1996 USISL Premier League season

August 2023 USISL Premier League 1996 Regular Season Champions Central Coast Roadrunners (1st Title) Central Coast Roadrunners (1st Title) 234 948 FIN Pasi Kinturi Nashville Metros FIN Pasi Kinturi Nashville Metros (19 Goals) USA Michael LaBerge Colorado Springs Stampede 1995 1997 The 1996 USISL Premier League season was its second. The season began in April 1996 and ended in August 1996. 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 Ann Arbor Elites became the Michigan Madness. Arizona Cotton became the Arizona Phoenix. Montclair Standard Falcons moved to Fontana, CA and became the Fontana Falcons. Oklahoma City Slickers changed their name to the Oklahoma City Heat. San Francisco All-Blacks United changed their name to the San Francisco Bay Seals. Wichita Blue Angels changed their name to the Wichita Blue. New teams 12 teams were added for the season. TeamAreaLocationPrevious affiliationWashington Bellingham OrcasNorthwest Washington areaBellingham, WAexpansionCalifornia Central Coast RoadrunnersCentral West Coast areaSan Luis Obispo, CAexpansionFlorida Florida StrikersGreater Miami areaFort Lauderdale, FLfrom USISL ProKentucky Lexington Bluegrass BanditsLexington areaLexington, KYfrom USISL ProFlorida Miami TangoGreater Miami areaMiami, FLexpansionMichigan Mid-Michigan BucksFlint/Tri-Cities areaSaginaw, MIexpansionNebraska Omaha FlamesOmaha-Council Bluffs areaOmaha, NEexpansionCalifornia San Diego Top GunsSan Diego areaSan Diego, CAfrom USISL ProCalifornia Southern California GunnersInland Empire areaSan Bernardino, CAexpansionWashington Spokane ShadowSpokane areaSpokane, WAexpansionFlorida West Florida FuryEmerald Coast areaPensacola, FLexpansionOregon Willamette Valley FirebirdsCorvallis areaCorvallis, ORformer Portland Firebirds of the USISL Pro League Teams leaving Five teams folded after the 1995 season: Arkansas A's Columbia Heat Inland Empire Panteras North Bay Breakers Shasta Scorchers Standings Central Conference Northern Division main WL PK n 3 4 Q LBB Lexington Bluegrass Bandits MIC Michigan Madness DET Detroit Dynamite MMB Mid-Michigan Bucks KAL Kalamazoo Kingdom WME Grand Rapids Explosion 9 1 4 32 18 8 1 5 22 26 7 1 6 34 19 7 1 6 24 18 5 0 9 18 22 0 0 7 6 21 -3 Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lexington, and Michigan were all penalized 3 points. -3 LBB -3 LBB -3 LBB Grand Rapids did not have a home stadium this year, and played only road games. #ccccff Division champion C #ccffcc Team qualified for playoff berth Q Q Q complete Southern Division main WL PK n 3 4 Q ALS Austin Lone Stars OMA Omaha Flames SCB Sioux City Breeze DMM Des Moines Menace OCH Oklahoma City Heat WIC Wichita Blue 10 0 4 41 17 8 0 6 39 22 7 2 4 26 23 7 0 7 22 21 7 0 7 22 26 5 0 8 18 33 Sioux City was penalized 6 points. -6 WIC,6PT 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. #ccccff Division champion C #ccffcc Team qualified for playoff berth Q Q Q complete Eastern Conference Northern Division main WL PK n 3 4 Q RRD Roanoke River Dawgs JAC Jackson Chargers NAS Nashville Metros BIR Birmingham Grasshoppers 10 0 4 49 26 7 1 6 34 24 5 2 7 34 26 4 0 10 20 33 -3 Jackson was penalized 3 points. -6 Nashville was penalized 