EASTERN SOCCER LEAGUE II The second league to carry the name Eastern Soccer League was formed in 1928 as a result of a dispute between members of the American Soccer League I. New York Giants, Bethlehem Steel, and Newark defied the ASL I and entered for the US Open Cup. The league suspended them, and as a result, the USFA formed the EPSL II, which also added teams from the Southern New York State Association (SNYSA). This league played in the 1928-1929 season, also also played in the fall of 1929, at which time, peace was made between the two rivals, and the EPSL II merged with the ASL I to form the Atlantic Coast League. Point scoring system: 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss. 1928/29 First Half (as of 12/28/28) GP W L D Pts. Pct. Bethlehem Steel 15 14 1 0 28 .933 New York Giants 18 11 5 2 24 .667 Hakoah All-Stars 18 10 4 4 24 .667 Newark Skeeters 14 3 6 5 11 .393 IRT. Rangers 15 5 9 1 11 .367 Philadelphia Centennials 14 3 7 5 10 .357 New York Hispano 14 2 10 2 6 .214 New York Celtics 8 0 6 2 2 .125 This was a 20 game season. Bethlehem Steel went 5-0 for their remaining games. Second Half (as of 4/29/1929) GP W L T GF GA PTS New York Hakoah 18 12 2 4 68 23 28 Bethlehem Steel 15 9 2 4 41 21 22 IRT Rangers 13 7 5 1 30 30 15 New York Hungaria 16 6 8 2 31 44 14 New York Giants 15 6 8 1 52 24 13 New Bedford Whalers 8 6 1 1 26 14 13 New York Hispano 16 4 11 1 36 49 9 Philadelphia Centennials 12 3 9 0 24 50 6 Newark Skeeters 9 0 7 2 9 30 2 New York Celtics (Disbanded after two months) CHAMPION: Bethlehem Steel. After the season, Philadelphia, New York Celtics and New Bedford withdrew. 1929 (fall) Before the season, New York Hungaria became Victoria Hungaria. GP W L T Pts Pct. Bethlehem Steel 13 11 2 0 22 .846 Hakoah All Stars 12 9 2 1 19 .792 New York Giants 12 8 2 2 18 .750 Newark Portuguese 11 4 4 3 11 .500 New York Hispano 10 3 5 2 8 .400 Victoria Hungaria 12 3 7 2 8 .333 Newark Skeeters 8 0 7 1 1 .063 IRT Rangers 10 0 9 1 1 .050 These standings are apparently complete outside of a Bethlehem vs. Portuguese game. After this fall season, ESL, ASL and USFA settled their Soccer War disputes, and the EPSL was disbanded, with teams returning to their former leagues. New York Hakoah also joined the ASL, which renamed itself the Atlantic Coast league for the 1929-30 season.
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