The 2011 USL Pro season was the 25th season of third-division soccer in the United States, and was the inaugural season of the United Soccer Leagues' (USL) new professional competition. The league is effectively a combination of the USL's former First and Second Divisions.

Following the conclusion of the regular season in August, a postseason tournament, known as the USL Pro Playoffs, took place between the top eight clubs during the season. The quarterfinals was played between August 19–20, the semifinals between August 26–28, and the championship took place on September 3.

Teams USL Pro was initially set to feature 15 clubs that would be aligned into three conferences of five clubs: the "American", "National" and "International" conferences. The league announced that each club would play an unbalanced schedule with a total of 24 matches. Initially, the International Division clubs were intended to play each other four times, twice home and twice away, with four games apiece at home and away against competition from the American and National Divisions. The American and National Division clubs were intended to play each other twice: home and away, regardless of division.

Original Divisional AlignmentAmerican DivisionCharleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Orlando City SC, Richmond Kickers, Wilmington HammerheadsNational DivisionDayton Dutch Lions, F.C. New York, Harrisburg City Islanders, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rochester RhinosInternational DivisionAntigua Barracuda, Los Angeles Blues, Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, Sevilla FC Puerto Rico

However, on May 10, 2011, the USL formally removed the three Puerto Rico Soccer League teams and announced that all remaining teams would continue to play a 24-game schedule.

Stadiums and Locations Team Location Stadium Capacity Antigua Barracuda St. John's, Antigua Stanford Cricket Ground Charleston Battery Charleston, South Carolina Blackbaud Stadium Charlotte Eagles Charlotte, North Carolina Restart Field Dayton Dutch Lions Bellbrook, Ohio Miami Valley South Stadium F.C. New York Jamaica, New York Belson Stadium Harrisburg City Islanders Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Skyline Sports Complex Los Angeles Blues Fullerton, California Titan Stadium Orlando City SC Orlando, Florida Citrus Bowl Pittsburgh Riverhounds Bridgeville, Pennsylvania Chartiers Valley High School Richmond Kickers Richmond, Virginia City Stadium Rochester Rhinos Rochester, New York Sahlen's Stadium Wilmington Hammerheads Wilmington, North Carolina Legion Stadium

Personnel and Kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Team Head coach Captain Jersey manufacturer Shirt sponsorAntigua Barracuda JomaCharleston Battery UmbroavVentaCharlotte Eagles PumaCoca-ColaDayton Dutch Lions Under ArmourScoutforall.comF.C. New York UmbroTreiberHarrisburg City Islanders NikeCapital Blue Cross/SnickersLos Angeles Blues NikeMarriottOrlando City SC Ian FullerUmbroOrlando HealthPittsburgh Riverhounds Umbro#1 CochranRichmond Kickers AdidasHCA VirginiaRochester Rhinos UmbroNon-Smoking CoalitionWilmington Hammerheads UmbroNew Hanover Regional Medical Center

