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2015 USL season

The 2015 USL season was the fifth season of the United Soccer League (USL) and the first under its new name (previously the league was called USL Pro). This season represented a substantial expansion from 14 teams in 2014 to 24 teams in 2015, and the division of the league into two conferences. It is also the 29th season of third-division soccer in the United States.

Seven Major League Soccer clubs created reserve franchises in the USL for the 2015 season, following the lead of the LA Galaxy, who had done so in 2014: FC Montreal, New York Red Bulls II, Portland Timbers 2, Real Monarchs, Seattle Sounders FC 2, Toronto FC II, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.

In 2015, the Austin Aztex, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Saint Louis FC and Tulsa Roughnecks joined the league as expansion sides. The Charlotte Eagles and Dayton Dutch Lions, both original founding members of the USL, removed themselves to the Premier Development League. The Eagles transferred their USL rights to the new Charlotte Independence club. After joining MLS, Orlando City SC sold their USL franchise rights to Louisville City.

Team Location Stadium Capacity Manager Captain Kit Sponsor MLS Affiliate
Arizona United SC Scottsdale, Arizona Scottsdale Stadium 12,880 United States Michael Dellorusso United States Carl Woszczynski Dignity Health AZ FC Dallas
Austin Aztex Austin, Texas House Park 6,000 Scotland Paul Dalglish United States Kyle Hoffer None
Charleston Battery Charleston, South Carolina MUSC Health Stadium 5,100 United States Michael Anhaeuser United States Jarad vanSchaik SPARC/Teamphoria! Houston Dynamo
Charlotte Independence Charlotte, North Carolina Ramblewood Soccer Complex 4,300 United States Mike Jeffries Colombia Jorge Herrera OrthoCarolina Colorado Rapids
Colorado Springs Switchbacks Colorado Springs, Colorado Sand Creek Stadium 3,500 United States Steve Trittschuh United States Luke Vercollone Penrose-St. Francis Health Services
Harrisburg City Islanders Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Skyline Sports Complex 5,000 United States Bill Becher United States Jason Pelletier
United States Nick Noble 		Capital Blue Cross Philadelphia Union
LA Galaxy II Carson, California StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium 2,000 United States Curt Onalfo United States Daniel Steres Herbalife LA Galaxy
Louisville City FC Louisville, Kentucky Louisville Slugger Field 13,131 Republic of Ireland James O'Connor United States Matt Fondy Humana Orlando City SC
FC Montreal Montreal Saputo Stadium training field 1,000 France Philippe Eullaffroy Canada Nazim Belguendouz Bank of Montreal Montreal Impact
New York Red Bulls II Harrison, New Jersey Red Bull Arena 20,000 United States John Wolyniec Canada Karl Ouimette Red Bull New York Red Bulls
Oklahoma City Energy FC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Taft Stadium 7,500 Denmark Jimmy Nielsen United States Michael Thomas First Fidelity Bank Sporting Kansas City
Orange County Blues FC Irvine, California Anteater Stadium 2,500 Switzerland Oliver Wyss Switzerland Didier Crettenand Sports 1 Marketing
Pittsburgh Riverhounds Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Highmark Stadium 3,500 United States Mark Steffens Republic of Ireland Danny Earls Allegheny Health Network
Portland Timbers 2 Portland, Oregon Merlo Field 4,892 United States Jay Vidovich United States Blair Gavin Stand Together (Portland Timbers/Thorns Community Outreach) Portland Timbers
Real Monarchs Sandy, Utah Rio Tinto Stadium 20,213 United States Freddy Juarez Brazil Lucas Baldin LifeVantage Real Salt Lake
Richmond Kickers Richmond, Virginia City Stadium 22,000 England Leigh Cowlishaw Woodfin Home Comfort Systems D.C. United
Rochester Rhinos Rochester, New York Sahlen's Stadium 13,768 United States Bob Lilley United States Tony Walls Bimbo Bakeries USA New England Revolution
Saint Louis FC Fenton, Missouri Soccer Park 5,500 United States Dale Schilly New Zealand James Musa Electrical Connection, NECA/IBEW Local 1 Chicago Fire
Sacramento Republic FC Sacramento, California Bonney Field 11,442 England Paul Buckle United States Justin Braun UC Davis Children's Hospital San Jose Earthquakes
Seattle Sounders FC 2 Tukwila, Washington Starfire Sports Complex 4,500 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ezra Hendrickson The Gambia Amadou Sanyang Xbox Seattle Sounders FC
Toronto FC II Vaughan, Ontario Ontario Soccer Centre 3,500 Canada Jason Bent Canada Chris Mannella Bank of Montreal Toronto FC
Tulsa Roughnecks Tulsa, Oklahoma ONEOK Field 7,833 England David Irving United States Zac Lubin Modelo Especial
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Vancouver, British Columbia Thunderbird Stadium 3,500 South Africa Alan Koch Canada Tyler Rosenlund Bell Canada Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Wilmington Hammerheads Wilmington, North Carolina Legion Stadium 6,000 United States Carson Porter United States Brian Ackley New Hanover Regional Medical Center New York City FC

