2019 USL League Two season

Football league season

The 2019 USL League Two season is the 25th season of what was formerly the Premier Development League, and the first under the new brand. The regular season started on May 3 and ended on July 14. The Flint City Bucks won the final championship, having defeated Reading United AC 1–0 in extra time.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Changes from 2018

New teams

A total of 12 new member clubs join League Two for the 2019 season.

Moves

• Michigan Bucks became Flint City Bucks^[19] after moving from Pontiac MI, to Flint MI.

Name changes

• North County United renamed Treasure Coast Tritons
• West Virginia Chaos renamed West Virginia Alliance FC
• Carolina Dynamo renamed North Carolina Fusion U-23^[20]

On hiatus

• Fresno FC U-23^[21]

Folded / left

• Birmingham Hammers (disbanded to make way for Birmingham Legion FC in USL Championship)
• Colorado Rapids U-23
• Derby City Rovers
• FC Cleburne
• FC Tucson (moved to USL League One)
• IMG Academy Bradenton
• Lansing United (disbanded to make way for Lansing Ignite FC in USL League One)
• Memphis City FC (disbanded to make way for Memphis 901 FC in USL Championship)
• Myrtle Beach Mutiny
• Next Academy Palm Beach
• OKC Energy U23
• South Georgia Tormenta FC (moved to USL League One, replaced by Tormenta FC 2)
• SIMA Aguilas

Standings

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Mid Atlantic Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:

1. Ocean City Nor'easters wins the tiebreaker over Long Island Rough Riders on head-to-head points. (4-1)

South Atlantic Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Southern Conference

Deep South Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Southeast Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Mid South Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Heartland Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:

1. Thunder Bay Chill and Green Bay Voyageurs were tied on head-to-head points. (3-3)

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
(J) Juan de Fuca Plate

Mountain Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Southwest Division

Source: 2019 USL League Two standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head record; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) record against the smallest group; 6) points earned against top four conference finishers; 7) point percentage outside smallest group; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:

1. Orange County SC U-23 won the tiebreaker over Santa Cruz Breakers FC on head-to-head points. (6-0)

Playoffs

Bold = winner

Conference Championships

The League Two Conference Championships will be held over the weekend of July 19–21. Matches will be played at: Whittier, CA (Western Conference, host FC Golden State Force); Reading, PA (Eastern Conference, host Reading United AC); Des Moines, IA (Central Conference, host Des Moines Menace); and Columbia, SC (Southern Conference, host SC United Bantams). The four conference champions will advance to the League Two semifinals.^[22]

Eastern Conference

Western Mass Pioneers v North Carolina Fusion U23

Reading United AC v GPS Portland Phoenix

Reading United AC v Western Mass Pioneers

Southern Conference

South Georgia Tormenta FC 2 v The Villages SC

SC United Bantams v Brazos Valley Cavalry F.C.

Brazos Valley Cavalry F.C. v South Georgia Tormenta FC 2

Central Conference

Chicago FC United v Kaw Valley FC

Des Moines Menace v Flint City Bucks

Kaw Valley FC v Flint City Bucks

Western Conference

Calgary Foothills FC v Ventura County Fusion

FC Golden State Force v Colorado Pride Switchbacks U23

FC Golden State Force v Ventura County Fusion

USL League Two Championship

Flint City Bucks v FC Golden State Force

South Georgia Tormenta FC 2 v Reading United AC

Final

Flint City Bucks v Reading United AC

Awards

• Most Valuable Player: Deri Corfe (OCN)^[23]
• Golden Boot: Deri Corfe (OCN) & Kyle Edwards (BVC)^[24]
• Golden Glove: Blake Mullen (WMA)^[25]
• Young (U20) Player of the Year: Kyle Ferguson (SCU)^[26]
• Coach of the Year: Alan McCann (REA)^[27]
• Goalkeeper of the Year: Robert Edwards (SCU)^[28]
• Defender of the Year: Lamine Conte (REA)^[29]

All-League and All-Conference Teams

^{[30][31][32][33][28]}

Eastern Conference

F: Deri Corfe (OCN) *, Thibaut Jacquel (LBR), Donnett Sackie (VBU)
M: Jack Beer (MAN) *, Manuel Ferriol (LIR), Taylor Gray (TRI), Felipe Hideki (REA) *
D: Gideon Betz (LBR), Lamine Conte (REA) *, Friedrich Peter (VBU)
G: Blake Mullen (WMA)

