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1996 USISL Premier League season

Football league season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1996 USISL Premier League season was its second. The season began in April 1996 and ended in August 1996.

Season1996
ChampionsCentral Coast Roadrunners (1st Title)
Regular Season ChampionsCentral Coast Roadrunners (1st Title)
Matches234
Quick facts Season, Champions ...
USISL Premier League
Season1996
ChampionsCentral Coast Roadrunners (1st Title)
Regular Season ChampionsCentral Coast Roadrunners (1st Title)
Matches234
Goals948 (4.05 per match)
Best PlayerFinland Pasi Kinturi Nashville Metros
Top goalscorerFinland Pasi Kinturi Nashville Metros (19 Goals)
Best goalkeeperUnited States Michael LaBerge Colorado Springs Stampede
← 1995
1997 →
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Central Coast Roadrunners won the championship, defeating the San Francisco Bay Seals 3–2. Spokane Shadow won the regular season title, winning 14 games to 2 losses.

Changes from 1995 season

Name changes

New teams

12 teams were added for the season.

More information Team, Area ...
Team Area Location Previous affiliation
Washington (state) Bellingham Orcas Northwest Washington area Bellingham, WA expansion
California Central Coast Roadrunners Central West Coast area San Luis Obispo, CA expansion
Florida Florida Strikers Greater Miami area Fort Lauderdale, FL from USISL Pro
Kentucky Lexington Bluegrass Bandits Lexington area Lexington, KY from USISL Pro
Florida Miami Tango Greater Miami area Miami, FL expansion
Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks Flint/Tri-Cities area Saginaw, MI expansion
Nebraska Omaha Flames Omaha-Council Bluffs area Omaha, NE expansion
California San Diego Top Guns San Diego area San Diego, CA from USISL Pro
California Southern California Gunners Inland Empire area San Bernardino, CA expansion
Washington (state) Spokane Shadow Spokane area Spokane, WA expansion
Florida West Florida Fury Emerald Coast area Pensacola, FL expansion
Oregon Willamette Valley Firebirds Corvallis area Corvallis, OR former Portland Firebirds of the USISL Pro League
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Teams leaving

Five teams folded after the 1995 season:

Standings

Central Conference

Northern Division

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W PKW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Lexington Bluegrass Bandits 14 9 1 4 32 18 +14 28[a] Division champion
2 Michigan Madness 14 8 1 5 22 26 −4 25[a] Team qualified for playoff berth
3 Detroit Dynamite 14 7 1 6 34 19 +15 22[a]
4 Mid-Michigan Bucks 14 7 1 6 24 18 +6 22[a] Team qualified for playoff berth
5 Kalamazoo Kingdom 14 5 0 9 18 22 −4 15
6 Grand Rapids Explosion[b] 7 0 0 7 6 21 −15 0
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Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lexington, and Michigan were all penalized 3 points.
  2. [b]
    Grand Rapids did not have a home stadium this year, and played only road games.

Southern Division

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W PKW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Austin Lone Stars 14 10 0 4 41 17 +24 30 Division champion
2 Omaha Flames 14 8 0 6 39 22 +17 24 Team qualified for playoff berth
3 Sioux City Breeze 13 7 2 4 26 23 +3 23[a][b]
4 Des Moines Menace 14 7 0 7 22 21 +1 21
5 Oklahoma City Heat 14 7 0 7 22 26 −4 21
6 Wichita Blue 13 5 0 8 18 33 −15 15[a]
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Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. [a]
    The game between Sioux City and Wichita was postponed and could not be rescheduled before end of the season. The game was cancelled because it had no effect on the playoffs.
  2. [b]
    Sioux City was penalized 6 points.

