2014 PDL season

USL Premier Development League
Season2014
ChampionsMichigan Bucks
Matches played443
Goals scored1,381 (3.12 per match)
Biggest home winLIR 8, NJL 0
(July 12)
Biggest away winVIC 7, LAU 0
(June 22)
Highest scoringLIR 8, NJL 0
(July 12)
KWU 6, TOR 2
(July 16)
WMA 7, WES 1
(July 19)
Longest winning run10, Seacoast United
(June 8 - July 19)
Longest unbeaten run14, Ocala Stampede
(June 5 - July 27)
Longest winless run14, Vermont Voltage
(entire season)
Longest losing run11, NJ-LUSO Parma
(May 26 - July 20)
Highest attendance8,207 POR vs. PUG
(May 30)
Lowest attendance16 CHI vs. TOR
(June 1)
Average attendance590 (375 of 443 games reported) [1]
← 2013
2015 →

The 2014 USL Premier Development League season was the 20th season of the PDL. The regular season began on May 3 and ended July 20. The regular season was followed by a postseason tournament of conference winners to determine the league's champion. Seven teams were added to the league, bringing the total number of teams in the league to 64 for 2014. The Austin Aztex were the defending champions.

Changes from 2013

New teams

Seven new clubs joined the PDL in 2014.

Team Name Metro Area Location Previous Affiliation
Quebec Montreal Impact U23 Greater Montreal Montreal, Quebec CSL[2]
Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23 Pittsburgh metropolitan area Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania expansion [3]
Ohio Cincinnati Dutch Lions Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio expansion [4]
New Mexico Albuquerque Sol FC Albuquerque metropolitan area Albuquerque, New Mexico expansion [5]
Nevada Las Vegas Mobsters Las Vegas–Paradise, Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada expansion [6]
Oregon Lane United FC Lane County, Oregon Eugene, Oregon expansion [7]
California San Jose Earthquakes U-23 Santa Clara County, California San Jose, California expansion [8][9]

Name Changes

Folding/moving

Divisions

The schedule and divisions were announced January 31 with each team to play a 14-game schedule. The Western Conference was split into three divisions (Northwest, Southwest and Mountain).[12]

Standings

2014 Premier Development League standings.[13]

Key to colours in group tables
Team in position to win Division Title
Team in position to qualify for playoff berth

Note: The first tie-breaker in PDL standings is head-to-head results between teams tied on points, which is why some teams with inferior goal differences finish ahead in the standings.

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Michigan Bucks 14 9 2 3 38 8 +30 30
2 K-W United FC 14 8 3 3 26 20 +6 27
3 Chicago Fire Premier 14 7 5 2 21 20 +1 23
4 Forest City London 14 6 4 4 32 25 +7 22
5 Toronto Lynx 14 2 9 3 15 35 −20 9
6 Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23 14 2 11 1 13 37 −24 7
Source: [citation needed]

Heartland Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Des Moines Menace 14 12 1 1 32 7 +25 37
2 St. Louis Lions 14 6 4 4 18 16 +2 22
3 Thunder Bay Chill 14 6 7 1 22 17 +5 19
4 Springfield Demize 13 4 5 4 8 11 −3 16
5 WSA Winnipeg 14 2 10 2 10 33 −23 8
6 Chicago Inferno[a] 5 0 3 2 1 7 −6 2
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ Chicago Inferno withdrew from the league on June 20.[14][15]

Eastern Conference

Mid Atlantic Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Jersey Express 14 10 1 3 45 15 +30 33
2 Reading United AC 14 9 1 4 30 12 +18 31
3 Long Island Rough Riders 14 8 2 4 26 13 +13 28
4 Ocean City Nor'easters 14 7 5 2 24 24 0 23
5 Baltimore Bohemians 14 6 6 2 23 21 +2 20
6 Northern Virginia Royals 14 3 9 2 17 30 −13 11
7 F.A. Euro 14 3 10 1 16 36 −20 10
8 NJ-LUSO Parma 14 1 13 0 10 40 −30 3
Source: [citation needed]

Northeast Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Seacoast United Phantoms 14 11 1 2 28 7 +21 35
2 Connecticut FC Azul 14 9 2 3 27 13 +14 30
3 Western Mass Pioneers 14 8 4 2 33 16 +17 26
4 Montreal Impact U23 14 7 5 2 26 17 +9 23
5 Real Boston Rams 14 6 6 2 21 26 −5 20
6 GPS Portland Phoenix 14 4 9 1 19 32 −13 13
7 Westchester Flames 14 2 10 2 11 36 −25 8
8 Vermont Voltage 14 0 10 4 9 27 −18 4
Source: [citation needed]

