1996 USISL Pro League

This season, USISL created a higer caliber professional league called the Select League. Several 1995 Pro League teams moved up and did not compete in the 1996 Pro League.

The USISL aligned its rules with other soccer leagues including the newly created Major Soccer League. Previously USISL had used 60 minute halves and a penalty shot for every foul committed after the seventh foul of each half but these rules were eliminated for the 1996 season. The USISL also changed its regular season points system to award three points for a win and one point for a shootout win.[http://www.socceramerica.com/article/15587/usisl-owners-limit-rule-changes.html Owners limit rule changes] The average pay for Pro League players was $200 per week. The regular season began in mid-April 1996.

Prime Network provided live broadcast of the USISL All Star Game and delayed broadcast of the Pro League championship game.[http://www.socceramerica.com/article/15614/usisl-tv-deal-with-prime-announced.html USISL: TV Deal With Prime Announced]

The USISL held its All Star Game on July 17 in Blaine, Minnesota. The game pitted the USISL Select League All Stars against a team composed of USISL Professional League and USISL Premier League players. The league coaches voted to select the players.[http://www.socceramerica.com/article/15971/usisl-rosters-for-1996-all-star-game.html USISL: rosters for 1996 All-Star game] Players from the USISL Professional League included Goalkeeper Randy DeDini of the Chico Rooks, Defenders Paul Edwards (North Jersey Imperials) and Guy Norcott (Charleston Battery); Midfielders Craig Beeson (Everett BigFoot) and Pat O'Kelly (Central Jersey); Forwards Victor Medina (D/FW Toros) and Jon Payne (Charlotte Eagles).