6 points. #ccccff Division champion C #ccffcc Team qualified for playoff berth Q Q complete Southern Division main WL PK n 3 4 Q COC Cocoa Expos ORL Orlando Lions FLS Florida Strikers WFF West Florida Fury MIA Miami Tango SFF South Florida Future 9 1 4 45 22 8 1 5 25 28 6 1 7 31 33 5 0 9 29 36 4 0 10 29 37 0 0 14 17 63 -3 Cocoa, Florida, and Orlando were all penalized 3 points. -3 COC -3 COC #FFBF00 Bye into semifinals as defending champion. BYE #ccffcc Team qualified for playoff berth Q Q complete Western Conference Northern Division main WL PK n 3 4 Q SPO Spokane Shadow SFB San Francisco Bay Seals CSS Colorado Springs Stampede SEA Puget Sound Hammers WVF Willamette Valley Firebirds BEL Bellingham Orcas 11 1 2 34 17 10 0 4 35 15 8 1 5 20 12 8 0 6 31 23 5 0 9 21 31 3 0 11 17 50 -3 Colorado Springs and Spokane were both penalized 3 points. -3 SPO #ccccff Division champion C #ccffcc Team qualified for playoff berth Q Q complete Southern Division main WL PK n 3 4 Q Regular Season Champions CCR Central Coast Roadrunners SDG San Diego Top Guns ARI Arizona Phoenix TUC Tucson Amigos FON Fontana Falcons SCG Southern California Gunners 11 1 2 38 16 R 8 1 5 28 22 7 0 7 32 31 7 0 7 24 29 5 0 9 31 32 3 0 11 19 28 -3 Central Coast and San Diego were both penalized 3 points -3 CCR #ccccff Division champion C #ccffcc Team qualified for playoff berth Q Q complete 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 y Division Semifinals Division Finals North Central Division Central Division NC1 Michigan Michigan Madness NC4 Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks 0 NC2 Michigan Detroit Dynamite 0 NC3 Michigan Kalamazoo Kingdom (AET) 1 C1 Nebraska Lincoln Brigade 0 C4 Iowa Des Moines Menace 4 C2 Nebraska Omaha Flames 5 C3 Iowa Sioux City Breeze 3 NC1 Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks (AET/PSO) 0 (1) NC3 Michigan Kalamazoo Kingdom 0 (0) C4 Iowa Des Moines Menace 6 C2 Nebraska Omaha Flames 0 Central Conference Playoffs North Division Playoffs Semifinals August 2, 1996 Michigan Michigan Madness 2–3 (OT) Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks Dennis Brose 31 pen. Solan 53 22 99 Scott Wieger 28 Andrew Guest Soisson-Rapacz-Clason FieldKalamazoo, Michigan Semifinals August 2, 1996 Michigan Kalamazoo Kingdom 4–5 https://mlive.newsbank.com/search?text=bandits&date_from=august+3%2C+1996&date_to=&content_added=&pub%5B%5D=123DD2ED27BA8D93 Kentucky Lexington Bluegrass Bandits Walker 12 Wilson 73 76 83 20 43 Marshall 53 Gerak 71 Hunt Londono 1–3 Thomas y Soisson-Rapacz-Clason FieldKalamazoo, Michigan 1,142 North Division Final August 3, 1996 Kentucky Lexington Bluegrass Bandits 0–1 (OT) Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks 0–1 Tim Ritchey y Soisson-Rapacz-Clason FieldKalamazoo, Michigan South Division Playoffs Semifinals August 2, 1996 5:30 PM Texas Austin Lone Stars 1–0 (OT) Iowa Des Moines Menace Chris Veselka 101 Tranquility ParkOmaha, Nebraska Semifinals August 2, 1996 7:05 PM Nebraska Omaha Flames 3–1 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/891665042/ Iowa Sioux City Breeze Paul Lekics 29:10 Johnny Torres 53:52 pen. Johnny Anderson 88:59 Mark Haston 0 Josh Bahr Kieth DeFini 2 50 86 Brandon Jenkins 85:16 