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2021 USL League Two season

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USL League Two
Season2021
DatesMay 5 – July 18
(regular season)
ChampionsDes Moines Menace
Regular season titleDes Moines Menace
2022 Hank Steinbrecher Cup qualifiersDes Moines Menace
Flint City Bucks
2022 U.S. Open Cup qualifiersChicago FC United
Des Moines Menace
North Carolina Fusion U23
Ocean City Nor'easters
Park City Red Wolves SC
Portland Timbers U23
South Carolina United
The Villages SC
West Chester United SC
Western Mass Pioneers
Matches played495
Goals scored1,616 (3.26 per match)
Longest winning run9 matches
Des Moines Menace
(May 15 – June 24)
Longest unbeaten run12 matches
Western Mass Pioneers
(May 15 – July 9)
Longest winless run14 matches
(entire regular season)
Dayton Dutch Lions
Westchester Flames
Longest losing run11 matches
FC Wichita
(May 22 – July 10)
← 2020
(Cancelled)
2022 →
All statistics correct as of July 31, 2021.

The 2021 USL League Two season is the 27th season of the USL League Two, the top pre-professional soccer league in the United States, since its establishment in 1995. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The regular season started on May 5 and concluded on July 18. 75 teams participated in this season.[1] The Southwest Division teams elected not to play due to COVID-19 concerns.[2]

Team changes

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New teams

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Departing teams

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Name changes

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Teams

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Note: Teams lined out are on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Standings

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Eastern Conference

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Northeast Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Western Mass Pioneers 14 10 2 2 34 12 +22 32 2.29 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 Boston Bolts 14 10 0 4 29 16 +13 30 2.14
3 Seacoast United Phantoms 14 9 2 3 33 19 +14 29 2.07
4 Black Rock FC 14 4 3 7 18 28 −10 15 1.07
5 FC Málaga City 14 1 5 8 7 24 −17 8 0.57
6 AC Connecticut 14 1 2 11 13 35 −22 5 0.36
Source: USL

Mid Atlantic Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 West Chester United SC 14 11 2 1 29 6 +23 35 2.50 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 Ocean City Nor'easters 14 9 3 2 40 12 +28 30 2.14
3 Northern Virginia FC 14 8 2 4 27 21 +6 26 1.86
4 Philadelphia Lone Star FC 14 5 0 9 22 28 −6 15[a] 1.07[a]
5 Reading United AC 14 4 3 7 18 27 −9 15 1.07
6 Lehigh Valley United 14 3 1 10 18 39 −21 10 0.71
7 Real Central New Jersey 14 2 3 9 10 31 −21 9 0.64
Source: USL
Notes:
  1. ^ Philadelphia Lone Star FC wins the tiebreaker over Reading United AC on goal differential.

Metropolitan Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Long Island Rough Riders 14 9 4 1 21 7 +14 31 2.21 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 Cedar Stars Rush 14 8 3 3 28 15 +13 27 1.93
3 New York Red Bulls U-23 14 7 4 3 23 10 +13 25 1.79
4 Manhattan SC 14 7 3 4 28 15 +13 24 1.71
5 FC Motown 14 6 2 6 18 15 +3 20 1.43
6 New Jersey Copa FC 14 5 3 6 15 18 −3 18 1.29
7 F.A. Euro 14 4 5 5 19 21 −2 17 1.21
8 Morris Elite SC 14 3 2 9 8 28 −20 11 0.79
9 Westchester Flames 14 0 2 12 13 44 −31 2 0.14
Source: USL

Central Conference

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Great Lakes Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Kalamazoo FC 14 9 4 1 29 14 +15 31 2.21 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 Flint City Bucks 14 9 2 3 35 10 +25 29 2.07
3 Kings Hammer FC 14 8 4 2 25 17 +8 28 2.00
4 Grand Rapids FC 14 7 5 2 35 17 +18 26 1.86
5 South Bend Lions 14 5 4 5 27 17 +10 19 1.36
6 Oakland County FC 14 5 3 6 28 32 −4 18 1.29
7 Toledo Villa FC 14 3 4 7 22 40 −18 13 0.93
8 Fort Wayne FC 14 1 5 8 14 32 −18 8 0.57
9 Dayton Dutch Lions 14 0 1 13 14 50 −36 1 0.07
Source: USL