South Atlantic Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 West Virginia Chaos 14 7 3 4 24 17 +7 25
2 Cincinnati Dutch Lions 14 6 4 4 27 20 +7 22
3 King's Warriors 14 6 4 4 23 20 +3 22
4 Carolina Dynamo 14 6 6 2 21 26 −5 20
5 SC United Bantams 14 4 8 2 19 23 −4 14
6 River City Rovers 14 3 7 4 19 27 −8 13
Source: [citation needed]

Southern Conference

Mid South Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Austin Aztex 14 11 1 2 37 11 +26 35
2 Laredo Heat 14 7 4 3 23 16 +7 24
3 Midland/Odessa Sockers 14 7 4 3 26 19 +7 24
4 Mississippi Brilla 14 3 7 4 20 32 −12 13
5 Houston Dutch Lions 14 1 10 3 12 37 −25 6
Source: [citation needed]

Southeast Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Ocala Stampede 14 9 1 4 29 16 +13 31
2 SW Florida Adrenaline 14 7 2 5 27 14 +13 26
3 IMG Academy Bradenton 14 5 7 2 15 22 −7 17
4 Panama City Beach Pirates 14 4 6 4 23 27 −4 16
5 Orlando City U-23 14 2 7 5 16 23 −7 11
6 Floridians FC 14 2 7 5 14 23 −9 11
Source: [citation needed]

Western Conference

Mountain Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 FC Tucson 14 11 2 1 35 11 +24 34
2 BYU Cougars 14 7 4 3 23 25 −2 24
3 Albuquerque Sol FC 14 3 5 6 12 16 −4 15
4 Las Vegas Mobsters 14 4 9 1 17 31 −14 13
5 Real Colorado Foxes 14 2 8 4 12 18 −6 10
Source: [citation needed]

Northwest Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Kitsap Pumas 14 9 1 4 25 9 +16 31
2 Victoria Highlanders (J) 14 8 3 3 32 18 +14 27
3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 14 8 3 3 34 19 +15 27
4 Portland Timbers U23's 14 5 4 5 20 20 0 20
5 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 14 5 7 2 18 20 −2 17
6 Washington Crossfire 14 3 6 5 18 22 −4 14
7 Puget Sound Gunners FC 14 3 9 2 9 31 −22 11
8 Lane United FC 14 2 10 2 10 27 −17 8
Source: [citation needed]
(J) Juan de Fuca Plate

Southwest Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Ventura County Fusion 14 8 3 3 26 17 +9 27
2 Los Angeles Misioneros 14 7 2 5 28 17 +11 26
3 San Jose Earthquakes U-23 14 7 4 3 27 18 +9 24
4 Fresno Fuego 14 6 7 1 25 18 +7 19
5 OC Pateadores Blues 14 5 7 2 20 29 −9 17
6 Southern California Seahorses 14 1 12 1 14 41 −27 4
Source: [citation needed]

Conference Championships

Participants in the four conference championships were determined according to the specific rules of each conference. In the two-division Central and Southern Conferences, the top two teams from each division meet in a conference final four.[16] In the Eastern and Western Conferences, both of which are broken into three divisions, additional quarterfinal matches were required. In the Western Conference, two teams from the Northwest Division advanced to the conference final four: the division champion and the winner of a match between the division's second- and third-place teams. The first-place teams from the Mountain and Southwest divisions met the second-place teams of the other division to determine the final two participants. In the Eastern Conference the winner of a match between the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic divisions' second-place teams advanced to the final four along with the three division champions.[17]

Inter-Divisional Playoff
Eastern Conference
   
MA2 Reading United 0
NE2 Connecticut FC Azul 3
Northwest Division Playoff
Western Conference
   
NW2 Victoria Highlanders 2
NW3 Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 7
Inter-Divisional Playoff
Western Conference
   
MT1 FC Tucson 2
SW2 Los Angeles Misioneros 1
Inter-Divisional Playoff
Western Conference
   