Chris Reid Tranquility ParkOmaha, Nebraska South Division Final August 3, 1996 Nebraska Omaha Flames 3–2 (OT) Report 1 report 2 Texas Austin Lone Stars Johnny Torres 37:32 Brian Adams 46 Marc Madeley 0 60 Mike Bustos 99 7:58 0 65 Gabe Jones 49 Chris Veselka Tranquility ParkOmaha, Nebraska 1,100 y Division Semifinals Division Finals Southeast Division Mid-South Division SE1 Florida Cocoa Expos 5 SE4 Florida Miami Tango 2 SE2 Florida South Florida Future 0 SE3 Florida West Florida Fury 4 MS1 Ohio Cincinnati Riverhawks 7 MS4 Alabama Alabama Saints 4 MS2 Mississippi 1996 Jackson Chargers (AET) 1 MS3 Kentucky Lexington Bluegrass Bandits 0 SE1 Florida Cocoa Expos 3 SE3 Florida West Florida Fury 1 MS1 Ohio Cincinnati Riverhawks 0 MS2 Mississippi 1996 Jackson Chargers 3 SE1 Florida Cocoa Expos 2 MS2 Mississippi 1996 Jackson Chargers 1 Eastern Conference Playoffs Eastern Conference Play In Play-In August 2, 1996 8:00 PM Virginia Roanoke River Dawgs 1–2 (OT) https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/920163353/ Tennessee Nashville Metros Ian Spooner 35 83 Ken Hoey 99 Doug Schenke Victory StadiumRoanoke, Virginia 1,010 Play-In August 3, 1996 Florida West Florida Fury 3–4 Florida Florida Strikers y Pensacola, Florida Semifinal August 9, 1996 8:00 PM Florida Florida Strikers 0–1 Tennessee Nashville Metros Tony Siikala The Sports ClubJackson, Mississippi Eastern Conference Final August 10, 1996 Mississippi 1996 Jackson Chargers 3–2 (OT) https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/183036315/ Nashville Metros Sheldon Bennett 23 Dwayne Demmin 47 Mickey Trottman 98:50 4 Pasi Kinturi 44:25 Tony Siikala The Sports ClubJackson, Mississippi y Division Semifinals Division Finals Western Finals Northwest Division Southwest Division NW1 Washington Spokane Shadow 2 NW4 Washington Puget Sound Hammers 1 NW2 Washington Yakima Reds 1 NW3 Oregon Cascade Surge 0 SW1 California San Gabriel Valley Highlanders bye SW2 Arizona Tucson Amigos bye NW1 Washington Spokane Shadow 2 NW2 Washington Yakima Reds 0 SW1 California San Gabriel Valley Highlanders 2 SW2 Arizona Tucson Amigos 1 NW1 Washington Spokane Shadow 0 SW1 California San Gabriel Valley Highlanders 1 Western Conference Playoffs South Division Playoffs Semifinals August 2, 1996 5:30 PM PDT California San Diego Top Guns 3–1 Arizona Arizona Phoenix San Luis Obispo High SchoolSan Luis Obispo, California Semifinals August 2, 1996 8:00 PM PDT California Central Coast Roadrunners 7–0 Arizona Tucson Amigos Joe Munoz 3:20 Marc Rohrer 16:45 Bryan Taylor 20:44 35 Mario Sanchez Mike Matson 0 43 Donny Duetch San Luis Obispo High SchoolSan Luis Obispo, California 1,200 South Division Final August 3, 1996 California Central Coast Roadrunners 3–2 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/809711592/ California San Diego Top Guns San Luis Obispo High SchoolSan Luis Obispo, California 1,100 North Division Playoffs Semifinals August 10, 1996 5:30 PM PDT Washington Spokane Shadow 2–1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/574798902/?terms=San%20Francisco%20Bay%20Seals%09 Washington Puget Sound Hammers Tim Seely 63 Zane Higgins 83 70 Ian Russell Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane, Washington 