1997 USISL A-League

The 1997 USISL A-League was an American Division II league run by the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues during the summer of 1997.

USISL A-League

Season	1997
Champions	Milwaukee Rampage (1st Title)
Premiers	Montreal Impact (3rd Title)
Matches played	336
Goals scored	1,000 (2.98 per match)
Best Player	Doug Miller, Rochester Raging Rhinos
Top goalscorer	Doug Miller, Rochester Raging Rhinos (23 goals)
Best goalkeeper	Dusty Hudock, Seattle Sounders
← 1996 A-League 1996 USISL Select League 1998 →

Overview

At the end of the 1996 A-League season, the U.S. second division A-League collapsed. Six of the seven teams in the A-League then joined the USISL which had three leagues in 1996, beginning with the third division USISL Select League.^[1] With the collapse of the U.S. second division and the transfer of most of its teams to the USISL, the USISL reorganized its divisions to include the new teams. It moved most of the old second division USISL Select League, plus a few new teams, up to a second division level and merged the old A-League teams into this new U.S. second division which was renamed the USISL A-League.

Regular season

Northeast Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	SW	SL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Montreal Impact	28	20	1	1	6	58	19	+39	61
2	Rochester Raging Rhinos	28	14	0	5	9	56	47	+9	42
3	Long Island Rough Riders	28	13	3	2	10	44	36	+8	42
4	Toronto Lynx	28	12	2	0	14	44	43	+1	38
5	Connecticut Wolves	28	8	4	1	15	31	45	−14	28
6	Worcester Wildfire	28	6	1	2	19	26	61	−35	19

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Atlantic Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	SW	SL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Hershey Wildcats	28	18	1	1	8	56	33	+23	55
2	Carolina Dynamo	28	16	2	2	8	63	33	+30	50
3	Richmond Kickers	28	15	0	2	11	41	35	+6	45
4	Charleston Battery	28	10	2	3	13	39	50	−11	32
5	Raleigh Flyers	28	8	4	3	13	34	52	−18	28
6	Jacksonville Cyclones	29	4	1	1	23	28	73	−45	13

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Central Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	SW	SL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers	28	13	3	2	10	45	42	+3	42
2	Nashville Metros	28	10	7	2	9	42	34	+8	37
3	Orlando Sundogs	28	12	0	4	12	39	40	−1	36
4	Milwaukee Rampage	28	11	3	2	12	33	36	−3	36
5	Minnesota Thunder	28	11	2	5	10	22	30	−8	35
6	Atlanta Ruckus	28	9	3	1	15	39	48	−9	30

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Pacific Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	SW	SL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	California Jaguars	28	17	1	0	10	48	34	+14	52
2	Seattle Sounders	28	16	2	3	7	42	19	+23	50
3	Vancouver 86ers	28	15	1	1	11	50	29	+21	46
4	Colorado Foxes	28	15	1	2	10	55	49	+6	46
5	Orange County Zodiac	28	10	1	0	17	35	62	−27	31
6	El Paso Patriots	28	5	3	3	17	30	50	−20	18

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Division Semi-finals

Northeast Semifinal 1

September 3, 1997

Rochester Raging Rhinos (NY)	0–0	Long Island Rough Riders (NY)
Kevin Koetters Fuseini Dauda Andrew McKay Leon Minott Lenin Steenkamp Gustavo Villagra  78'	Report	?'  78' Tom Lips Daniel Leon Flávio Ferri
Penalties
Mali Walton Mike Kirmse Nate Daligcon Andrew McKay Doug Miller Fuseini Dauda Chris Kennell	3–4	Daniel Leon David Price Laurence Piturro Hector Wright Ernest Inneh Jim McElderry Sal Leanti

Frontier Field, Rochester, New York

Attendance: 5,160

September 6, 1997

Long Island Rough Riders (NY)	1–1	Rochester Raging Rhinos (NY)
Carlos Ledesma 62:26' (pen.) Ernest Inneh  29' Dahir Mohammed  ?'  88' Travis Rinker	Report 1 Report 2	7:43' Nate Daligcon  ?'  82' Leon Minott Fuseini Dauda Nate Houser Jimmy Glenn
Penalties
Travis Rinker Hector Wright Daniel Leon	3–1	Mali Walton Garth Miller Nate Houser Kevin Koetters

