2008 United Soccer Leagues

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

The 2008 Season is the 22nd edition of the United Soccer Leagues season.

The season kicked off on Friday, April 12 with two First Division games, as the Charleston Battery visited Miami FC and the Montreal Impact visited the Vancouver Whitecaps.

General

Honors

class="wikitable"
Competition

!Champion

!Runner-Up

!Regular Season Champion/Best USL team

USL First Division

|Vancouver Whitecaps

|Puerto Rico Islanders

|Puerto Rico Islanders

USL Second Division

|Cleveland City Stars

|Charlotte Eagles

|Charlotte Eagles

USL PDL

|Thunder Bay Chill

|Laredo Heat

|Michigan Bucks

U.S. Open Cup

|D.C. United (MLS)

|Charleston Battery (USL-1)

|Charleston Battery

Canadian Championship

|Montreal Impact

|Toronto FC (MLS)

| n/a

Standings

=First Division=

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

|res_col_header=Q

|ptsfirst=y

|loss_before_tie=y

|team1=PRI|name_PRI=Puerto Rico Islanders

|team2=VAN|name_VAN=Vancouver Whitecaps

|team3=MTL|name_MTL=Montreal Impact

|team4=ROC|name_ROC=Rochester Rhinos

|team5=CHA|name_CHA=Charleston Battery

|team6=SEA|name_SEA=Seattle Sounders

|team7=MIN|name_MIN=Minnesota Thunder

|team8=CAR|name_CAR=Carolina RailHawks

|team9=MIA|name_MIA=Miami FC

|team10=ATL|name_ATL=Atlanta Silverbacks

|team11=POR|name_POR=Portland Timbers

|win_PRI=15|draw_PRI=9|loss_PRI=6|gf_PRI=43|ga_PRI=23

|win_VAN=15|draw_VAN=8|loss_VAN=7|gf_VAN=34|ga_VAN=28|status_VAN=C

|win_MTL=12|draw_MTL=6|loss_MTL=12|gf_MTL=33|ga_MTL=28

|win_ROC=11|draw_ROC=9|loss_ROC=10|gf_ROC=35|ga_ROC=32

|win_CHA=11|draw_CHA=7|loss_CHA=12|gf_CHA=34|ga_CHA=36

|win_SEA=10|draw_SEA=10|loss_SEA=10|gf_SEA=37|ga_SEA=36

|win_MIN=10|draw_MIN=9|loss_MIN=11|gf_MIN=40|ga_MIN=38

|win_CAR=9|draw_CAR=10|loss_CAR=11|gf_CAR=34|ga_CAR=43

|win_MIA=8|draw_MIA=10|loss_MIA=12|gf_MIA=28|ga_MIA=34

|win_ATL=8|draw_ATL=10|loss_ATL=12|gf_ATL=37|ga_ATL=50

|win_POR=7|draw_POR=10|loss_POR=13|gf_POR=26|ga_POR=33

|adjust_points_ROC=-1|hth_ROC=Rochester deducted 1 point for use of an ineligible player on August 10, 2008{{cite web|title=Rhinos penalized for infraction|url=http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/recentnews/269957.html|publisher=United Soccer Leagues|access-date=June 28, 2011|date=August 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326100740/http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/recentnews/269957.html|archive-date=March 26, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

|hth_CHA=CHA: 4 pts; SEA: 4 pts|hth_SEA=CHA

|hth_MIA=MIA: 7 pts; ATL: 1 pt|hth_ATL=MIA

|col_C=green1|text_C=Commissioner's Cup, bye to semifinal round of playoffs

|result1=C

|col_Q=#BBEBFF|text_Q=First round of playoffs

|result2=Q|result3=Q|result4=Q|result5=Q|result6=Q|result7=Q

|status_text_C=Playoff Champion

|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/standings/8588667.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610164341/http://www.uslsoccer.com/standings/8588667.html |archive-date=10 June 2011 |title=USL First Division 2008 |work=USLsoccer.com |publisher=United Soccer Leagues |access-date=8 April 2020}}

|class_rules=Tie-breaker order: 1. Head-to-head points; 2. Total wins; 3. Goal difference; 4. Goals for; 5. Lottery

