1993 U.S. Interregional Soccer League (outdoor) season

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

The 1993 United States Interregional Soccer League was an American outdoor soccer season run by the United States Interregional Soccer League.

Southern Challenge Cup

In 1993, the league introduced the Southern Challenge Cup, a short season for teams which the league was considering for membership. The cup would allow these provisional teams to test their organization before beginning a season long competitive schedule.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/aboutusl/history/53781.html |title=1993 . . . Dynamite Season |access-date=2013-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828152714/http://www.uslsoccer.com/aboutusl/history/53781.html |archive-date=2008-08-28 |url-status=dead }} During the cup, the four provisional teams also played games against other teams in the league. These games counted both in the USISL and Southern Challenge Cup standings. The cup was capped by a final between the two top teams in which the Riverboat Gamblers defeated the Grasshoppers.

class="wikitable"

!Place

!width="170"|Team

!width="20"|GP

!width="20"|W

!width="20"|L

!width="20"|GF

!width="20"|GA

!width="25"|GD

!Points

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|1

|New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers

|9

|6

|3

|20

|17

| +3

|48

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|2

| Birmingham Grasshoppers

|9

|5

|4

|18

|9

| +9

|45

3

| Jacksonville Fury

|9

|4

|5

|15

|27

| -12

|35

4

| Montgomery Capitals

|9

|2

|7

|13

|38

| -25

|25

=Final=

{{football box|

date = 1993 |

team1 = New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA) |

goals1 = |

goals2 = |

score = 1-0 |

report = |

team2 = Birmingham Grasshoppers (AL) |

stadium =

| attendance =

| referee = }}

Regular season

=Scoring=

The standings published by the USISL list only the wins, losses, goals scored, goals allowed and total points. They do not provide the number of wins or losses that came through shootouts. They also do not provide the number of bonus points coming from goals or corner kicks.[https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/usisl.html Outdoor scoring system (1989–1995)]{{Cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/docs/2013%20USL%20Media%20Guide_Web.pdf |title=2013 USL Media Guide – compare 1993 and 1994 PDL standings with the 1992 and 1995 PDL standings. |access-date=2013-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207053310/http://www.uslsoccer.com/docs/2013%20USL%20Media%20Guide_Web.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-07 |url-status=dead }}

  • Regulation win = 6 points
  • Shootout win (SW) = 4 points
  • Shootout loss (SL) = 2 points
  • Regulation loss = 0 points
  • Bonus points (BP): An additional one-point per goal up to a maximum of three points per game.
  • Northeast Division and Midwest Division teams received one point per corner kick each game.

=Atlantic Division=

class="wikitable"

!Place

!width="170"|Team

!width="20"|GP

!width="20"|W

!width="20"|L

!width="20"|GF

!width="20"|GA

!width="25"|GD

!Points

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|1

|Greensboro Dynamo

|16

|14

|2

|41

|14

| +27

|114

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|2

| Delaware Wizards

|16

|10

|6

|34

|22

| +12

|88

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|3

| Raleigh Flyers

|16

|10

|6

|31

|24

| +7

|84

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|4

| Richmond Kickers

|16

|8

|8

|30

|30

| 0

|78

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|5

| Charleston Battery

|16

|8

|8

|27

|33

| -6

|72

6

| Connecticut Wolves

|16

|7

|9

|29

|33

| -4

|68

7

| Baltimore Bays

|16

|5

|11

|28

|38

| -10

|59

8

| Charlotte Eagles

|16

|5

|11

|26

|35

| -9

|52

9

| Columbia Spirit

|16

|3

|13

|12

|43

| -31

|32

=Southeast Division=

class="wikitable"

