The Seacoast United Phantoms (formerly the New Hampshire Phantoms) are an American soccer team based in Epping, New Hampshire . The team was originally based in Manchester, New Hampshire before moving to Portsmouth, New Hampshire , where it played from 2011 to 2017, in the stadium of Portsmouth High School . Founded in 1996, the team plays in USL League Two , the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid . The team's colors are blue and white.
31-549: New Hampshire Phantoms joined the ranks of American pro soccer in 1996 as an expansion franchise in the third-tier USISL Pro League. They finished their first season in competition with a decent 8–7–1 record, in 6th place in the Northeast Conference behind Central Jersey Riptide , but out of the playoffs. They improved to a 9–5–4 record in 1997 and finished third in the Northeast behind North Jersey Imperials , and qualified for
62-470: A force within the North East Division. In 2016 they appointed Alistair Bain as their new head coach, who arrives from GPS Portland Phoenix having had a very successful 7-year tenure in charge. In 2017 they won the regular season of their division. In 2019, the club moved to the newly created USL League Two , the fourth division of American soccer. In their inaugural season , they finished 6th in
93-613: A hat trick against the Cincinnati Kings in their 3–1 win in early August. The Phantoms even enjoyed a brief run to the third round of the US Open Cup , taking out Connecticut -based USASA side Milford International before being walloped 5–1 by USL First Division outfit Rochester Raging Rhinos . Unfortunately, the Phantoms' form on the road was abysmal, with eight straight road losses away from home stretching from early June through to
124-1042: A minimum of three months. USASA has one men's national league, the National Premier Soccer League and two women's national leagues, the Women's Premier Soccer League and United Women's Soccer . All national leagues must have at least thirty-six teams, spread throughout the four time zones of the continental United States and have leagues that last for a minimum of three months. USASA rules also provide for multi-state leagues, that must have four states, sixteen teams, and plays for at least three months per year. USASA's multi-state leagues are Cascadia Premier League, Eastern Development Program, Eastern Premier Soccer League , Gulf Coast Premier League , Mountain Premier League, National Independent Soccer Association , Southwest Premier League, and West Coast Soccer Association. State and local associations operate leagues under
155-748: Is awarded the Fritz Marth Amateur Cup. In addition to the trophy the winner of the National Amateur Cup is awarded an entry into both the Hank Steinbrecher Cup, and the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup , which has been in existence since 1914. In 2013, USASA began a competition to pit the champions of the different men's amateur competitions ( USASA National Amateur Cup , National Premier Soccer League , USL League Two and defending Hank Steinbrecher Cup holder) against each other for
186-608: The New Jersey Stallions , although Ron Murphy continued to be a potent goal scoring force for the Phantoms, with 17 goals on the season. 2002 was the first year that things did not go the Phantoms' way, as they finished the year bottom of the Northern Conference table with just four wins all season, and out of the playoffs for the first time in four years. The D3 Pro League became the Pro Select League in 2003, and
217-520: The USISL Pro League in 1996, but were relegated to the USL PDL in 1999. They became a provisional team the next season and then folded after the end of the season. This article about a soccer club from New Jersey is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . USASA The United States Adult Soccer Association ( USASA ) is a national organization for amateur soccer in
248-658: The USL Second Division to the Premier Development League at the end of 2007. In 2011 the club moved to Portsmouth, NH, merged with Seacoast United Soccer Club, and become known as the Seacoast United Phantoms. The club's transition into the PDL began with an inconsistent run of performances, however after winning their division and reaching the regional finals in 2014 the Phantoms established themselves as
279-738: The United States Soccer Federation reorganized and the senior division became a separate member. The USASA has been known as United States Senior Soccer Division, the United States Soccer Association, the United States Amateur Soccer Association, and finally its current name of the United States Adult Soccer Association. Under the five guiding values of transparency, inclusiveness, integrity, diversity and tradition,