SW1 Ventura County Fusion 1
MT2 BYU Cougars 0

Eastern Conference Championship

July 22, 2014 1st Round Pennsylvania Reading United 0–3 Connecticut Connecticut FC Azul John Gurski Stadium
West Lawn, Pennsylvania
7:30PM EDT Campbell Yellow card 58' Report Perry 29'
Taveras 36'
Weir 66'
Narro Yellow card 70'		 Attendance: 411
Referee: Jaroslaw Werel
July 26, 2014 Semifinal New Jersey Jersey Express 2–0 Connecticut Connecticut FC Azul Lubetkin Field
Newark, New Jersey
5:00pm EDT Hines 10' Yellow card 78'
Eze 57'
Viaggio Yellow card 65'		 Report Kinne Yellow card 90' Attendance: 175
Referee: Kris Larwa
July 26, 2014 Semifinal New Hampshire Seacoast United Phantoms 0–2 West Virginia West Virginia Chaos Lubetkin Field
Newark, New Jersey
7:30pm EDT Louchead Yellow card 42' Report Smee 28'
Fabian Yellow card 30'
Szabo 72' Yellow card 82'		 Referee: Jaime Herrera
July 27, 2014 Final New Jersey Jersey Express 3–1 West Virginia West Virginia Chaos Lubetkin Field
Newark, New Jersey
5:00pm EDT Viaggio Yellow card 17'
Eze 30', 53'
Correa Yellow card 52' 57' (pen.)		 Report Peters 45' (pen.)
McDonald Yellow card 63'
Wilson Yellow card 66'
Szabo Yellow card 69'
Smee Yellow card 89'		 Attendance: 107
Referee: Robert Sibiga

Central Conference Championship

July 25, 2014 Semifinal Michigan Michigan Bucks 3–1 (a.e.t.) Missouri St. Louis Lions Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
4:30pm CDT Catic 13', 107'
Ben 93'
Dereis Yellow card 98'		 Report Cojocov 10'
Matthews Yellow card 45'
Edemba Yellow card 81'
Walsh Yellow card 119'		 Referee: Trent Payne
July 25, 2014 Semifinal Iowa Des Moines Menace 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		 Ontario K-W United FC Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30pm CDT Fricke Yellow card 7' Report Whiteman Yellow card 26'
Robinson Yellow card 69'
Keely Yellow card 103'		 Attendance: 3,679
Referee: Jeremy Uecker
Penalties
Hellmann soccer ball with red X
Bartlett soccer ball with check mark
Macadam soccer ball with check mark
Bales soccer ball with check mark
Fricke soccer ball with check mark		 soccer ball with check mark Murrell
soccer ball with check mark Keely
soccer ball with red X Robinson
soccer ball with red X Camargo
soccer ball with check mark Perea
July 26, 2014 Final Iowa Des Moines Menace 0–2 Michigan Michigan Bucks Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30pm CDT López Yellow card 71' Red card 90' Report Goldsmith 14', 23'
Kaba Yellow card 30'
Beresford Yellow card 56'
Tribbett Yellow card 79'		 Referee: Brent Wilson

Southern Conference Championship

July 26, 2014 Semifinal Florida Ocala Stampede 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)		 Texas Laredo Heat House Park
Austin, Texas
5:00pm CDT Hilton 87'
Knight Yellow card 115'		 Report Luna 86'
Ferreira Yellow card 99'		 Referee: Ismael Elfarth
Penalties
Walmsley soccer ball with check mark
Hilton soccer ball with check mark
Ilic soccer ball with check mark
Knight soccer ball with check mark
Clay soccer ball with check mark		 soccer ball with red X Fernández
soccer ball with check mark Moreno
soccer ball with check mark Ibarra
soccer ball with check mark Hernández
July 26, 2014 Semifinal Texas Austin Aztex 3–1 Florida SW Florida Adrenaline House Park
Austin, Texas
7:30pm CDT Ambrose 15'
Jobe 57'
Cortes 87'		 Report Le Bras 37'
Wilks Yellow card 89'		 Attendance: 4,754
Referee: Ledzek Stalmach
July 27, 2014 Final Texas Austin Aztex 0–2 Florida Ocala Stampede House Park
Austin, Texas
7:30pm CDT Seoane Yellow card 48'
Perales Yellow card 87'
Ambrose Yellow card 89'		 Report Janneh 11'
Ilic 55'
Blandon Yellow card 84'
Bailey Yellow card 90+'		 Attendance: 2,228
Referee: William Tomlinson

