Rhode Island Oceaneers

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Rhode Island Oceaneers
Full nameRhode Island Oceaneers
Nickname(s)Oceaneers
Founded1974
Dissolved1977
Capacity3,000

Rhode Island Oceaneers was an American soccer team based in East Providence, Rhode Island. They competed in the American Soccer League in the 1970s.

History[edit]

The original Rhode Island Oceaneers soccer team was established in 1974. That season, they won the league title[1] after a 16–2 regular season. U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame (1990)[2] coach Manny Schellscheidt was named ASL Coach of the Year as the club outscored opponents 56–16.

For the 1977 season, the team was renamed the New England Oceaneers. Schellscheidt moved on to coach the New Jersey Americans, replaced by Massachusetts Hall of Famer (1999)[3] John Bertos. After an 8–2–14 (8th of 9 teams) season, the team moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and became the Indianapolis Daredevils before folding after the 1979 season.

The original Oceaneers team played at Pierce Memorial Stadium in East Providence, Rhode Island as a member of the second version of the American Soccer League from 1974 to 1977.[4]

Year-by-year[edit]

Year Division League Reg. Season Record (W-D-L) Playoffs U.S. Open Cup
1974 2 ASL 1st, Midwest 16-0-2 Champion Did not enter
1975 2 ASL 2nd, North 8-9-3 1st Round Did not enter
1976 2 ASL 2nd, East 9-3-9 Semifinal Did not enter
1977 2 ASL 5th, East 8-2-14 Did not qualify Did not enter

Coaches[edit]

Honors[edit]

League Championship

  • Winner (1): 1974

ASL Rookie of the Year

ASL Leading Goalkeeper

ASL Coach of the Year

Notable players[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Year in American Soccer - 1974
  2. ^ "Hall of Famers". U.S. Soccer. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  3. ^ "Hall of Fame". Massachusetts Adult State Soccer. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Pierce Memorial Stadium Archives".
  5. ^ "Saturday will be a special reunion for Bertos, Astros". Lowell Sun. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.