• Regulation win = 3 points
• Shootout win (SW) = 1 points
• Loss = 0 points

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WL PK

|res_col_header=Q

|PKwin_header={{abbr|SW|Shootout win}}

|showPKloss=no

|winpoints=3|PKwinpoints=1|losspoints=0

|team1=CJR|name_CJR=Central Jersey Riptide

|team2=NJI|name_NJI=North Jersey Imperials

|team3=RIS|name_RIS=Rhode Island Stingrays

|team4=REA|name_REA=Reading Rage

|team5=PHL|name_PHL=Philadelphia Freedom

|team6=NHP|name_NHP=New Hampshire Phantoms

|team7=BAL|name_BAL=Baltimore Bays

|team8=ALB|name_ALB=Albany Alleycats

|team9=WOR|name_WOR=Worcester Wildfire

|win_CJR=11|PKwin_CJR=2|loss_CJR=3|gf_CJR=44|ga_CJR=24

|win_NJI=11|PKwin_NJI=0|loss_NJI=5|gf_NJI=42|ga_NJI=26

|win_RIS=10|PKwin_RIS=0|loss_RIS=6|gf_RIS=26|ga_RIS=20

|win_REA=9|PKwin_REA=1|loss_REA=6|gf_REA=39|ga_REA=31

|win_PHL=8|PKwin_PHL=2|loss_PHL=6|gf_PHL=40|ga_PHL=25

|win_NHP=8|PKwin_NHP=1|loss_NHP=7|gf_NHP=32|ga_NHP=40

|win_BAL=5|PKwin_BAL=0|loss_BAL=11|gf_BAL=34|ga_BAL=15

|win_ALB=4|PKwin_ALB=0|loss_ALB=12|gf_ALB=34|ga_ALB=44

|win_WOR=0|PKwin_WOR=1|loss_WOR=15|gf_WOR=19|ga_WOR=57

|col_A=#ccffcc|text_A=

|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A|result4=A

|update=complete|source=

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WL PK

|res_col_header=Q

|PKwin_header={{abbr|SW|Shootout win}}

|showPKloss=no

|winpoints=3|PKwinpoints=1|losspoints=0

|team1=CHE|name_CHE=Charlotte Eagles

|team2=CHB|name_CHB=Charleston Battery

|team3=WIL|name_WIL=Wilmington Hammerheads

|team4=WAS|name_WAS=Washington Mustangs

|team5=MOB|name_MOB=Mobile Revelers

|team6=CHT|name_CHT=Chattanooga Express

|win_CHE=12|PKwin_CHE=0|loss_CHE=4|gf_CHE=49|ga_CHE=25

|win_CHB=11|PKwin_CHB=1|loss_CHB=4|gf_CHB=46|ga_CHB=23

|win_WIL=6|PKwin_WIL=1|loss_WIL=9|gf_WIL=20|ga_WIL=30

|win_WAS=6|PKwin_WAS=0|loss_WAS=10|gf_WAS=25|ga_WAS=37

|win_MOB=3|PKwin_MOB=2|loss_MOB=11|gf_MOB=15|ga_MOB=33

|win_CHT=1|PKwin_CHT=0|loss_CHT=15|gf_CHT=18|ga_CHT=55

|col_A=#ccffcc|text_A=

|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A|result4=A|result5=A

|update=complete|source=

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WL PK

|res_col_header=Q

|PKwin_header={{abbr|SW|Shootout win}}

|showPKloss=no

|winpoints=3|PKwinpoints=1|losspoints=0

|team1=DFW|name_DFW=Dallas/Fort Worth Toros

|team2=ROC|name_ROC=Rockford Raptors

|team3=TUL|name_TUL=Tulsa Roughnecks

|team4=SAP|name_SAP=San Antonio Pumas

|team5=HOU|name_HOU=Houston Hurricanes

|win_DFW=9|PKwin_DFW=0|loss_DFW=7|gf_DFW=33|ga_DFW=31

|win_ROC=8|PKwin_ROC=1|loss_ROC=7|gf_ROC=34|ga_ROC=28

|win_TUL=8|PKwin_TUL=0|loss_TUL=8|gf_TUL=38|ga_TUL=34

|win_SAP=6|PKwin_SAP=0|loss_SAP=10|gf_SAP=25|ga_SAP=37

|win_HOU=5|PKwin_HOU=0|loss_HOU=11|gf_HOU=28|ga_HOU=43

|col_A=#ccffcc|text_A=

|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A

|update=complete|source=

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WL PK

|res_col_header=Q

|PKwin_header={{abbr|SW|Shootout win}}

|showPKloss=no

|winpoints=3|PKwinpoints=1|losspoints=0

|team1=HWI|name_HWI=Hawaii Tsumani

|team2=CHC|name_CHC=Chico Rooks

|team3=EVE|name_EVE=Everett Bigfoot

|team4=SFV|name_SFV=San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles

|team5=YAK|name_YAK=Yakima Reds

|team6=CAS|name_CAS=Cascade Surge

|team7=CVH|name_CVH=Central Valley Hydra

|win_HWI=10|PKwin_HWI=0|loss_HWI=6|gf_HWI=31|ga_HWI=19

|win_CHC=9|PKwin_CHC=1|loss_CHC=6|gf_CHC=23|ga_CHC=16

|win_EVE=7|PKwin_EVE=3|loss_EVE=6|gf_EVE=27|ga_EVE=20

|win_SFV=7|PKwin_SFV=3|loss_SFV=6|gf_SFV=20|ga_SFV=22

|win_YAK=8|PKwin_YAK=0|loss_YAK=8|gf_YAK=29|ga_YAK=20

|win_CAS=7|PKwin_CAS=0|loss_CAS=9|gf_CAS=33|ga_CAS=23

|win_CVH=3|PKwin_CVH=0|loss_CVH=13|gf_CVH=16|ga_CVH=48

|col_A=#ccffcc|text_A=

|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A|result4=A

|update=complete|source=

}}

The Mobile Revelers made the playoffs despite having only eleven points. This happened because the South Atlantic Conference had four guaranteed play-off spots. The Charleston Battery received a bye into the playoffs as host of the championship final. Therefore, the league went to the Revelers as the next South Atlantic Conference team in line.

• North Jersey Imperials 3-1 Rhode Island Stingrays
• Charlotte Eagles 1-0 Mobile Revelers (forfeit)
• Wilmington Hammerheads 3-1 Washington Mustangs
• D/FW Toros 1-0 (SO) Houston Hurricanes
• Tulsa Roughnecks 3-2 (SO) Rockford Raptors
• Chico Rooks 3-0 Valley Golden Eagles
• Everete BigFoot 2-1 Hawaii Tsunami

{{football box

| date = August 10, 1996

| time = 5:00 PM

| team1 = North Jersey Imperials (NJ)

| score = 3–1

| attendance =

| report =

| team2 = Rhode Island Stingrays (RI)

| goals1 =

• Dave Fitzgerald {{goal|10||63||77}}

| goals2 =

• {{goal}} Carlos Rocha

| stadium = FDU Field

| location = Teaneck, New Jersey

| referee=

}}

{{football box

| date = August 10, 1996

| time =

| team1 = Charlotte Eagles (NC)

| score = 1–0 Forfeit

| attendance =

| report =

| team2 = Mobile Revelers (AL)

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium =

| location =

| referee=

| note= Match was cancelled after Mobile disbanded before the playoff game.