Heartland Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Des Moines Menace (C) 12 11 0 1 32 7 +25 33 2.75 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 Chicago FC United 12 9 2 1 31 9 +22 29 2.42
3 St. Louis Scott Gallagher 12 6 2 4 24 20 +4 20 1.67
4 Kaw Valley FC 12 4 0 8 18 31 −13 12 1.00
5 Green Bay Voyageurs 11 2 2 7 10 23 −13 8 0.73
6 FC Wichita 11 0 0 11 5 30 −25 0 0.00
Source: USL
(C) Champions

Mid South Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Mississippi Brilla 13 8 3 2 26 11 +15 27 2.08 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 Corpus Christi FC 13 7 2 4 20 15 +5 23 1.77
3 Texas United 14 6 3 5 20 19 +1 21 1.50
4 AHFC Royals 14 5 5 4 25 24 +1 20 1.43
5 Little Rock Rangers 14 6 1 7 17 17 0 19 1.36
6 Houston FC 14 5 1 8 16 27 −11 16 1.14
7 Round Rock SC 14 4 3 7 15 21 −6 15 1.07
8 Brazos Valley Cavalry F.C. 14 3 4 7 22 27 −5 13 0.93
Source: USL

Southern Conference

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South Atlantic Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 North Carolina Fusion U23 14 11 1 2 48 13 +35 34 2.43 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 Lionsbridge FC 14 9 2 3 38 16 +22 29[a] 2.07[a]
3 West Virginia United 14 9 2 3 31 20 +11 29 2.07
4 Tri-Cities Otters 14 7 3 4 28 16 +12 24 1.71
5 Wake FC 14 4 3 7 21 33 −12 15 1.07
6 North Carolina FC U23 14 3 1 10 15 38 −23 10 0.71
7 Tobacco Road FC 14 3 1 10 12 44 −32 10 0.71
8 Virginia Beach United FC 14 2 3 9 12 25 −13 9 0.64
Source: USL
Notes:
  1. ^ Lionsbridge FC wins the tiebreaker over West Virginia United on goal differential.

Deep South Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 SC United Bantams 14 11 2 1 32 15 +17 35 2.50 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 Tormenta FC 2 14 10 1 3 33 12 +21 31 2.21
3 East Atlanta FC 14 6 3 5 18 24 −6 21 1.50
4 Asheville City SC 14 6 2 6 16 20 −4 20 1.43
5 Peachtree City MOBA 14 5 2 7 22 25 −3 17[a] 1.21[a]
6 Charlotte Eagles 14 5 2 7 21 25 −4 17 1.21
7 Charlotte Independence 2 14 4 4 6 20 22 −2 16 1.14
8 Dalton Red Wolves 14 4 1 9 14 24 −10 13 0.93
9 Southern Soccer Academy 14 3 1 10 13 22 −9 10 0.71
Source: USL
Notes:
  1. ^ Peachtree City MOBA wins the tiebreaker over Charlotte Eagles on total goals scored.

Southeast Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 The Villages SC 10 8 1 1 19 5 +14 25 2.50 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 Tampa Bay United 10 5 3 2 19 12 +7 18 1.80
3 Florida Elite SA 10 5 1 4 14 11 +3 16 1.60
4 Weston FC 10 2 3 5 8 16 −8 9 0.90
5 FC Miami City 10 2 2 6 16 23 −7 8[a] 0.80[a]
6 FC Florida U23 10 2 2 6 8 17 −9 8 0.80
Source: USL
Notes:
  1. ^ FC Miami City wins the tiebreaker over FC Florida U23 on goal differential.

Western Conference

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Mountain Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Park City Red Wolves 10 5 2 3 24 20 +4 17 1.70 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 Colorado Rush SC 10 4 2 4 18 17 +1 14 1.40
3 Ogden City SC 10 3 2 5 18 23 −5 11 1.10
Source: USL

Northwest Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Portland Timbers U23s 12 10 1 1 30 11 +19 31 2.58 Advance to USL League Two Playoffs
2 PDX FC 12 7 1 4 33 24 +9 22 1.83
3 OVF Alliance 12 3 2 7 16 26 −10 11 0.92
4 Lane United FC 12 1 2 9 18 36 −18 5 0.42
Source: USL