!Place

!width="170"|Team

!width="20"|GP

!width="20"|W

!width="20"|L

!width="20"|GF

!width="20"|GA

!width="25"|GD

!Points

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|1

|Orlando Lions

|16

|14

|2

|46

|10

| +36

|124

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|2

| Atlanta Lasers

|16

|10

|6

|44

|34

| +10

|93

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|3

| Coral Springs Kicks

|16

|10

|6

|42

|43

| -1

|92

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|4

| Memphis Jackals

|16

|9

|7

|49

|30

| +19

|87

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|5

| Boca Raton Sabres

|16

|8

|8

|37

|31

| +6

|80

6

| Nashville Metros

|16

|6

|10

|29

|37

| -8

|60

7

| Chattanooga Express

|16

|3

|13

|33

|45

| -12

|52

=South Central Division=

class="wikitable"

!Place

!width="170"|Team

!width="20"|GP

!width="20"|W

!width="20"|L

!width="20"|GF

!width="20"|GA

!width="25"|GD

!Points

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|1

|Tulsa Roughnecks

|16

|12

|4

|33

|18

| +15

|99

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|2

| Oklahoma City Slickers

|16

|11

|5

|34

|32

| +2

|97

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|3

| Dallas Rockets

|16

|11

|5

|34

|17

| +17

|94

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|4

| San Antonio Pumas

|16

|8

|8

|39

|35

| +4

|83

5

| Austin Soccadillos

|16

|8

|8

|30

|33

| -3

|69

6

| DFW Toros

|16

|5

|11

|22

|42

| -20

|52

7

| Tyler Lightning

|16

|5

|11

|22

|40

| -18

|49

=Southwest Division=

class="wikitable"

!Place

!width="170"|Team

!width="20"|GP

!width="20"|W

!width="20"|L

!width="20"|GF

!width="20"|GA

!width="25"|GD

!Points

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|1

|East Los Angeles Cobras

|16

|11

|5

|40

|18

| +22

|101

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|2

| Montclair Standard Falcons

|16

|10

|6

|30

|33

| -3

|89

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|3

| El Paso Patriots

|16

|10

|6

|34

|16

| +18

|87

4

| New Mexico Chiles

|16

|9

|7

|25

|15

| +10

|73

5

| Tucson Amigos

|16

|8

|8

|23

|30

| -7

|72

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|6

| Valley Golden Eagles

|16

|3

|13

|20

|42

| -22

|37

7

| Arizona Cotton

|16

|3

|13

|12

|43

| -31

|29

=Pacific Division=

class="wikitable"

!Place

!width="170"|Team

!width="20"|GP

!width="20"|W

!width="20"|L

!width="20"|GF

!width="20"|GA

!width="25"|GD

!Points

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|1

|San Jose Hawks

|16

|14

|2

|42

|11

| +31

|119

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|2

| Palo Alto Firebirds

|16

|12

|4

|50

|8

| +42

|107

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|3

| San Francisco United All-Blacks

|16

|13

|3

|39

|17

| +22

|106

bgcolor=#ccffcc

|4

| Chico Rooks

|16

|11

|5

|47

|29

| +18

|98

5

| North Bay Breakers

|16

|8

|8

|37

|25

| +12

|79

6

| Santa Cruz Surf

|16

|7

|9

|27

|42

| -15

|66

7

| San Francisco Bay Diablos

|16

|3

|13

|20

|51

| -31

|38

8

| East Bay Red Riders

|16

|2

|14

|51

|13

| -38

|13

Playoffs

It appears the USISL allowed each division to determine how its teams entered the playoffs. In the Atlantic Division, the Richmond Kickers and Charleston Battery played a one-time game to determine who went to the division semifinals, despite the Kickers having six more points in the standings than the Battery. In the Southeast Division, the Orlando Lions had a bye into the Sizzlin' Six Tournament as reigning champions. Therefore, the next four teams entered the divisional semifinals. In the Southwest Division, the top three teams qualified for the playoffs, but the next two teams did not enter. Instead, the Valley Golden Eagles with a 3-13 record entered the divisional playoffs. In the rest of the divisions, the top four teams made the divisional playoffs.