}}

{{football box

| date = August 10, 1996

| time = 8:00 PM

| team1 = Wilmington Hammerheads (NC)

| score = 3–1

| attendance =

| report =

| team2 = Washington Mustangs (DC)

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Laney Stadium

| location = Wilmington, North Carolina

| referee=

}}

{{football box

| date = August 10, 1996

| time =

| team1 = D/FW Toros (TX)

| score = 1–0

| attendance =

| report =

| team2 = Houston Hurricanes (TX)

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium =

| location =

| referee=

}}

{{football box

| date = August 10, 1996

| time =

| team1 = Rockford Raptors (IL)

| score = 2–3

| attendance =

| report =

| team2 = Tulsa Roughnecks (OK)

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• {{goal|10||18}} {{goal}} Kimberly Thomas

| stadium =

| location =

| referee=

}}

{{football box

| date = August 10, 1996

| time =

| team1 = Chico Rooks (CA)

| score = 3–0

| attendance =

| report = https://www.newspapers.com/image/931177725/?terms=Chico%20Rooks

| team2 = Valley Golden Eagles (CA)

| goals1 =

• Juan Calvet {{goal}}
• Mauricio De Melo {{goal}} {{goal}}

| goals2 =

• {{sent off|0}} Jesus Gonzalez
• {{sent off}} Jake Gwin

| stadium = Chico State Stadium

| location = Chico, California

| referee=

}}

{{football box

| date = August 10, 1996

| time =

| team1 = Hawaii Tsunami (HA)

| score = 1–2

| attendance = 1,750

| report = https://www.newspapers.com/image/265979286/?match=1&terms=Chico%20Rooks

| team2 = Everett BigFoot (WA)

| goals1 =

• Chris Gilmore {{goal|77}}

| goals2 =

• {{goal|47||57}} Craig Beeson

| stadium = Cooke Field

|location= Honolulu, Hawaii

| referee=

}}

{{football box|

date = August 10, 1996

|time=7:30PM |

team1 = Central Jersey Riptide (NJ) |

goals1 = Pat O'Kelly {{Goal|3:16}}
Pete Schneiders {{Goal|74}} {{sent off|1|}}

|goals2 ={{Goal|25}} Matt Woolley
{{sent off|1|43}} Eric Puls
{{sent off|1|}} Archie Moylan |

score = 2-1 |

report = |

team2 = Reading Rage (PA) |

stadium = Raritan High School

|location=Hazlet, New Jersey

| attendance =

| referee =

}}

{{football box|

date = August 16, 1996 |

team1 = North Jersey Imperials (NJ) |

goals1 = *Pedro Lopes {{goal|34}}

• Dave Fitzgerald {{Goal}} {{Goal}}
• Dave Price {{goal}} |

goals2 = |

score = 5-0 |

report = |

team2 = Central Jersey Riptide (NJ) |

stadium = FDU Field

| location = Teaneck, New Jersey

| attendance = 300

| referee =

}}

{{football box|

date = August 17, 1996
7:30 PM EST |

team1 = Central Jersey Riptide (NJ) |

goals1 = Ozrek {{Goal}}
Crowley {{Goal}} |

goals2 = {{Goal}} DeLuca
{{Goal}} (PK) Lucey |

score = 2-2 OT |

report =https://www.newspapers.com/image/497771134/?match=1&terms=North%20Jersey%20Imperials%20 |

team2 = North Jersey Imperials (NJ) |

stadium = Raritan High School, Hazlet, New Jersey

| attendance = 2,004 or 1,500

| referee =

|penalties1=

|penaltyscore=2-3

|penalties2=

}}

• North Jersey Imperials advanced to Sizzlin' Six finals.

{{football box|

date = August 15, 1996 |

team1 = Charlotte Eagles (NC) |

goals1 = |

goals2 =

• {{Goal|29:27|pen.|54:51}} Dewan Bader
• {{Goal|36:35}} Bucky Corbin |

score = 0-3 |

report =https://www.newspapers.com/image/628385696/?match=1&terms=Charlotte%20Eagles%20 |

team2 = Wilmington Hammerheads (NC) |

stadium = Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte, North Carolina

| attendance = 1,045

| referee =

}}

• Wilmington Hammerheads advanced to the Sizzlin' Six finals.