James M. Shuart Stadium, Hempstead, New York

Attendance: 4,361

Long Island advances to the Division final

Northeast Semifinal 2

September 5, 1997
8:00 PM (EST)

Toronto Lynx (ON)	1–2	Montreal Impact (QC)
Terry St. Louis 13' Peyvand Mossavat  31' Martin Dugas  42' Franco Spadafina  43' Paul Stalteri  45'	Report	8' Onandi Lowe  13' John Limniatis  25' Onandi Lowe 62' Mauro Biello

Varsity Stadium, Toronto

Attendance: 1,254

Referee: Tony Camacho (Canada)

September 7, 1997

Montreal Impact (QC)	4–0	Toronto Lynx (ON)
Darren Tilley 17' (pen.), 25', 26' Bill Sedgewick 45'

Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, Montreal

Attendance: 4,138

Montreal advances to the Division final

---

Atlantic Semifinal 1

September 5, 1997

Richmond Kickers (VA)	1–2	Carolina Dynamo (NC)
Rob Ukrop 63'		23' Robert Rosario 31' Yari Allnutt

University of Richmond Stadium, Richmond, Virginia

Attendance: 1,362

September 6, 1997

Carolina Dynamo (NC)	1–4	Richmond Kickers (VA)
Keiran Breslin 32'		14' Dian Anguelov 72' Brian Kamler 75' Mario Lone 82' Mac Cozier

Simeon Stadium, High Point, North Carolina

Attendance: 1,560

September 6, 1997

Carolina Dynamo (NC)	0–0	Richmond Kickers (VA)
Penalties
	3–1

Simeon Stadium, High Point, North Carolina

Attendance: 1,560

Carolina advances to the Division final

Atlantic Semifinal 2

September 5, 1997
7:30 PM (EST)

Charleston Battery (CA)	1–1	Hershey Wildcats (PA)
Juan Castillo  38' Michael Anhaeuser  50' Patrick Olalere 85'	Report	78' Mark Waite
Penalties
	1–3

Stoney Field, Charleston, South Carolina

Attendance: 2,024

Referee: Roger Sill

September 7, 1997
6:00 PM (EST)

Hershey Wildcats (PA)	1–1	Charleston Battery (CA)
Lee Tschantret 89'	Report	Juan Castillo 75' Patrick Olalere
Penalties
	0–1

Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Attendance: 2,104

Referee: Yanich Wejlak

September 7, 1997
8:55 PM (EST)

Hershey Wildcats (PA)	0–0	Charleston Battery (CA)
	Report
Penalties
	4–2

Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Attendance: 2,104

Referee: Yanich Wejlak

Hershey advances to the Division final

---

Central Semifinal 1

September 4, 1997
7:45 PM (EST)

Orlando Sundogs (FL)	1–2	New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA)
Dylan Lewis  ?'  34' Greg Brick 54'	Report	12', 23' Stern John

Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida

Referee: Robert Mann (USA)

September 7, 1997
6:00 PM (EST)

New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA)	6–2	Orlando Sundogs (FL)
Gabe Gentile 2' Stern John 10', 89' Louie Smothermon 23' Mickey Trotman 39'	Report	29' Sebastian Barnes 67' Sheldon Lee

Tad Gormley Stadium, New Orleans

Attendance: 653

New Orleans advances to the Division final

Central Semifinal 2

September 4, 1997

Nashville Metros (TN)	1–2	Milwaukee Rampage (WI)
Tim Geltz 2'		81' Nick Igel 85' David Marshall

Columbia Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Attendance: 550 or 1,500

September 7, 1997

Milwaukee Rampage (WI)	3–0	Nashville Metros (TN)
Travis Roy 27' Dan Stebbins 81', 83'

Uihlein Soccer Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Attendance: 1,229

Milwaukee advances to the Division final

---

Pacific Semifinal 1

September 4, 1997

Colorado Foxes (CO)	0–3	Seattle Sounders (WA)
Rivers Guthrie	Report	Vicente Figueroa 20' Erik Storkson 26' Mike Gailey 84' (pen.) David Hoggan