=Atlantic Division=

==Play-in game==

{{football box

|time=7:30 PM EDT|

date = July 28, 1993 |

team1 = Richmond Kickers (Virginia) |

goals1 =

goals2 = |

score = 2-0 |

report =https://www.newspapers.com/image/832399224/?match=1&terms=Richmond%20Kickers |

team2 = Charleston Battery (South Carolina) |

stadium = University of Richmond Soccer Complex, Richmond, Virginia

| attendance =

| referee = }}

==Semifinals==

  • Greensboro Dynamo 4, Richmond Kickers 1
  • Delaware Wizards 4, Raleigh Flyers 2

{{football box

|date = July 31, 1993

|time = 7:30 PM EDT

|team1 = Greensboro Dynamo (North Carolina)

|score = 4–1

|report= https://www.newspapers.com/image/944371578/?match=1&terms=Richmond%20Kickers

|team2 = Richmond Kickers (Virginia)

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = UNCG Stadium

|location=Greensboro, North Carolina

|attendance = 1,825

|referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = July 31, 1993

|time = 7:35 PM EDT

|team1 = Delaware Wizards (Delaware)

|score = 4–2

|report= https://www.newspapers.com/image/158881074/?match=1&terms=Delaware%20Wizards

|team2 = Raleigh Flyers (North Carolina)

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Glasgow High School

|location= Newark, Delaware

|attendance = 3,417

|referee =

}}

==Final==

  • Greensboro Dynamo defeated Delaware Wizards (5-0, 2-1)

{{football box

|date = August 6, 1993

|time = 7:30 PM EDT

|team1 = Greensboro Dynamo (North Carolina)

|score = 5–0

|report= https://www.newspapers.com/image/158893655/?match=1&terms=Delaware%20Wizards

|team2 = Delaware Wizards (Delaware)

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = UNCG Stadium

|location=Greensboro, North Carolina

|attendance = 1,148

|referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = August 7, 1993

|time = 7:30 PM EDT

|team1 = Greensboro Dynamo (North Carolina)

|score = 2–1 (OT)

|report= https://www.newspapers.com/image/158895027/?match=1&terms=Delaware%20Wizards

|team2 = Delaware Wizards (Delaware)

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = UNCG Stadium

|location=Greensboro, North Carolina

|attendance = 2,634

|referee =

}}

----

=Southeast Division=

==Semifinals==

  • Atlanta Lasers 3, Memphis Jackals 2
  • Boca Raton Sabres 4, Coral Springs Kicks 1

{{football box

|date = August 1, 1993

|time =

|team1 = Coral Springs Kicks

|score = 1–4

|report=

|team2 = Boca Raton Sabres

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Mullins Park

|location= Coral Springs, Florida

|attendance =

|referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = August 1, 1993

|time =

|team1 =

|score =

|report=

|team2 =

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium =

|location=

|attendance =

|referee =

}}

==Final==

  • Atlanta Lasers defeated Boca Raton Sabres (1-0, 3-2)

{{football box

|date =

|time =

|team1 =

|score =

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|goals1 =

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}}

{{football box

|date =

|time =

|team1 =

|score =

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|team2 =

|goals1 =

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}}

----

=South Central Division=

==Semifinals==

{{football box|

date = July 31, 1993 |

team1 = Tulsa Roughnecks (OK) |

goals1 =

goals2 = |

score = 2-0 |

report = https://www.newspapers.com/image/893402575/ |

team2 = San Antonio Pumas (Texas) |

stadium = Metro Christian Stadium, Tulsa, Oklahoma

| attendance = 1,826

| referee = }}


{{football box|

date = July 31, 1993 |

team1 = Oklahoma City Slickers |

goals1 = Own goal |

goals2 = {{Goal}} {{Goal}} Curtis Partain
{{Goal|81}} Kenny Latham|

score = 0-4 |

report = [http://newsok.com/rockets-shut-down-slickers-4-0/article/2437805 (Report)] |

team2 = Dallas Rockets (TX) |

stadium = Taft Stadium, Oklahoma City

| attendance = 1,100

| referee = }}

==Final==

  • Dallas Rockets defeated Tulsa Roughnecks (4-3 (OT), 0-3, 1-0)

