The success of the two expansion sides Cleveland and Baltimore in 2007 were followed up in 2008, creating a firm establishment of five clubs along with Charlotte, Richmond and Harrisburg as the elite of the USL Second Division.

The gap between the top five doubled from five points the previous campaign to 11 in 2008. The competition within the quintet that saw the top three finish within three points of one another a year before experienced a different dynamic with the Charlotte Eagles and Richmond Kickers running clearly in front of the pack most of the year.

Richmond, who had edged out Cleveland for first by two points in 2007, were unable to retain the regular season title based on the head-to-head series loss (2-1-0) to Charlotte as the two sides finished with the same point total of 44 despite Richmond having more wins at 14-4-2 to Charlotte’s 13-2-5.

Just as in 2007, the third through fifth positions were separated by only six points with Cleveland taking third over Crystal Palace and the defending league champion Harrisburg City Islanders, who were fifth. Western Mass again finished sixth.

Cleveland dropped the Pioneers 4-2 in the First Round while Crystal Palace slid by Harrisburg in penalties 7-6 after a 2-2 draw. In the USL-2 Semifinals, Richmond would fall to Cleveland 1-0 in overtime on a strike from former Charlotte Eagle Adam Ruud as Charlotte rallied from a fifth minute deficit to top Palace 2-1 to return to the final for the fourth time in five years after missing out in 2007.

With trips back to Africa slated for both Sallieu Bundu and Musa Otieno of Cleveland, it could have been easy for the pair to be distracted Saturday night at Krenzler Stadium. Instead, the duo played pivotal roles in the second-year City Stars winning the USL Second Division Championship 2-1 against the two-time champion Charlotte Eagles.

The opening goal came by unusual circumstances 15 minutes in for the hosts. Mark Schulte sent a long throw-in inside the box, finding Musa Otieno eight yards from goal. Otieno just missed connecting with a header, but his large frame left Charlotte defender Steve Shak screened from seeing the well-paced ball as it deflected off the defenseless veteran and found its way into the back of the net for an own goal.

A brilliant play by Cleveland’s Sallieu Bundu in the 39th proved the difference in the game. The Sierra Leone international stole the ball from a Charlotte defender on the left flank and sped his way into the box before firing a rocket past another Charlotte back and goalkeeper Kevin Trapp from a narrow angle into the far side netting.

Dustin Swinehart had two consecutive chances that stemmed from a corner kick. The corner dropped into the box and found its way to the league MVP, who took a quick shot on goal that was cleared off the line by Godfrey Tenoff. In the scramble to clear, the ball immediately found its way back into the box, but Swinehart’s header flew just wide of the post. Swinehart had finished the season with a comfortable margin in the points and goals tables for the league’s top honors.

Dan Harvey was inserted late and it paid immediate dividends for Charlotte. Swinehart dropped it to Gustavo Bentos, who’s shot was deflected to the flank where Harvey would cross it back into the box. Joseph Kabwe was in the right place to put the ball away in the 87th to give the Eagles hope for the few remaining minutes.

The reigning two-time USL Second Division Defender of the Year Mark Schulte was honored as the Championship MVP for his efforts in shutting down Swinehart for the majority of the match en route to the victory.