Augusta FireBall
Encyclopedia
Augusta FireBall United, more commonly known as simply Augusta FireBall, was the American soccer team for Augusta, Georgia
, founded in 2005. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues
Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.
The team played its home games at Patriots Park in Columbia County, Georgia
. The team's colors were white, black and red.
, 28 July 2006
in which Jason McLaughlin
and Mark Buchholz scored two goals each, in just their fifth competitive game. Stadium issues meant that Fireball had to play all their home games at the start of the season, and spend the second half of the year on the road; unfortunately, this curious schedule meant that Fireball suffered during the second half of the season, losing heavily on the road to Raleigh Elite, Central Florida Kraze
and Carolina Dynamo
, although they did come out on top in an astonishing nine-goal thriller against West Virginia Chaos
. The team's final day 3-1 loss to the DFW Tornados
meant that the Fireball finished their first season fourth behind Richmond Kickers Future
, just out of the playoffs. Jason McLaughlin
and Ryan Roushandel were the team's joint top scorers, with 7 goals each.
Fireball started 2006 superbly, with an 8-game unbeaten run that included impressive victories, including a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Ajax Orlando Prospects
in which Frederico Moojen
scored a hat trick, a 4-2 victory on the road over Nashville Metros
, and a comprehensive 3-0 win over Atlanta Silverbacks U23's
in which Moojen scored another brace. In fact, it was the goalscoring prowess of Moojen which kept Fireball winning all season long. He his two more goals in Augusta's 3-0 win over Atlanta in the return fixture in early July, and eventually finished the season as the top scorer in the entire PDL, with 18 goals, and was named overall PDL MVP. Despite a 1-0 loss to Carolina Dynamo
on the last day of the regular season - only their third of the year - Fireball finished second in the South Atlantic Division, and qualified for the playoffs; their opponents in the Conference semi-finals were Mid South Division champions Laredo Heat
, who eventually ran out 3-2 winners, and went on to reach the championship game.
At the end of the season, and despite their considerable on-field success, Augusta's management team announced that they would not be competing in the PDL in 2007.
Jonathan Leathers
Jason McLaughlin
Frederico Moojen
Justin Moore Tate Parrish
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, founded in 2005. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.
The team played its home games at Patriots Park in Columbia County, Georgia
Columbia County, Georgia
Columbia County is a county located in the US state of Georgia along the Savannah River. As of 2010 the population was 124,054 a growth of 39% from the 2000 census figure of 89,288. The de jure county seat is Appling. Appling is an unincorporated area, making Columbia one of only three counties...
. The team's colors were white, black and red.
Final Squad
vs Laredo HeatLaredo Heat
Laredo Heat is an American soccer team based in Laredo, Texas, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference....
, 28 July 2006
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Mid Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, South Atlantic | Conference Semifinals | Did not qualify |
Competition history
Augusta Fireball joined the PDL in 2005 as an expansion franchise, and made an immediate splash in the Mid Atlantic division. The team won four of its first five games in competition, including a dominant 6-0 take down of West Virginia ChaosWest Virginia Chaos
West Virginia Chaos is an American soccer team based in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
in which Jason McLaughlin
Jason McLaughlin (American soccer)
Jason McLaughlin is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers U23's in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
and Mark Buchholz scored two goals each, in just their fifth competitive game. Stadium issues meant that Fireball had to play all their home games at the start of the season, and spend the second half of the year on the road; unfortunately, this curious schedule meant that Fireball suffered during the second half of the season, losing heavily on the road to Raleigh Elite, Central Florida Kraze
Central Florida Kraze
Orlando City U-23 is an American soccer team based in Lake Mary, Florida, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...
and Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
, although they did come out on top in an astonishing nine-goal thriller against West Virginia Chaos
West Virginia Chaos
West Virginia Chaos is an American soccer team based in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
. The team's final day 3-1 loss to the DFW Tornados
DFW Tornados
DFW Tornados was an American soccer team based in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1986, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference...
meant that the Fireball finished their first season fourth behind Richmond Kickers Future
Richmond Kickers Future
Richmond Kickers Future was an American soccer team based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2002 as part of the development system of the Richmond Kickers USL Second Division franchise, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
, just out of the playoffs. Jason McLaughlin
Jason McLaughlin (American soccer)
Jason McLaughlin is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers U23's in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
and Ryan Roushandel were the team's joint top scorers, with 7 goals each.
Fireball started 2006 superbly, with an 8-game unbeaten run that included impressive victories, including a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Ajax Orlando Prospects
Ajax Orlando Prospects
Ajax Orlando Prospects was an American soccer team, founded in 2002. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Prospects played their...
in which Frederico Moojen
Frederico Moojen
Frederico Moojen is a Brazilian soccer forward who plays for the TTM Phichit F.C. He shared the 2005 and 2006 Premier Development League goals lead. He was also the 2006 PDL MVP and the 2006-2007 Major Indoor Soccer League Rookie of the Year.-Youth:In 1997, Moojen played for Coritiba Foot Ball...
scored a hat trick, a 4-2 victory on the road over Nashville Metros
Nashville Metros
Nashville Metros is an American soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...
, and a comprehensive 3-0 win over Atlanta Silverbacks U23's
Atlanta Silverbacks U23's
Atlanta Blackhawks was an American soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 2009, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...
in which Moojen scored another brace. In fact, it was the goalscoring prowess of Moojen which kept Fireball winning all season long. He his two more goals in Augusta's 3-0 win over Atlanta in the return fixture in early July, and eventually finished the season as the top scorer in the entire PDL, with 18 goals, and was named overall PDL MVP. Despite a 1-0 loss to Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
on the last day of the regular season - only their third of the year - Fireball finished second in the South Atlantic Division, and qualified for the playoffs; their opponents in the Conference semi-finals were Mid South Division champions Laredo Heat
Laredo Heat
Laredo Heat is an American soccer team based in Laredo, Texas, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference....
, who eventually ran out 3-2 winners, and went on to reach the championship game.
At the end of the season, and despite their considerable on-field success, Augusta's management team announced that they would not be competing in the PDL in 2007.
Notable former players
Kyle HeltonKyle Helton
Kyle Helton is an American soccer player who currently plays for Mjøndalen.-Youth and Amateur:Helton grew up in Birmingham, Alabama before moving to Alpharetta, Georgia, attended Milton High School, and played college soccer at Duke University where he earned a degree in economics and public policy...
Jonathan Leathers
Jonathan Leathers
Jonathan Leathers is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
Jason McLaughlin
Jason McLaughlin (American soccer)
Jason McLaughlin is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers U23's in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
Frederico Moojen
Frederico Moojen
Frederico Moojen is a Brazilian soccer forward who plays for the TTM Phichit F.C. He shared the 2005 and 2006 Premier Development League goals lead. He was also the 2006 PDL MVP and the 2006-2007 Major Indoor Soccer League Rookie of the Year.-Youth:In 1997, Moojen played for Coritiba Foot Ball...
Justin Moore Tate Parrish
Tate Parrish
Tate Parrish is an American soccer defender who currently plays for the Atlanta Silverbacks of the USL First Division.-Youth:...
Stadia
- Patriots Park, Columbia County, GeorgiaColumbia County, GeorgiaColumbia County is a county located in the US state of Georgia along the Savannah River. As of 2010 the population was 124,054 a growth of 39% from the 2000 census figure of 89,288. The de jure county seat is Appling. Appling is an unincorporated area, making Columbia one of only three counties...
2005-06