There are eight USL teams owned and operated by MLS clubs and 11 USL-MLS affiliations among the 24 USL clubs.

For full article, see List of USL transfers 2015.

Due to expansion, the league was divided into two conferences, Eastern and Western. Each team plays the clubs within their conferences in a home and away series plus six additional games with geographic rivals regardless of conference for a 28-game schedule. The top six finishers in each conference qualify for the four-week playoffs.[2]

Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Color Key: Home  • Away  • Win  • Loss  • Draw
Club Match
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Arizona United SC
(AZU)		 OCB LAG AUS OCB POR CSS TUL AUS CSS VAN SAC SEA RMO POR OCB SEA AUS AUS OKC TUL LAG OCB VAN LAG RMO RMO OKC SAC
2–1 2–1 1–0 0–3 0–2 2–3 1–1 3–2 0–5 0–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–3 2–0 0–4 1–4 0–1 0–3 3–6 2–1 0–3 2–0 2–1 2–3 0–1 0–1 0–0
Austin Aztex
(AUS)		 CSS VAN TUL AZU LAG CSS OKC RMO AZU TUL OKC SAC POR TUL SAC CSS RMO AZU AZU POR OCB LAG OCB OKC SEA CSS SEA VAN
2–0 0–3 2–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 2–2 3–2 2–3 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–3 1–1 0–0 0–2 1–3 4–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–3 1–0 0–2 2–1 0–3 2–3 3–2
Charleston Battery
(CHB)		 TOR CLT HAR NYR WIL RIC PIT MON NYR CLT WIL WIL RIC CLT HAR ROC HAR WIL TOR ROC MON STL STL LOU RIC PIT LOU CLT
3–2 3–2 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–2 3–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 4–1 0–0 4–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–1 2–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–1
Charlotte Independence
(CLT)		 CHB WIL RIC HAR LOU RIC HAR CHB RIC PIT CHB RIC STL LOU ROC MON ROC NYR NYR PIT PIT MON TOR WIL WIL TOR STL CHB
2–3 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–0 3–0 0–2 1–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 2–0 4–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–2 1–0 2–2 4–1 0–2 1–3
Colorado Springs Switchbacks
(CSS)		 AUS OKC RMO RMO AUS AZU OCB AZU LAG VAN POR RMO STL OCB AUS TUL VAN SEA LAG TUL SAC SAC SEA RMO POR AUS OKC LAG
0–2 1–2 1–0 5–2 0–1 3–2 1–3 5–0 1–2 3–0 3–1 2–1 1–0 5–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–1 1–0 3–3 2–3 1–2 1–0 3–0 3–3 0–1
Harrisburg City Islanders
(HAR)		 PIT CHB MON CLT WIL NYR CLT PIT TOR STL ROC CHB WIL CHB NYR NYR PIT RIC RIC LOU TOR ROC MON LOU STL RIC MON PIT
2–5 0–2 2–1 1–1 4–0 2–1 2–0 5–6 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–4 1–0 0–4 2–0 0–2 4–3 2–4 3–2 1–5 2–0 0–4 6–0 0–4 0–0 1–1 5–0 1–2
LA Galaxy II
(LAG)		 RMO SAC AZU SAC AUS RMO VAN TUL SAC CSS OCB SEA VAN OCB TUL OKC SAC OCB POR CSS OKC AZU AUS SEA AZU OCB POR CSS