Tie breakers

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  • 1) Head-to-head record based on total points in League games. [A][B]
  • 2) Points Per Game = Total points won / Total games played
  • 3) Total wins in League games.
  • 4) Goal difference in League games. If number of games is unequal, the Game Average[C] will be used.
  • 5) Goals scored in League games.
  • 6) Total points within smallest group[D]. If number of games is unequal, then point percentage[E] will be used.
  • 7) Ranking based on points earned against top four group finishers. This tiebreaker will not be used if four (4) or fewer teams comprise the group. If number of games is unequal, then point percentage applies.
  • 8) Point percentage outside / smallest division or conference in League games.
  • 9) Total points in all regular season and Open Cup qualifying games combined. If number of games is unequal, then point percentage applies.
  • 10) FIFA Fair Play – Team with fewest disciplinary points in League games. (If number of games is unequal, points will be divided by games played to arrive at a common basis for comparison).
  • 11) Lottery conducted by USL League Two.
  1. ^
    League games refer solely to games that count towards the regular season standings. Open Cup specific games are not “League games” when it comes to determining placement in the League standings. (When using these criteria as tiebreakers for Open Cup groups, “League games” should be interpreted as only games that count toward Open Cup group standings).
  2. ^
    Should more than two (2) teams involved have played an unequal number of total games this tie breaker will be skipped.
  3. ^
    Game Average: Tie Breaker / number of games played (i.e. goals scored / number of games played).
  4. ^
    Grouping: Term used to describe the primary unit in which a team competes (i.e. Southwest Division).
  5. ^
    Point Percentage: Number of total points earned / maximum possible points (3 per game).

Playoffs

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Main article: 2021 USL League Two Playoffs

Bracket

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Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals National Semifinals National Final
               
S2 The Villages SC 2
S8 East Atlanta FC 1
S2 The Villages SC 2
S4 Tormenta FC 2 (a.e.t.) 4
S4 Tormenta FC 2 2
S5 Lionsbridge FC 0
S4 Tormenta FC 2 2
Southern Conference
S3 North Carolina Fusion U23 (a.e.t.) 4
S1 SC United Bantams 3
S7 West Virginia United 1
S1 SC United Bantams 1
S3 North Carolina Fusion U23 (a.e.t.) 2
S3 North Carolina Fusion U23 5
S6 Tampa Bay United 0
S3 North Carolina Fusion U23 3
E2 Western Mass Pioneers 1
E1 West Chester United SC 2
E8 New York Red Bulls U-23 1
E1 West Chester United SC 1
E5 Ocean City Nor'easters 0
E4 Boston Bolts 0
E5 Ocean City Nor'easters 1
E1 West Chester United SC 0
Eastern Conference
E2 Western Mass Pioneers 1
E2 Western Mass Pioneers 4
E6 Cedar Stars Rush 0
E2 Western Mass Pioneers (p) 0 (5)
E7 Seacoast United Phantoms 0 (4)
E3 Long Island Rough Riders 1
E7 Seacoast United Phantoms (a.e.t.) 2
S3 North Carolina Fusion U23 0
C1 Des Moines Menace 1
C1 Des Moines Menace 5
C8 Texas United 0
C1 Des Moines Menace 1
C5 Flint City Bucks 0
C4 Chicago FC United 1
C5 Flint City Bucks 3
C1 Des Moines Menace 2
Central Conference
C2 Kalamazoo FC 1
C2 Kalamazoo FC 3
C6 Corpus Christi FC 1
C2 Kalamazoo FC (p) 1 (4)
C3 Mississippi Brilla FC 1 (1)
C3 Mississippi Brilla FC 3
C7 Kings Hammer FC 1
C1 Des Moines Menace 2
W1 Portland Timbers U23s 0
W1 Portland Timbers U23s (p) 3 (4)
Western Conference
W2 Park City Red Wolves 3 (2)


[4][5]

USL League Two Championship

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July 31, 2021 Des Moines Menace 1–0 North Carolina Fusion U23 Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30 PM CDT
  • Manel Busquets 55'
 Report
Report		 Attendance: 7,342
Referee: Carl Armstrong

Championship MVP: Manel Busquets (DMM)

