2009 United Soccer Leagues
The 2009 season is the 23rd season played by the United Soccer Leagues. Season titles will be contested by 20 professional men's clubs in the USL First Division and USL Second Division, as well as 37 professional and amateur women's clubs in the W-League and 68 professional and amateur men's teams in the USL Premier Development League.
The First Division season kicked off on April 11 with the US Open Cup finalist Charleston Battery and host defending champions Vancouver Whitecaps FC playing to a scoreless tie, while the Carolina RailHawks defeating the visiting Minnesota Thunder 2-1. The season ended on September 20 with the Charleston Battery defeating hosts Minnesota Thunder 3-2. As a change for this season, the Finals will follow the rest of the playoffs in being two legs. The playoffs started on September 24, and ended on October 17 with the Montreal Impact defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC on a 6-3 aggregate score.
The Second Division season started on April 17 with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and host Crystal Palace Baltimore playing to a scoreless tie. The regular season ended on August 15 with three games. The Richmond Kickers captured the title in the playoffs with a 3-1 win over the Charlotte Eagles on August 29.
Vancouver Montreal Rochester Austin Carolina Charleston Miami Cleveland Minnesota Harrisburg Wilmington Baltimore Maryland Richmond Pittsburgh Charlotte Western Mass. 2009 USL-1 (red) and USL-2 (green) franchises. Not shown: Puerto Rico Islanders, Bermuda Hogges.Read more about 2009 United Soccer Leagues: General, Honors, First Division, Second Division
Famous quotes containing the words united, soccer and/or leagues:
“I am colored but I offer nothing in the way of extenuating circumstances except the fact that I am the only Negro in the United States whose grandfather on the mother’s side was not an Indian chief.”
—Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960)
“We want beans, not goals.”
—Mexican steelworkers’ banner at opening ceremony of 1986 World Cup soccer championship.
“Only be admonished by what you already see, not to strike leagues of friendship with cheap persons, where no friendship can be. Our impatience betrays us into rash and foolish alliances which no God attends.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)