Western Conference Championship

Quarterfinal Washington (state) Kitsap Pumas v Bye
July 16, 2014 Quarterfinal British Columbia Victoria Highlanders 2–7 British Columbia Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 Royal Athletic Park
Victoria, British Columbia
7:00PM PDT Mitrou Yellow card 17'
Basso Yellow card 38'
Barrett Yellow card 45+'
T. Hughes Yellow card 45+' Red card 70'
Sturrock 51'
J. Hughes 54'
Rowley Yellow card 79+'		 Report
Report		 Cook 6', 18' (pen.)
Farahani 8'
Lakhan Yellow card 23'
Levis Yellow card 40'
Cousens 43', 72'
Froese 53', 85'		 Attendance: 1,531
Referee: Darnell Smit
July 19, 2014 Quarterfinal California Ventura County Fusion 1–0 Utah BYU Cougars Peter Johann Memorial Field
Las Vegas, Nevada
8:55PM PDT Chongo Yellow card 40'
Stanley 41'		 Report
Box score		 Referee: Charles Farr
July 19, 2014 Quarterfinal Arizona FC Tucson 2–1 California Los Angeles Misioneros Peter Johann Memorial Field
Las Vegas, Nevada
6:30PM PDT Kelly 28'
Volesky 29'
Phillips Yellow card 51'
Velazco Yellow card 53'
Ramos Yellow card 72'		 Report
Report		 Christian Yellow card 20'
Nwabueze 49'		 Referee: C. Scott
July 25, 2014 Semifinal Washington (state) Kitsap Pumas 3–3 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)		 California Ventura County Fusion Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
6:00pm MST Keitz Yellow card 19'
Gonzalez Yellow card 41'
Catalano 45+'
Kelly Yellow card 73'
Sanchez 83'
Chamberlain Yellow card 86'
Danciu 98'		 Report Kiffe 10' Yellow card 32'
Cazarez 15'
Keny-Guyer Yellow card 41'
Argueta Yellow card 82' 120+'
Alfaro Yellow card 86'
Palacios Red card 105+'		 Referee: Matt Sternheim
Penalties
Keitz soccer ball with check mark
Shelton soccer ball with check mark
Sanchez soccer ball with red X
Danciu soccer ball with check mark		 soccer ball with check mark Kiffe
soccer ball with red X Alfaro
soccer ball with red X Cazarez
soccer ball with red X Colvey
July 25, 2014 Semifinal Arizona FC Tucson 1–0 British Columbia Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
8:00pm MST Phillips Yellow card 49'
De Rada 90+'		 Report Stewart Yellow card 15'
Farahani Yellow card 48'		 Attendance: 1,853
Referee: Charles Farr
July 26, 2014 Final Arizona FC Tucson 0–3 Washington (state) Kitsap Pumas Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
7:30pm MST Phillips Yellow card 65'
Ramos Red card 72'
Rookwood Red card 90+'		 Report Keitz 7' Yellow card 28'
DeZorzi Yellow card 9'
Jensen Yellow card 41'
Shelton Yellow card 54'
Gonzalez 55'
Ortinau 66' Yellow card 74'
Kelly Yellow card 83'		 Attendance: 1,411
Referee: Charles Farr

Playoff Bracket

Conference Semifinals (July 25–26) Conference Finals (July 26–27) Semi-Finals (August 1) Championship (August 3)
            
NE1 Seacoast United Phantoms 0
SA1 West Virginia Chaos 2
SA1 West Virginia Chaos 1
Eastern Conference
MA1 Jersey Express 3
MA1 Jersey Express 2
NE2 Connecticut FC Azul 0
MA1 Jersey Express 1
GL1 Michigan Bucks 2
HL1 Des Moines Menace (PEN) 0 (4)
GL2 K-W United FC 0 (3)
HL1 Des Moines Menace 0
Central Conference
GL1 Michigan Bucks 2
GL1 Michigan Bucks (AET) 3
HL2 St. Louis Lions 1
GL1 Michigan Bucks 1
NW1 Kitsap Pumas 0
MS1 Austin Aztex 3
SE2 SW Florida Adrenaline 1
MS1 Austin Aztex 0
Southern Conference
SE1 Ocala Stampede 2
SE1 Ocala Stampede (PEN) 1 (5)
MS2 Laredo Heat 1 (4)
SE1 Ocala Stampede 1
NW1 Kitsap Pumas 2
MT1 FC Tucson 1
NW3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 0
MT1 FC Tucson 0
Western Conference
NW1 Kitsap Pumas 3
NW1 Kitsap Pumas (PEN) 3 (3)
SW1 Ventura County Fusion 3 (1)

