Playoff Field, Schedule Set for USL First Division

Published on September 11, 2006 under USL First Division (USL-1) News Release

TAMPA, FL - United Soccer Leagues announced the schedule for the First Round of the USL First Division playoffs set to begin Friday, September 15. The Charleston Battery will take on the Puerto Rico Islanders while the Vancouver Whitecaps will square off against Miami FC to determine who joins Rochester and Montreal, respectively, in the Semifinals the following week.

The USL First Division's newest clubs came away with the final two playoff berths as expansion Miami FC and the third-year Puerto Rico Islanders both survived a two-game head-to-head showdown on the weekend while leaving the defending champion Seattle Sounders and Atlanta Silverbacks on the outside. Puerto Rico, who missed the postseason by one point last season, ironically, beat out the defending champions by one this season for their first trip to the playoffs.

Rochester, meanwhile, grabbed the second playoff bye, but came up short in their bid for the regular season title that went to Montreal.

(3) Charleston Battery v (6) Puerto Rico Islanders

Friday, Sept. 15 @ Charleston, 7:30 pm ET

Sunday, Sept. 17 @ Puerto Rico, 7:30 pm ET

The Battery finished the season 6-3-5 against the playoff field, but the Islanders were the lone club they were unable to post a victory against, going 0-2-2 in their four meetings (0-1-1 both home and away). The Islanders were 4-6-4 against the playoff field.

Puerto Rico handed the Battery their first loss four games in at Charleston 1-0 on a goal from Mark Oehlman. Charleston's trip to the island in June saw the Islanders post a 2-1 win with goals from Gustavo Barros-Schelotto and Kormac Valdebenito as Charleston Gavin Glinton scored for the visitors. The pair played a scoreless match the following night. The pair played to a second straight draw when Puerto Rico returned to Charleston in their last meeting August 9, a 2-2 affair with goals from Omar Daley and Glinton for the Battery and Alen Marcina and John Lopuski for the Islanders.

Charleston's winless run against the Islanders is at five, having split the 2005 series with a victory each. The victory last year, however, is the only one for the Battery in the all-time series with Puerto Rico holding a 5-1-4 advantage in their brief three-year history.

Both matches will be available to listen/watch online courtesy of the Charleston Battery at www.charlestonbattery.com

(4) Vancouver Whitecaps v (5) Miami FC

Friday, Sept. 15 @ Vancouver, 10:00 pm ET

Sunday, Sept. 17 @ Miami, 6:00 pm ET

Vancouver finished the regular season with a 3-3-4 record against the playoff field, posting a 1-0-1 mark against the expansion side in their season series. Miami was 2-7-5 against the playoff field.

The pair battled to a 2-2 draw in their opening meeting in Vancouver in June with Jeff Clarke and Steve Kindel scoring for the home side and Mario Rodriguez and Romario scoring for the visitors. Joey Gjertsen scored twice, including the winner, to lead the Whitecaps to a 3-2 road win at Miami in August in their last meeting with David Testo supplying the third. Mario Rodriguez scored for Miami with Francisco Gomez adding a penalty late.

Both matches will be available to listen to online courtesy of the Vancouver Whitecaps at www.whitecapsfc.com

Semifinals (Sept. 22, 24)

(1) Montreal Impact v Vancouver/Miami winner

(2) Rochester Raging Rhinos v Charleston/Puerto Rico winner

USL First Division Championship

Saturday, September 30

7:00 pm ET - Live on Fox Soccer Channel

** Schedule subject to change

USL First Division Stories from September 11, 2006

• USL First Division Stat Awards Announced, Weekly Honors Released - USL-1
• Playoff Field, Schedule Set for USL First Division - USL-1

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