Mile High Greyhound Park, Commerce City, Colorado

Attendance: 786

Referee: Rudy Bettmann (USA)

September 6, 1997

Seattle Sounders (WA)	2–0	Colorado Foxes (CO)
Henry Gutierrez Vicente Figueroa Vicente Figueroa 70' Esmundo Rodriguez 89'	Report	Chad Ashton  87'  88' Ray Tomlin

Memorial Stadium, Seattle

Attendance: 6,927

Referee: Mohammad Zarrabi-Kashani (USA)

Seattle advances to the Division final

Pacific Semifinal 2

September 5, 1997

Vancouver 86ers (BC)	4–1	California Jaguars (CA)
Domenic Mobilio 2' (pen.) 54' (pen.) Steve Kindel 35'		86' Paul Holocher

Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, British Columbia

Attendance: 2,716

September 7, 1997

California Jaguars (CA)	2–2	Vancouver 86ers (BC)
Mark Baena 55' Rick Iversen 89'		22' Steve Kindel 73' Domenic Mobilio
Penalties
	1–2

Salinas Sports Complex, Salinas, California

Attendance: 1,859

Vancouver advances to the Division final

Division Finals

Northeast Division final

September 12, 1997

Long Island Rough Riders (NY)	2–1	Montreal Impact (QC)
Hector Wright 4' Flavio Ferri 55'		5' Lloyd Barker

James M. Shuart Stadium, Hempstead, New York

Attendance: 3,585

September 14, 1997

Montreal Impact (QC)	2–0	Long Island Rough Riders (NY)
Mauro Biello 34' Lyndon Hooper 77'

Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, Montreal

Attendance: 6,679

September 14, 1997

Montreal Impact (QC)	0–0	Long Island Rough Riders (NY)
Penalties
	1–4

Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, Montreal

Attendance: 6,679

Atlantic Division final

September 12, 1997

Charleston Battery (SC)	3–3	Carolina Dynamo (NC)
Todd Miller 37' Juan Castillo 52' (pen.) Alvin Boisson 53'		43' Danny Care 54' John Ball 81' Mike Saunders
Penalties
	4–3

Stoney Field, Charleston, South Carolina

Attendance: 1,422

September 14, 1997

Carolina Dynamo (NC)	2–1	Charleston Battery (SC)
Maher Atta 29' Yari Allnutt 89'		27' (pen.) Andy Schmetzer

A.J. Simeon Stadium, High Point, North Carolina

Attendance: 1,506

September 14, 1997

Carolina Dynamo (NC)	1–0	Charleston Battery (SC)
Ed Radwanski 12'

A.J. Simeon Stadium, High Point, North Carolina

Attendance: 1,506

Central Division final

September 12, 1997

Milwaukee Rampage (WI)	2–1 (OT)	New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA)
Nick Igel 81', 92'		9' Ricardo Blanchard

Uihlein Soccer Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Attendance: 2,818

September 14, 1997

New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (LA)	3–4	Milwaukee Rampage (WI)
Stern John 64' (pen.) Gabe Jones 67' Mickey Trotman 78'		51' (pen.), 78' (pen.) Jon Szczepanski 60' Dan Stebbins 74' David Marshall

Tad Gormley Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana

Attendance: 898

Pacific Division final

September 12, 1997

Vancouver 86ers (BC)	3–0	Seattle Sounders (WA)
Craig Dalrymple Domenic Mobilio 62' Nico Berg 70' Chris Clarke 86'	Report	Henry Gutierrez Kieran Barton Vicente Figueroa

Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, British Columbia

Attendance: 3,607

Referee: Rene Perott (Canada)

September 14, 1997

Seattle Sounders (WA)	0–0 (a.e.t.)	Vancouver 86ers (BC)
Neil Megson Henry Gutierrez	Report 1 Report 2	Chris Franks Richie Sumner
Penalties
Bernie James David Hoggan Henry Gutierrez Esmundo Rodriguez	1–0	Domenic Mobilio Ollie Heald Jason Jordan Paul Dailly Chris Franks

