2001 USL A-League

Summary

The addition of the Portland Timbers saw the renewal of a Pacific Northwest rivalry between them, the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps which dated back to the North American Soccer League. Although Vancouver was not new to the league, this was the first season they competed in under the Whitecaps name, replacing the 86ers name used since 1986.

An ownership change in August 2000 brought a revival of the old Whitecaps name for the 2001 season. At the end of the regular season, the Richmond Kickers topped the league with seventy-six points. The playoffs were scheduled to begin on September 12, but those matches were postponed by a week due to the September 11 attacks. Midfielder Mickey Trotman, a starter for the Rochester Rhinos, was killed in an automobile accident two days before the team's first semifinal match with the Milwaukee Rampage. The Rhinos defeated the Hershey Wildcats to take its third league title in four seasons.

League standings

Northern Conference

Central Conference

Western Conference

Playoffs

Bracket

| team-width=170px | leg-width= | aggregate-width=

| RD1-team01=Charlotte Eagles | RD1-score01-1=0 | RD1-score01-2=2 | RD1-score01-agg=2 | RD1-team02=Portland Timbers | RD1-score02-1=2 | RD1-score02-2=3 | RD1-score02-agg=5

| RD1-team03=San Diego F.C. | RD1-score03-1=2 | RD1-score03-2=2 | RD1-score03-agg=4 | RD1-team04=Atlanta Silverbacks | RD1-score04-1=0 | RD1-score04-2=2 | RD1-score04-agg=2

| RD1-team05=Charleston Battery | RD1-score05-1=1 | RD1-score05-2=1 | RD1-score05-agg=2 | RD1-team06=Pittsburgh Riverhounds | RD1-score06-1=2 | RD1-score06-2=3 | RD1-score06-agg=5

| RD1-team07=Milwaukee Rampage | RD1-score07-1=3 | RD1-score07-2=0 | RD1-score07-agg=3 (4) | RD1-team08=Nashville Metros | RD1-score08-1=2 | RD1-score08-2=1 | RD1-score08-agg=3 (2)

| RD2-team01=Hershey Wildcats | RD2-score01-1=2 | RD2-score01-2=1 | RD2-score01-agg=3 | RD2-team02=Portland Timbers | RD2-score02-1=0 | RD2-score02-2=0 | RD2-score02-agg=0

| RD2-team03=Vancouver Whitecaps | RD2-score03-1=0 | RD2-score03-2=4 | RD2-score03-agg=4 | RD2-team04=San Diego F.C. | RD2-score04-1=2 | RD2-score04-2=1 | RD2-score04-agg=3

| RD2-team05=Rochester Raging Rhinos | RD2-score05-1=1 | RD2-score05-2=3 | RD2-score05-agg=4 | RD2-team06=Pittsburgh Riverhounds | RD2-score06-1=2 | RD2-score06-2=0 | RD2-score06-agg=2

| RD2-team07=Richmond Kickers | RD2-score07-1=2 | RD2-score07-2=1 | RD2-score07-agg=3 | RD2-team08=Milwaukee Rampage | RD2-score08-1=2 | RD2-score08-2=2 | RD2-score08-agg=4

| RD3-team01=Hershey Wildcats | RD3-score01-1=4 | RD3-score01-2=0 | RD3-score01-agg=4 | RD3-team02=Vancouver Whitecaps | RD3-score02-1=0 | RD3-score02-2=1 | RD3-score02-agg=1

| RD3-team03=Rochester Raging Rhinos | RD3-score03-1=3 | RD3-score03-2=1 | RD3-score03-agg=4 | RD3-team04=Milwaukee Rampage | RD3-score04-1=2 | RD3-score04-2=0 | RD3-score04-agg=2 | RD4-team01=Hershey Wildcats | RD4-score01=0 | RD4-team02=Rochester Raging Rhinos | RD4-score02=2

First round

Pittsburgh vs Charleston

date = September 20, 2001 7:35 PM (EDT) | team1 = Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) | goals1 = Gary DePalma Phil Karn | goals2 = John Ball Paul Conway | score = 2–1 | report = https://web.archive.org/web/20011110210042/http://a-league.com/news/2001/news,2001,0671.shtml | team2 = Charleston Battery (SC) | stadium = Bethel Park Stadium, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania date = September 22, 2001 7:30 PM (EDT) | team1 = Charleston Battery (SC) | goals1 = Mac Cozier Jukka Rantala Mac Cozier Dan Calichman | goals2 = Gary DePalma Paul Dougherty John Jones Henry Gutierrez | score = 1–3 | report = https://web.archive.org/web/20030508181804/http://www.a-league.com/news/2001/news,2001,0675.shtml | team2 = Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) | stadium = Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina

