The Virginia Beach Mariners were an American soccer club, who formerly played in the USL First Division of the United Soccer Leagues, the second division in the US Soccer hierarchy behind Major League Soccer. On March 30, 2007 the team folded due to lack of ownership.
The Mariners played at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from 1999 up to their demise in 2007.
History The team was founded in 1994 as the Hampton Roads Hurricanes, but they changed their name to Mariners after the first year. For the 2003 season, the team changed their name from Hampton Roads Mariners to the more widely recognizable Virginia Beach Mariners. The team went on a one- year hiatus in 1997, after which they joined the A-League.
In 2006, the Mariners added a USL Premier Development League club, the Virginia Beach Submariners. Shortly after the termination of the Mariners, the Submariners were taken over by the Hampton Roads Piranhas, a women's W-League soccer club, who renamed the team the Hampton Roads Piranhas to reflect the change of ownership.
Year-by-year YearLeagueReg. seasonPlayoffsOpen Cup1994USISL5th, AtlanticDivisional Semifinalsdid not enter1995USISL Pro League5th, AtlanticDivisional Semifinalsdid not qualify1996USISL Select League3rd, South AtlanticSelect Sixdid not qualify1997On Hiatus1998USISL A-League3rd, AtlanticConference Quarterfinals3rd Round1999USL A-League6th, Atlanticdid not qualifydid not qualify2000USL A-League4th, AtlanticConference Quarterfinals3rd Round2001On Hiatus2002USL A-League5th, Southeastdid not qualify3rd Round2003USL A-League2nd, SoutheastDivision Finals4th Round2004USL A-League6th, Easterndid not qualify3rd Round2005USL First Division11thdid not qualify2nd Round2006USL First Division9thdid not qualify3rd Round
Head coaches Shawn McDonald (1996 – August 2005) Jay Hoffman (August 2005 – 2006)
See also USL First Division teams
External links Virginia Pilot article announcing the team's March 2007 demise Press Release announcing Hampton Roads Piranhas Mens PDL Team Virginia Pilot - "No one knew the hope of the tanking Mariners was broke"