The 2009 season was 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 defeated 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.
General Changes in the First Division: the Cleveland City Stars were promoted from Second Division and the Austin Aztex were added as an expansion team. The Atlanta Silverbacks went on hiatus for the season, and the Seattle Sounders were replaced by an expansion MLS team. Changes in the Second Division: the Cleveland City Stars were promoted to the First Division. In the PDL, 9 teams withdrew for the 2009 season, while 10 expansion teams increase the league to 68 teams in 8 divisions across 4 conferences. Teams play a 16-game league schedule. In the W-League, 6 teams withdrew for the 2009 season, while 2 expansion teams were added, leaving the league at 37 members. Sky Blue and Washington Freedom were given WPS teams, with Washington playing their reserves in the W-League and Sky Blue selling their W-League team.
Honors CompetitionChampionRunner-upRegular season champion/Best USL teamUSL First DivisionMontreal ImpactVancouver Whitecaps FCPortland TimbersUSL Second DivisionRichmond KickersCharlotte EaglesWilmington HammerheadsUSL PDLVentura County FusionChicago Fire PremierReading RageU.S. Open CupSeattle Sounders FCD.C. UnitedRochester RhinosCanadian ChampionshipToronto FC (MLS)Vancouver Whitecaps FC n/aUSL W-LeaguePali BluesWashington Freedom ReservesHudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues
First Division
Regular season
Standings
Results Color Key: Home Away Win Loss TieClubMatch123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930Austin Aztex(AUS) MIN VAN CLE PUE MTL CAR PUE CHA CHA PUE MIA CAR ROC CLE CLE ROC POR MIN MTL CHA CAR ROC MIN MTL MIA VAN MIA POR POR VAN1–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 4–0 0–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–1 4–1 1–2 1–0 2–2 1–0 0–3 1–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 3–2 3–1 0–1 1–2 2–1Carolina RailHawks(CAR) MIN ROC MIN POR POR CHA MIA CLE AUS CLE POR MIN AUS PUE CHA VAN CHA MIA AUS ROC CLE VAN VAN ROC MIA MTL MTL PUE PUE MTL2–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–2 0–2 0–3 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–1 2–1 4–0 3–0 0–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 9–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 2–0Charleston Battery(CHA) VAN MTL MIN MIA CAR MTL MIA ROC CLE AUS AUS POR PUE PUE PUE MTL CAR CLE ROC CAR AUS VAN POR CLE VAN POR MIN MIA ROC MIN0–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–2 3–1 4–1 1–1 0–0 1–3 2–1 0–0 2–3Cleveland City Stars(CLE) MIA AUS ROC POR MIN CAR CAR CHA PUE PUE ROC MIA MIA VAN AUS AUS PUE CHA MTL ROC VAN CAR CHA MTL MIN MIN MTL POR POR VAN3–1 3–0 0–3 0–0 0–1 0–3 1–0 2–0 2–1 2–2 3–0 1–2 0–1 2–2 2–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 4–1 4–1 0–0 2–0 4–1 1–2 1–0 3–0 1–2 0–1 2–1 2–1Miami FC(MIA) CLE MTL ROC CHA CAR CHA MIN VAN AUS CLE CLE MTL PUE VAN POR POR MIN CAR MTL PUE MIN POR VAN CAR AUS AUS ROC CHA ROC PUE3–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–2 1–0 0–0 3–2 2–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–3 1–2 4–0 1–1 4–0 0–1 3–1 0–2 