In addition to the splitting of the outdoor league into two levels, pro and premier, the league introduces the W-League officially in 1995 after a successful trial run during the summer of ‘94.

 

The elite women’s league featured U.S National Team players as well as some of the top collegiate players in the country. The W-League’s success is so great in its first two seasons that it will eventually split, similar to the men’s league, in ‘98, forming W-1 and W-2. The Long Island Lady Riders defeated the Nitemares of Southern California for the inaugural W-League championship. Southern California’s Laurie Hill was named league MVP.

 

If it didn’t change, it wouldn’t sizzle. The USISL retains its acronym while changing the league’s name to United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues, reflecting the umbrella organization of four leagues heading toward its 10th anniversary.

 

Future MLS player Giovanni Savarese scored the most memorable goal in USL history in the 1995 Pro League Championship. His game-winner with six seconds left gave the Long Island Rough Riders, in their second season, a 2-1 victory over Minnesota. Savarese’s goal gave the Long Island teams a sweep of their two league championships in the same year. They are the only affiliated men’s and women’s teams to ever accomplish the feat.

 

It is the PDL Richmond Kickers who deservedly steal the spotlight in 1995, capturing the PDL championship, defeating the Cocoa Expos, and the U.S. Open Cup championship, defeating fellow USL member El Paso Patriots of the Pro League. They were the first USL team to not only win the Open Cup but the coveted “double” as well. The A-League Rochester Raging Rhinos would be the only other USL team since MLS was born in ‘96 to win the Open Cup.