Memorial Stadium, Seattle, Washington

Attendance: 4,820

September 14, 1997

Seattle Sounders (WA)	1–1 (a.e.t.)	Vancouver 86ers (BC)
Erik Storkson 29'	Report 1 Report 2	7' Domenic Mobilio
Penalties
Bernie James David Hoggan Vicente Figueroa Esmundo Rodriguez	1–3	Domenic Mobilio Ian Clarke Steve Kindel Doug Muirhead

Memorial Stadium, Seattle, Washington

Attendance: 4,820

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

September 19, 1997

Long Island Rough Riders (NY)	1–2	Carolina Dynamo (NC)
Laurence Piturro 71'		72', 89' (pen.) Brian Loftin

Hofstra Stadium, Hempstead, New York

Attendance: 1,044

September 21, 1997
6:00 PM EST

Carolina Dynamo (NC)	2–0	Long Island Rough Riders (NY)
Brian Loftin 84' Laurence Piturro 86' (o.g.)

A.J. Simeon Stadium, High Point, North Carolina

Attendance: 2,105

The Carolina Dynamo advance.

Western Conference

September 19, 1997

Milwaukee Rampage (WI)	3–1	Vancouver 86ers (BC)
Dan Stebbins 65', 82', 87'		51' Domenic Mobilio

Uihlein Soccer Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Attendance: 2,888

September 21, 1997
5:00 PM

Vancouver 86ers (BC)	1–0	Milwaukee Rampage (WI)
Domenic Mobilio 63' (pen.)

Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, British Columbia

Attendance: 4,323

September 21, 1997
7:00 PM

Vancouver 86ers (BC)	0–0	Milwaukee Rampage (WI)
	Report
Penalties
	0–3	Dan Stebbins Eddy Berdusco Nick Igel

Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, British Columbia

Attendance: 4,323

Referee: Kevin Skinner

The Milwaukee Rampage advance, winning two out of three games.

Final

September 27, 1997
8:30 PM

Milwaukee Rampage (WI)	1–1 (a.e.t.)	Carolina Dynamo (NC)
Dan Stebbins 65'	Report	80' Brian Loftin
Penalties
Jon Szczepanski Dan Stebbins Nick Igel	3–0	Maher Atta Yari Allnutt Ed Radwanski

Uihlein Soccer Park, Milwaukee

Attendance: 6,381

MVP: Carmine Isacco, Milwaukee Rampage

Points leaders

Rank	Scorer	Club	Goals	Assists	Points
1	Doug Miller	Rochester Rhinos	23	5	51
2	Mark Baena	California Jaguars	20	4	44
3	Stern John	New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers	16	5	37
4	Steve Patterson	Colorado Foxes	16	3	35
5	Jamel Mitchell	Nashville Metros	17	0	34
	Jimmy Glenn	Rochester Rhinos	13	8	34
7	Yari Allnutt	Carolina Dynamo	12	9	33
	Domenic Mobilio	Vancouver 86ers	14	5	33
	Darren Tilley	Montreal Impact	13	7	33
	Gustavo Leal	Orange County Zodiac	16	1	33
11	Sebastian Barnes	Orlando Sundogs	14	3	31
12	Garret Kusch	Vancouver 86ers	10	10	30
13	Mike Gailey	Seattle Sounders	10	7	27
	Rob Ukrop	Richmond Kickers	12	3	27

Honors

• MVP: Doug Miller
• Leading goal scorer: Doug Miller
• Leading goalkeeper: Dusty Hudock
• Rookie of the Year: Stern John
• Coach of the Year: Bob Lilley
• First Team All League
  • Goalkeeper: Dusty Hudock
  • Defenders: John Limniatis, Scott Schweitzer, Mark Watson, Travis Rinker
  • Midfielders: Yari Allnutt, Mauro Biello, Garret Kusch
  • Forwards: Mark Baena, Doug Miller, Stern John
• Second Team All League
  • Goalkeeper: Paolo Ceccarelli
  • Defenders: Don Gramenz, Robert Rosario, Bill Sedgewick, Dian Anguelov
  • Midfielders: John Smith, Nick DeSantis, Domenic Mobilio
  • Forwards: Steve Patterson, Darren Tilley, Mike Gailey
• Organization of the Year: Rochester Raging Rhinos
• Executive of the Year: Todd Smith, Hershey Wildcats
• Fair Play Award: Colorado Foxes