9–0 1–0 3–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 3–1Minnesota Thunder(MIN) CAR AUS CHA CAR VAN CLE MIA PUE ROC CAR POR ROC POR VAN MTL AUS MIA POR MTL MIA AUS ROC CLE CLE PUE VAN CHA PUE MTL CHA2–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 3–2 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 5–1 1–2 1–1 4–0 3–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–2 3–3 1–0 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–3 5–2 1–1 2–3Montreal Impact(MTL) CHA MIA PUE ROC CHA AUS ROC POR VAN VAN MIA POR CHA MIN ROC PUE CLE AUS MIA MIN POR PUE CLE AUS CAR CAR CLE VAN MINCAR0–0 2–1 3–2 1–2 0–0 4–0 0–1 1–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 4–0 0–1 2–0 0–0 0–1 4–1 2–2 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–2 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–0Portland Timbers(POR) VAN CAR CAR CLE ROC PUE PUE VAN MTL CAR CHA MIN MTL MIN AUS MIA MIA PUE MIN VAN CHA MTL ROC MIA CHA ROC AUS AUS CLE CLE1–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 5–1 4–0 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–3 0–0 1–1 1–0 3–1 0–1 1–4 3–1 0–0 1–2 0–1 1–2 0–1 2–1Puerto Rico Islanders(PUE) VAN ROC MTL AUS VAN POR POR AUS MIN CLE CLE AUS CHA CHA CHA CAR MIA ROC CLE MTL POR VAN MIA MTL MIN ROC CAR MIN CAR MIA2–1 0–0 3–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–2 3–1 1–2 2–1 2–2 4–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 4–2 4–0 1–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 5–2 2–1 3–1Rochester Rhinos(ROC) CAR PUE MIA CLE MTL POR VAN CHA MTL MIN CLE AUS MIN AUS PUE MTL CHA CLE VAN CAR AUS POR MIN CAR VAN POR PUE MIA MIA CHA1–0 0–0 1–2 0–3 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–0 0–1 0–0 3–0 0–2 1–2 4–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 4–1 1–3 0–1 1–0 1–4 3–3 0–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–2 0–0 0–0Vancouver Whitecaps FC(VAN) CHA PUE AUS POR MIN PUE ROC POR MTL MIA MTL CLE MIN MIA CAR PUE ROC CLE POR CHA CAR CAR CHA MIA ROC AUS MIN MTL AUS CLE0–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–3 1–0 1–2 2–0 1–2 3–2 2–1 2–2 4–0 2–1 2–1 4–2 1–3 0–0 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–1
Playoffs Teams will be re-seeded for semifinal matchups.
Quarterfinals
Puerto Rico Islanders won 5–3 on aggregate.
Montreal Impact won 4–1 on aggregate.
Vancouver Whitecaps won 1–0 on aggregate.
Semifinals
Montreal Impact won 4–2 on aggregate.
Vancouver Whitecaps won 5–4 on aggregate.
Finals
Montreal Impact won 6–3 on aggregate.
Awards and All-League teams First Team F: Charles Gbeke (Vancouver Whitecaps) (Leading Goalscorer); Keita Mandjou (Portland Timbers); Johnny Menyongar (Rochester Rhinos) M: Daniel Paladini (Carolina RailHawks); Ryan Pore (Portland Timbers); Ricardo Sánchez (Minnesota Thunder) D: Nelson Akwari (Charleston Battery); Cristian Arrieta (Puerto Rico Islanders) (MVP & Defender of the Year); Matt Bobo (Charleston Battery); David Hayes (Portland Timbers) G: Steve Cronin (Portland Timbers) (Goalkeeper of the Year) Coach: Gavin Wilkinson (Portland Timbers) (Coach of the Year)
