2015_USL_Pro_season

2015 USL season

2015 USL season

29th season of third-division soccer league in the United States


The 2015 USL season was the fifth season of the United Soccer League (USL) and the first under its new name (previously the league was called USL Pro). This season represented a substantial expansion from 14 teams in 2014 to 24 teams in 2015, and the division of the league into two conferences. It is also the 29th season of third-division soccer in the United States.

Quick Facts Season, Champions ...

Seven Major League Soccer clubs created reserve franchises in the USL for the 2015 season, following the lead of the LA Galaxy, who had done so in 2014: FC Montreal, New York Red Bulls II, Portland Timbers 2, Real Monarchs, Seattle Sounders FC 2, Toronto FC II, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.

In 2015, the Austin Aztex, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Saint Louis FC and Tulsa Roughnecks joined the league as expansion sides. The Charlotte Eagles and Dayton Dutch Lions, both original founding members of the USL, removed themselves to the Premier Development League. The Eagles transferred their USL rights to the new Charlotte Independence club. After joining MLS, Orlando City SC sold their USL franchise rights to Louisville City.

Teams, stadiums, and affiliations

More information Team, Location ...
  Affiliate
  Partnership

There are eight USL teams owned and operated by MLS clubs and 11 USL-MLS affiliations among the 24 USL clubs.

Player transfers

For full article, see List of USL transfers 2015.

Competition format

Due to expansion, the league was divided into two conferences, Eastern and Western. Each team plays the clubs within their conferences in a home and away series plus six additional games with geographic rivals regardless of conference for a 28-game schedule. The top six finishers in each conference qualify for the four-week playoffs.[2]

League table

Eastern Conference
More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: 2015 USL schedule
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots
(C) Champions; (X) Regular Season League Champion
Western Conference
More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: 2015 USL schedule
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots

Results table


More information Color Key: Home • Away • Win • Loss • Draw, Club ...

USL published schedule and results.[3][4]

Playoffs

Teams will be seeded No. 1 through No. 6 in each conference, with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes and the No. 3 seed hosting the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed hosting the No. 5 seed.

The winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 game will then travel to face the No. 2 seed, and the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 game will travel to face the No. 1 seed. The winners will meet in the Eastern and Western Conference Championship games with the remaining two teams advancing to square off in the 2015 USL Championship, hosted by the higher seeded club.[2][5]

 
First roundConference SemifinalsConference FinalsUSL Championship
 
              
 
 
 
 
October 3
 
 
#1 Rochester Rhinos2
 
September 26
 
#4 New York Red Bulls II0
 
#4 New York Red Bulls II (a.e.t.)4
 
October 10
 
#5 Pittsburgh Riverhounds2
 
#1 Rochester Rhinos1
 
September 26
 
#2 Louisville City FC0
 
#3 Charleston Battery (a.e.t.)2
 
October 3
 
#6 Richmond Kickers1
 
#2 Louisville City FC (a.e.t.)2
 
 
#3 Charleston Battery0
 
 
October 16
 
 
#1 Rochester Rhinos (a.e.t.)2
 
 
#5 LA Galaxy II1
 
 
October 3
 
 
#1 Orange County Blues FC0
 
September 26
 
#5 LA Galaxy II2
 
#4 Sacramento Republic FC0
 
October 11
 
#5 LA Galaxy II1
 
#5 LA Galaxy II2
 
September 25
 
#2 Oklahoma City Energy FC1
 
#3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC2
 
October 4
 
#6 Seattle Sounders FC 20
 
#2 Oklahoma City Energy FC (p)2 (4)
 
 
#3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC2 (3)
 
 
 
 

Eastern Conference

September 26, 2015 (2015-09-26) 1st New York Red Bulls II 4–2 (a.e.t.) Pittsburgh Riverhounds Harrison, New Jersey
5:00 pm EDT Sanchez 62'
Ouimette 102', 115'
Bedoya 119'
Report
Report
Report
Hunt 15', 96'
Moloto Yellow card 61'
Arena Yellow card 65'
Newnam Yellow card 123' Yellow-red card 123'
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 915
Referee: Jaime Herrera
September 26, 2015 (2015-09-26) 1st Charleston Battery 2–1 (a.e.t.) Richmond Kickers Charleston, South Carolina
7:30 pm EDT Kelly 107'
Boyd Yellow card 109' Red card 120'
Lasso 114'
Report
Report
Report
Callahan Yellow card 27'
Mueller 92' (o.g.)
Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium
Attendance: 3,427
Referee: Matthew Kreitzer
October 3, 2015 (2015-10-03) SF Rochester Rhinos 2–0 New York Red Bulls II Rochester, New York
7:05 pm EDT Dos Santos 48', 69'
Obasi Yellow card 63'
Van De Casteele Yellow card 77'
Report
Report
Plewa Red card 22' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 6,378
Referee: Greg Dopka
October 3, 2015 (2015-10-03) SF Louisville City FC 2–0 (a.e.t.) Charleston Battery Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 pm EDT Burke Yellow card 42'
Fondy 107', 117'
Report
Report
Kelly Yellow card 48' Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field
Attendance: 8,517
Referee: Luis Guardia
October 10, 2015 (2015-10-10) F Rochester Rhinos 1–0 Louisville City FC Rochester, New York
7:05 pm EDT Apostolopoulos 21'
McMahon Yellow card 29'
Forbes Yellow card 49'
Walls Yellow card 60'
Dixon Yellow card 74'
Dos Santos Red card 83'
Report
Report
Report
Quinn Yellow card 49' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,561
Referee: Matthew Kreitzer