Central Conference

F: Yuri Farkas (FCB), Sullivan Oliveira Silva (TBC), Gerit Wintermeyer (CHI) *
M: Giuseppe Barone (FCB), Jackson Dietrich (DAY), Jorge Guinovart (CIN), Nicolás Perea (DMM)
D: Reece Hands (CIN), Leon Jones (CHI), James Thomas (DMM) *
G: Jordan Bell (DMM)

Southern Conference

F: J.J. Donnelly (SGT), Leonardo Paiva (VIL) *, Jonathan Ricketts (DRW)
M: Adrian Billhardt (SGT) *, Luca Mayr (SGT) *, Kobe Perez (SGT), Harrison Roberts (SCU)
D: Artur De Luca (PCM), Shalom Dutey (CHE), Kyle Ferguson (SCU) *
G: Robert Edwards (SCU) *

Western Conference

F: Manuel Medina (SCS), Enoch Mushagalusa (CPS), Daniel Trejo (GSF)
M: Nabilai Kibunguchy (SFG), Julio Rubio (ABU), Shun Takano (VIC), Shizu Yohena (SDZ)
D: Ray Estrada (SCS), Jordan Haynes (TSS), Edward Venta-Yepes (CPS)
G: Albert Escuin (LAN)

* denotes All-League player

References

1. "2019 Conference Alignment: Western Conference". USL League Two. January 22, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
2. "2019 Conference Alignment: Central Conference". USL League Two. January 23, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
3. "2019 Conference Alignment: Eastern Conference". USL League Two. January 24, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
4. "2019 Conference Alignment: Southern Conference". USL League Two. January 25, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
5. "USL League Two Unveils Full 2019 Schedule". USL League Two. January 30, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
6. Staff, USL League Two (September 19, 2018). "PDL Unveils Cedar Stars Rush as New Member". USL League Two. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
7. Staff, USL League Two (December 28, 2018). "Dalton Revealed As USL League Two Team". USL League Two. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
8. Staff, USL League Two (January 21, 2019). "Daytona SC Set To Join USL League Two". USL League Two. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
9. "Discoveries SC to Launch PDL Team in 2019". Premier Development League (PDL). March 8, 2018.
10. "Florida Elite Soccer Academy to Join PDL in 2019". Premier Development League (PDL). April 5, 2018. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
11. "Green Bay To Launch USL League Two Club In 2019". USL League Two. October 27, 2018. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
12. "USL League Two Unveils Manhattan SC As New Member". USL League Two. January 17, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
13. Staff, USL League Two (December 28, 2018). "Park City To Join USL League Two Ahead Of 2019 Season". USL League Two. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
14. Ramsey, Ben (January 4, 2019). "Updated: Park City to get elite amateur soccer team". Park Record. Park City, UT. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
15. "Tormenta FC Announces Rebrand of its USL League Two Team". Tormenta FC. January 23, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
16. "Sarasota Joins USL League Two Ahead of 2019 Season". USL League Two. January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
17. "Virginia Beach United Joins USL League Two Ahead Of 2019 Season". USL League Two. January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
18. "Wake FC to Join League Two in 2019". USL League Two. April 13, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
19. "Flint City Bucks Continue Tradition In USL League Two". USL League Two. January 30, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
20. "North Carolina Fusion U-23 Prepares for New Era in League Two". USL League Two Staff. April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
21. "Fresno FC U23s and Ladies Teams Placed On Hiatus". Fresno Football Club. February 1, 2019. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
22. "Playoff Matchups Set". USL League Two. July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
23. "Deri Corfe named 2019 League Two MVP". USL League Two. August 17, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
24. "Edwards and Corfe share League Two Golden Boot". USL League Two. August 13, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
25. "Blake Mullen earns League Two Golden Glove Award". USL League Two. August 14, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
26. "Kyle Ferguson named League Two Young Player of the Year". USL League Two. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
27. "Coach of the Year: Alan McCann". USL League Two. August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
28. "2019 USL League Two Team of the Year". USL League Two. August 17, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
29. "Lamine Conte Voted League Two Defensive Player of the Year". USL League Two. August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
30. "2019 Eastern Conference Team of the Season". USL League Two. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
31. "2019 Central Conference Team of the Season". USL League Two. August 13, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
32. "2019 Southern Conference Team of the Season". USL League Two. August 14, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
33. "2019 Western Conference Team of the Season". USL League Two. August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.