San Diego vs Atlanta

date = September 19, 2001 10:00 PM (EDT) | team1 = San Diego Flash (CA) | goals1 = Brian O'Connor Thiago Martins | goals2 = Shaun McSkimming Ian Checcio Randy Merkel Sean Michael Callahan | score = 2–0 | report = https://web.archive.org/web/20030826104154/http://www.a-league.com/game_reports/2001/sandiego_bekins_09192001.shtml | team2 = Atlanta Silverbacks (GA) | stadium = San Diego Mesa College, San Diego, California date = September 23, 2001 5:30 PM (EDT) | team1 = Atlanta Silverbacks (GA) | goals1 = Danny Care Sean Finn , Ryan Walker | goals2 = Chugger Adair , Thiago Martins | score = 2–2 | report = https://web.archive.org/web/20020505011836/http://a-league.com/game_reports/2001/atlanta_bagriansky_09232001.shtml | team2 = San Diego Flash (CA) | stadium = DeKalb Memorial Stadium, Clarkston, Georgia

Portland vs Charlotte

date = September 20, 2001 10:35 PM (EDT) | team1 = Portland Timbers (OR) | goals1 = Darin Lewis Mark Baena Neil Ryan Darren Sawatzky Michael O'Neill | goals2 = Jose Correa Nate Watkins | score = 2–0 | report = http://www.soccercityusa.com/timbers/char092001.htm | team2 = Charlotte Eagles (NC) | stadium = PGE Park, Portland, Oregon date = September 22, 2001 7:30 PM (EDT) | team1 = Charlotte Eagles (NC) | goals1 = Jacob Coggins Joey Johnson | goals2 = Michael O'Neill Scott Benedetti Greg Howes | score = 2–3 | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0676.shtml | team2 = Portland Timbers (OR) | stadium = Providence High School, Charlotte, North Carolina

Milwaukee vs Nashville

date = September 19, 2001 7:00 PM (CDT) | team1 = Nashville Metros (TN) | goals1 = Chris Morman Brandon Wright Jakob Fenger Jaymi Bailey | goals2 = Judah Cooks Steve Butcher David Hayes Jason Russell Igor Soso Dennis Fadeski | score = 2–3 | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0669.shtml | team2 = Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | stadium = Ezell Park, Nashville, Tennessee date = September 22, 2001 3:00 PM (CDT) | team1 = Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | goals1 = Matt Bobo Philippe Godoy Destin Makumbu Josh Provan Judah Cooks | goals2 = Jeff Dominguez Jakob Fenger Andreas Maier Jeff Houser Jeff Houser | score = 0–1 (OT) | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0674.shtml | team2 = Nashville Metros (TN) | stadium = Milwaukee County Sports Complex, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Igor Soso David Hayes Steve Butcher Mike Slivinski Jakob Fenger Andreas Maier Jeff Houser

Quarterfinals

Milwaukee vs Richmond

date = September 28, 2001 7:00 PM (CDT) | team1 = Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | goals1 = Alen Soso Philippe Godoy Matt Bobo Judah Cooks Dennis Fadeski Digital Takawira | goals2 = , Josh Henderson Mike Burke , Kevin Knight Chris Brown | score = 2–2 | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0697.shtml | team2 = Richmond Kickers (VA) | stadium = Milwaukee County Sports Complex, Milwaukee, Wisconsin date = September 30, 2001 5:00 PM (CDT) | team1 = Richmond Kickers (VA) | goals1 = Peter Luzak Rob Ukrop Josh Henderson | goals2 = Jim Curtin Igor Soso | score = 1–2 (OT) | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0699.shtml | team2 = Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | stadium = Richmond City Stadium, Richmond, Virginia

Hershey vs Portland

date = September 27, 2001 5:00 PM (CDT) | team1 = Portland Timbers (OR) | goals1 = Gavin Wilkinson Mark Baena Michael O'Neill | goals2 = Nigel Henry Mike Feniger Chris Marinos Chad Evans Doug Watson Fred DeGand | score = 0–2 | report = http://www.soccercityusa.com/timbers/her092701.htm | team2 = Hershey Wildcats (PA) | stadium = PGE Park, Portland, Oregon date = September 29, 2001 | team1 = Hershey Wildcats (PA) | goals1 = Mike Feniger | goals2 = | score = 1–0 | report = | team2 = Portland Timbers (OR) | stadium = Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Vancouver vs San Diego

date = September 26, 2001 | team1 = San Diego Flash (CA) | goals1 = Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar Emmanuel Ayim | goals2 = | score = 2–0 | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0692.shtml | team2 = Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) | stadium = Douglas Stadium, San Diego, California date = September 29, 2001 7:30 PM (PDT) | team1 = Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) | goals1 = Darren Tilley John Sulentic Steve Kindel | goals2 = Chugger Adair | score = 4–1 | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0698.shtml | team2 = San Diego Flash (CA) | stadium = Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, British Columbia