1,712 Semifinals August 10, 1996 California San Francisco Bay Seals 2–1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/574798902/?terms=San%20Francisco%20Bay%20Seals%09 Colorado Colorado Springs Stampede Troya Cowell 7 Marco Bonaccorsi 30 42 Haugland Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane, Washington North Division Final August 11, 1996 6:00 PM PDT Washington Spokane Shadow 2–3 Report Part 1 Report Part 2 California San Francisco Bay Seals Stuart Saunders 7 Chad Brown 80 43 81 Chris McDonald 55 Mike Black Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane, Washington 1,408 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: Central Coast Roadrunners San Francisco Bay Seals Cocoa Expos Omaha Flames Jackson Chargers 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. PlaceTeamWSWSLLBPPTS1 Central Coast Roadrunners20001 72San Francisco Bay Seals10101 53 Cocoa Expos 10011 44 Omaha Flames 01010 25 Jackson Chargers10010 26 Mid-Michigan Bucks00020 0 Friday August 16, 1996 4:00 PM EST California San Francisco Bay Seals (CA) Chris McDonald 64 Ken Folan 86 3 Paul Lekics 52 Keith DeFini 2-2 OT Nebraska Omaha Flames (NE) Cocoa Expo Sports Center, Cocoa, Florida Ken Folan Marquis White Shane Watkins Chris McDonald Mike Black 1-2 Keith DeFini John Anderson Paul Lekics Judd Willmann August 16, 1996 6:00 PM EST California Central Coast Roadrunners (CA) Bryan Taylor 0 60 Alan Placek 0 90 Doug Consigny 3-0 Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks (MI) Cocoa Expo Sports Center, Cocoa, Florida August 16, 1996 8:00 PM EST Florida Cocoa Expos (FL) 50 Sheldon Bennett 0-1 Mississippi 1996 Jackson Chargers (MS) Cocoa Expo Sports Center, Cocoa, Florida Saturday August 17, 1996 4:00 PM EST California Central Coast Roadrunners (CA) Marc Rohrer 45 Bryan Taylor 92 42 Dwyane Demmin 2-1 OT Mississippi 1996 Jackson Chargers (MS) Cocoa Expo Sports Center, Cocoa, Florida August 17, 1996 6:00 PM EST California San Francisco Bay Seals (CA) Chris McDonal 58 72 76 Shane Watkins 86 4-0 Michigan Mid-Michigan Bucks (MI) Cocoa Expo Sports Center, Cocoa, Florida August 17, 1996 8:00 PM EST Florida Cocoa Expos (FL) Steve Freeman Eddie Enders Chris Brady Steve Freeman Paul Lekics 4-1 Nebraska Omaha Flames (NE) Cocoa Expo Sports Center, Cocoa, Florida Final August 18, 1996 California Central Coast Roadrunners (CA) Bryan Taylor 48 1–0 California San Francisco Bay Seals (CA) Cocoa Expo Sports Center, Cocoa, Florida Championship MVP: USA Bryan Taylor (CCR) Honors MVP: FIN Pasi Kinturi Points leader: FIN Pasi Kinturi Goals leader: FIN Pasi Kinturi Assists leader: USA Steve Freeman Rookie of the Year: USA Bryan Taylor Goalkeeper of the Year: USA Michael LaBerge Defender of the Year: TRI Dwyane Demmin Coach of the Year: POR Nuno Piteira Organization of the Year: Central Coast Roadrunners All League Goalkeeper: USA Michael LaBerge Defenders: USA Steve Freeman, TRI Dwyane Demmin, USA Zane Higgins, USA Jeremy Oetman Midfielders: USA Jude Beller, FIN Toni Siikala Forwards: FIN Pasi Kinturi, USA Chris McDonald, USA Dennis Brose, USA Bryan Taylor USISL: 1996 Postseason Awards References External links United Soccer Leagues (RSSSF) 1996 Category:1996 in American men's soccer leagues