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 affiliation Bellingham OrcasNorthwest Washington areaBellingham, WAexpansion Central Coast RoadrunnersCentral West Coast areaSan Luis Obispo, CAexpansion Florida StrikersGreater Miami areaFort Lauderdale, FLfrom USISL Pro Lexington Bluegrass BanditsLexington areaLexington, KYfrom USISL Pro Miami TangoGreater Miami areaMiami, FLexpansion Mid-Michigan BucksFlint/Tri-Cities areaSaginaw, MIexpansion Omaha FlamesOmaha-Council Bluffs areaOmaha, NEexpansion San Diego Top GunsSan Diego areaSan Diego, CAfrom USISL Pro Southern California GunnersInland Empire areaSan Bernardino, CAexpansion Spokane ShadowSpokane areaSpokane, WAexpansion West Florida FuryEmerald Coast areaPensacola, FLexpansion 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
Southern Division
Eastern Conference
Northern Division
Southern Division
Western Conference
Northern Division
Southern Division
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
Central Conference Playoffs
Eastern Conference Playoffs
Western Conference Playoffs
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
Saturday
Final
Championship MVP: Bryan Taylor (CCR)
Honors MVP: Pasi Kinturi Points leader: Pasi Kinturi Goals leader: Pasi Kinturi Assists leader: Steve Freeman Rookie of the Year: Bryan Taylor Goalkeeper of the Year: Michael LaBerge Defender of the Year: Dwyane Demmin Coach of the Year: Nuno Piteira Organization of the Year: Central Coast Roadrunners All League Goalkeeper: Michael LaBerge Defenders: Steve Freeman, Dwyane Demmin, Zane Higgins, Jeremy Oetman Midfielders: Jude Beller, Toni Siikala Forwards: Pasi Kinturi, Chris McDonald, Dennis Brose, Bryan Taylor USISL: 1996 Postseason Awards
References
External links United Soccer Leagues (RSSSF)