0–0 2–3 1–2 1–3 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–1 2–0 3–0 4–2 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–0 0–2 0–2 1–2 3–2 1–0 1–2 1–2 0–1 1–0
Louisville City FC
(LOU)		 STL RIC ROC PIT TUL CLT WIL TOR STL STL MON ROC NYR OKC RIC CLT PIT WIL TOR MON HAR TUL CHB PIT HAR NYR CHB STL
2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–1 3–0 4–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 6–2 3–0 1–0 2–1 3–1 3–2 0–4 5–1 2–2 3–1 0–1 4–0 2–3 0–2 1–2
FC Montreal
(MON)		 TOR ROC HAR RIC ROC CHB NYR ROC NYR LOU RIC PIT WIL ROC PIT STL TOR CLT CHB LOU STL TOR WIL CLT HAR TOR NYR HAR
0–2 0–3 1–2 0–1 1–2 1–0 2–3 0–1 2–2 0–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–2 4–2 5–2 1–0 0–2 0–0 4–0 3–1 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–6 2–3 2–0 0–5
New York Red Bulls II
(NYR)		 ROC TOR WIL CHB RIC ROC PIT HAR CHB MON RIC MON WIL LOU STL PIT HAR HAR RIC STL CLT WIL CLT TOR WIL LOU MON ROC
0–0 4–1 0–3 1–1 0–1 0–2 3–2 1–2 1–1 3–2 2–4 2–2 1–0 2–0 4–1 0–3 0–2 2–0 4–3 2–1 2–2 2–4 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–2 0–2 2–3
Oklahoma City Energy FC
(OKC)		 TUL CSS SEA STL AUS SEA VAN SAC AUS POR VAN TUL SAC LOU OCB LAG OCB TUL STL AZU LAG POR RMO AUS RMO TUL CSS AZU
1–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–1 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–2 2–6 0–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–0 3–0 2–0 4–3 1–0 2–0 0–2 1–2 3–3 1–0
Orange County Blues FC
(OCB)		 AZU VAN AZU SAC SEA POR CSS TUL SEA LAG LAG CSS VAN OKC AZU TUL OKC LAG RMO RMO AUS AZU AUS POR LAG SEA VAN SAC
1–2 2–0 3–0 2–1 1–2 2–0 3–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 0–3 0–5 3–2 1–0 0–2 1–4 2–2 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 0–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 0–0
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
(PIT)		 HAR ROC STL LOU TOR NYR CHB RIC RIC HAR STL CLT MON ROC NYR TOR MON LOU HAR WIL TOR CLT CLT LOU CHB WIL ROC HAR
5–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–3 1–1 2–1 6–5 1–1 1–2 1–0 0–1 3–0 2–0 2–4 1–2 3–4 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1
Portland Timbers 2
(POR)		 RMO SAC RMO SEA SAC AZU OCB RMO SEA TUL OKC CSS AUS VAN SEA AZU VAN VAN SEA LAG AUS OKC VAN TUL OCB CSS SAC LAG
3–1 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 3–1 2–3 0–2 3–1 1–2 4–2 0–2 0–1 1–0 3–4 3–1 2–0 1–3 0–1 0–3 1–0
Real Monarchs
(RMO)		 LAG POR POR CSS CSS LAG SAC AUS POR VAN SAC VAN CSS SEA AZU SAC AUS OCB OCB TUL TUL OKC SAC CSS SEA OKC AZU AZU
0–0 1–3 1–1 0–1 2–5 0–1 1–0 2–3 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–2 0–1 1–2 1–1 3–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–5 0–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 3–2 1–0
Richmond Kickers
