2017 PDL season

Last updated

USL Premier Development League
Season2017
Champion(s) Charlotte Eagles (1st Title)
Regular Season Champions New York Red Bulls U-23 (1st Title)
Matches played522
(504 RS, 18 PO)
Goals scored1,746 (3.34 per match)
(1695 RS, 51 PO)
Best Player Flag of the United States.svg Brian White New York Red Bulls U-23
Top goalscorer Flag of the United States.svg Brian White New York Red Bulls U-23 (17 Goals)
Best goalkeeper Flag of the United States.svg Ben Lundgaard New York Red Bulls U-23
Biggest home win WMP 7, WCF 0
(July 14)
JER 7, FAE 0
(July 15)
Biggest away win NYRB 10, EVR 1
(June 24)
Highest scoring VIL 8, TBR 3
(June 8)
NYRB 10, EVR 1
(June 24)
SCU 7, ACC 4
(July 16)
Longest winning run9, OKC Energy U23
(May 13 - June 17)
Longest unbeaten run12, Michigan Bucks
(May 27 - end of season)
Longest winless run12, WSA Winnipeg
(May 20 - July 7)
Longest losing run8, Evergreen FC
(June 6 - July 15)
GPS Portland Phoenix
(June 19 - July 12)
Weston FC
(May 24 - June 19)
2016
2018
All statistics correct as of August 5, 2017.

The 2017 USL Premier Development League season is the 23rd season of the PDL. The league consisted of 72 teams playing in 10 divisions. The Michigan Bucks entered the season as the defending champions, but their title defense campaign ended with a loss in the Central Conference semi-finals. On August 5, 2017, the Charlotte Eagles won their first PDL championship by defeating the Thunder Bay Chill 2-1.

Contents

Changes from 2016

New Teams

TeamCountryCity/areaStadiumFoundedHead coachNotes
FC CleburneU.S. Cleburne, Texas The Depot at Cleburne Station 2017 Paul Davenport Expansion [1]
FC Boulder U23U.S. Boulder, Colorado Pleasant View Fields Sports Complex2017 Luis Swisher Expansion [2]
Brazos Valley Cavalry F.C. U.S. Bryan, Texas Nutrabolt Stadium 2017James ClarksonExpansion [3]
Houston FC U.S. Houston, Texas Rice Track/Soccer Stadium 2017Bruce TalbotExpansion [4]
Lakeland Tropics U.S. Lakeland, Florida Bryant Stadium 2016Eoghan ConlonExpansion [5]
Myrtle Beach Mutiny U.S. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex2011Kyle RussellNPSL
Nashville SC U23 U.S. Nashville, Tennessee Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex 2016Kyle RoelkeExpansion [6]
SIMA Águilas U.S. Montverde, Florida Montverde Academy Center2017Mike PotempaExpansion [7]
SoCal Surf U.S. Carlsbad, California Maffucci Field 2015Cody WordenNPSL [8]
Tampa Bay Rowdies U-23 U.S. Tampa, Florida Waters Soccer Complex2017Keith FulkExpansion [9]
Tobacco Road FC U.S. Durham, North Carolina Durham County Stadium 2013Cedric BurkeNPSL [10]
Weston FC U.S. Weston, Florida Broward College Soccer Field 1998Victor PastoraNPSL
Wilmington Hammerheads FC U.S. Wilmington, North Carolina Legion Stadium 1996Kevin JohnsonUSL [11]
TSS FC Rovers Canada Burnaby, British Columbia Swangard Stadium 2017Colin ElmesExpansion

Name Changes

Folded/left

Standings

Tiebreakers

  1. Head-to-head results
  2. Goal differential
  3. Goals scored

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Michigan Bucks 141013319+2233Advance to Central Conference Championship
2 K-W United FC 149413113+1828
3 West Virginia Chaos 147612227522
4 Cincinnati Dutch Lions 145631716+118
5 Dayton Dutch Lions 1447310221215
6 Derby City Rovers 141112831235
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Heartland Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Thunder Bay Chill 14932268+1829Advance to Central Conference Championship
2 Des Moines Menace 147521912+723
3 Saint Louis FC U23 146441615+122
4 St. Louis Lions 146711927819
5 Chicago FC United 144552018+217
6 WSA Winnipeg 1421111233217
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Seacoast United Phantoms 1411124420+2435Advance to Eastern Conference play-in round
2 Long Island Rough Riders 148242819+928
3 Western Mass Pioneers 148332916+1327
4 FC Boston 146532427321
5 GPS Portland Phoenix 144912930113
6 AC Connecticut 1421021935168
7 Westchester Flames 1421111440267
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Mid Atlantic Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 New York Red Bulls U-23 1412115114+3737Advance to Eastern Conference play-in round
2 Reading United AC 1412203610+2636
3 Ocean City Nor'easters 149412614+1228
4 Jersey Express S.C. 145902836815
5 F.A. Euro 14310111392810
6 Lehigh Valley United 144911930119
7 Evergreen FC 1411121442285
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

