USL Fox Sports World Games of the Week
Published on September 1, 2004 under USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
With the Pro Soccer League looking forward to its championship match this weekend and the A-League starting their postseason games, the playoffs are in full swing in the USL.
The PSL finalists will face off in a winner-takes-all match while the A-League will see two-legged series in the first two rounds to determine who advances.
Utah Blitzz (11-6-3)
The PSL's top defense (16 goals allowed) will take the field Saturday, after allowing a paltry five goals over their final 10 games (including playoffs). This is the fifth straight season that the Blitzz have made it to at least the semifinals. They won the championship match in 2001.
Utah goalkeeper Chad Sackett garnered Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2003 and was just 0.008 off the pace this season. Defender Richard Breza (5g, 5a) and midfielder Matt Evans (7g, 1a) shared the team scoring lead at 15 points.
Charlotte Eagles (14-4-2)
The Charlotte Eagles sport the league's best offense, having scored 53 goals on the season. Teammates Dustin Swinehart and Jacob Coggins tied for the league lead in assists (10), while Coggins also garnered the top spot in goals (20) and points (50).
This game is a rematch of the 2000 semifinals, where the Eagles took a 4-2 decision from the Blitzz and went on to claim the championship over the New Jersey Stallions.
Rochester Raging Rhinos (15-10-3)
After going winless for five games (0-3-2), the Rhinos won their final two games of the regular season to earn a first round date with the Montreal Impact.
Former MLS forward Chris Carrieri led the Rhinos in points (24) on eight goals and eight assists while Corey Woolfolk had a team-leading nine goals.
Montreal Impact (17-6-5)
The Impact captured the Eastern Conference regular season championship with 56 points, just one shy of the A-League leading Portland Timbers. The Impact used an eight game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) to distance themselves from the pack before losing back-to-back games to end the season by identical 2-0 scores.
The Impact were led in scoring by Eduardo Sebrango, who rang up eight goals and three assists for 19 points. Goalkeeper Greg Sutton was stellar in goal, earning a league-leading 0.535 goals against average on the season.
These two teams are no strangers, they played three times this season, with Montreal earning two 1-0 decisions while the Rhinos pulled one back, winning the final regular season game 2-0. In four of the five years that the Impact have advanced to the postseason since 1996, the Rhinos have ended Montreal's hopes for a title.
USL First Division Stories from September 1, 2004
- Padres purchase contract of Beavers' Robinson - Portland Timbers
- USL Fox Sports World Games of the Week - USL-1
- Battery Makes Coaching Change - Charleston Battery
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