(RIC)		 WIL LOU WIL CLT NYR MON CHB CLT PIT PIT NYR CLT CHB MON WIL CLT LOU STL NYR HAR HAR ROC TOR STL CHB ROC HAR TOR
2–2 1–1 3–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 0–3 1–1 1–2 4–2 2–1 1–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–3 3–1 3–4 4–2 2–3 1–1 1–2 2–0 0–2 0–0 1–1 2–1
Rochester Rhinos
(ROC)		 NYR PIT MON LOU STL NYR MON TOR WIL TOR MON LOU HAR PIT CHB MON TOR CLT CHB CLT RIC WIL HAR STL RIC PIT NYR TOR
0–0 2–1 3–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 2–4 1–1 2–1 4–0 2–0 0–0 1–1 3–2 2–0
Sacramento Republic FC
(SAC)		 SEA LAG POR LAG VAN POR OCB RMO SEA LAG OKC RMO AUS AZU OKC TUL AUS RMO LAG SEA CSS CSS RMO TUL VAN POR AZU OCB
2–4 3–2 1–2 3–1 2–0 3–0 1–2 0–1 3–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 2–1 2–1 3–1 0–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–1 3–3 1–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 0–0 0–0
Saint Louis FC
(STL)		 LOU TUL PIT ROC OKC WIL TOR LOU LOU PIT HAR CSS NYR WIL CLT RIC MON TOR OKC NYR MON CHB CHB RIC ROC HAR CLT LOU
0–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–4 0–0 2–1 1–3 2–5 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–3 1–1 3–2 0–2 0–2 0–0 2–0 2–1
Seattle Sounders 2
(SEA)		 SAC VAN POR TUL OKC VAN OCB SAC OKC POR OCB TUL LAG AZU RMO POR VAN AZU CSS POR SAC VAN CSS LAG RMO AUS OCB AUS
4–2 4–0 2–1 3–4 1–3 1–1 2–1 0–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–5 1–0 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–3 3–2 0–1 1–2 1–2 0–1 3–2
Toronto FC II
(TOR)		 CHB MON NYR VAN PIT ROC STL LOU ROC HAR WIL PIT ROC STL MON CHB LOU PIT MON RIC HAR NYR CLT MON CLT RIC WIL ROC
2–3 2–0 1–4 1–1 1–5 0–1 2–1 0–4 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–2 0–2 0–1 0–1 1–0 2–3 1–3 1–2 2–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–2 1–4 1–2 2–2 0–2
Tulsa Roughnecks FC
(TUL)		 OKC STL AUS SEA LOU AZU LAG OCB AUS POR SEA OKC AUS SAC LAG OCB CSS OKC VAN VAN AZU CSS RMO RMO LOU POR SAC OKC
1–1 0–2 0–2 4–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–0 1–0 1–3 5–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–4 4–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 1–3 6–3 1–0 1–1 5–1 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–1
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
(VAN)		 SEA AUS OCB SAC TOR SEA LAG OKC RMO AZU RMO CSS OKC LAG POR OCB SEA POR CSS POR TUL TUL SEA POR AZU SAC OCB AUS
0–4 3–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 2–0 2–2 0–3 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–3 3–1 2–1 2–2 2–4 0–4 3–1 3–0 1–3 0–2 1–2 1–1 2–3
Wilmington Hammerheads
(WIL)		 RIC CLT RIC NYR CHB HAR STL LOU ROC CHB CHB NYR RIC MON TOR STL HAR CHB LOU PIT NYR ROC MON NYR CLT CLT PIT TOR
2–2 1–1 0–3 3–0 1–2 0–4 0–1 0–3 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–3 0–3 4–2 1–2 0–0 0–2 0–1 2–2 1–1 2–2

