Monday, February 8, 2010
TAMPA, FL – The Unites States Soccer Federation unveiled the schedule and playoff format for the 2010 USSF Division II league. The season kicks off April 10 and will conclude October 3 with three rounds of playoffs concluding with a two-leg, aggregate score series for the championship.
The three-time USL First Division champion Rochester Rhinos of the USL Conference will travel to Miami to open the season Saturday, April 10.
USL Conference play will continue the following night with the second-year Austin Aztex, a direct affiliate of the English Premier League’s Stoke City, playing host to defending USL-1 champion Montreal at their new home House Park. The duo will meet again in the league’s regular season finale in Montreal Sunday, October 3.
Action in the Caribbean begins Friday, April 16 when the 2008 USL-1 regular season champion and league runners-up Puerto Rico Islanders return to play. The two-time CONCACAF Champions League participant will play host to Montreal.
The 2009 USL First Division regular season champion Portland Timbers start their campaign at PGE Park, which is currently under renovation in preparation for the club’s move to Major League Soccer. The construction, however, will halt prior to the season as Rochester visits the Rose City Saturday, April 17.
The top team in each conference will advance to the playoffs as the top seeds with the next six best teams, based on total, points rounding out the playoff field of eight sides. All three rounds of the playoffs will feature a two-goal, aggregate series format, including the league championship.