Eastern Conference

Northern Division

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W PKW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Roanoke River Dawgs 14 10 0 4 49 26 +23 30 Division champion
2 Jackson Chargers 14 7 1 6 34 24 +10 22[a] Team qualified for playoff berth
3 Nashville Metros 14 5 2 7 34 26 +8 17[b]
4 Birmingham Grasshoppers 14 4 0 10 20 33 −13 12
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Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Jackson was penalized 3 points.
  2. [b]
    Nashville was penalized 6 points.

Southern Division

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W PKW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Cocoa Expos 14 9 1 4 45 22 +23 28[a] Bye into semifinals as defending champion.
2 Orlando Lions 14 8 1 5 25 28 −3 25[a]
3 Florida Strikers 14 6 1 7 31 33 −2 19[a] Team qualified for playoff berth
4 West Florida Fury 14 5 0 9 29 36 −7 15
5 Miami Tango 14 4 0 10 29 37 −8 12
6 South Florida Future 14 0 0 14 17 63 −46 0
Close
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Cocoa, Florida, and Orlando were all penalized 3 points.

Western Conference

Northern Division

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W PKW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Spokane Shadow 14 11 1 2 34 17 +17 34[a] Division champion
2 San Francisco Bay Seals 14 10 0 4 35 15 +20 30 Team qualified for playoff berth
3 Colorado Springs Stampede 14 8 1 5 20 12 +8 25[a]
4 Puget Sound Hammers 14 8 0 6 31 23 +8 24 Team qualified for playoff berth
5 Willamette Valley Firebirds 14 5 0 9 21 31 −10 15
6 Bellingham Orcas 14 3 0 11 17 50 −33 9
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Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Colorado Springs and Spokane were both penalized 3 points.

Southern Division

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W PKW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Central Coast Roadrunners (R) 14 11 1 2 38 16 +22 34[a] Division champion
2 San Diego Top Guns 14 8 1 5 28 22 +6 25[a] Team qualified for playoff berth
3 Arizona Phoenix 14 7 0 7 32 31 +1 21
4 Tucson Amigos 14 7 0 7 24 29 −5 21
5 Fontana Falcons 14 5 0 9 31 32 −1 15
6 Southern California Gunners 14 3 0 11 19 28 −9 9
Close
Source: [citation needed]
(R) Regular Season Champions
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Central Coast and San Diego were both penalized 3 points

Playoffs

Format

Central Coast received a bye to the PDL Semifinals as the defending champion.
The top four teams from every division except the Southwest earn playoff spots. With Central Coast already receiving a bye, the top two teams from the Southwest Division will play each other, however if Central Coast is in the top two, then the third place team receives a playoff spot. The Division winners would then face each other in the Conference finals.

Divisional brackets

Division Semifinals Division Finals Finals
         
NC1 Michigan Michigan Madness
NC4 Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks 0
NC1 Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks (AET/PSO) 0 (1)
North Central Division
NC3 Michigan Kalamazoo Kingdom 0 (0)
NC2 Michigan Detroit Dynamite 0
NC3 Michigan Kalamazoo Kingdom (AET) 1
 
 
C1 Nebraska Lincoln Brigade 0
C4 Iowa Des Moines Menace 4
C4 Iowa Des Moines Menace 6
Central Division
C2 Nebraska Omaha Flames 0
C2 Nebraska Omaha Flames 5
C3 Iowa Sioux City Breeze 3