{{football box

|date = August 6, 1993

|time =

|team1 = Dallas Rockets (TX)

|score = 4–3 (OT)

|report= https://www.newspapers.com/image/893412398/?match=1&terms=Tulsa%20Roughnecks

|team2 = Tulsa Roughnecks (OK)

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium =

|location= Dallas, Texas

|attendance =

|referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = August 8, 1993

|time = 7:30 PM EDT

|team1 = Tulsa Roughnecks (OK)

|score = 3–0

|report= https://www.newspapers.com/image/893417414/?match=1&terms=Tulsa%20Roughnecks

|team2 = Dallas Rockets (TX)

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Metro Christian Stadium

|location= Tulsa, Oklahoma

|attendance = 3,107

|referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = August 8, 1993

|event= Mini Game

|time = 7:30 PM EDT

|team1 = Tulsa Roughnecks (OK)

|score = 0–1

|report= https://www.newspapers.com/image/893417414/?match=1&terms=Tulsa%20Roughnecks

|team2 = Dallas Rockets (TX)

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Metro Christian Stadium

|location= Tulsa, Oklahoma

|attendance = 3,107

|referee =

}}

----

=Southwest Division=

==Semifinals==

  • East Los Angeles Cobras 7, Montclair Standard Falcons 3 ( Ezzy Ihekoronye 4 goals)
  • Valley Golden Eagles 5, El Paso Patriots 2

==Final==

  • East Los Angeles Cobras defeated Valley Golden Eagles (0-6, 3-0, 2-0)

(Ezzy Ihekoronye East Los Angeles Cobras MVP)

----

=Pacific Division=

==Semifinals==

  • San Jose Hawks 6, Chico Rooks 0
  • San Francisco All Blacks 3, Palo Alto Firebirds 2 (OT)

==Final==

  • San Jose Hawks 3, San Francisco All Blacks 0

Sizzlin' Six

As the defending champion, the Orlando Lions received a bye into the Sizzlin' Six Tournament. The other five teams were the winners of the divisional playoffs. The Sizzlin' Six Tournament began on Thursday, August 12. The three teams in this tournament with the best regular seasons, the Orlando Lions, Greensboro Dynamo and San Jose Hawks, all had 14-2 records. When they all won their games on Thursday, Friday's results became critical to choosing who would go to the championship game. However, all three teams won again on Friday. With all three teams having the same record, the tiebreaker went to goal differential. The Greensboro Dynamo had a +13 goal differential, the Orlando Lions had a +6 and the San Jose Hawks had a +5. This put the Dynamo and Lions in to the final.[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/08/15/lions-dynamo-in-championship/ Lions, Dynamo In Championship] All games were held at the Municipal Stadium, Daytona, Florida.

=Thursday=

{{football box|

date = August 12, 1993
5:00 PM EST |

team1 = Greensboro Dynamo (NC) |

goals1 = |

goals2 = |

score = 4-0 |

report = |

team2 = East Los Angeles Cobras (CA) |

stadium = Municipal Stadium, Daytona, Florida

| attendance =

| referee = }}


{{football box|

date = August 12, 1993
7:00 PM (EST) |

team1 = Orlando Lions (FL) |

goals1 = Dylan Lewis {{Goal|20}}
Sheldon Lee {{Goal|26}} {{Goal|62}}
Tim Geltz {{Goal|65}}
Ian Gill {{Goal|83}} |

goals2 = {{Goal|22}} OG Ian Gill
{{penmiss}} PK Chris Hellenkamp
{{sent off|0|52}} Richie Richmond |

score = 5-1 |

report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091810/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-08-13/sports/9308130891_1_orlando-penalty-kick-lions (Report)]|