}}

==Playoffs==

Teams were re-seeded for semifinal matchups
Vancouver was selected by the league to host the final despite being the lower seeded team

{{8TeamBracket|legs=2/2/1|aggregate=score|nowrap=y|RD1-RD2-path=0|RD1-omit= 7/8

| RD1=First round
September 26/28

| RD2=Semi-finals
October 3/5

| RD3=Final
October 12

| team-width=160px

| RD1-seed1= 6

| RD1-team1= Seattle Sounders

| RD1-score1-1= 2

| RD1-score1-2= 1

| RD1-score1-3= 3

| RD1-seed2= 3

| RD1-team2= Montreal Impact

| RD1-score2-1= 1

| RD1-score2-2= 3

| RD1-score2-3= 4

| RD1-seed4= 2

| RD1-team4= Vancouver Whitecaps

| RD1-score4-1= 2

| RD1-score4-2= 3

| RD1-score4-3= 5

| RD1-seed3= 7

| RD1-team3= Minnesota Thunder

| RD1-score3-1= 0

| RD1-score3-2= 4

| RD1-score3-3= 4

| RD1-seed6= 4

| RD1-team6= Rochester Rhinos

| RD1-score6-1= 2

| RD1-score6-2= 0

| RD1-score6-3= 2

| RD1-seed5= 5

| RD1-team5= Charleston Battery

| RD1-score5-1= 0

| RD1-score5-2= 1

| RD1-score5-3= 1

| RD1-seed7= n

| RD1-team7= BYE

| RD1-score7-1=

| RD1-score7-2=

| RD1-score7-3=

| RD1-seed8= 1

| RD1-team8= Puerto Rico Islanders

| RD1-score8-1=

| RD1-score8-2=

| RD1-score8-3=

| RD2-seed1= 3

| RD2-team1= Montreal Impact

| RD2-score1-1= 1

| RD2-score1-2= 0

| RD2-score1-3= 1

| RD2-seed2= 2

| RD2-team2= Vancouver Whitecaps

| RD2-score2-1= 0

| RD2-score2-2= 2

| RD2-score2-3= 2

| RD2-seed3= 4

| RD2-team3= Rochester Rhinos

| RD2-score3-1= 2

| RD2-score3-2= 0

| RD2-score3-3= 2

| RD2-seed4= 1

| RD2-team4= Puerto Rico Islanders (a.e.t)

| RD2-score4-1= 0

| RD2-score4-2= 3

| RD2-score4-3= 3

| RD3-seed1= 2

| RD3-team1= Vancouver Whitecaps

| RD3-score1-1= 2

| RD3-seed2= 1

| RD3-team2= Puerto Rico Islanders

| RD3-score2-1= 1

}}

==First Round==

{{football box

|round= First Leg

|date = September 26, 2008

|time = 7:35 PM EDT

|team1 = Rochester Rhinos

|score = 2–0

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20090109011716/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/946271.html

|team2 = Charleston Battery

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = PAETEC Park
Rochester, New York

|attendance = 6,923

|referee = Chris Penso

}}

{{football box

|round= Second Leg

|date = September 28, 2008

|time = 7:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Charleston Battery

|score = 1–0

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081202061048/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/946274.html

|team2 = Rochester Rhinos

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Blackbaud Stadium
Charleston, South Carolina

|attendance = 2,131

|referee = Doug Wolff

}}

Rochester Rhinos won 2–1 on Aggregate.

----

{{football box

|round= First Leg

|date = September 26, 2008

|time = 10:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Seattle Sounders

|score = 2–1

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20090123211806/http://uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/946273.html

|team2 = Montreal Impact

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Starfire Sports Complex
Tukwila, Washington

|attendance = 2,865

|referee = Edvin Jurisevic

}}

{{football box

|round= Second Leg

|date = September 28, 2008

|time = 5:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Montreal Impact

|score = 3–1

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081202061102/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/946275.html

|team2 = Seattle Sounders

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Saputo Stadium
Montreal, Quebec

|attendance = 11,134

|referee = Mauricio Navarro

}}

Montreal Impact won 4–3 on Aggregate.