Central Conference Playoffs

North Division Playoffs
Semifinals
More information Michigan Madness, 2–3 (OT) ...
Michigan Michigan Madness2–3 (OT)Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks
  • Dennis Brose 31' (pen.)
  • Solan 53'
  • 22' gold-colored football 99' Scott Wieger
  • 28' Andrew Guest
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Semifinals
More information Kalamazoo Kingdom, 4–5 (a.e.t.) ...
Michigan Kalamazoo Kingdom4–5 (a.e.t.)Kentucky Lexington Bluegrass Bandits
  • Walker 12'
  • Wilson 73', 76', 83'
 Report
Penalties
  • Londono football with check mark
 1–3
  • football with check mark Thomas
  • football with check mark
  • football with check mark
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Attendance: 1,142
North Division Final
More information Lexington Bluegrass Bandits, 0–1 (OT) (a.e.t.) ...
Kentucky Lexington Bluegrass Bandits0–1 (OT) (a.e.t.)Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks
Penalties
  • football with red X
  • football with red X
  • football with red X
  • football with red X
  • football with red X
 0–1
  • football with red X
  • football with red X
  • football with red X
  • football with check mark Tim Ritchey
  • football with red X
Close
South Division Playoffs
Semifinals
More information Austin Lone Stars, 1–0 (OT) ...
Texas Austin Lone Stars1–0 (OT)Iowa Des Moines Menace
Close
Tranquility Park
Omaha, Nebraska
Semifinals
More information Omaha Flames, 3–1 ...
Nebraska Omaha Flames3–1Iowa Sioux City Breeze
 Report
  • Yellow card 50' Yellow-red card 86' Brandon Jenkins
  • (85:16) Chris Reid
Close
Tranquility Park
Omaha, Nebraska
South Division Final
More information Omaha Flames, 3–2 (OT) ...
Nebraska Omaha Flames3–2 (OT)Texas Austin Lone Stars
  • Johnny Torres (37:32)
  • Brian Adams 46'
  • Marc Madeley Red card 60'
  • Mike Bustos gold-colored football 99'
 Report 1 report 2
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Tranquility Park
Omaha, Nebraska
Attendance: 1,100
Division Semifinals Division Finals Finals
SE1 Florida Cocoa Expos 3
SE1 Florida Cocoa Expos 5 SE3 Florida West Florida Fury 1
SE4 Florida Miami Tango 2 SE1 Florida Cocoa Expos 2
MS2 Mississippi Jackson Chargers 1
MS1 Ohio Cincinnati Riverhawks 0
SE2 Florida South Florida Future 0 MS2 Mississippi Jackson Chargers 3
SE3 Florida West Florida Fury 4

Eastern Conference Playoffs

Eastern Conference Play In
Play-In
More information Roanoke River Dawgs, 1–2 (OT) ...
Virginia Roanoke River Dawgs1–2 (OT)Tennessee Nashville Metros
  • Ian Spooner 35'
 Report
  • 83' Ken Hoey
  • gold-colored football 99' Doug Schenke
Close
Attendance: 1,010
Play-In
More information West Florida Fury, 3–4 (a.e.t.) ...
Florida West Florida Fury3–4 (a.e.t.)Florida Florida Strikers
Close
Semifinal
More information Florida Strikers, 0–1 ...
Florida Florida Strikers0–1Tennessee Nashville Metros
  • Tony Siikala
Close
The Sports Club
Jackson, Mississippi
Eastern Conference Final
More information Jackson Chargers, 3–2 (OT) ...
Mississippi Jackson Chargers3–2 (OT)Nashville Metros
  • Sheldon Bennett 23'
  • Dwayne Demmin 47'
  • Mickey Trottman gold-colored football 98:50'
 Report
Close
The Sports Club
Jackson, Mississippi
Division Semifinals Division Finals Western Finals
         
NW1 Washington (state) Spokane Shadow 2
NW4 Washington (state) Puget Sound Hammers 1
NW1 Washington (state) Spokane Shadow 2
Northwest Division
NW2 Washington (state) Yakima Reds 0
NW2 Washington (state) Yakima Reds 1
NW3 Oregon Cascade Surge 0
NW1 Washington (state) Spokane Shadow 0
SW1 California San Gabriel Valley Highlanders 1
SW1 California San Gabriel Valley Highlanders bye
 
SW1 California San Gabriel Valley Highlanders 2
Southwest Division
SW2 Arizona Tucson Amigos 1
SW2 Arizona Tucson Amigos bye
 

