2001 USL A-League
The 2001 USL A-League was an American Division II league run by the United Soccer Leagues during the summer of 2001.
Contents
History
The addition of the Portland Timbers this season saw the renewal of a Pacific Northwest rivalry between them, the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps which dated back to the North American Soccer League. Although Vancouver was not new to the league, this was the first season they competed in under the Whitecaps name. Beginning with their founding in 1986 through the 2000 A-League season, Vancouver had operated under the 86ers name. An ownership change in August 2000 brought a revival of the old Whitecaps name for the 2001 season. At the end of the regular season, the Richmond Kickers topped the league with seventy-six points. The post-season was marred by two tragedies. First, the September 11 attacks forced the league to reschedule the first round games which had been set to begin on September 12. Then, Mickey Trotman, a starter for the Rochester Rhinos, was killed in an automobile accident two days before the team's first semifinal match with the Milwaukee Rampage. In the end, the Rhinos overcame the Hershey Wildcats to take its third league title in four seasons.
League standings
Northern Conference
Place | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hershey Wildcats | 26 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 45 | 20 | +25 | 8 | 75 |
2 | Rochester Raging Rhinos | 26 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 43 | 27 | +16 | 6 | 74 |
3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 6 | 50 |
4 | Montreal Impact | 26 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 29 | 37 | -8 | 3 | 45 |
5 | Connecticut Wolves | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 30 | 37 | -7 | 1 | 43 |
6 | Long Island Rough Riders | 26 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 31 | 50 | -19 | 5 | 33 |
7 | Toronto Lynx | 26 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 20 | 41 | -21 | 1 | 32 |
Central Conference
Place | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Richmond Kickers | 26 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 9 | 76 |
2 | Charleston Battery | 26 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 51 | 34 | +17 | 8 | 73 |
3 | Charlotte Eagles | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 50 | 41 | +9 | 8 | 66 |
4 | Nashville Metros | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 47 | 48 | -1 | 5 | 63 |
5 | Atlanta Silverbacks | 26 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 48 | 39 | +9 | 6 | 59 |
6 | Indiana Blast | 26 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 38 | 55 | -17 | 3 | 35 |
7 | Cincinnati Riverhawks | 26 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 39 | 80 | -41 | 3 | 27 |
Western Conference
Place | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 26 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 8 | 74 |
2 | San Diego Flash | 26 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 55 | 42 | +13 | 11 | 68 |
3 | Milwaukee Rampage | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 45 | 40 | +5 | 5 | 63 |
4 | Portland Timbers | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 41 | 38 | +3 | 7 | 62 |
5 | Seattle Sounders | 26 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 4 | 57 |
6 | Minnesota Thunder | 26 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 29 | 34 | -5 | 3 | 41 |
7 | El Paso Patriots | 26 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 39 | 42 | -3 | 4 | 40 |
Playoffs
Bracket
First Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | |||||||||||||||||
Charlotte Eagles | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portland Timbers | 2 | 3 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
Hershey Wildcats | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
Portland Timbers | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
Hershey Wildcats | 4 | 0 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Vancouver Whitecaps | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
San Diego F.C. | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Atlanta Silverbacks | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Vancouver Whitecaps | 0 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
San Diego F.C. | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
Hershey Wildcats | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
Rochester Raging Rhinos | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
Charleston Battery | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 2 | 3 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
Rochester Raging Rhinos | 1 | 3 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 2 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Rochester Raging Rhinos | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Milwaukee Rampage | 2 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Milwaukee Rampage (aet) (p) | 3 | 0 | 3 (4) | |||||||||||||||||
Nashville Metros | 2 | 1 | 3 (2) | |||||||||||||||||
Richmond Kickers | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
Milwaukee Rampage (aet) | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
First round
Pittsburgh vs Charleston
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) | 2-1 | Charleston Battery (SC) |
---|---|---|
Gary DePalma ![]() Phil Karn ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bethel Park Stadium, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 1,152 |
Charleston Battery (SC) | 1-3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) |
---|---|---|
Mac Cozier ![]() Jukka Rantala ![]() Mac Cozier ![]() Dan Calichman ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blackbaud Stadium Charleston, South Carolina
Attendance: 2,606 |
San Diego vs Atlanta
San Diego Flash (CA) | 1-0 | Atlanta Silverbacks (GA) |
---|---|---|
Brian O'Connor ![]() Thiago Martins ![]() ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Atlanta Silverbacks (GA) | 2-2 | San Diego Flash (CA) |
---|---|---|
Danny Care ![]() Sean Finn ![]() Sean Finn ![]() Ryan Walker ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