----

{{football box

|round= First Leg

|date = September 26, 2008

|time = 10:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Vancouver Whitecaps

|score = 2–0

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20140307123520/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/946272.html

|team2 = Minnesota Thunder

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Swangard Stadium
Burnaby, British Columbia

|attendance = 4,943

|referee = Carol Anne Chenard

}}

{{football box

|round= Second Leg

|date = September 28, 2008

|time = 6:05 PM EDT

|team1 = Minnesota Thunder

|score = 4–3

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081202061107/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/946276.html

|team2 = Vancouver Whitecaps

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = National Sports Center
Blaine, Minnesota

|attendance = 3,811

|referee = NA

}}

Vancouver Whitecaps won 5–4 on Aggregate.

==Semifinals==

{{football box

|round= First Leg

|date = October 3, 2008

|time = 7:35 PM EDT

|team1 = Rochester Rhinos

|score = 2–0

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081004191101/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/950519.html

|team2 = Puerto Rico Islanders

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = PAETEC Park
Rochester, New York

|attendance = 7,001

|referee = Niko Bratsis

}}

{{football box

|round= Second Leg

|date = October 5, 2008

|time = 6:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Puerto Rico Islanders

|score = 3–0

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081014124416/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/950521.html

|team2 = Rochester Rhinos

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet = y

|stadium = Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
Bayamón, Puerto Rico

|attendance = 9,112

|referee = Tony Russo

}}

Puerto Rico Islanders won 3–2 on Aggregate in Extra Time.

----

{{football box

|round= First Leg

|date = October 3, 2008

|time = 8:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Montreal Impact

|score = 1–0

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081004191053/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/950518.html

|team2 = Vancouver Whitecaps

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Saputo Stadium
Montreal, Quebec

|attendance = 12,002

|referee = Steve DePiero

}}

{{football box

|round= Second Leg

|date = October 5, 2008

|time = 6:30 PM EDT

|team1 = Vancouver Whitecaps

|score = 2–0

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20090109021850/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/950520.html

|team2 = Montreal Impact

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Swangard Stadium
Burnaby, British Columbia

|attendance = 4,992

|referee = Dave Gantar

}}

Vancouver Whitecaps won 2–1 on Aggregate.

==Final==

{{football box

|round= Second Leg

|date = October 12, 2008

|time = 7:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Vancouver Whitecaps

|score = 2–1

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081017164635/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/957734.html

|team2 = Puerto Rico Islanders

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Swangard Stadium
Burnaby, British Columbia

|attendance = 5,822

|referee = Mark Kadlecik

}}

{{winners-other|USL First Division
2008 Champions|CAN|Vancouver Whitecaps FC|Second}}

