2016 USL season


The 2016 USL season was the sixth season of the United Soccer League and the twenty-second season of USSF sanctioned Division III play organized by the United Soccer Leagues.
On August 6, 2015, the league announced that the season would consist of 30 games rather than 28 games played from 2013–2015. This was the first increase in the number of games since the league went from 24 games per season in 2012 to 28 games in 2013.
The league expanded from 24 to 29 teams in 2016. Six franchises were officially announced by the league: Swope Park Rangers, Orlando City B, Rio Grande Valley FC, FC Cincinnati, Bethlehem Steel FC, and San Antonio FC.
The Austin Aztex were on hiatus for the 2016 season, due to stadium availability issues, but planned to return in 2017 pending construction of a new, soccer-specific stadium.

Teams

Other venues

The Real Monarchs played three home games at other sites while Rio Tinto Stadium was being resurfaced: Aces Ballpark in Reno, Nevada, Clyde Field at Utah Valley University and Ute Soccer Field at The University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros played their first three games at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Soccer Complex while their stadium was being completed.
The September 7 game between New York Red Bulls II and Harrisburg City Islanders was played at Pucillo Field at Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania.

Relationships with MLS clubs

There are 11 USL teams owned and operated by MLS clubs and 9 USL-MLS affiliations among the 29 USL clubs.
The two relationship types are treated the same by Major League Soccer.

Managerial changes

Player transfers

Competition Format

The season started on March 25 and ended on September 25. The top eight finishers in each conference qualify for the playoffs.

League table

;Eastern Conference
;Western Conference

Results table

Playoffs

The team with the best record across both conferences earned the 2016 USL Regular Season title. The top eight teams in each conference advanced to the 2016 USL Playoffs, which were a single-elimination bracket crown two conference champions. The two conference champions advanced to the 2016 USL Championship.
The playoffs took place over the course of four weeks. The fixed seed format concluded with the USL Championship, which was held at the venue of the conference champion with the best regular season record.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

USL Championship

Championship Game MVP: Brandon Allen

Attendance

The following table shows average home attendances, ranked from highest to lowest.
Team
FC Cincinnati15259,43724,37611,27817,296
Sacramento Republic FC15172,71111,56910,74511,514
Louisville City FC15108,26910,0625,2987,218
San Antonio FC1592,5468,4664,3266,170
Oklahoma City Energy FC1574,2496,4553,7534,950
Saint Louis FC1573,8416,0044,2094,923
Richmond Kickers1559,9416,1232,6473,996
Tulsa Roughnecks FC1559,2475,3283,3233,950
Rochester Rhinos1554,8195,1242,4423,655
Charleston Battery1553,5635,4813,1503,570
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC1547,2844,3082,2123,152
Wilmington Hammerheads1544,9963,8371,8093,000
Bethlehem Steel FC1538,5963,6644222,573
Real Monarchs1537,9195,1823762,528
Pittsburgh Riverhounds1537,4123,4401,7112,494
Portland Timbers 21534,8494,3521,5282,323
Rio Grande Valley FC1529,9032,6461,4481,994
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 21526,6833,0578571,779
Swope Park Rangers1526,3016,8129261,753
Harrisburg City Islanders16†24,7582,8532271,547
Arizona United SC1522,0453,3747531,470
Seattle Sounders FC 21521,0171,8351,1821,401
Charlotte Independence1520,6201,8011,0181,375
LA Galaxy II1518,1592,7155031,211
Toronto FC II1515,3961,3005761,026
Orange County Blues FC1515,1562,4554631,010
Orlando City B1514,3632,078642958
New York Red Bulls II14†8,2502,096214589
FC Montreal153,64796658243
Total4351,496,49324,376583,439

† One New York Red Bulls II home game was moved to Millersville, Pennsylvania because of a scheduling conflict.

Top scorers

RankPlayerNationClubGoals
1Sean OkoliUSAFC Cincinnati16
2Brandon AllenUSANew York Red Bulls II15
2Jack McBeanUSALA Galaxy II15
4Irvin HerreraSaint Louis FC14
4Chandler HoffmanUSALouisville City FC14
6Corey HertzogUSAPittsburgh Riverhounds13
7Cameron IwasaUSASacramento Republic FC12
8Michael CoxOrlando City B11
8Kyle GreigUSAVancouver Whitecaps 211
8Sammy OchoaUSATulsa Roughnecks FC11

Source:

Top assists

RankPlayerNationClubAssists
1Villyan BijevPortland Timbers 210
2Danny BarreraSacramento Republic FC9
3Carlos AlvarezUSASan Antonio FC7
3AyrtonSwope Park Rangers7
3José BarrilHarrisburg City Islanders7
3Memo RodriguezUSARio Grande Valley FC Toros7
7Maikel ChangCharleston Battery6
7Derrick EtienneNew York Red Bulls II6
7Sammy OchoaUSATulsa Roughnecks FC6
7Kyle SmithUSALouisville City FC6
7Long TanArizona United SC6
7Florian ValotNew York Red Bulls II6
7Paul WilsonHarrisburg City Islanders6
7Ricardo VelazcoUSAReal Monarchs6

Source:

Top Goalkeepers

RankGoalkeeperClubGPMINSSVSGAGAAW-L-TSHO
1 Tomas GomezRochester Rhinos16144039110.6889–2–57
2 Ryan MearaNew York Red Bulls II21181254160.79613–2–611
3 Dominik JakubekSacramento Republic FC18162031150.83310–4–47
3 Greg RanjitsinghLouisville City FC24205450190.83312–3–910
5 Devala GorrickColorado Springs Switchbacks28245182230.84614–7–713
6 Mitch HildebrandtFC Cincinnati30260872250.86216–6–810
7 Josh FordSan Antonio FC17150953150.8935–5–73
8 Cody LaurendiOklahoma City Energy26234080240.9239–6–1112
9 John BernerCharlotte Independence20178251190.9608–6–67
10 Alexander TambakisCharleston Battery19170970201.05310–4–56

Source:

League Awards

Individual Awards

First Team
F: Brandon Allen, Jack McBean, Sean Okoli
M: Danny Barrera, Villyan Bijev, Enzo Martinez
D: Harrison Delbridge, Amer Didic, Aaron Long, Hugh Roberts
G: Mitch Hildebrandt
Second Team
F: Irvin Herrera, Corey Hertzog, Cameron Iwasa
M: Jose Barril, Kenardo Forbes, Yudai Imura
D: Zach Carroll, Joe Farrell, Bruno Perone, Josh Suggs
G: Devala Gorrick