2017 PDL season

The 2017 USL Premier Development League season is the 23rd season of the PDL. 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.

USL Premier Development League

Season	2017
Champion(s)	Charlotte Eagles
Regular Season Title	New York Red Bulls U-23
Matches played	522 (504 RS, 18 PO)
Goals scored	1,746 (3.34 per match) (1695 RS, 51 PO)
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 run	9, OKC Energy U23 (May 13 - June 17)
Longest unbeaten run	12, Michigan Bucks (May 27 - end of season)
Longest winless run	12, WSA Winnipeg (May 20 - July 7)
Longest losing run	8, 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.

Changes from 2016

New Teams

Team	Country	City/area	Stadium	Founded	Head coach	Notes
FC Cleburne	U.S.	Cleburne, Texas	The Depot at Cleburne Station	2017	Paul Davenport	Expansion^[1]
FC Boulder U23	U.S.	Boulder, Colorado	Pleasant View Fields Sports Complex	2017	Luis Swisher	Expansion^[2]
Brazos Valley Cavalry F.C.	U.S.	Bryan, Texas	Nutrabolt Stadium	2017	James Clarkson	Expansion^[3]
Houston FC	U.S.	Houston, Texas	Rice Track/Soccer Stadium	2017	Bruce Talbot	Expansion^[4]
Lakeland Tropics	U.S.	Lakeland, Florida	Bryant Stadium	2016	Eoghan Conlon	Expansion^[5]
Myrtle Beach Mutiny	U.S.	Myrtle Beach, South Carolina	North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex	2011	Kyle Russell	NPSL
Nashville SC U23	U.S.	Nashville, Tennessee	Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex	2016	Kyle Roelke	Expansion^[6]
SIMA Águilas	U.S.	Montverde, Florida	Montverde Academy Center	2017	Mike Potempa	Expansion^[7]
SoCal Surf	U.S.	Carlsbad, California	Maffucci Field	2015	Cody Worden	NPSL^[8]
Tampa Bay Rowdies U-23	U.S.	Tampa, Florida	Waters Soccer Complex	2017	Keith Fulk	Expansion^[9]
Tobacco Road FC	U.S.	Durham, North Carolina	Durham County Stadium	2013	Cedric Burke	NPSL^[10]
Weston FC	U.S.	Weston, Florida	Broward College Soccer Field	1998	Victor Pastora	NPSL
Wilmington Hammerheads FC	U.S.	Wilmington, North Carolina	Legion Stadium	1996	Kevin Johnson	USL^[11]
TSS FC Rovers	Canada	Burnaby, British Columbia	Swangard Stadium	2017	Colin Elmes	Expansion

Name Changes

• FC Miami City Champions became FC Miami City
• FC Sonic Lehigh Valley became Lehigh Valley United

Folded/left

• Baltimore Bohemians – Folded
• Floridians FC – Folded
• Kitsap Pumas – renamed Kitsap SC and moved to the National Premier Soccer League
• Kokomo Mantis FC – Folded its PDL team
• LA Laguna FC – Folded
• Laredo Heat – Folded its PDL team
• Las Vegas Mobsters – moved to the United Premier Soccer League
• Midland/Odessa Sockers – renamed Midland-Odessa FC and moved to the National Premier Soccer League
• Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23 – Folded
• SW Florida Adrenaline – Folded
• Southern West Virginia King's Warriors – Folded its PDL team

Standings

Tiebreakers

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

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Michigan Bucks	14	10	1	3	31	9	+22	33	Advance to Central Conference Championship
2	K-W United FC	14	9	4	1	31	13	+18	28
3	West Virginia Chaos	14	7	6	1	22	27	−5	22
4	Cincinnati Dutch Lions	14	5	6	3	17	16	+1	18
5	Dayton Dutch Lions	14	4	7	3	10	22	−12	15
6	Derby City Rovers	14	1	11	2	8	31	−23	5

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Heartland Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Thunder Bay Chill	14	9	3	2	26	8	+18	29	Advance to Central Conference Championship
2	Des Moines Menace	14	7	5	2	19	12	+7	23
3	Saint Louis FC U23	14	6	4	4	16	15	+1	22
4	St. Louis Lions	14	6	7	1	19	27	−8	19
5	Chicago FC United	14	4	5	5	20	18	+2	17
6	WSA Winnipeg	14	2	11	1	12	33	−21	7

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Seacoast United Phantoms	14	11	1	2	44	20	+24	35	Advance to Eastern Conference play-in round
2	Long Island Rough Riders	14	8	2	4	28	19	+9	28
3	Western Mass Pioneers	14	8	3	3	29	16	+13	27
4	FC Boston	14	6	5	3	24	27	−3	21
5	GPS Portland Phoenix	14	4	9	1	29	30	−1	13
6	AC Connecticut	14	2	10	2	19	35	−16	8
7	Westchester Flames	14	2	11	1	14	40	−26	7