Standings

American Division

National Division

Results table

Color Key: Home Away Win Loss Draw ClubMatch123456789101112131415161718192021222324Antigua Barracuda FC(ANT) LAB SPR† SPR† PRU† RPP† LAB RPP† RPP† ROC CHE ROC ROC ORL ORL ORL† NEW† PIT† WIL WIL† RIC LAB† LAB† LAB† LAB†1–2 0–1 3–2 7–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–2 0–2 1–2 2–2 2–1 1–3 1–2 0–2 0–2 0–1 2–3 0–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 3–0 Charleston Battery(CHB) CHE DAY RIC CHE PIT PIT ROC NEW WIL RIC HAR NEW HAR DAY WIL† PIT LAB† ORL WIL DAY ROC ORL ORL† CHE1–0 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–3 2–1 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–0 0–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 0–1 0–1 1–2 4–3Charlotte Eagles(CHE) CHB ORL NEW CHB LAB LAB ANT DAY ORL WIL DAY PIT HAR NEW RIC RIC HAR WIL WIL ROC ROC PIT HAR CHB0–1 0–1 0–0 1–2 1–2 2–1 2–0 1–1 0–0 3–0 2–0 2–0 0–4 3–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 0–3 2–2 3–0 2–2 0–1 3–4Dayton Dutch Lions(DAY) CHB ROC RIC ORL LAB CHE PIT HAR NEW CHB CHE ROC RIC† ORL HAR LAB† LAB† PIT CHB HAR NEW† RIC NEW WIL1–2 2–3 0–6 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–4 0–3 0–1 0–2 0–1 1–3 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–4 1–3 2–2 2–3 2–0 0–3 0–5 1–2FC New York(NEW) ORL CHE ORL HAR CHB WIL PIT RIC ROC CHE DAY RIC HAR† RIC† ANT† CHE ROC PIT PIT WIL DAY† HAR ROC† DAY0–3 0–0 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–3 0–2 2–2 2–1 1–1 3–0 0–2 1–5 0–0 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 0–0 2–1 5–0Harrisburg City Islanders(HAR) PIT NEW ROC RIC ORL CHB PIT† CHB DAY ROC RIC LAB LAB CHE DAY CHE WIL NEW† LAB DAY WIL NEW CHE ORL0–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–3 1–2 4–2 1–0 4–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–3 5–1 1–1 3–2 2–1 0–0 1–0 0–4Los Angeles Blues(LAB) SPR† ANT PRU† RPP† ANT CHE CHE DAY PIT HAR† HAR† CHB† WIL† DAY† DAY† RIC† HAR† ANT† ANT† ANT† WIL† ANT† RIC† RIC†3–0 2–1 4–2 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 3–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 2–4 1–1 4–1 2–1 1–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–3 0–0 0–0 Orlando City SC(ORL) RIC NEW CHE PRU† NEW DAY PIT ROC HAR RIC CHE WIL ANT WIL ANT† ANT PIT ROC DAY CHB ROC CHB CHB † HAR0–2 3–0 1–0 2–2 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 3–1 2–0 0–0 4–2 1–2 1–1 3–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 4–0Pittsburgh Riverhounds(PIT) RIC HAR WIL CHB CHB ORL NEW LAB WIL HAR† DAY WIL ROC CHE CHB ORL ANT † NEW NEW DAY ROC RIC CHE ROC1–2 1–0 1–3 0–0 0–0 0–1 2–0 0–3 0–0 2–4 1–2 1–3 0–3 0–2 2–0 0–0 2–0 2–1 1–1 3–1 0–3 2–0 2–2 0–1 Richmond Kickers(RIC) ORL PIT ROC CHB DAY WIL HAR CHB ORL NEW NEW HAR NEW ROC DAY † CHE CHE† ANT† LAB PIT† DAY WIL LAB† LAB†2–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 6–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 3–1 1–2 2–1 1–0 1–2 0–2 3–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 Rochester Rhinos(ROC) RIC WIL DAY HAR CHB ANT ORL WIL NEW ANT ANT HAR PIT DAY RIC ORL NEW ORL PIT CHE CHB CHE NEW† PIT0–1 0–1 3–2 0–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 2–2 1–0 3–0 1–0 2–1 0–1 3–1 1–2 3–0 2–2 1–0 0–3 1–2 0–1Wilmington Hammerheads(WIL) ROC PIT RIC NEW CHB ROC PIT ORL PIT CHE ORL CHB† LAB† ANT† ANT CHB HAR CHE CHE NEW HAR LAB† RIC DAY1–0 3–1 1–2 3–1 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–4 3–1 0–3 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–0 3–2 1–2 3–1 0–1 3–0 3–1 2–1 2–1 0–2 2–1 Puerto Rican Teams: Puerto Rico United – PRU† • River Plate Puerto Rico – RPP† • Sevilla FC Puerto Rico – SPR†

† Puerto Rican teams were removed from USL Pro League on 10 May. All results against them that took place to that date were kept and future games were rescheduled amongst the remaining teams. Average home attendances Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