Western Conference Playoffs

South Division Playoffs
Semifinals
More information San Diego Top Guns, 3–1 ...
California San Diego Top Guns3–1Arizona Arizona Phoenix
Close
Semifinals
More information Central Coast Roadrunners, 7–0 ...
California Central Coast Roadrunners7–0Arizona Tucson Amigos
  • Red card 43' Donny Duetch
Close
Attendance: 1,200
South Division Final
More information Central Coast Roadrunners, 3–2 ...
California Central Coast Roadrunners3–2California San Diego Top Guns
Report
Close
Attendance: 1,100
North Division Playoffs
Semifinals
More information Spokane Shadow, 2–1 ...
Washington (state) Spokane Shadow2–1Washington (state) Puget Sound Hammers
  • Tim Seely 63'
  • Zane Higgins 83'
 Report
Close
Attendance: 1,712
Semifinals
More information San Francisco Bay Seals, 2–1 ...
California San Francisco Bay Seals2–1Colorado Colorado Springs Stampede
  • Troya Cowell 7'
  • Marco Bonaccorsi 30'
 Report
  • 42' Haugland
Close
North Division Final
More information Spokane Shadow, 2–3 ...
Washington (state) Spokane Shadow2–3California San Francisco Bay Seals
 Report Part 1 Report Part 2
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Attendance: 1,408
Referee: Neil Pinski

Premier Six Tournament

Six teams entered the Premier Six Tournament in Cocoa, Florida the weekend of August 16–18. Each of the five division playoff champions qualified for the tournament, along with the host Cocoa Expos. The teams were seeded in this order, based on their regular season points:

  • 1. Central Coast Roadrunners
  • 2. San Francisco Bay Seals
  • 3. Cocoa Expos
  • 4. Omaha Flames
  • 5. Jackson Chargers
  • 6. Mid-Michigan Bucks.

The Central Coast Roadrunners played the bottom two seeds (Jackson and Mid-Michigan). The San Francisco Seals played the #4 and #6 seeds (Omaha and Mid-Michigan). The Cocoa Expos played and #4 and #5 seeds (Omaha and Jackson).

Qualification to the finals

In order to determine the two teams to qualify for the finals, the league used the following point system during the Premier Six Tournament:

  • Win = 3 points
  • Shootout win = 2 points
  • Shootout loss = 1 point
  • Bonus points: Each team scoring three or more goals in regulation or overtime received one extra point.
More information Place, Team ...
Place Team W SW SL L BP PTS
1 Central Coast Roadrunners 2 0 0 0 1 7
2 San Francisco Bay Seals 1 0 1 0 1 5
3 Cocoa Expos 1 0 0 1 1 4
4 Omaha Flames 0 1 0 1 0 2
5 Jackson Chargers 1 0 0 1 0 2
6 Mid-Michigan Bucks 0 0 0 2 0 0
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Friday

More information 2-2 OT, Penalties ...
California San Francisco Bay Seals (CA)2-2 OTNebraska Omaha Flames (NE)
Penalties
 1-2
Close
More information 3-0 ...
California Central Coast Roadrunners (CA)3-0Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks (MI)
Bryan Taylor
Close
More information 0-1 ...
Florida Cocoa Expos (FL)0-1Mississippi Jackson Chargers (MS)
50' Sheldon Bennett
Close

Saturday

More information 2-1 OT ...
California Central Coast Roadrunners (CA)2-1 OTMississippi Jackson Chargers (MS)
 42' Dwyane Demmin
Close
More information 4-0 ...
California San Francisco Bay Seals (CA)4-0Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks (MI)
Close
More information 4-1 ...
Florida Cocoa Expos (FL)4-1Nebraska Omaha Flames (NE)
Close

Final

More information 1–0 ...
California Central Coast Roadrunners (CA)1–0California San Francisco Bay Seals (CA)
Bryan Taylor 48'
Close
Cocoa Expo Sports Center, Cocoa, Florida

Honors

[1]

References

External links

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