310-460: The Championship Game, but lost 2–1 in overtime to eventual champions Albuquerque Geckos in the semi-finals. Ron Murphy was the Phantoms' top scorer in a very successful year, with 19 goals, the fourth best in the league. Things were even better for the Phantoms in 1998, as they improved their regular season performance for the second straight year, finishing with a 10–6–2 records and 2nd in
341-541: The Northeast behind Rhode Island Stingrays . Their '98 playoff run was even more impressive than the previous year's: they beat Western Mass Pioneers 2–1 in overtime in the divisional semi final, and qualified for the national tournament for the second time with a dogged 3–2 win over Rhode Island in the divisional final. The Phantoms downed Central Jersey Riptide 3–0 in the quarter-finals, and then overcame South Central Division champions Austin Lone Stars 2–1 in overtime in
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#1732852241368372-763: The Northeast division, and missed out on the playoffs. This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team. Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at https://web.archive.org/web/20100105175057/http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html . Central Jersey Riptide Central Jersey Riptide were an American soccer team that played in Clark, New Jersey . They joined
403-646: The Northern Division standings, four points clear of second placed Westchester Flames . The Phantoms got a bye to the Pro Soccer League playoff semi finals, and were well-placed to make their second trip to the Championship game, but were unexpectedly beaten 1–0 by Southern Division winners Charlotte Eagles , and went home early. The Phantoms also made their second trip to the US Open Cup in '04, but unexpectedly lost 5–1 to PDL team Chicago Fire Reserves in
434-546: The Phantoms bounced back superbly in regular season play, finishing second in the Northern Region behind Westchester Flames with a hugely encouraging 11–7–2 record, before falling to the Flames 5–3 on aggregate in the first round of the playoffs. 2003 also saw New Hampshire's first foray into the US Open Cup , but their stay in the competition was marked by controversy: they originally beat USASA team Bridgeport Italians 3–0 in
465-583: The Phantoms reverted to their poor form quickly. A win and three ties in July effectively ended their playoff hopes, and the 5–2 defeat on the road at Long Island was the low point of the year. A final day victory over the Rough Riders made up for their pummeling earlier in the season, but it was too little too late for New Hampshire, who ended the season in 7th place, 22 points behind regular season champions Western Mass Pioneers . Bjørn Hansen and Thomas McNeil shared
496-439: The Phantoms won the game 3–2 with a golden goal from Ebbie Kodiat , and progressed to the third round – where they were unceremoniously dumped out of the competition 4–1 by A-League side Rochester Raging Rhinos . Bjørn Hansen was New Hampshire's top scorer, with 17 goals, the fourth best figures in the league. 2004 brought the first piece of silverware to New Hampshire when, after eight years of competition, they topped
527-667: The United States. It consists of 54 state associations in four regions, as well as national, regional, and state leagues. It compares to the United States Youth Soccer Association and its 54 affiliated State Associations - as it was once all one bodied structure. The USASA was founded in 1982 at the first metting of the Senior Division of the United States Soccer Federation. Later that year,
558-522: The edge of the season. They also suffered some humiliating defeats during this stretch: Western Mass Pioneers hit them for six in mid-July, and put another half dozen past them in a 6–2 win in August. The Harrisburg City Islanders hit four in a bad-tempered game which saw three men sent off in injury time, and the Richmond Kickers showed no mercy to goalkeeper T.J. Tomasso when completing an 8–0 rout on
589-525: The final day of the season. Almir Barbosa was the Phantoms' top scorer, with 10 goals, while Thomas McNeil contributed 5 assists. The Phantoms sank to their lowest ebb in 2007, winning just three games in what turned out to be a long and difficult season. They started the season with a 7-game winless streak, being hammered 4–0 by both the Richmond Kickers and the Cincinnati Kings , and conceding an injury time goal to Cleveland City Stars in their 3–2 defeat there, before eventually winning their first game of
620-429: The final day of the season. They eventually finished the year 9th of 10 in the standings, just one point ahead of rock-bottom Bermuda Hogges , to whom they lost twice. Almir Barbosa was New Hampshire's top scorer for the second year in a row, with 6 goals, while Thomas McNeil contributed 2 assists. In an attempt to consolidate their finances and restructure their organization, the Phantoms took voluntary relegation from
651-520: The games, and were grasping for any kind of run in form almost from the beginning of the season. A 6–0 hammering of the Northern Virginia Royals at home in early June that featured a brace from striker Mark Manganello briefly raised the spirits, and back-to-back wins over Long Island Rough Riders and Charlotte Eagles hinted that a late-season surge could be on the cards in Manchester , but
