The Hershey Wildcats started as a professional soccer team that played in the USL A-League between 1997 and 2001 at Hersheypark Stadium. The original team was owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, and received its nickname from the original Wild Cat roller coaster.

Coach Bob Lilley lead the Wildcats to the playoffs in each season of their entire five-year run. In 2001, Hershey became Northern Conference Champions and reached the A-League finals but were unfortunately defeated by the Rochester Raging Rhinos.