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Mid Atlantic Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	New York Red Bulls U-23	14	12	1	1	51	14	+37	37	Advance to Eastern Conference play-in round
2	Reading United AC	14	12	2	0	36	10	+26	36
3	Ocean City Nor'easters	14	9	4	1	26	14	+12	28
4	Jersey Express S.C.	14	5	9	0	28	36	−8	15
5	F.A. Euro	14	3	10	1	11	39	−28	10
6	Lehigh Valley United	14	4	9	1	19	30	−11	9
7	Evergreen FC	14	1	11	2	14	42	−28	5

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

South Atlantic Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Myrtle Beach Mutiny	14	10	1	3	38	19	+19	33	Advance to Eastern Conference Championship
2	Charlotte Eagles	14	9	3	2	30	14	+16	29
3	Nashville SC U23	14	8	2	4	34	18	+16	28
4	South Georgia Tormenta FC	14	7	3	4	34	17	+17	25
5	SC United Bantams	14	6	4	4	20	21	−1	22
6	Tobacco Road FC	14	6	5	3	34	31	+3	21
7	North Carolina FC U23	14	5	7	2	22	29	−7	17
8	Wilmington Hammerheads FC	14	3	8	3	28	43	−15	12
9	Tri-Cities Otters	14	3	9	2	10	26	−16	11
10	Carolina Dynamo	14	2	10	2	19	34	−15	8
11	Peachtree City MOBA	14	2	10	2	15	34	−19	8

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Southern Conference

Mid South Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	OKC Energy U23	14	12	1	1	39	10	+29	37	Advance to Southern Conference Championship
2	Mississippi Brilla FC	14	9	2	3	24	10	+14	30
3	Brazos Valley Cavalry F.C.	14	7	6	1	30	28	+2	22
4	Texas United	14	5	8	1	27	28	−1	16
5	FC Cleburne	14	3	10	1	20	41	−21	10
6	Houston FC	14	2	10	2	14	35	−21	8

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Southeast Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	SIMA Águilas	14	11	2	1	34	13	+21	34	Advance to Southern Conference Championship
2	FC Miami City	14	10	1	3	41	12	+29	33
3	Lakeland Tropics	14	9	3	2	27	20	+7	29
4	The Villages SC	14	8	4	2	46	21	+25	26
5	IMG Academy Bradenton	14	5	6	3	20	24	−4	18
6	Tampa Bay Rowdies U-23	14	3	8	3	25	36	−11	12
7	South Florida Surf	14	3	8	3	21	29	−8	12
8	Weston FC	14	3	10	1	11	38	−27	10
9	Palm Beach Suns FC	14	2	12	0	10	42	−32	1

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Western Conference

Mountain Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	FC Tucson	14	9	2	3	34	17	+17	30	Advance to Western Conference Championship
2	FC Boulder U23	14	8	4	2	24	24	0	26
3	Colorado Rapids U-23	14	5	4	5	24	21	+3	20
4	BYU Cougars	14	4	6	4	22	24	−2	12
5	Albuquerque Sol FC	14	2	10	2	17	32	−15	8

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Northwest Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Portland Timbers U23s	14	8	2	4	29	12	+17	28	Advance to Western Conference play-in round
2	Calgary Foothills FC	14	8	2	4	20	15	+5	28
3	Seattle Sounders FC U-23	14	6	7	1	22	20	+2	19
4	Victoria Highlanders (J)	14	5	8	1	17	28	−11	16
5	Lane United FC	14	3	6	5	21	24	−3	14
6	TSS FC Rovers	14	3	8	3	19	29	−10	9

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(J) Juan de Fuca Plate

Southwest Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	FC Golden State Force	14	10	1	3	45	17	+28	33	Advance to Western Conference Championship
2	Fresno Fuego	14	10	2	2	45	19	+26	32
3	SoCal Surf	14	8	5	1	22	15	+7	25
4	San Francisco City FC	14	8	5	1	25	24	+1	25
5	Burlingame Dragons FC	14	5	5	4	21	22	−1	19
6	Southern California Seahorses	14	5	7	2	17	24	−7	17
7	San Diego Zest FC	14	3	9	2	13	29	−16	11
8	Ventura County Fusion	14	2	8	4	23	34	−11	10
9	Orange County SC U-23	14	1	12	1	9	39	−30	4

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

NE2

Long Island Rough Riders

4

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

• After extra time

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).

New York Red Bulls U-23  v Long Island Rough Riders 

July 18, 2017 InterDivision Qualifier	New York Red Bulls U-23	1–4	Long Island Rough Riders	Red Bull Training Facility Hanover, New Jersey
7:00 PM EDT	Bowkett   80'	Report	Bedoya   16' Sichecki   45' Rosero   58' Friend   90'

Seacoast United Phantoms  v Reading United AC 

July 18, 2017 InterDivision Qualifier	Seacoast United Phantoms	3–1	Reading United AC	Amesbury Sports Park Amesbury, Massachusetts
7:00 PM EDT	Jepson   Sackie   Blaskic	Report	Molloy