DeKalb Memorial Stadium Clarkston, Georgia
Attendance: 722 |
Portland vs Charlotte
Portland Timbers (OR) | 2-0 | Charlotte Eagles (NC) |
---|---|---|
Darin Lewis ![]() Mark Baena ![]() Neil Ryan ![]() Darren Sawatzky ![]() Michael O'Neill ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() |
PGE Park, Portland, Oregon
Attendance: 4,771 |
Charlotte Eagles (NC) | 2-3 | Portland Timbers (OR) |
---|---|---|
Jacob Coggins ![]() Joey Johnson ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Providence High School, Charlotte, North Carolina
Attendance: 2,100 |
Milwaukee vs Nashville
Nashville Metros (TN) | 2-3 | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Chris Morman ![]() Brandon Wright ![]() Chris Morman ![]() ![]() Jakob Fenger ![]() Jaymi Bailey ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | 0-1 OT | Nashville Metros (TN) |
---|---|---|
Matt Bobo ![]() Philippe Godoy ![]() Destin Makumbu ![]() Josh Provan ![]() Judah Cooks ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Penalties | ||
Steve Bernal ![]() Igor Soso ![]() David Hayes ![]() Steve Butcher ![]() Mike Slivinski ![]() |
4 – 2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Milwaukee County Sports Complex, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Attendance: 2,152 |
Quarterfinals
Milwaukee vs Richmond
Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | 2-2 | Richmond Kickers (VA) |
---|---|---|
Alen Soso ![]() Philippe Godoy ![]() Matt Bobo ![]() Judah Cooks ![]() Dennis Fadeski ![]() Digital Takawira ![]() Alen Soso ![]() ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Milwaukee County Sports Complex, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Attendance: 1,318 Referee: Michael Kennedy (USA) |
Richmond Kickers (VA) | 1-2 OT | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Peter Luzak ![]() Rob Ukrop ![]() Josh Henderson ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() |
Hershey vs Portland
Portland Timbers (OR) | 0-2 | Hershey Wildcats (PA) |
---|---|---|
Gavin Wilkinson ![]() Mark Baena ![]() Michael O'Neill ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
PGE Park, Portland, Oregon
Attendance: 4,894 |
September 29, 2001
|
Hershey Wildcats (PA) | 1-0 | Portland Timbers (OR) |
---|---|---|
Mike Feniger ![]() |
Attendance: 1,048 |
Vancouver vs San Diego
September 26, 2001
|
San Diego Flash (CA) | 2-0 | Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) |
---|---|---|
Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar ![]() Emmanuel Ayim ![]() |
(Report) |
Douglas Stadium, San Diego, California
Attendance: 468 |
Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) | 4-1 | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Darren Tilley ![]() John Sulentic ![]() ![]() Steve Kindel ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() |
Swangard Stadium, Vancouver, British Columbia
Attendance: 6,782 |
Rochester vs Pittsburgh
September 26, 2001
|
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) | 2-1 | Rochester Rhinos (NY) |
---|---|---|
Welton Melo ![]() John Jones ![]() |
![]() |
Frontier Field, Rochester, New York
Attendance: 1,073 |
September 29, 2001
|
Rochester Rhinos (NY) | 3-0 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) |
---|---|---|
Martin Nash ![]() Neathan Gibson ![]() Jimmy Tanner ![]() |
Semifinals
Semifinal 1
October 4, 2001
|
Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | 2-3 | Rochester Rhinos (NY) |
---|---|---|
Philippe Godoy ![]() Matt Bobo ![]() Jim Curtin ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Attendance: 271 |
Rochester Rhinos (NY) | 1-0 | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Scott Schweitzer ![]() Neathan Gibson ![]() Mike Kirmse ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Frontier Field, Rochester, New York
Attendance: 6,817 |
Semifinal 2
Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) | 0-4 | Hershey Wildcats (PA) |
---|---|---|
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Swangard Stadium, Vancouver, British Columbia
Attendance: 6,685 |
October 6, 2001
|
Hershey Wildcats (PA) | 0-1 | Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) |
---|---|---|
(Report) | ![]() |
Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 786 |
Final
October 13, 2001
|
Rochester Raging Rhinos (NY) | 2-0 | Hershey Wildcats (PA) |
---|---|---|
Martin Nash ![]() Carlos Zavala ![]() Stoian Mladenov ![]() Stoian Mladenov ![]() |
(Report) |
Points leaders
Rank | Scorer | Club | GP | Goals | Assists | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Paul Conway | Charleston Battery | 25 | 22 | 3 | 47 |
2 | Dustin Swinehart | Charlotte Eagles | 23 | 18 | 3 | 39 |
3 | Jakob Fenger | Nashville Metros | 24 | 14 | 6 | 34 |
4 | Jeff Houser | Nashville Metros | 24 | 14 | 5 | 33 |
5 | Digital Takawira | Milwaukee Rampage | 20 | 13 | 4 | 30 |
6 | Kevin Jeffrey | Richmond Kickers | 24 | 11 | 7 | 29 |
Leighton O'Brien | Seattle Sounders | 24 | 11 | 7 | 29 | |
Mark Baena | Portland Timbers | 24 | 13 | 3 | 29 | |
9 | Ignace Moleka | Atlanta Silverbacks | 19 | 12 | 1 | 25 |
Luis Macias | El Paso Patriots | 23 | 12 | 1 | 25 | |
Chugger Adair | San Diego Flash | 22 | 10 | 5 | 25 | |
Jason Jordan | Vancouver Whitecaps | 18 | 9 | 7 | 25 | |
Rodrigo Costa | Indiana Blast | 21 | 11 | 3 | 25 | |
14 | Mark Rowland | El Paso Patriots | 26 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
15 | Josh Henderson | Richmond Kickers | 21 | 10 | 3 | 23 |
Honors
Annual awards
- Most Valuable Player: Paul Conway
- Leading Goal Scorer: Paul Conway
- Goalkeeper of the Year: Jon Busch
- Defender of the Year: Rick Titus
- Rookie of the Year: Robbie Aristodemo
- Coach of the Year: Dale Mitchell
- First Team All A-League[1]
- Goalkeeper: Jon Busch
- Defenders: Scott Schweitzer, Rick Titus, Gilbert Jean-Baptiste
- Midfielders: Philippe Godoy, Stoian Mladenov, Leighton O'Brien, Temoc Suarez
- Forwards: Paul Conway, Kevin Jeffrey, Dustin Swinehart
- Second Team All A-League
- Goalkeeper: Matt Napoleon
- Defenders: James Wall, Brent Sancho, Jason Annicchero
- Midfielders: John Ball, Lenin Steenkamp, Kevin Knight, Steve Kindel
- Forwards: Jakob Fenger, Digital Takawira, Rodrigo Costa
External links
References
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