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#1732852241368682-763: The goal scoring spoils, with 6 goals each, while Ricky Charles , Hansen and James Proctor weighed in with 3 assists apiece. 2006 was a year of mid-table obscurity for the Phantoms, finishing with a 9–10–1 record, and in 5th place in the USL Second Division standings, just missing out on the post season once more. The year started brightly for New Hampshire, with two wins and a tie in their first three games, including 3–1 victory over Long Island Rough Riders . The Phantoms were quite excellent at home, losing just two games in front of their own fans all season. Defender Narciso Fernandes scored twice in their 3–1 win over Western Mass Pioneers in mid-July, and Almir Barbosa hit
713-623: The mission of the USASA is: USASA is governed by an executive committee composed of a president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, four regional directors, two at-large members, affiliate director and an independent director. USASA is organized into four regions — Region I , Region II , Region III, and Region IV which breakdown into the 54 affiliated state associations. In addition to these state associations, USASA's rules provide for national leagues and regional leagues. National Leagues must extend across all four time-zones, have 36 teams and play for
744-421: The post season for a fourth time in 2000, finishing third behind the New Jersey Stallions in the regular season table, but fell at the first hurdle in the playoffs, losing 3–2 to Reading Rage first time out. 2001 was much of the same: second in the regular season behind the expansion Boston Bulldogs with an 8–8–2 record, but out in the first round of the playoffs following a 4–2 loss to their divisional rivals,
775-411: The post-season for the first time. Their run through the playoffs was impressive: they took out divisional rivals Rhode Island Stingrays 2–1 in overtime in the divisional semi finals, and then beat Central Jersey Riptide 2–0 to progress to the national tournament. The Phantoms squeaked past Mid-Atlantic division side Baltimore Bays 1–0 in overtime in the quarter-finals, and were just one win away from
806-528: The re-structured Northern Division behind Western Mass Pioneers with a 13–5–0 record, and beat New Jersey Stallions 1–0 in the conference playoff semi-finals, but failed to progress to the national competition for a third straight year as they were beaten 1–0 in overtime by Western Mass in the Conference Final. Ron Murphy was again the Phantoms' top scorer, with 15 goals, while Andrew Boyea posted encouraging 1.27 GAA goalkeeping stats. The Phantoms made
837-450: The season, 1–0 over Western Mass Pioneers in early June. Due to stadium issues, the Phantoms were forced to play 10 of their first 14 games on the road, prior to embarking on a 6-game home stand to finish the season. The Phantoms did manage to pick up two more wins – 2–1 over Richmond Kickers and a hard-fought 3–2 over Wilmington Hammerheads – but were eliminated from playoff contention well before their 3–1 loss to Cincinnati on
868-492: The second round. Bjørn Hansen was again New Hampshire's top scorer, with 16 goals on the season, while Kyle Singer posted 1.223 GAA goalkeeping stats. The USL Pro Select League was renamed the USL Second Division in 2005, and converted to a single-table format, but the Phantoms never got to grips with the new setup, and struggled on the field. The Phantoms lost five of their six opening games, conceding three goals in four of
899-452: The second round; however, the team the Italians beat in the first round – PDL outfit Chesapeake Dragons – protested the result of the first-round game, due to the Italians fielding an ineligible player, and as a result the Italians were disqualified from the competition. This meant that New Hampshire had to play a *second* second-round game, this time against Chesapeake. Fortunately,
930-548: The semis. New Hampshire faced the Chicago Stingers in the Championship Game, but fell 3–2 in another overtime classic, and eventually finished the year as the second-best team in the D3 Pro League. In the post-season awards, goalkeeper Jeremy Bailey was honored as one of the top stoppers in the league, with an impressive 1.09 GAA average. 1999 cemented New Hampshire's position as perennial contenders: they finished third in
961-441: The umbrella of the USASA. The national organization is split into four regions: Region I Region II Region III 'Region IV The National Amateur Cup is the most prestigious and longest running tournament for all of amateur soccer in the entire country, crowning its first champion, Fleisher Yarn in 1924. To qualify for the national tournament a team must win their respective regional cup. The winner of this tournament