team2 = Atlanta Lasers (GA) |

stadium = Municipal Stadium, Daytona, Florida

| attendance = 650

| referee = }}


{{football box|

date = August 12, 1993
9:00 PM EST |

team1 = San Jose Hawks (CA) |

goals1 = |

goals2 = |

score = 3-1 |

report = |

team2 = Dallas Rockets (TX) |

stadium = Municipal Stadium, Daytona, Florida

| attendance =

| referee = }}

=Friday=

{{football box|

date = August 13, 1993
5:00 PM EST 3 |

team1 = San Jose Hawks (CA) |

goals1 = |

goals2 = |

score = 4-1 |

report = |

team2 = East Los Angeles Cobras (CA) |

stadium = Municipal Stadium, Daytona, Florida

| attendance =

| referee = }}


{{football box|

date = August 13, 1993
7:00 PM (EST) |

team1 = Orlando Lions (FL) |

goals1 = Dylan Lewis {{Goal}}
Aziz Essaffi {{Goal|85}}
Steve Freeman {{Goal|89}} |

goals2 = {{sent off|0|64}} A.J. Jones |

score = 3-1 |

report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061508/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-08-14/sports/9308140953_1_dallas-orlando-brian-hall (Report)]|

team2 = Dallas Rockets (TX) |

stadium = Municipal Stadium, Daytona, Florida

| attendance =

| referee = }}


{{football box|

date = August 13, 1993
9:00 PM EST |

team1 = Greensboro Dynamo (NC) |

goals1 = |

goals2 = |

score = 9-0 |

report = |

team2 = Atlanta Lasers (GA) |

stadium = Municipal Stadium, Daytona, Florida

| attendance =

| referee = }}

Final

{{football box|

date = August 15, 1993
7:00 PM (EST) |

team1 = Orlando Lions (FL) |

goals1 = Warren Russ {{sent off|0|37}}
Sheldon Lee {{Goal|45}} |

goals2 = {{Goal|53}} Aidan Murphy
{{Goal|70}} Jason Haupt |

score = 1-2 |

report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092649/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-08-16/sports/9308160279_1_ball-orlando-greensboro (Report)]|

team2 = Greensboro Dynamo (NC) |

stadium = Municipal Stadium, Daytona, Florida

| attendance = 1,000

| referee = }}

Points leaders

class="wikitable"
Rank

!Scorer

!Club

!GP

!Goals

!Assists

!Points

align=center|1

| Sheldon Lee

| Orlando Lions

|align=center|16

|align=center|19

|align=center|7

|align=center|45

align=center|2

| Rahman Alarape

| Atlanta Datagraphic Magic

|align=center|16

|align=center|15

|align=center|8

|align=center|38

align=center|3

| Milton Cruz

| Oklahoma City Slickers

|align=center|16

|align=center|14

|align=center|6

|align=center|34

align=center|4

| John Mulrooney

| Memphis Jackals

|align=center|13

|align=center|13

|align=center|7

|align=center|33

rowspan=2 align=center|5

| Ezzy Ihekoronye

| East Los Angeles Cobras

|align=center|10

|align=center|13

|align=center|6

|align=center|32

Michael Guerrero

| San Antonio Generals

|align=center|16

|align=center|11

|align=center|10

|align=center|32

rowspan=2 align=center|7

| Scott Wulferdingen

| Chico Rooks

|align=center|13

|align=center|13

|align=center|3

|align=center|29

Michael Araujo

| Coral Springs Kicks

|align=center|15

|align=center|9

|align=center|11

|align=center|29

align=center|9

| Michael Ribera

|San Antonio Generals

|align=center|14

|align=center|11

|align=center|6

|align=center|28

rowspan=3 align=center|10

| Ian Palmer

|Tulsa Roughnecks

|align=center|11

|align=center|11

|align=center|2

|align=center|24

Efren Rodarte

|El Paso Patriots

|align=center|12

|align=center|11

|align=center|2

|align=center|24

Jerry O'Hara

|Palo Alto Firebirds

|align=center|15

|align=center|11

|align=center|2

|align=center|24

Honors

References

{{Reflist}}