance: 2,105

The Carolina Dynamo advance.

Western Conference
Milwaukee Rampage (WI)3–1Vancouver 86ers (BC)
Dan Stebbins 65', 82', 87' 51' Domenic Mobilio
Attendance: 2,888


Vancouver 86ers (BC)1–0Milwaukee Rampage (WI)
Domenic Mobilio 63' (pen.)
Attendance: 4,323


Vancouver 86ers (BC)0–0Milwaukee Rampage (WI)
Penalties
soccer ball with red X
soccer ball with red X
soccer ball with red X		 0–3 soccer ball with check mark Dan Stebbins
soccer ball with check mark Eddy Berdusco
soccer ball with check mark Nick Igel

The Milwaukee Rampage advance, winning two out of three games.

Final
Milwaukee Rampage (WI)1–1 (a.e.t.)Carolina Dynamo (NC)
Dan Stebbins 65' Report 80' Brian Loftin
Penalties
Jon Szczepanski soccer ball with check mark
Dan Stebbins soccer ball with check mark
Nick Igel soccer ball with check mark		 3–0 soccer ball with red X Maher Atta
soccer ball with red X Yari Allnutt
soccer ball with red X Ed Radwanski
Attendance: 6,381

MVP: Carmine Isacco, Milwaukee Rampage

Points leaders
Rank Scorer Club Goals Assists Points
1 Doug Miller Rochester Rhinos 23 5 51
2 Mark Baena California Jaguars 20 4 44
3 Stern John New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers 16 5 37
4 Steve Patterson Colorado Foxes 16 3 35
5 Jamel Mitchell Nashville Metros 17 0 34
Jimmy Glenn Rochester Rhinos 13 8 34
7 Yari Allnutt Carolina Dynamo 12 9 33
Domenic Mobilio Vancouver 86ers 14 5 33
Darren Tilley Montreal Impact 13 7 33
Gustavo Leal Orange County Zodiac 16 1 33
11 Sebastian Barnes Orlando Sundogs 14 3 31
12 Garret Kusch Vancouver 86ers 10 10 30
13 Mike Gailey Seattle Sounders 10 7 27
Rob Ukrop Richmond Kickers 12 3 27

Honors

References
  1. "The Year in American Soccer – 1996". Archived from the original on July 13, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
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