South Atlantic Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Myrtle Beach Mutiny 1410133819+1933Advance to Eastern Conference Championship
2 Charlotte Eagles 149323014+1629
3 Nashville SC U23 148243418+1628
4 South Georgia Tormenta FC 147343417+1725
5 SC United Bantams 146442021122
6 Tobacco Road FC 146533431+321
7 North Carolina FC U23 145722229717
8 Wilmington Hammerheads FC 1438328431512
9 Tri-Cities Otters 1439210261611
10 Carolina Dynamo 1421021934158
11 Peachtree City MOBA 1421021534198
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Southern Conference

Mid South Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 OKC Energy U23 1412113910+2937Advance to Southern Conference Championship
2 Mississippi Brilla FC 149232410+1430
3 Brazos Valley Cavalry F.C. 147613028+222
4 Texas United 145812728116
5 FC Cleburne 14310120412110
6 Houston FC 1421021435218
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Southeast Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 SIMA Águilas 1411213413+2134Advance to Southern Conference Championship
2 FC Miami City 1410134112+2933
3 Lakeland Tropics 149322720+729
4 The Villages SC 148424621+2526
5 IMG Academy Bradenton 145632024418
6 Tampa Bay Rowdies U-23 1438325361112
7 South Florida Surf 143832129812
8 Weston FC 14310111382710
9 Palm Beach Suns FC 1421201042321
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Western Conference

Mountain Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 FC Tucson 149233417+1730Advance to Western Conference Championship
2 FC Boulder U23 148422424026
3 Colorado Rapids U-23 145452421+320
4 BYU Cougars 144642224212
5 Albuquerque Sol FC 1421021732158
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Northwest Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Portland Timbers U23s 148242912+1728Advance to Western Conference play-in round
2 Calgary Foothills FC 148242015+528
3 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 146712220+219
4 Victoria Highlanders (J)1458117281116
5 Lane United FC 143652124314
6 TSS FC Rovers 143831929109
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(J) Juan de Fuca Plate

Southwest Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 FC Golden State Force 1410134517+2833Advance to Western Conference Championship
2 Fresno Fuego 1410224519+2632
3 SoCal Surf 148512215+725
4 San Francisco City FC 148512524+125
5 Burlingame Dragons FC 145542122119
6 Southern California Seahorses 145721724717
7 San Diego Zest FC 1439213291611
8 Ventura County Fusion 1428423341110
9 Orange County SC U-23 141121939304
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Playoffs

Divisional Qualification Conference Semifinals Conference Finals National Semifinals National Championship
               
SW1 FC Golden State Force 3
NW1 Portland Timbers U23s 1
NW1 Portland Timbers U23s 3
NW2 Calgary Foothills FC 0
SW1 FC Golden State Force 2
Western Conference
SW2 Fresno Fuego 0
SW2 Fresno Fuego 1
MT1 FC Tucson 0
SW1 FC Golden State Force 0
HL1 Thunder Bay Chill 1
GL1 Michigan Bucks 0
HL2 Des Moines Menace 2
HL2 Des Moines Menace 0
Central Conference
HL1 Thunder Bay Chill 2
HL1 Thunder Bay Chill 2
GL2 K-W United FC 0
HL1 Thunder Bay Chill 1
SA2 Charlotte Eagles 2
SA1 Myrtle Beach Mutiny 0
NE2 Long Island Rough Riders 2
MA1 New York Red Bulls U-23 1
NE2Long Island Rough Riders4
NE2 Long Island Rough Riders 1(2)
Eastern Conference
SA2 Charlotte Eagles 1(4)
NE1 Seacoast United Phantoms 3
MA2 Reading United AC 1
NE1 Seacoast United Phantoms 1
SA2 Charlotte Eagles 4*
SA2 Charlotte Eagles 3
MS2 Mississippi Brilla FC 1
MS1 OKC Energy U23 0
SE2 FC Miami City 1
SE2 FC Miami City 0(1)
Southern Conference
MS2 Mississippi Brilla FC 0(3)
SE1 SIMA Águilas 3
MS2 Mississippi Brilla FC 4

Divisional Qualification

Matches in the Divisional Qualification round were held on July 18. Two Eastern Conference play-in matches were played at Amesbury, MA (Seacoast United Phantoms) and Whippany, NJ (New York Red Bulls U-23). One Western Conference play-in match was played at Salem, OR (Portland Timbers U23s).