{{football box|

date = August 16, 1996 |

team1 = Tulsa Roughnecks (OK) |

goals1 =*Virgil Stevens {{goal|56:13}} |

goals2 = {{Goal|8}} Berti Generes
{{Goal|9:30}} Victor Medina
Jimmy Glenn {{goal|64}} |

score = 1-3 |

report =https://www.newspapers.com/image/894442349/?match=1&terms=Tulsa%20Roughnecks |

team2 = DFW Toros (TX) |

stadium = Tulsa, Oklahoma

| attendance = 704

| referee =

}}

• Originally planned for August 17, the second game was postponed until Sunday morning, August 18, because of heavy rainfall and flooding which rendered the playing field unusable on Saturday.

{{football box|

date = August 18, 1996
7:00 AM CST |

team1 = DFW Toros (TX) |

goals1 = *{{goal|20}} |

goals2 = |

score = 1-0 |

report = |

team2 = Tulsa Roughnecks (OK) |

stadium = Dallas, Texas

| attendance =

| referee =

}}

• D/FW Toros advanced to the Sizzlin' Six finals.

{{football box|

date = August 17, 1996 |

team1 = Chico Rooks (CA) |

goals1 = |

goals2 = |

score = 0-0 |

report = |

team2 = Everett BigFoot (WA) |

stadium = Chico State Stadium, Chico, California

| attendance = 1,056

| referee =

|penalties1= Manny Ugbah {{pengoal}}
Dean Freeman {{pengoal}}

|penaltyscore= 2-1

|penalties2= {{penmiss}}
{{penmiss}}
{{penmiss}}
{{penmiss}}

}}

• Chico Rooks advanced to Sizzlin' Six finals.

The Sizzlin’ Six Tournament was a six-team, two group, round robin tournament. Each of the four conference champions entered the tournament, along with national finals host Charleston Battery and the Charlotte Eagles who had the best regular-season record among the conference runners-up.

Each team received 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie and 1 bonus point for each game in which they scored three or more goals. The top two teams in each group with the most points advanced to the semifinals in Charleston, South Carolina.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WL

|winpoints=3|losspoints=0

|res_col_header=Q

|team1=CHB|name_CHB=Charleston Battery

|team2=CHC|name_CHC=Chico Rooks

|team3=DFW|name_DFW=DFW Toros

|win_CHB=2|loss_CHB=0|gf_CHB=4|ga_CHB=2

|win_CHC=1|loss_CHC=1|gf_CHC=3|ga_CHC=3

|win_DFW=0|loss_DFW=2|gf_DFW=2|ga_DFW=4

|col_A=#ccffcc|text_A=

|result1=A|result2=A

|update=complete|source=

}}

{{football box

|date = August 19, 1996
8:00 PM EST

|team1 = Charleston Battery (SC)

|goals1 =

• Chris Dias {{goal|66}}
• Jim Foley {{goal|72:07}}

|goals2 =

• {{goal|11:07}} Rene Ortiz

|score = 2-1

|report =https://web.archive.org/web/20010910211917fw_/http://www.charlestonbattery.com/1996/96STAT.htm#GAME25

|team2 = Dallas/Fort Worth Toros (TX)

|stadium = Stoney Field, Charleston, South Carolina

| attendance = 1,526

| referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = August 20, 1996
8:00 PM EST

|team1 = Chico Rooks (CA)

|goals1 = Dean Freeman {{Goal|27}}
Mauricio De Melo {{Goal|120}}

|goals2 = {{Goal|8}} Edgar Hernandez
{{sent off}} Baltazar Ascensio
{{sentoff}} Jose Bazan

|score = 2-1 OT

|report =

|team2 = DFW Toros (TX)

|stadium = Stoney Field, Charleston, South Carolina

| attendance = 320

| referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = August 21, 1996
8:00 PM EST

|team1 = Charleston Battery (SC)

|goals1 = Patrick Olalere {{Goal|12}}
Files {{Goal|82}}

|goals2 = {{Goal|45}} Juan Lojas

|score = 2-1

|report =

|team2 = Chico Rooks (CA)

|stadium = Stoney Field, Charleston, South Carolina

| attendance = 1,539

| referee =

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WL

|winpoints=3|losspoints=0

|res_col_header=Q

|team1=CHE|name_CHE=Charlotte Eagles

|team2=WIL|name_WIL=Wilmington Hammerheads

|team3=NJI|name_NJI=North Jersey Imperials

|win_CHE=2|loss_CHE=0|gf_CHE=7|ga_CHE=2

|win_WIL=1|loss_WIL=1|gf_WIL=3|ga_WIL=1

|win_NJI=0|loss_NJI=2|gf_NJI=2|ga_NJI=9

|adjust_points_CHE=1|hth_CHE=Charlotte and Wilmington scored three or more goals in one game each, giving them each one bonus point.

