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Image:USL Second Division.gif
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division is a professional men's soccer league in North America, part of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) league pyramid. It is the third division of soccer in the United States behind Major League Soccer (top division) and the USL First Division (second division). It was known as the USL Pro Soccer League until 2005.
The Charlotte Eagles won the 2005 title on penalties over the Western Mass Pioneers.
For 2006, the Richmond Kickers have dropped down from the USL First Division, while the Northern Virginia Royals will leave for the amateur PDL.
History
In 1995 the USISL split into two leagues, one professional and one amateur. The United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues Pro Soccer League, more commonly known simply as the Pro League, was a FIFA sanctioned Division 3 league. In 1996, the USISL established the new Select League consisting of its strongest teams from the Pro League and Premier League in hopes of gaining FIFA Division 2 sanctioning. The next season, the Select League and independent Division 2 A-League merged to form a new A-League under the USISL umbrella. In 1999 the umbrella USISL changed its name to the United Soccer Leagues and the Pro League officially became known as the United Soccer Leagues 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 due to legal reasons. In 2005 the league took its current name as the USL Second Division.
Current Member Teams
Complete team list
- Albuquerque Geckos (1997)
- Arizona Sahuaros (1997-2002)
- Atlanta Magic (1995, only played 2 games)
- Austin Lone Stars (1997-00)
- Boston Storm (1995)
- Boston Bulldogs (2001)
- California Jaguars (1995, 1999)
- California Gold (2002-04)
- Cape Cod Crusaders (1995, 1997-2000)
- Carolina Dynamo (1995, 1999-2003, as Greensboro Dynamo in 1995)
- Cascade Surge (1995-96, as Oregon Surge in 1995)
- Central California Valley Hydra (1995-96)
- Central Jersey Riptide (1996-98)
- Charleston Battery (1995-96)
- Charlotte Eagles (1995-2000, 2004-present)
- Chattanooga Express (1995-96)
- Chicago Stingers (1995, 1997-98, becomes Chicago Sockers in PDL)
- Chico Rooks (1995-01)
- Cincinnati Cheetahs (1995)
- Cincinnati Kings (2005-present)
- Cleveland Caps (1997-98)
- Columbus Xoggz (1995)
- Connecticut Wolves (1995, 2002)
- Delaware Wizards (1995, 1997-2000)
- Detroit Wheels (1995)
- Eastern Shore Sharks (1995-99, as Baltimore Bays in 1995-97)
- El Paso Patriots (1995)
- Everett BigFoot (1995-96, after 1996 season, merged with Puget Sound Hammers of Premier League to form Puget Sound BigFoot of Premier League)
- Florida Stars (1995)
- Florida Strikers (1995, 1997, as Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 1995)
- Fresno Dragons (1999)
- Greenville Lions (2001-02)
- Hampton Roads Mariners (1995)
- Harrisburg City Islanders (2004-present)
- Hawaii Tsunami (1995-97)
- Houston Force (1995)
- Houston Hurricanes (1996-00)
- Indiana Blast (1997-98)
- Jersey Dragons (1995)
- Las Vegas Quicksilver (1995)
- Lexington Bluegrass Bandits (1995)
- Long Island Rough Riders (1995, 2002-present)
- Los Angeles Salsa U-23s (1995)
- Louisville Thoroughbreds (1995)
- Miami Breakers (1998)
- Milwaukee Rampage (1995)
- Minnesota Thunder (1995)
- Mobile Revelers (1995-97)
- Monterey Bay Jaguars (1995, becomes California Jaguars in Select League)
- Myrtle Beach Boyz (1995)
- Myrtle Beach Seadawgs (1997-99)
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- New Hampshire Ramblers (1995)
- New Hampshire Phantoms (1996-present)
- New Jersey Stallions (1997-03)
- New Mexico Chiles (1995)
- New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (1995)
- New York Capital District Alleycats (1995-98, as Albany Alleycats in 1995-96, becomes New York Capital District Shockers in PDL)
- New York Fever (1995, merged into New York Centaurs of A-League after season)
- New York Freedom (2002-03)
- North Jersey Imperials (1996-97, 1999)
- Northern Nevada Aces (2001-02)
- Northern Virginia Royals (1998-2005)
- Orlando Nighthawks (1997-98, as Daytona Tigers in 1997)
- Philadelphia Freedom (1995-97, as Pennsylvania Freedom in 1995)
- Pensacola Barracudas (1998)
- Portland Firebirds (1995, becomes Willamette Firebirds in Premier League)
- Raleigh Flyers (1995)
- Reading Rage (1996-2003)
- Rhode Island Stingrays (1995-2001)
- Riverside County Elite (2000)
- Roanoke Wrath (1998-2000)
- Rockford Raptors (1995-98)
- Reno Rattlers (1995, 1997-98)
- Richmond Kickers (2006-present)
- Riverhounds FC (2004-present, as Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2004)
- Sacramento Scorpions (1997)
- St. Louis Knights (1995)
- San Antonio Pumas (1995-98)
- San Diego Top Guns (1995)
- San Diego Gauchos (2002-04)
- San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles (1995-98)
- San Francisco Bay Diablos (1995)
- San Francisco Bay Seals (1997)
- Shreveport/Bossier Lions (1998)
- South Carolina Shamrocks (1997-99)
- South Jersey Barons (1997-02)
- Southwest Florida Manatees (1998)
- Stanislaus County Cruisers (1997-01)
- Tallahassee Tempest (1998)
- Tampa Bay Cyclones (1995)
- Texas Lightning (1995)
- Texas Rattlers (1995-2000, as Dallas/Ft. Worth Toros in 1995-96, as Dallas Toros in 1997, as Texas Toros in 1998-99)
- Tucson Fireballs (1997-2001, as Los Angeles Fireballs in 1997-99)
- Tulsa Roughnecks (1995-99)
- Utah Blitzz (2000-04)
- Vermont Voltage (1997-98, as Vermont Wanderers in 1997)
- Washington Mustangs (1996)
- Westchester Flames (2002-04)
- Western Mass Pioneers (1998-present)
- Wilmington Hammerheads (1996-present)
- Worcester Wildfire (1996)
- Yakima Reds (1995-96)
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Past champions
Championships by Team
- 2: Charlotte Eagles (2000, 2005); Long Island Rough Riders (1995, 2002); Utah Blitzz (2001, 2004)
- 1: Albuquerque Geckos (1997); Charleston Battery (1996); Chicago Stingers (1998); Western Mass Pioneers (1999)
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