Second Team F: Marlon James (Vancouver Whitecaps); Eddie Johnson (Austin Aztex) M: Martin Nash (Vancouver Whitecaps); Lawrence Olum (Minnesota Thunder); Jonathan Steele (Puerto Rico Islanders); David Testo (Montreal Impact) D: Stephen DeRoux (Montreal Impact); Cameron Knowles (Portland Timbers); John Krause (Puerto Rico Islanders); Mark Schulte (Carolina RailHawks) G: Bill Gaudette (Puerto Rico Islanders)
Second Division
Regular season
Standings
Results
Abbreviation and Color Key:Bermuda Hogges – BMU • Charlotte Eagles – CHA • Crystal Palace Baltimore – CPB Harrisburg City Islanders – HAR • Pittsburgh Riverhounds – PIT • Real Maryland Monarchs – RMM Richmond Kickers – RIC • Western Mass Pioneers – WMA • Wilmington Hammerheads – WIL Home Away Win Loss TieClubMatch1 2 3 4 567891011 12 13 14 151617181920Bermuda Hogges CPBRMMHARRICWILWILRMMWILCHAPITHARCPBWMAPITPITRICWMAWMACHARMM2–03–2 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 6–0 1–0 3–0 1–2 2–2 1–2 1–0 7–2 5–0 2–2 1–1 4–3Charlotte Eagles WILCPBWILRICCPBHARPITBMUWMARICHARWILRICWMARMMRMMCPBBMUPITWMA2–20–2 3–6 1–1 1–2 3–0 5–1 6–0 2–0 2–2 0–0 2–3 3–0 5–0 1–1 0–3 0–0 1–1 1–3 3–0Crystal Palace Baltimore PITBMUCHAWILRMMWMACHARICWMARMMWMAWILBMURMMHARHARRICCHAHARPIT0–02–0 0–2 3–0 2–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 3–1 2–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–0Harrisburg City Islanders RICWMABMUPITPITCHARMMRICBMURMMCHAWILCPBCPBPITWILRICRMMCPBWMA2–23–1 2–1 3–0 0–1 3–0 2–3 5–0 3–0 4–0 0–0 3–2 3–1 2–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 2–1Pittsburgh RiverhoundsCPBRICRMMHARHARCHAWILBMURICWMARICBMUBMURMMHARWMAWMAWILCHACPB0–01–1 2–1 3–0 0–1 5–1 1–3 1–0 0–2 0–0 1–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 3–0 0–2 1–3 1–0Real Maryland MonarchsBMUPITCPBWMABMUCPBHARWMARICHARWILCPBPITWILCHACHARICHARBMUWIL3–2 2–1 2–0 3–0 1–0 0–1 2–3 2–0 1–0 4–0 3–0 0–1 2–1 3–1 1–1 0–3 1–0 0–0 4–3 2–0Richmond KickersHARRICWMABMUCHACPBWMAHARRMMPITCHAPITCHABMUCPBWILHARRMMWILWIL2–21–1 0–2 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–0 1–0 0–2 2–2 1–2 3–0 7–2 1–2 3–2 0–1 1–0 0–1 2–2Western Mass PioneersHARRICCPBRMMWILCPBRICCPBRMMCHAPITBMUWILCHABMUBMUPITPITHARCHA3–1 0–2 1–0 3–0 2–1 0–0 2–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 0–0 2–2 4–0 5–0 5–0 2–2 1–1 3–0 2–1 3–0Wilmington HammerheadsCHACPBCHABMUBMUWMAPITBMUCPBRMMHARCHAWMARMMRICHARPITRICRMMRIC2–23–0 3–6 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–3 1–0 2–1 0–3 3–2 2–3 4–0 3–1 3–2 1–2 0–2 0–1 2–0 2–2
Playoffs
First round
Semifinals
Final
Awards and All-League team First Team F: Matthew Delicâte (Richmond Kickers), Jamie Watson (WIL) (MVP) M: Ty Shipalane (HAR), Kenny Bundy (WIL), Mike Burke (RIC), Jorge Herrera (CHA) D: Dustin Bixler (HAR), John Borrajo (RMD), Shintaro Harada (CPB), Yomby William (RIC) (Defender of the Year) G: Ronnie Pascale (RIC) (Goalkeeper of the Year) Coach: David Irving (WIL) Rookie of the Year: Ty Shipalane, HAR
Second Team F: Almir Barbosa (WMA), Damico Coddington (BER), Chad Severs (HAR) M: Justin Evans (PIT), Jamie Franks (WIL), Amaury Nunes (CHA), Val Teixeira (CPB) D: Colin Falvey (WIL), Sascha Gorres (RIC), Andrew Marshall (CPB) G: Chase Harrison (HAR)
Premier Development League
W-League
References
External links Official USL Site