2001 USL A-League
Season | 2001 |
---|---|
Champions | Rochester Rhinos (3rd title) |
Regular season | Richmond Kickers (1st title) |
Top goalscorer | Paul Conway (22 goals) |
← 2000 2002 → |
The 2001 USL A-League was an American Division II league run by the United Soccer Leagues during the summer of 2001.
Summary
[edit]The addition of the Portland Timbers saw the renewal of a Pacific Northwest rivalry between them, the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps which dated back to the North American Soccer League. Although Vancouver was not new to the league, this was the first season they competed in under the Whitecaps name, replacing the 86ers name used since 1986.
An ownership change in August 2000 brought a revival of the old Whitecaps name for the 2001 season. At the end of the regular season, the Richmond Kickers topped the league with seventy-six points. The playoffs were scheduled to begin on September 12, but those matches were postponed by a week due to the September 11 attacks.[1][2] Midfielder Mickey Trotman, a starter for the Rochester Rhinos, was killed in an automobile accident two days before the team's first semifinal match with the Milwaukee Rampage.[3] The Rhinos defeated the Hershey Wildcats to take its third league title in four seasons.[4]
League standings
[edit]Northern Conference
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hershey Wildcats | 26 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 45 | 20 | +25 | 8 | 75 |
2 | Rochester Raging Rhinos | 26 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 43 | 27 | +16 | 6 | 74 |
3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 6 | 50 |
4 | Montreal Impact | 26 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 29 | 37 | −8 | 3 | 45 |
5 | Connecticut Wolves | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 1 | 43 |
6 | Long Island Rough Riders | 26 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 31 | 50 | −19 | 5 | 33 |
7 | Toronto Lynx | 26 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 20 | 41 | −21 | 1 | 32 |
Central Conference
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Richmond Kickers | 26 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 9 | 76 |
2 | Charleston Battery | 26 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 51 | 34 | +17 | 8 | 73 |
3 | Charlotte Eagles | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 50 | 41 | +9 | 8 | 66 |
4 | Nashville Metros | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 47 | 48 | −1 | 5 | 63 |
5 | Atlanta Silverbacks | 26 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 48 | 39 | +9 | 6 | 59 |
6 | Indiana Blast | 26 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 38 | 55 | −17 | 3 | 35 |
7 | Cincinnati Riverhawks | 26 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 39 | 80 | −41 | 3 | 27 |
Western Conference
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 26 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 8 | 74 |
2 | San Diego Flash | 26 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 55 | 42 | +13 | 11 | 68 |
3 | Milwaukee Rampage | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 45 | 40 | +5 | 5 | 63 |
4 | Portland Timbers | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 41 | 38 | +3 | 7 | 62 |
5 | Seattle Sounders | 26 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 4 | 57 |
6 | Minnesota Thunder | 26 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 29 | 34 | −5 | 3 | 41 |
7 | El Paso Patriots | 26 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 39 | 42 | −3 | 4 | 40 |
Playoffs
[edit]Bracket
[edit]First Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Hershey Wildcats | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
8 | Charlotte Eagles | 0 | 2 | 2 | Portland Timbers | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Portland Timbers | 2 | 3 | 5 | Hershey Wildcats | 4 | 0 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Vancouver Whitecaps | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 0 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | San Diego F.C. | 2 | 2 | 4 | San Diego F.C. | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Atlanta Silverbacks | 0 | 2 | 2 | Hershey Wildcats | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
Rochester Raging Rhinos | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Rochester Raging Rhinos | 1 | 3 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Charleston Battery | 1 | 1 | 2 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 2 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 2 | 3 | 5 | Rochester Raging Rhinos | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Milwaukee Rampage | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Richmond Kickers | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | Milwaukee Rampage (p) | 3 | 0 | 3 (4) | Milwaukee Rampage (a.e.t.) | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Nashville Metros | 2 | 1 | 3 (2) |
First round
[edit]Pittsburgh vs Charleston
[edit]Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) | 2–1 | Charleston Battery (SC) |
---|---|---|
Gary DePalma ![]() Phil Karn ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Charleston Battery (SC) | 1–3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) |
---|---|---|
Mac Cozier ![]() Jukka Rantala ![]() Mac Cozier ![]() Dan Calichman ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
San Diego vs Atlanta
[edit]San Diego Flash (CA) | 2–0 | Atlanta Silverbacks (GA) |
---|---|---|
Brian O'Connor ![]() Thiago Martins ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Atlanta Silverbacks (GA) | 2–2 | San Diego Flash (CA) |
---|---|---|
Danny Care ![]() Sean Finn ![]() ![]() Ryan Walker ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Portland vs Charlotte
[edit]Portland Timbers (OR) | 2–0 | Charlotte Eagles (NC) |
---|---|---|