Awards

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Award Winner Team Reason Ref.
Defender of the Year England Toby Sims SC United Bantams 1,108 minutes; two goals; one assist [6]
Golden Glove United States Dane Jacomen West Chester United 0.41 Goals Against Average; 9 Shutouts; 88.4% Save percentage [7]
Young (U20) Player of the Year United States Zemedkun Rodriguez Cedar Stars Rush 991 minutes; seven goals; one assist [8]
Assists Champion Brazil Joao Gomiero North Carolina Fusion U23 8 Assists [9]
England Jake Nicholson West Virginia United
Golden Boot Argentina Nicolás Molina West Virginia United 16 Goals in 13 games [10][11]
Most Valuable Player
Coach of the Year Scotland Mark McKeever Des Moines Menace 16 of 17 games won [12]
Goal of the Year Mexico Enrique Banuelos Kalamazoo FC vs Mississippi Brilla FC [13]
Save of the Year United States Trevor McMullen East Atlanta FC Penalty kick save vs Tormenta FC 2 [14]
Goalkeeper of the Year United States Drew Romig Tormenta FC 2 0.31 Goals Against Average, 5 Shutouts [15]

All-League and All-Conference Teams

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[16][17][18][19][15]

Eastern Conference

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F: Tyler Bagley (BOS) *, Simon Becher (OCN), Amara Sesay (MAN)
M: Zemedkun Rodriguez (CSR), Conor Bradley (WCU), Okan Golge (NJC), Ryan Becher (REA)
D: Maurice Williams (NYR), Shane Bradley (WCU), Luca Mellor (WCU) *
G: Jan Hoffelner (NJC)

Central Conference

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F: Cyrus Harmon (KAL) *, Jalen James (MBR), Pol Monells (TEX)
M: Manel Busquets (DMM), Daniel Barlow (KHM), Daire O’Riordan (KAL) *, Harvey Slade (FCB)
D: Jordan Skelton (DMM) *, George Proctor (FCB), Paul Efang (KAL)
G: Alejandro Chavarria (MBR)

Southern Conference

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F: Alexis Ledoux (SGT), Charles Touche (LIO), Nicolas Molina (WVU) *
M: Arnaud Baron (SCU) *, Joao Gomiero (NCF) *, Gabriel Cabral (SGT) *, Daniel Oliveira (VIL)
D: Alex Henderson (SCU), Toby Sims (SCU) *, Cristobal Molina (NCF)
G: Drew Romig (SGT) *

Western Conference

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F: Ivan Mykhailenko (POR), Jose Carlos González (LAN), Evan Hoover (OVF)
M: David Brog (POR), Jose Sosa (POR), Wesley Frankel (OVF), Henry Cromack (LAN)
D: Esai Easley (POR), Emory Rapaport (POR), Carter Payne (PDX)
G: Albert Escuin (LAN)

* denotes All-League player

References

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  1. ^ "USL League Two Reveals Schedule for 2021 Season". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. February 25, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "USL League Two's Southwest Division to Forgo the 2021 Season". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. April 6, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  3. ^ "2021 SEASON UPDATE FROM TONY GLAVIN". February 12, 2021.
  4. ^ "USL League Two Announces Expanded Playoff Structure for the 2021 Season". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "League Two Announces Matchups for the 2021 League Two Playoffs". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Toby Sims Voted the 2021 League Two Defender of the Year". USL League Two. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  7. ^ "Dane Jacomen Named Recipient of the 2021 League Two Golden Glove Award". USL League Two. August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "Zemedkun Rodriguez Named 2021 League Two Young Player of the Year". USL League Two. August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "Joao Gomiero and Jake Nicholson Share 2021 Assist Champion Award". USL League Two. August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "Nicolas Molina Named Recipient of the 2021 Golden Boot Award". USL League Two. August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  11. ^ "Nicolas Molina Named 2021 League Two MVP". USL League Two. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "Mark McKeever Named 2021 League Two Coach of the Year". USL League Two. August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  13. ^ "Fan's Choice for Goal of the Year". USL League Two. August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  14. ^ "Fan's Choice for Save of the Year". USL League Two. August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  15. ^ a b "USL League Two 2021 All-League Team of the Year". USL League Two. August 31, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  16. ^ "USL League Two 2021 Eastern Conference Team of the Year". USL League Two. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  17. ^ "USL League Two 2021 Central Conference Team of the Year". USL League Two. August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  18. ^ "USL League Two 2021 Southern Conference Team of the Year". USL League Two. August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  19. ^ "USL League Two 2021 Western Conference Team of the Year". USL League Two. August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
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