PDL Championship

Semi-finals

August 1, 2014 Washington (state) Kitsap Pumas 2–1 Florida Ocala Stampede Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
5:00pm EDT Rivas 42'
Jensen Yellow card 63'
Catalano Yellow card 72'
Sanchez 89'		 Report Hilton 45'
Janneh Yellow card 82'		 Referee: Connor Williams
August 1, 2014 Michigan Michigan Bucks 2–1 New Jersey Jersey Express Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
7:30pm EDT Tribbett 54'
Steinberger 78'		 Report Eze 38'
Correa Yellow card 50'
Martínez Yellow card 79'
Caso Yellow card 79'		 Referee: Donovan Noocha

Championship

August 3, 2014 Michigan Michigan Bucks 1–0 Washington (state) Kitsap Pumas Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
1:00pm EDT Kolarac Yellow card 35'
Owens 58'		 Report
Report		 Referee: Marc Lawrence

Championship MVP: Adam Grinwis, (MIB) [18]

Awards

[19]

All-League and All-Conference Teams

[20][21]

Eastern Conference

F: Anthony Grant (SUP) *, Jeff McClure (CIN), Alencar Junior (WMA)
M: Boluwatife Akinyode (NJL), Shaun Foster (LIR), Walter Hines (JER)
D: Kouassi Sylvain N’Guessan (JER), Jake Stovall (CIN), Tom Wharf (LIR), Travis Brent (WVA)
G: Alex Bono (REA)

Central Conference

F: Chris Hellmann (DMM) *, Moses Danto (WSA), Dzenan Catic (MIB) *
M: Zach Steinberger (MIB) *, Drew Conner (CHI), Ralph Lundy (DMM)
D: Nolan Intermoia (THU) *, Ken Tribbett (MIB), Blake Jones (STL), Dan Keller (CHI)
G: Yuta Nomura (SPR)

Western Conference

F: Javier Castro (LAM), Cody Cook (VAN), Kharlton Belmar (POR)
M: Ricardo Velazco (TUC) *, Jose Cuevas (FRE) *, Bryan de la Fuente (LAM)
D: Ramon Martin Del Campo (SJO) *, James Kiffe (VEN), Cory Keitz (KIT) *, Jordan Farahani (VAN)
G: Billy Thompson (TUC) *

Southern Conference

F: Jesus Cortes (AUS), Ilija Ilić (OCA), Adi Kavara (PAN)
M: Tony Rocha (AUS), Michael Lightbourne (PAN), Karamba Janneh (OCA)
D: Yair Hernandez (LAR) *, Walker Hume (MIO), Ben Knight (OCA), Kalen Ryden (AUS)
G: Devin Cook (AUS)

* denotes All-League player

References

  1. ^ "Taking Attendance 7/22/2014: (Mostly) Final PDL Numbers". Kenn Tomasch. www.kenn.com. July 22, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  2. ^ "Montreal Impact U23 Joins PDL". Goal.com. January 24, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  3. ^ "Riverhounds Add PDL Franchise". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 26, 2013. Archived from the original on November 30, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  4. ^ "Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC Joins PDL". United Soccer Leagues (USL). September 16, 2013. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  5. ^ "Albuquerque Sol FC Joins PDL". United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 5, 2013. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  6. ^ "PDL Expands to Las Vegas for 2014". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 10, 2013. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  7. ^ "Lane United FC Joins PDL". United Soccer Leagues (USL). July 18, 2013. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  8. ^ "Earthquakes Acquire PDL Franchise". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 28, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  9. ^ "Earthquakes establish PDL team for 2014 season". San Jose Earthquakes. October 28, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  10. ^ "Floridians F.C. Joins PDL". United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 20, 2013. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Soccer Watch".
  12. ^ "PDL Alignment & Schedule Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). January 31, 2014. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  13. ^ Official Standings Archived 2015-11-09 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "PDL Statement Regarding the Chicago Inferno". United Soccer Leagues (USL). June 23, 2014. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  15. ^ "Menace match 'postponed' as Chicago team shuts down". Chris Cuellar. Des Moines Register. June 23, 2014. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  16. ^ "PDL Playoff Races Take Shape". uslpdl.com. United Soccer Leagues. July 11, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  17. ^ "2014 PDL Media Guide". secureserver.net (Press release). United Soccer Leagues. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  18. ^ "Grinwis Shines As Bucks Take Title". United Soccer Leagues (USL). August 3, 2014. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  19. ^ "PDL Award Winners Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). August 2, 2014. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  20. ^ "PDL All-Conference Teams Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). July 28, 2014. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  21. ^ "PDL All-League Team Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). July 29, 2014. Archived from the original on July 30, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.