Portland Timbers U23s  v Calgary Foothills FC 

July 18, 2017 Northwest Division Qualifier	Portland Timbers U23s	3–0	Calgary Foothills FC	McCulloch Stadium Salem, Oregon
7:00 PM PDT	Amorosino   37' Michel   43' Magana   74'	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

Myrtle Beach Mutiny  v Long Island Rough Riders 

July 22, 2017 Conference Semifinal	Myrtle Beach Mutiny	0–2	Long Island Rough Riders	Erk Russell Park Statesboro, Georgia
6:00 PM EDT		Report	Bosua   65' Rosero   90'

Charlotte Eagles   v Seacoast United Phantoms 

July 22, 2017 Conference Semifinal	Charlotte Eagles	4–1 (a.e.t.)	Seacoast United Phantoms	Erk Russell Park Statesboro, Georgia
8:30 PM EDT	Costa   75', 94', 108', 112'	Report	Sackie   52'

Charlotte Eagles   v Long Island Rough Riders  

July 23, 2017 Conference Final	Charlotte Eagles	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p)	Long Island Rough Riders	Erk Russell Park Statesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDT	Williams   45' (pen.)	Report	Bedoya   83'

Southern Conference

OKC Energy U23  v FC Miami City 

July 21, 2017 Conference Semifinal	OKC Energy U23	0–1	FC Miami City	Clinton High School Clinton, Mississippi
5:00 PM CDT		Report	Mourchild   18'

Mississippi Brilla FC  v SIMA Aguilas 

July 21, 2017 Conference Semifinal	Mississippi Brilla FC	4–3	SIMA Aguilas	Clinton High School Clinton, Mississippi
7:30 PM CDT	Palmer   37' Garces   49' Bryan   75' Hocine   88'	Report	Santos   29' Lapa   49' Mbaye   83'

Mississippi Brilla FC  v FC Miami City 

July 22, 2017 Conference Final	Mississippi Brilla FC	0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p)	FC Miami City	Clinton High School Clinton, Mississippi
7:00 PM CDT

Central Conference

Thunder Bay Chill  v K-W United FC 

July 21, 2017 Conference Semifinal	Thunder Bay Chill	2–0	K-W United FC	Ultimate Soccer Arenas Pontiac, Michigan
5:00 PM EDT	Villon	Report

Michigan Bucks  v Des Moines Menace  

July 21, 2017 Conference Semifinal	Michigan Bucks	0–2	Des Moines Menace	Ultimate Soccer Arenas Pontiac, Michigan
7:30 PM EDT		Report	Madrid   Howell

Thunder Bay Chill   v Des Moines Menace  

July 22, 2017 Conference Final	Thunder Bay Chill	2–0	Des Moines Menace	Ultimate Soccer Arenas Pontiac, Michigan
7:30 PM EDT	Osmond   Makengo	Report

Western Conference

FC Golden State Force   v Portland Timbers U23s 

July 21, 2017 Conference Semifinal	FC Golden State Force	3–1	Portland Timbers U23s	Kino Sports Complex Tucson, Arizona
6:00 PM MDT	Garcia   7', 51' Ruiz   9'	Report	Dal Molin   48'

FC Tucson  v Fresno Fuego  

July 21, 2017 Conference Semifinal	FC Tucson	0–1	Fresno Fuego	Kino Sports Complex Tucson, Arizona
8:00 PM MDT		Report	Bustamante   32'

FC Golden State Force  v Fresno Fuego 

July 22, 2017 Conference Final	FC Golden State Force	2–0	Fresno Fuego	Kino Sports Complex Tucson, Arizona
7:00 PM MDT		Report

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

Charlotte Eagles   v   Mississippi Brilla FC

July 29, 2017	Charlotte Eagles	3–1	Mississippi Brilla FC	Sportsplex at Matthews Matthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT	Omondi   31' Sibisi   62' Williams   79' Oliveira   John-Brown   Mwape	Report	Skelton   70'	Attendance: 1,112^[12] Referee: Charles Spaniola

  Thunder Bay Chill v   FC Golden State Force

July 29, 2017	Thunder Bay Chill	1–0	FC Golden State Force	Fort William Stadium Thunder Bay, Ontario
7:30 PM PDT	Mastrantonio   58' Sanchez   Abdellaoui   77'	Report 1Report 2	Oliveira   Candelaria   Koenig     Santana	Attendance: 1,862

Championship Game

Charlotte Eagles   v   Thunder Bay Chill

August 5, 2017	Charlotte Eagles	2–1	Thunder Bay Chill	Sportsplex at Matthews Matthews, North Carolina
3:00pm EDT	Costa   26' Williams   61' Page   Petrovic   Sibisi Pyle	Report	Arce   21'	Attendance: 1,356

Awards

• Most Valuable Player: Brian White (NYR)
• Golden Boot: Brian White (NYR)
• Young (U21) Player of the Year: Aaron Molloy (REA)
• Coach of the Year: Robert Elliott (NYR)
• Goalkeeper of the Year: Ben Lundgaard (NYR)
• Defender of the Year: Mitch Osmond (TBC)
• Creative Player of the Year: Harry Pearse (JER)

^[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. "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.