New York Red Bulls II, FC Cincinnati Earn Multiple First Team Selections
TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League announced today its 2016 USL All-League Teams, honoring the top performers from the 2016 USL Regular Season. The New York Red Bulls II and FC Cincinnati each garnered multiple selections on the All-League First Team, as the regular season champions and standout expansion club’s players shone throughout the season.
The 2016 USL All-League Team was voted on by team management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market.
FC Cincinnati capped a remarkable first season in the USL with a league-high three First Team selections, as goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt, defender Harrison Delbridge and forward Sean Okoli were all honored. Okoli adds his First Team selection to the 2016 USL Golden Boot, after leading the USL with 16 goals during the season.
The USL Regular Season champion Red Bulls II also earned three selections, as defender Aaron Long and forward Brandon Allen were both named to the First Team, and defender Zach Carroll earned Second Team honors. Allen finished tied for second in the USL with 15 goals, setting a USL Rookie record in the process.
The trio of Red Bulls II players named to the 2016 USL All-League Team are set to compete in the 2016 USL Cup Final, Presented by Nike, on Sunday at Red Bull Arena where they will square off with the Swope Park Rangers’ All-League First Team selection Amer Didic.
The Finalists for the 2016 USL Awards will be announced on Wednesday, preceding the 2016 USL Cup Final, Presented by Nike, which will air live on ESPNU, the WatchESPN app and be simulcast on SiriusXM on Sunday, October 23 at 8 p.m. ET.
2016 USL All-League First Team
GK – Mitch Hildebrandt, FC Cincinnati
D – Harrison Delbridge, FC Cincinnati
D – Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers
D – Aaron Long, New York Red Bulls II
D – Hugh Roberts, Richmond Kickers
M – Danny Barrera, Sacramento Republic FC
M – Villyan Bijev, Portland Timbers 2
M – Enzo Martinez, Charlotte Independence
F – Brandon Allen, New York Red Bulls II
F – Jack McBean, LA Galaxy II
F – Sean Okoli, FC Cincinnati
2016 USL All-League Second Team
GK – Devala Gorrick, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
D – Zach Carroll, New York Red Bulls II
D – Joe Farrell, Rochester Rhinos
D – Bruno Perone, Wilmington Hammerheads FC
D – Josh Suggs, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
M – Jose Barril, Harrisburg City Islanders
M – Kenardo Forbes, Rochester Rhinos
M – Yudai Imura, Richmond Kickers
F – Irvin Herrera, Saint Louis FC
F – Corey Hertzog, Pittsburgh Riverhounds
F – Cameron Iwasa, Sacramento Republic FC
FOLLOW THE USL
The 2016 USL Cup, Presented by Nike, will air live on ESPNU and the WatchESPN app, and will be simulcast on SiriusXM on Sunday, October 23 at 8 p.m. ET. Full online coverage of the 2016 USL Cup will also be available on the USL Cup Playoffs Center, with updates also available via Twitter, Facebook, Vine and Instagram.
About United Soccer League
The United Soccer League, the longest-standing professional affiliate member of U.S. Soccer, is the largest professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, and the world, currently with 29 teams in 19 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces for the 2016 season. The USL has more than doubled in size since 2014 and built a stable, highly competitive professional soccer league on a national footprint with strong ownership groups in major markets positioned for long-term success. The 2016 season has marked the introduction of six teams – Bethlehem Steel FC, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City B, Rio Grande Valley FC, San Antonio FC and Swope Park Rangers. The league has confirmed the addition of Reno 1868 FC in 2017 and Nashville FC in 2018. The USL’s teams are divided into two conferences – Eastern and Western – with each team playing 30 regular season games. In addition to league play, USL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various domestic and international exhibitions. The USL is the strongest U.S. men’s professional soccer league below Major League Soccer (MLS).