== Awards and All-League Teams==

=Second Division=

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

|res_col_header=Q

|loss_before_tie=y

|team1=CHE|name_CHE=Charlotte Eagles

|team2=RIC|name_RIC=Richmond Kickers

|team3=CLE|name_CLE=Cleveland City Stars

|team4=CRY|name_CRY=Crystal Palace Baltimore

|team5=HAR|name_HAR=Harrisburg City Islanders

|team6=WMP|name_WMP=Western Mass Pioneers

|team7=WIL|name_WIL=Wilmington Hammerheads

|team8=PIT|name_PIT=Pittsburgh Riverhounds

|team9=BER|name_BER=Bermuda Hogges

|team10=RMM|name_RMM=Real Maryland Monarchs

|win_CHE=13|draw_CHE=5|loss_CHE=2|gf_CHE=45|ga_CHE=15

|win_RIC=14|draw_RIC=2|loss_RIC=4|gf_RIC=48|ga_RIC=20

|win_CLE=10|draw_CLE=7|loss_CLE=3|gf_CLE=33|ga_CLE=16 |status_CLE=C

|win_CRY=11|draw_CRY=1|loss_CRY=8|gf_CRY=30|ga_CRY=30

|win_HAR=7|draw_HAR=10|loss_HAR=3|gf_HAR=33|ga_HAR=20

|win_WMP=5|draw_WMP=6|loss_WMP=9|gf_WMP=19|ga_WMP=29

|win_WIL=4|draw_WIL=7|loss_WIL=9|gf_WIL=32|ga_WIL=33

|win_PIT=4|draw_PIT=6|loss_PIT=10|gf_PIT=25|ga_PIT=37

|win_BER=5|draw_BER=2|loss_BER=13|gf_BER=21|ga_BER=50

|win_RMM=3|draw_RMM=2|loss_RMM=15|gf_RMM=15|ga_RMM=51

|adjust_points_WMP=-1|hth_WMP=Western Mass and Real Maryland deducted 1 point

|adjust_points_RMM=-1|hth_RMM=WMP

|col_C=#ccccff|text_C=Regular season champion

|result1=C

|col_Q=#ccffcc|text_Q=Qualified for playoffs

|result2=Q|result3=Q|result4=Q|result5=Q|result6=Q

|status_text_C=Playoff Champion

|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/standings/8629965.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420091336/http://www.uslsoccer.com/standings/8629965.html |archive-date=20 April 2009 |title=USL Second Division 2008 |work=USLsoccer.com |publisher=United Soccer Leagues |access-date=9 April 2020}}

}}

==Playoffs==

{{6TeamBracket

| RD1=First Round
August 13

| RD2=Semifinals
August 16

| RD3=Final
August 23

| RD1-seed1=4

| RD1-team1=Crystal Palace Baltimore (AET/PK)

| RD1-score1=2 (7)

| RD1-seed2=5

| RD1-team2=Harrisburg City Islanders

| RD1-score2= 2 (6)

| RD1-seed3=3

| RD1-team3=Cleveland City Stars

| RD1-score3=4

| RD1-seed4=6

| RD1-team4=Western Mass Pioneers

| RD1-score4=2

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1=Charlotte Eagles

| RD2-score1=2

| RD2-seed2=4

| RD2-team2=Crystal Palace Baltimore

| RD2-score2=1

| RD2-seed3=2

| RD2-team3=Richmond Kickers

| RD2-score3=0

| RD2-seed4=3

| RD2-team4=Cleveland City Stars(AET)

| RD2-score4=1

| RD3-seed1=1

| RD3-team1=Charlotte Eagles

| RD3-score1=1

| RD3-seed2=3

| RD3-team2=Cleveland City Stars

| RD3-score2=2

}}

==First round==

{{football box

|date = August 13, 2008

|time = 7:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Cleveland City Stars

|score = 4–2

|report= [https://web.archive.org/web/20081123104611/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/875224.html Report]

|team2 = Western Mass Pioneers

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Krenzler Field
Cleveland, Ohio

|attendance = 1,683

|referee = Chris Penso (United States)

}}

----

{{football box

|date = August 13, 2008

|time = 7:30 PM EDT

|team1 = Crystal Palace Baltimore

|score = 2–2

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081123121831/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/875225.html

|team2 = Harrisburg City Islanders

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet = y

|penalties1=

|penaltyscore=7–6

|penalties2=

|stadium = UMBC Stadium
Catonsville, Maryland

|attendance = 1,352

|referee = Bryan Roslund (United States)

}}

==Semifinals==

{{football box

|date = August 16, 2008

|time = 7:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Charlotte Eagles

|score = 2–1

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081123122305/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/875226.html

|team2 = Crystal Palace Baltimore

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Restart Field
Charlotte, North Carolina

|attendance = 1,188

|referee = Jeff Muschik

}}

----

{{football box

|date = August 16, 2008

|time = 7:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Richmond Kickers

|score = 0–1

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081123034203/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/875227.html

|team2 = Cleveland City Stars

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet = y

|stadium = University of Richmond Stadium
Richmond, Virginia

|attendance = 2,693

|referee = Daniel Stead

}}

==Final==

{{football box

|date = August 23, 2008

|time = 8:00 PM EDT

|team1 = Cleveland City Stars

|score = 2–1

|report= https://web.archive.org/web/20081123124335/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/886781.html

|team2 = Charlotte Eagles

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|aet =

|stadium = Krenzler Field
Cleveland, Ohio

|attendance = 2,016

|referee = Jason Krnac

}}

== Awards and All-League team==

=Premier Development League=

References

{{reflist}}