July 18, 2017InterDivision Qualifier Flag of New Jersey.svg New York Red Bulls U-23 1–4 Flag of New York.svg Long Island Rough Riders Red Bull Training Facility
Hanover, New Jersey
7:00 PM EDT
  • Bowkett Soccerball shade.svg80'
Report
July 18, 2017InterDivision Qualifier Flag of New Hampshire.svg Seacoast United Phantoms 3–1 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Reading United AC Amesbury Sports Park
Amesbury, Massachusetts
7:00 PM EDT
Report

Conference Championships

The PDL Conference Championships were held over the weekend of July 21–23. Matches were played at: Tucson, AZ (Western Conference, host FC Tucson); Statesboro, GA (Eastern Conference, host South Georgia Tormenta FC); Pontiac, MI (Central Conference, host Michigan Bucks); and Clinton, MS (Southern Conference, host Mississippi Brilla FC). The four conference champions advanced to the PDL semifinals.

Eastern Conference

Southern Conference

Central Conference

Western Conference

PDL Championship

The PDL semifinals were held on July 29, with matches played at Charlotte, NC (Charlotte Eagles) and Thunder Bay, ON (Thunder Bay Chill). The PDL Championship Game was held on August 5 in Matthews, NC (Charlotte Eagles).

Semi-finals

Championship Game

Awards

[13]

All-League and All-Conference Teams

[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

Eastern Conference

F: Tobenna Uzo (MYB) *, Brian White (NYR) *, Joao Costa (CHE)
M: Ricardo Gomez (MYB) *, Aaron Molloy (REA) *, Martim Galvão (NAS)
D: Douglas Oliveira (CHE), Alex Nelson (MYB), Kevin Politz (NYR), Daniel Kozma (OCN)
G: Ben Lundgaard (NYR) *

Central Conference

F: Ryan Sierakowski (CHI), Samuel Gainford (STL), Francis Atuahene (MIB)
M: Abraham Villon (TBC), Amass Amankona (DDL), Chris Mueller (CHI)
D: Mitch Osmond (TBC) *, Nick Walker (MIB) *, Lucas Stauffer (DMM), Brandon Fricke (DMM)
G: Michael Yantz (DDL)

Western Conference

F: Mark Verso (GSF) *, Ryosuke Kinoshita (FCB), Jose Cuevas (FRE)
M: Moshe Perez (TUC) *, Christo Michaelson (POR), Jose Carrera-Garcia (GSF)
D: Sergi Nus (FRE) *, Scott DeVoss (COL) *, Sho Goto (VIC), Wouter Verstraaten (POR)
G: Jordan Farr (POR)

Southern Conference

F: Mohamed Kourouma (MIA), Ricardo Diegues (LAK), Julio Moncada (OKC)
M: Kevin Varela (TBR), Willian Hopfner (VIL), Angelo Kelly-Rosales (MIS)
D: Kevin Coiffic (MIA), Jonathan Parpeix (MIA), Gabriel Torres (VIL), Thomas Vancaeyezeele (MIS)
G: Eric Dick (OKC)

* denotes All-League player

References

  1. Staff, PDL (February 10, 2017). "Cleburne to become a two sport town!". cleburnetimesreview.com.
  2. Staff, PDL (January 23, 2017). "PDL Awards FC Boulder Franchise Ahead of 2017 Season". USLPDL.com.
  3. "Brazos Valley Franchise Unveils Name, Logo". USLPDL.com. February 17, 2017.
  4. "Houston FC Named New PDL Franchise". United Soccer League (USL). February 3, 2017.
  5. "PDL Reveals Lakeland Tropics as Expansion Franchise". Premier Development League. September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  6. Staff, PDL (September 20, 2016). "PDL Introduces Nashville SC U23".
  7. "Montverde Academy Awarded PDL Franchise". USL League Two . January 26, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  8. "North County Battalion, San Diego Surf Establish New PDL Franchise". USL League Two . November 28, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  9. Communications, Rowdies (February 2, 2017). "Rowdies U23 to Compete in USL's Premier Development League".
  10. "Tobacco Road FC Revealed as PDL Expansion Franchise". Premier Development League. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  11. "Wilmington Hammerheads FC Awarded PDL Franchise". Premier Development League. September 29, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  12. "The Charlotte Eagles did not disappoint on Saturday night, advancing to the PDL Final". medium.com/soccer-n-sweet-tea. July 31, 2017.
  13. 1 2 "2017 2017 PDL All-League Awards Revealed". Premier Development League (PDL). August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  14. "2017 PDL All-Eastern Conference Team". Premier Development League (PDL). July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  15. "2017 PDL All-Central Conference Team". Premier Development League (PDL). July 26, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  16. "2017 PDL All-Western Conference Team". Premier Development League (PDL). July 26, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  17. "2017 PDL All-Southern Conference Team". Premier Development League (PDL). July 26, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.