USL Premier Development League
Season2017
Champion(s)Charlotte Eagles
Regular Season TitleNew York Red Bulls U-23
Matches played522
(504 RS, 18 PO)
Goals scored1,746 (3.34 per match)
(1695 RS, 51 PO)
Biggest home winWMP 7, WCF 0
(July 14)
JER 7, FAE 0
(July 15)
Biggest away winNYRB 10, EVR 1
(June 24)
Highest scoringVIL 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 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.

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

Folded/left

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

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, 2017 InterDivision QualifierNew York Red Bulls U-23New Jersey1–4 Long Island Rough RidersNew York (state) Red Bull Training Facility
Hanover, New Jersey
7:00 PM EDT
  • Bowkett 80'
 Report
  • Bedoya 16'
  • Sichecki 45'
  • Rosero 58'
  • Friend 90'
July 18, 2017 InterDivision Qualifier Seacoast United PhantomsNew Hampshire 3–1Reading United ACPennsylvaniaAmesbury Sports Park
Amesbury, Massachusetts
7:00 PM EDT
Report
July 18, 2017 Northwest Division Qualifier Portland Timbers U23sOregon 3–0Calgary Foothills FCAlbertaMcCulloch 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

July 22, 2017 Conference SemifinalMyrtle Beach MutinySouth Carolina0–2 Long Island Rough RidersNew York (state) Erk Russell Park
Statesboro, Georgia
6:00 PM EDT Report
July 22, 2017 Conference Semifinal Charlotte Eagles North Carolina 4–1 (a.e.t.)Seacoast United PhantomsNew HampshireErk Russell Park
Statesboro, Georgia
8:30 PM EDT
  • Costa 75', 94', 108', 112'
 Report
  • Sackie 52'
July 23, 2017 Conference Final Charlotte Eagles North Carolina 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)		Long Island Rough Riders New York (state)Erk Russell Park
Statesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDT
Report

Southern Conference

July 21, 2017 Conference Semifinal OKC Energy U23Oklahoma 0–1FC Miami CityFloridaClinton High School
Clinton, Mississippi
5:00 PM CDT Report
  • Mourchild 18'
July 21, 2017 Conference Semifinal Mississippi Brilla FCMississippi 4–3SIMA AguilasFloridaClinton High School
Clinton, Mississippi
7:30 PM CDT
  • Palmer 37'
  • Garces 49'
  • Bryan 75'
  • Hocine 88'
 Report
July 22, 2017 Conference Final Mississippi Brilla FCMississippi 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)		FC Miami CityFloridaClinton High School
Clinton, Mississippi
7:00 PM CDT

Central Conference

July 21, 2017 Conference Semifinal Thunder Bay ChillOntario 2–0K-W United FCOntarioUltimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
5:00 PM EDT
Report
July 21, 2017 Conference SemifinalMichigan BucksMichigan0–2 Des Moines Menace Iowa Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
7:30 PM EDT Report
July 22, 2017 Conference Final Thunder Bay Chill Ontario 2–0Des Moines Menace IowaUltimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
7:30 PM EDT
Report

Western Conference

July 21, 2017 Conference Semifinal FC Golden State Force California 3–1Portland Timbers U23sOregonKino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
6:00 PM MDT
  • Garcia 7', 51'
  • Ruiz 9'
 Report
  • Dal Molin 48'
July 21, 2017 Conference SemifinalFC TucsonArizona0–1 Fresno Fuego California Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
8:00 PM MDT Report
July 22, 2017 Conference Final FC Golden State ForceCalifornia 2–0Fresno FuegoCaliforniaKino 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

July 29, 2017 Charlotte Eagles North Carolina 3–1Mississippi Mississippi Brilla FCSportsplex at Matthews
Matthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT
Report
Attendance: 1,112[12]
Referee: Charles Spaniola
July 29, 2017 Ontario Thunder Bay Chill 1–0California FC Golden State ForceFort William Stadium
Thunder Bay, Ontario
7:30 PM PDT
Report 1Report 2
  • Oliveira Yellow card
  • Candelaria Yellow card
  • Koenig Yellow card Yellow-red card
  • Santana Yellow card
 Attendance: 1,862

Championship Game

August 5, 2017 Charlotte Eagles North Carolina 2–1 Ontario Thunder Bay Chill Sportsplex at Matthews
Matthews, North Carolina
3:00pm EDT
Report
  • Arce 21'
 Attendance: 1,356

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. ^ a b "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.
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