Western Conference

September 25, 2015 (2015-09-25) 1st Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2–0 Seattle Sounders FC 2 Colorado Springs, Colorado
7:00 pm MDT González 14'
Greer 22'
Burt Yellow card 78'
Gorrick Yellow card 88'
Phillips Yellow card 90+'
Report
Report
Report
Fairclough Yellow card 5'
Lowe Yellow card 49'
Stadium: Sand Creek Stadium
Attendance: 2,532
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
September 26, 2015 (2015-09-26) 1st Sacramento Republic 0–1 LA Galaxy II Sacramento, California
7:30 pm PDT López Yellow card 42'
Kiffe Yellow card 70'
Vuković Yellow card 90+'
Report
Report
Report
Olivera 13' (pen.)
Bowen Yellow card 36'
Covarrubias Yellow card 40'
Walker Yellow card 89'
Stadium: Bonney Field
Attendance: 11,442
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
October 3, 2015 (2015-10-03) SF Orange County Blues 0–2 LA Galaxy II Carson, California
7:00 pm PDT Navarro Yellow card 18'
Petričević Yellow card 90+'
Report
Report
Lassiter 14', 54'
McBean Yellow card 47'
Walker Yellow card 79'
Covarrubias Yellow card 89'
Stadium: StubHub Center
Attendance: 2,047
Referee: Chipalo Street
October 11, 2015 (2015-10-11) F Oklahoma City Energy FC 1–2 LA Galaxy II Oklahoma City
6:00 pm CDT Evans Yellow card 31'
Andrews 66'
Report
Report
Report
Lassiter 7'
Auras 23'
Maganto Yellow card 89'
Stadium: Taft Stadium
Attendance: 7,654
Referee: Jaime Herrera

USL Championship

October 16, 2015 (2015-10-16) Rochester Rhinos 2–1 (a.e.t.) LA Galaxy II Rochester, New York
7:30 pm EDT Bourdeau Yellow card 58'
Forbes Yellow card 82'
Samuels 90+1', 113'
Report
Report
Report
Walker Yellow card 45'
Lassiter 65'
Maganto Yellow card 86'
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,247
Referee: Nima Saghafi

Championship Game MVP: Asani Samuels (ROC)

Attendance

Average home attendances

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

More information Team, GP ...

1 game not reported

  • Updated to games played on September 24, 2015
Sources: United Soccer League, Timbers

Statistical leaders

More information Rank, Player ...

Top Goalkeepers

(Minimum of 33% of Team Minutes Played)

More information Rank, Goalkeeper ...

Source:[1]

League awards

Individual awards

All-League Teams

First Team

F: Matt Fondy (LOU), Danni König (OKC), Long Tan (AZU)
M: Luke Vercollone (COL), Rob Vincent (PIT), Tony Walls (ROC)
D: Bryan Burke (LOU), Shawn Ferguson (CHB), Daniel Steres (LAG), Grant Van De Casteele (ROC)
G: Brandon Miller (ROC)

Second Team

F: Kharlton Belmar (POR), Dane Kelly (CHB), Jason Yeisley (RIC)
M: Gareth Evans (OKC), Kevin Kerr (PIT), Rodrigo Lopez (SAC)
D: Mickey Daly (SAC), Brenton Griffiths (OCB), Mechack Jerome (CHA), Nemanja Vukovic (SAC)
G: Odisnel Cooper (CHB)

[11]

More information Week, USL Player of the Week ...

References

  1. "2015 USL statistics". Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  2. "Expanded USL PRO Unveils 2015 Format". United Soccer Leagues (USL). January 21, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  3. "2015 USL Season Kicks Off March 21". United Soccer Leagues (USL). February 2, 2015. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  4. "Schedule". Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  5. "Chance To Host Championship At Stake In East Final". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 8, 2015. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  6. "Louisville's Fondy Named USL Most Valuable Player". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 30, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  7. "Portland's Belmar Named USL Rookie of the Year". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 29, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  8. "Louisville's Burke Named USL Defender of the Year". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 27, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  9. "Rochester's Miller Named Goalkeeper of the Year". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 26, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  10. "Rochester's Lilley Named USL Coach of the Year". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 28, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  11. "USL All-League Teams Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 26, 2015. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.

Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 2015_USL_Pro_season, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.