Rochester vs Pittsburgh

date = September 26, 2001| team1 = Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) | goals1 = Welton Melo
John Jones | goals2 = Stoian Mladenov | score = 2–1 | report =https://www.newspapers.com/image/90332940/?match=1&terms=Pittsburgh%20Riverhounds | team2 = Rochester Rhinos (NY) | stadium = Bethel Park Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania date = September 29, 2001 | team1 = Rochester Rhinos (NY) | goals1 = Martin Nash Neathan Gibson Jimmy Tanner | goals2 = | score = 3–0 | report = | team2 = Pittsburgh Riverhounds (PA) | stadium = Frontier Field, Rochester, New York

Semifinals

Semifinal 1

date = October 4, 2001 | team1 = Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | goals1 = Philippe Godoy Matt Bobo Jim Curtin | goals2 = Lenin Steenkamp Nate Daligcon Fuseini Dauda Kirk Wilson Neathan Gibson Scott Vallow Tommy Tanner | score = 2–3 | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0705.shtml | team2 = Rochester Rhinos (NY) | stadium = Milwaukee County Sports Complex, Franklin, Wisconsin date = October 6, 2001 6:36 PM (CST) | team1 = Rochester Rhinos (NY) | goals1 = Scott Schweitzer Neathan Gibson Mike Kirmse | goals2 = Igor Soso Judah Cooks Philippe Godoy Brian Doherty | score = 1–0 | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0707.shtml | team2 = Milwaukee Rampage (WI) | stadium = Frontier Field, Rochester, New York

Semifinal 2

date = October 3, 2001 7:30 PM (PDT) | team1 = Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) | goals1 = | goals2 = Kyle Swords Zé Roberto Doug Miller | score = 0–4 | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0704.shtml | team2 = Hershey Wildcats (PA) | stadium = Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, British Columbia date = October 6, 2001 | team1 = Hershey Wildcats (PA) | goals1 = | goals2 = Darren Tilley | score = 0–1 | report = http://www.uslfans.com/news/2001/news,2001,0704.shtml | team2 = Vancouver Whitecaps (BC) | stadium = Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Final

date = October 13, 2001 | team1 = Rochester Raging Rhinos (NY) | goals1 = Martin Nash Carlos Zavala Stoian Mladenov | goals2 = | score = 2–0 | report = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=2708525 | team2 = Hershey Wildcats (PA) | stadium = Frontier Field, Rochester, New York

Points leaders

Honors

Annual awards

• Most Valuable Player: Paul Conway
• Leading Goal Scorer: Paul Conway
• Goalkeeper of the Year: Jon Busch
• Defender of the Year: Rick Titus
• Rookie of the Year: Robbie Aristodemo
• Coach of the Year: Dale Mitchell
• First Team All A-League
  • Goalkeeper: Jon Busch
  • Defenders: Scott Schweitzer, Rick Titus, Gilbert Jean-Baptiste
  • Midfielders: Philippe Godoy, Stoian Mladenov, Leighton O'Brien, Temoc Suarez
  • Forwards: Paul Conway, Kevin Jeffrey, Dustin Swinehart
• Second Team All A-League
  • Goalkeeper: Matt Napoleon
  • Defenders: James Wall, Brent Sancho, Jason Annicchero
  • Midfielders: John Ball, Lenin Steenkamp, Kevin Knight, Steve Kindel
  • Forwards: Jakob Fenger, Digital Takawira, Rodrigo Costa

References

References

1. Dvorchak, Robert. (September 12, 2001). "Area sporting events step aside in wake of tragedy". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
2. Huggins, Harold. (September 19, 2001). "Metros to open playoffs against Rampage". [[The Tennessean]].
3. DiVeronica, Jeff. (October 4, 2001). "Rhinos' Trotman killed in auto accident". [[Democrat and Chronicle]].
4. DiVeronica, Jeff. (October 14, 2001). "A sweet repeat". Democrat and Chronicle.
5. link. (2012-03-05)