USL published schedule and results.[3][4]

Teams will be seeded No. 1 through No. 6 in each conference, with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes and the No. 3 seed hosting the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed hosting the No. 5 seed.

The winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 game will then travel to face the No. 2 seed, and the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 game will travel to face the No. 1 seed. The winners will meet in the Eastern and Western Conference Championship games with the remaining two teams advancing to square off in the 2015 USL Championship, hosted by the higher seeded club.[2][5]

First round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals USL Championship
                           
October 3
#1 Rochester Rhinos 2
September 26
#4 New York Red Bulls II 0
#4 New York Red Bulls II (a.e.t.) 4
October 10
#5 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2
#1 Rochester Rhinos 1
September 26
#2 Louisville City FC 0
#3 Charleston Battery (a.e.t.) 2
October 3
#6 Richmond Kickers 1
#2 Louisville City FC (a.e.t.) 2
#3 Charleston Battery 0
October 16
#1 Rochester Rhinos (a.e.t.) 2
#5 LA Galaxy II 1
October 3
#1 Orange County Blues FC 0
September 26
#5 LA Galaxy II 2
#4 Sacramento Republic FC 0
October 11
#5 LA Galaxy II 1
#5 LA Galaxy II 2
September 25
#2 Oklahoma City Energy FC 1
#3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2
October 4
#6 Seattle Sounders FC 2 0
#2 Oklahoma City Energy FC (p) 2 (4)
#3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2 (3)

Championship Game MVP: Asani Samuels (ROC)

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

Team GP Total High Low Average
Sacramento Republic FC 14 158,516 11,442 10,906 11,323
Louisville City FC 14 94,707 8,414 4,772 6,765
Rochester Rhinos 14 77,976 6,922 4,251 5,570
Saint Louis FC 14 68,388 5,662 4,004 4,885
Tulsa Roughnecks FC 14 65,999 8,335 3,189 4,714
Real Monarchs 14 65,770 13,979 1,001 4,698
Oklahoma City Energy FC 14 64,895 6,847 3,133 4,635
Charleston Battery 14 57,113 5,638 3,026 4,080
Richmond Kickers 14 52,452 5,957 1,632 3,747
Arizona United SC 14 46,254 6,108 1,884 3,304
Austin Aztex 14 45,171 5,146 1,439 3,227
Portland Timbers 2 14 43,702 5,892 1,734 3,122
Wilmington Hammerheads 14 41,433 4,265 1,789 2,960
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 14 38,121 3,823 2,012 2,723
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 14 36,817 4,297 995 2,630
Harrisburg City Islanders 13† 33,673 4,741 1,652 2,590
Seattle Sounders FC 2 14 31,100 2,951 1,789 2,221
Charlotte Independence 14 25,205 2,241 1,271 1,800
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 14 23,545 3,208 1,106 1,682
Orange County Blues FC 14 19,573 3,000 674 1,398
LA Galaxy II 13† 12,602 1,817 507 969
New York Red Bulls II 14 8,334 1,028 191 595
Toronto FC II 13† 6,233 986 50 479
FC Montreal 14 4,383 1,301 112 313
Total 333 1,121,962 13,979 50 3,369

† 1 game not reported

(Minimum of 33% of Team Minutes Played)

Source:[1]

First Team

F: Matt Fondy (LOU), Danni König (OKC), Long Tan (AZU)
M: Luke Vercollone (COL), Rob Vincent (PIT), Tony Walls (ROC)
D: Bryan Burke (LOU), Shawn Ferguson (CHB), Daniel Steres (LAG), Grant Van De Casteele (ROC)
G: Brandon Miller (ROC)

Second Team

F: Kharlton Belmar (POR), Dane Kelly (CHB), Jason Yeisley (RIC)
M: Gareth Evans (OKC), Kevin Kerr (PIT), Rodrigo Lopez (SAC)
D: Mickey Daly (SAC), Brenton Griffiths (OCB), Mechack Jerome (CHA), Nemanja Vukovic (SAC)
G: Odisnel Cooper (CHB)

[11]

  1. ^ a b c d "2015 USL statistics". Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Expanded USL PRO Unveils 2015 Format". United Soccer Leagues (USL). January 21, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  3. ^ "2015 USL Season Kicks Off March 21". United Soccer Leagues (USL). February 2, 2015. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  4. ^ "Schedule". Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  5. ^ "Chance To Host Championship At Stake In East Final". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 8, 2015. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  6. ^ "Louisville's Fondy Named USL Most Valuable Player". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 30, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Portland's Belmar Named USL Rookie of the Year". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 29, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  8. ^ "Louisville's Burke Named USL Defender of the Year". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 27, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  9. ^ "Rochester's Miller Named Goalkeeper of the Year". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 26, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  10. ^ "Rochester's Lilley Named USL Coach of the Year". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 28, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  11. ^ "USL All-League Teams Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 26, 2015. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.