Team Orlando City SC 12 63,185 7,933 1,321 5,265 Rochester Rhinos 12 61,651 7,459 3,027 5,138 Wilmington Hammerheads 12 47,117 5,783 1,924 3,926 Charleston Battery 12 42,819 4,771 2,461 3,568 Richmond Kickers 12 23,827 4,742 743 1,986 Antigua Barracuda 12 18,911 6,000 500 1,576 Harrisburg City Islanders 12 16,845 2,038 838 1,404 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 12 13,555 2,035 624 1,130 Charlotte Eagles 12 12,339 1,352 854 1,028 FC New York 12 9,963 2,011 338 972 Dayton Dutch Lions 12 7,929 2,000 262 661 Los Angeles Blues 12 4,456 704 105 371 Total 144 322,597 7,933 105 2,240

Playoffs The top four teams in each division at the end of the regular season qualified for a single-elimination playoff for the USL Pro Championship. The championship match was played at 7:00 pm on Saturday, September 3, and saw Orlando City SC defeat the Harrisburg City Islanders in a penalty shootout. Orlando City SC earned the right to host the championship match by virtue of their better regular-season record.

Championship Game MVP: Sean Kelley (ORL)

Statistical leaders

Top scorers RankPlayerNationClubGoals1Jhonny Arteaga F.C. New York132Matthew Delicâte Richmond Kickers103José Angulo Harrisburg City Islanders9Maxwell Griffin Orlando City SCLuke Mulholland Wilmington Hammerheads6Andriy Budnyi Wilmington Hammerheads8Jamie Watson Orlando City SCAndrew Welker Harrisburg City Islanders9Chris Banks Wilmington Hammerheads7Sallieu Bundu Charlotte EaglesGeorge Davis IV Dayton Dutch LionsSainey Touray Harrisburg City Islanders Source:

Top assists

RankPlayerNationClubAssists1Tadeu Terra F.C. New York82Jorge Herrera Charlotte Eagles73Andriy Budnyi Wilmington Hammerheads6Sainey Touray Harrisburg City Islanders5Luke Mulholland Wilmington Hammerheads56Nicki PatersonCharleston Battery 4Jimmy BanksRochester RhinosSascha GörresRichmond KickersThomas GrayPittsburgh RiverhoundsStanley NyazambaRichmond KickersTony DonatelliRochester RhinosJ.T. NooneHarrisburg City IslandersTom ParrattWilmington HammerheadsAkeem PriestleyLos Angeles BluesBrian OmbijiHarrisburg City IslandersQuinton GriffithAntigua BarracudaCesar RiveraLos Angeles Blues Source:

Top Goalkeepers (Minimum of 1080 Minutes Played) RankGoalkeeperClubGPMINSSVSGAGAAW-L-TSHO1 Miguel GallardoOrlando City SC22198068150.68112-3-6112 Andrew DykstraCharleston Battery13117030110.8467-4-253 Ronnie PascaleRichmond Kickers23207064210.91312-7-494 Neal KitsonRochester Rhinos23207076220.95612-7-495 Brock DuckworthWilmington Hammerheads18162071461.16611-5-246 Óscar DauttLos Angeles Blues20180077531.2006-6-857 Eric ReedCharlotte Eagles24216081291.2089-9-688 Keita de CastroAntigua Barracuda19171058231.2108-8-159 Chase HarrisonHarrisburg City Islanders20180059261.3008-6-6510 Hunter GilstrapPittsburgh Riverhounds23207098301.3047-11-59 Source:

League awards

Most Valuable Player: Yordany Álvarez (ORL) Rookie of the Year: Luke Mulholland (WIL) Defender of the Year: Rob Valentino (ORL) Goalkeeper of the Year: Miguel Gallardo (ORL) Coach of the Year: Adrian Heath (ORL)

All-League Teams

First Team F: Jhonny Arteaga (NEW), Matthew Delicâte (CHB), Maxwell Griffin (ORL) M: Yordany Álvarez (ORL), Jorge Herrera (CHE), Luke Mulholland (WIL) D: Nelson Akwari (LAB), Gareth Evans (WIL), Rob Valentino (ORL), William Yomby (RIC) G: Miguel Gallardo (ORL)

Second Team F: José Angulo (HAR), George Davis IV (DAY), Jason Yeisley (PIT) M: Lewis Neal (ORL), Lawson Robinson (ANT), Jamie Watson (ORL) D: George Dublin (ANT), Colin Falvey (CHB), Kyle Hoffer (NEW), Troy Roberts (ROC) G: Neal Kitson (ROC)

References