The USL Second Division (commonly referred to as USL-2) was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, operated by United Soccer Leagues (USL). It was at the third tier of soccer in the United States, behind Major League Soccer (top tier) and the USL First Division (second tier), and one step up from the USL Premier Development League and other leagues in the fourth tier.

USL Second Division
Founded1995
Folded2010
CountryUnited States
ConfederationUS Soccer
Number of teams6–10
Level on pyramid3
Domestic cup(s)U.S. Open Cup
Last championsCharleston Battery
Most championshipsCharleston Battery
Charlotte Eagles
Long Island Rough Riders
Richmond Kickers
Utah Blitzz
(2 titles each)

History

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In 1995 the United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL), the de facto second tier of American soccer at the time, the league changed its name to the United States International Soccer League, and split into two leagues, one professional and one amateur. The professional league, initially called the USISL Pro League, was a FIFA-sanctioned Division 3 league, while the amateur league, (the 'Premier League'), was given Division 4 status and would later go on to become the USL Premier Development League. The first champions of the new USISL Pro League were the Long Island Rough Riders, who beat Minnesota Thunder 2–1 in the championship game.[1]

In 1996, the USISL established a new USISL Select League. The strongest USISL Pro League teams joined this new league, which was given Division 2 status alongside the existing A-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 the Charlotte Eagles in a penalty shootout in the 1996 USISL Pro League championship game.[2]

In 1997 the league changed its name to the USISL 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 the USL D3 Pro League. In 2003 the name was changed again to the USL Pro Select League, but during the season had to be changed to the USL Pro Soccer League for to legal reasons. In 2005 the league took its final name as the USL Second Division.

The USL Second Division dissolved following the 2010 season to make way for USL Pro, which combined the existing USL First and Second divisions and began play in 2011.[3][4]

List of current and former member clubs

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A total of 102 clubs have competed in USL-2.

Below is a list of clubs in the USL Second Division between 2005 and 2010 along with their current league affiliation (if any)

Charleston BatteryReal Maryland MonarchsUSSF Division 2 Professional LeagueCrystal Palace BaltimoreUSL Division 1Cleveland City StarsBermuda HoggesRichmond KickersWilmington HammerheadsWestern Mass PioneersPittsburgh RiverhoundsNorthern Virginia RoyalsNew Hampshire PhantomsLong Island Rough RidersHarrisburg City IslandersUSL Premier Development LeagueCincinnati KingsUSL Premier Development LeagueUSL ProCharlotte Eagles

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

Past champions

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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 (5–4 p) Charlotte Eagles
USL Second Division
2005 Charlotte Eagles 2–2 (5–4 p) Western Mass Pioneers
2006 Richmond Kickers 2–1 Charlotte Eagles
2007 Harrisburg City Islanders 1–1 (8–7 p) Richmond Kickers
2008 Cleveland City Stars 2–1 Charlotte Eagles
2009 Richmond Kickers 3–1 Charlotte Eagles
2010 Charleston Battery 2–1 Richmond Kickers

Championships by team

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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

References

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  1. ^ The Year in American Soccer, 1995
  2. ^ The Year in American Soccer, 1996
  3. ^ "USL Restructures Professional Division". www.uslsoccer.com. September 8, 2010. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  4. ^ "USL Merges D-2 and D-3 Leagues to Create 'USL Pro' for 2011". IMSoccer News. September 8, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2010.