|adjust_points_WIL=1|hth_WIL=CHE

|col_A=#ccffcc|text_A=

|result1=A|result2=A

|update=complete|source=

}}

{{football box

|date = August 19, 1996
8:00 PM EST

|team1 = Wilmington Hammerheads (NC)

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|score = 3-0

|report =

|team2 = North Jersey Imperials (NJ)

|stadium = Laney Field, Wilmington, North Carolina

| attendance =

| referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = August 20, 1996
8:00 PM EST

|team1 = Charlotte Eagles (NC)

|goals1 = Keith Dakin {{Goal|11}} {{Goal|24}} {{Goal|46}}
Jeremy Sorzano {{Goal|36}}
Philibert Jones {{Goal|50}}
Donovan Francis {{Goal|59}}

|goals2 = {{Goal|12}} David Price
{{Goal|30}} Gerry Lucey

|score = 6-2

|report =

|team2 = North Jersey Imperials (NJ)

|stadium = Laney Field, Wilmington, North Carolina

| attendance = 236

| referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = August 21, 1996
8:00 PM EST

|team1 = Wilmington Hammerheads (NC)

|goals1 =

|goals2 = {{Goal|33}} Keith Dakin

|score = 0-1

|report =

|team2 = Charlotte Eagles (NC)

|stadium = Laney Field, Wilmington, North Carolina

| attendance = 1,250

| referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = August 23, 1996
6:00 PM EST

|team1 = Charlotte Eagles (NC)

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|score = 1-0

|report =

|team2 = Chico Rooks (CA)

|stadium = Stoney Field, Charleston, South Carolina

| attendance =

| referee =

}}

{{football box

|date = August 23, 1996
8:00 PM EST

|team1 = Charleston Battery (SC)

|goals1 =

• Patrick Olalere {{goal|30}}
• Chris Dias {{goal|87}}

|goals2 =

|score = 2-0

|report https://web.archive.org/web/20010306041838fw_/http://www.charlestonbattery.com/1996/96STAT.htm#GAME27

|team2 = Wilmington Hammerheads (NC)

|stadium = Stoney Field, Charleston, South Carolina

| attendance = 2,642

| referee =

}}

{{football box

| date = August 24, 1996
8:00 PM EST|

| team1 = Charleston Battery (SC)|

| goals1 = *Chris Dias {{goal|29}}

• Alvaro Betancur {{goal|52}}

| goals2 = *{{goal|44}} Josh Farrar

• {{goal|74}} Jeremy Sorzano

| score = 2–2

| report = https://web.archive.org/web/20010306041838fw_/http://www.charlestonbattery.com/1996/96STAT.htm#GAME28

| team2 = Charlotte Eagles (NC)

| stadium = Stoney Field, Charleston, South Carolina

| attendance = 3,429

| referee =

| penalties1 = *Stephen Winters {{pengoal}}

• Patrick Olalere {{pengoal}}

| penaltyscore = 2-1

| penalties2 =

| event =

| time =

| round =

| score1 =

| score2 =

}}

• MVP: Craig Beeson
• Points leader: Patrick Olalere
• Defender of the Year: Guy Norcott
• Goalkeeper of the Year: Chris Carmiento
• Rookie of the Year: Juan Sastoque
• Coach of the Year: Nuno Piteira
• Organization of the Year: Reading Rage

All-League:

• Goalkeeper: Randy Dedini
• Defenders: Guy Norcott, Tom Finley, Desmond Armstrong
• Midfielders: David Price, Pat O'Kelly, Carlos Rocha
• Forward: Craig Beeson, Patrick Olalere, Jimmy Wright, Philibert Jones

[http://www.socceramerica.com/article/16369/usisl-1996-postseason-awards.html USISL: 1996 Postseason Awards]

• [https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/usisl.html United Soccer Leagues (RSSSF)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090805090457/http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1996.html#USISL The Year in American Soccer - 1996]

{{Reflist}}

{{USL seasons|defunct}}

{{1996 in American soccer}}

{{USSF D3 soccer seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1996 Usisl Professional League}}

Category:USL Second Division seasons

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