Although the A-League was producing successful players of its own, it was inevitable that it would either disappear as the turn of the century neared or find a medium with USL. In October of 1996 the two leagues got together; and in 1997, history was made with the merger that would finalize the USL soccer dynasty. The two leagues, although taking separate paths in their ventures over the years, came together after 10 years of co-existence.

 

The new-age A-League was a compilation of the 1996 A-League clubs and a number of highly regarded teams from the now obsolete Select League as well as a few D3 Pro League and PDL teams.

 

Two former Select League teams met in the first USL A-League championship with the Miwaukee Rampage defeating the Carolina Dynamo in a shootout. After the second overtime finished tied at 1-1, Rampage goalkeeper Carmine Isacco made two saves as he blanked the Dynamo in the shootout for the championship.

 

With the addition of the A-League as the focal point of the season, it was the D3 Pro League and former PDL San Francisco Bay Seals making the headlines and stealing the spotlight. The Seals became the first cinderella team to make a run in the U.S. Open Cup since the debut of MLS. The D3 Seals first knocked off the ‘95 and ‘96 A-League champion Seattle Sounders before upsetting MLS’ Kansas City Wizards, 2-1, and the San Jose Clash, by the same 2-1 score, to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. The run continued until they fell in a shootout, after tying the defending Open Cup and two-time MLS champion D.C. United, 1-1, through regulation and overtime.

 

The Albuquerque Geckos, with two goals and an assist from Luis Labastida, defeated the Charlotte Eagles, 4-1, for the ‘97 D3 championship on their home turf. The ‘97 PDL Finals host Central Coast Roadrunners repeated as champions with a narrow 2-1 victory over the Cocoa Expos and the Long Island Lady Riders became the first team to win two W-League Championships with a 2-1 shootout victory over Chicago. The Lady Riders’ Kim Wyant allowed one goal in the nine-round shootout.