Darin Lewis ![]() Mark Baena ![]() Neil Ryan ![]() Darren Sawatzky ![]() Michael O'Neill ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() |
Charlotte Eagles (NC) | 2–3 | Portland Timbers (OR) |
---|---|---|
Jacob Coggins ![]() Joey Johnson ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Milwaukee vs Nashville
[edit]Nashville Metros (TN) | 2–3 | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Chris Morman ![]() ![]() Brandon Wright ![]() Jakob Fenger ![]() Jaymi Bailey ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | 0–1 (OT) | Nashville Metros (TN) |
---|---|---|
Matt Bobo ![]() Philippe Godoy ![]() Destin Makumbu ![]() Josh Provan ![]() Judah Cooks ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Penalties | ||
Steve Bernal ![]() Igor Soso ![]() David Hayes ![]() Steve Butcher ![]() Mike Slivinski ![]() | 4–2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Quarterfinals
[edit]Milwaukee vs Richmond
[edit]Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | 2–2 | Richmond Kickers (VA) |
---|---|---|
Alen Soso ![]() ![]() Philippe Godoy ![]() Matt Bobo ![]() Judah Cooks ![]() Dennis Fadeski ![]() Digital Takawira ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Richmond Kickers (VA) | 1–2 (OT) | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Peter Luzak ![]() Rob Ukrop ![]() Josh Henderson ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() |
Hershey vs Portland
[edit]Portland Timbers (OR) | 0–2 | Hershey Wildcats (PA) |
---|---|---|
Gavin Wilkinson ![]() Mark Baena ![]() Michael O'Neill ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Hershey Wildcats (PA) | 1–0 | Portland Timbers (OR) |
---|---|---|
Mike Feniger ![]() |
Vancouver vs San Diego
[edit]San Diego Flash (CA) | 2–0 | Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) |
---|---|---|
Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar ![]() Emmanuel Ayim ![]() | Report |
Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) | 4–1 | San Diego Flash (CA) |
---|---|---|
Darren Tilley ![]() John Sulentic ![]() Steve Kindel ![]() | Report | ![]() |
Rochester vs Pittsburgh
[edit]Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) | 2–1 | Rochester Rhinos (NY) |
---|---|---|
Welton Melo ![]() John Jones ![]() | ![]() |
Rochester Rhinos (NY) | 3–0 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) |
---|---|---|
Martin Nash ![]() Neathan Gibson ![]() Jimmy Tanner ![]() |
Semifinals
[edit]Semifinal 1
[edit]Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | 2–3 | Rochester Rhinos (NY) |
---|---|---|
Philippe Godoy ![]() Matt Bobo ![]() Jim Curtin ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rochester Rhinos (NY) | 1–0 | Milwaukee Rampage (WI) |
---|---|---|
Scott Schweitzer ![]() Neathan Gibson ![]() Mike Kirmse ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Semifinal 2
[edit]Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) | 0–4 | Hershey Wildcats (PA) |
---|---|---|
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Hershey Wildcats (PA) | 0–1 | Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) |
---|---|---|
Report | ![]() |
Final
[edit]Rochester Raging Rhinos (NY) | 2–0 | Hershey Wildcats (PA) |
---|---|---|
Martin Nash ![]() Carlos Zavala ![]() Stoian Mladenov ![]() | Report |
Points leaders
[edit]Rank | Scorer | Club | GP | Goals | Assists | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Paul Conway | Charleston Battery | 25 | 22 | 3 | 47 |
2 | Dustin Swinehart | Charlotte Eagles | 23 | 18 | 3 | 39 |
3 | Jakob Fenger | Nashville Metros | 24 | 14 | 6 | 34 |
4 | Jeff Houser | Nashville Metros | 24 | 14 | 5 | 33 |
5 | Digital Takawira | Milwaukee Rampage | 20 | 13 | 4 | 30 |
6 | Kevin Jeffrey | Richmond Kickers | 24 | 11 | 7 | 29 |
Leighton O'Brien | Seattle Sounders | 24 | 11 | 7 | 29 | |
Mark Baena | Portland Timbers | 24 | 13 | 3 | 29 | |
9 | Ignace Moleka | Atlanta Silverbacks | 19 | 12 | 1 | 25 |
Luis Macias | El Paso Patriots | 23 | 12 | 1 | 25 | |
Chugger Adair | San Diego Flash | 22 | 10 | 5 | 25 | |
Jason Jordan | Vancouver Whitecaps | 18 | 9 | 7 | 25 | |
Rodrigo Costa | Indiana Blast | 21 | 11 | 3 | 25 | |
14 | Mark Rowland | El Paso Patriots | 26 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
15 | Josh Henderson | Richmond Kickers | 21 | 10 | 3 | 23 |
Honors
[edit]Annual awards
[edit]- Most Valuable Player: Paul Conway
- Leading Goal Scorer: Paul Conway
- Goalkeeper of the Year: Jon Busch
- Defender of the Year: Rick Titus
- Rookie of the Year: Robbie Aristodemo
- Coach of the Year: Dale Mitchell
- First Team All A-League[5]
- Goalkeeper: Jon Busch
- Defenders: Scott Schweitzer, Rick Titus, Gilbert Jean-Baptiste
- Midfielders: Philippe Godoy, Stoian Mladenov, Leighton O'Brien, Temoc Suarez
- Forwards: Paul Conway, Kevin Jeffrey, Dustin Swinehart
- Second Team All A-League
- Goalkeeper: Matt Napoleon
- Defenders: James Wall, Brent Sancho, Jason Annicchero
- Midfielders: John Ball, Lenin Steenkamp, Kevin Knight, Steve Kindel
- Forwards: Jakob Fenger, Digital Takawira, Rodrigo Costa
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Dvorchak, Robert (September 12, 2001). "Area sporting events step aside in wake of tragedy". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. B4. Retrieved August 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Huggins, Harold (September 19, 2001). "Metros to open playoffs against Rampage". The Tennessean. p. 3C. Retrieved August 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ DiVeronica, Jeff (October 4, 2001). "Rhinos' Trotman killed in auto accident". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester. p. 1D. Retrieved August 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ DiVeronica, Jeff (October 14, 2001). "A sweet repeat". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester. p. 1D. Retrieved August 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 2001 A-League Awards Archived 2012-03-05 at the Wayback Machine