2016 PDL season

USL Premier Development League
Season2016
Champion(s)Michigan Bucks
Matches played469
Goals scored1,472 (3.14 per match)
Biggest home winDSM 9, WSA 0
(June 25)
MCH 9, PIT 0
(July 16)
Biggest away winKWU 7, TFC 0
(May 17)
Highest scoringDSM 9, WSA 0
(June 25)
MCH 9, PIT 0
(July 16)
Longest winning run7, Fresno Fuego
(May 19 - June 18)
Longest unbeaten run13, San Diego Zest FC
(May 14 - end of season)
Longest winless run12, Cinc. Dutch Lions
(May 28 - end of season)
Longest losing run8, LA Laguna FC
(May 8 - June 21)
OC Blues U-23
(June 12 - end of season)
← 2015
2017 →
All statistics correct as of July 19, 2016.

The 2016 USL Premier Development League season was the 22nd season of the PDL. The regular season began on May 6 and ended on July 17. The Michigan Bucks were the season champions.

Conferences

Western Conference Southern Conference Central Conference Eastern Conference
Northwest Division
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Oregon
  • Washington

Central Pacific Division

  • California
  • Nevada
  • Utah

Southwest Division

  • California
  • Arizona
 Midsouth Division
  • Missouri
  • Mississippi
  • New Mexico
  • Oklahoma
  • Texas

Southeast Division

  • Florida
 Great Lakes Division
  • Kentucky
  • Michigan
  • Ohio
  • Ontario
  • Pennsylvania

Heartland Division

  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Manitoba
  • Missouri
  • Ontario
 South Atlantic Division
  • Georgia
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • West Virginia

Mid Atlantic Division

  • Maryland
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • Virginia

Northeast Division

  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • New York

Changes From 2015

New/Returning teams

Team Name Metro Area Location Previous Affiliation
Indiana Kokomo Mantis FC Kokomo Metro Area Kokomo, Indiana Expansion Team [1]
Oklahoma Oklahoma City Energy U23 Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Expansion Team [2][3]
Georgia (U.S. state) Tormenta FC Bulloch County, Georgia Statesboro, Georgia Expansion Team [4]
California San Francisco City FC San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco, California US Club Soccer[5][6]
Georgia (U.S. state) Peachtree City MOBA Metro Atlanta Peachtree City, Georgia Expansion Team [7]
California San Diego Zest FC San Diego–Tijuana San Diego, California Expansion Team [8]
Florida The Villages SC Sumter County, Florida The Villages, Florida Expansion Team [9]
California FC Golden State Force Los Angeles County Pasadena, California Expansion Team [10]
Florida South Florida Surf Treasure Coast Port St. Lucie, Florida Expansion Team [11]
Tennessee Tri-Cities Otters Tri-Cities, Tennessee Johnson City, Tennessee Expansion Team [12]
Massachusetts FC Boston Boston, Massachusetts Expansion Team
Virginia Evergreen FC Washington DC Leesburg, Virginia Expansion Team
British Columbia Victoria Highlanders Greater Victoria Victoria, British Columbia PDL (2009–14); Returns from Pacific Coast Soccer League[13]

Name Changes

Folding/Moving

On Hiatus

Standings

Tiebreakers

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

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 GPS Portland Phoenix 14 9 3 2 36 20 +16 29 Advance to Eastern Conference Divisional Qualifiers
2 Western Mass Pioneers 14 7 3 4 27 23 +4 25
3 Long Island Rough Riders 14 6 5 3 26 24 +2 21
4 FC Boston 14 6 6 2 22 24 −2 20
5 Seacoast United Phantoms 14 5 5 4 20 22 −2 19
6 AC Connecticut 14 5 6 3 26 25 +1 18
7 Westchester Flames 14 4 8 2 15 21 −6 14
8 F.A. Euro 14 2 8 4 13 26 −13 10
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Mid Atlantic Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Reading United AC 14 10 3 1 35 12 +23 31 Advance to Eastern Conference Divisional Qualifiers
2 Ocean City Nor'easters 14 9 5 0 36 21 +15 27
3 Baltimore Bohemians 14 7 5 2 26 21 +5 23
4 New York Red Bulls U-23 14 6 4 4 23 20 +3 22
5 Jersey Express S.C. 14 5 7 2 24 28 −4 17
6 Lehigh Valley United Sonic 14 3 10 1 8 24 −16 10
7 Evergreen FC 14 2 8 4 16 42 −26 10
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

South Atlantic Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Charlotte Eagles 14 11 2 1 34 8 +26 34 Advance to Eastern Conference Championship
2 Carolina Dynamo 14 10 3 1 27 8 +19 31 Advance to Eastern Conference Divisional Qualifiers
3 SC United Bantams 14 7 4 3 20 18 +2 24
4 King's Warriors 14 7 5 2 16 14 +2 23
5 South Georgia Tormenta FC 14 6 5 3 22 18 +4 21
6 Peachtree City MOBA 14 3 9 2 15 29 −14 11
7 West Virginia Chaos 14 3 9 2 13 32 −19 11
8 Tri-Cities Otters 14 1 10 3 14 32 −18 6
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Michigan Bucks 14 12 2 0 45 7 +38 36 Advance to Central Conference Championship
2 K-W United FC 14 11 2 1 37 18 +19 34
3 Derby City Rovers 14 7 5 2 31 25 +6 23
4 Dayton Dutch Lions 14 4 5 5 23 30 −7 17
5 Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23 14 2 8 4 14 30 −16 10
6 TFC Academy 14 2 8 4 14 36 −22 10
7 Cincinnati Dutch Lions 14 1 10 3 11 31 −20 6
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Heartland Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Des Moines Menace 14 10 2 2 37 7 +30 32 Advance to Central Conference Championship
2 Thunder Bay Chill 14 7 2 5 33 19 +14 26
3 Chicago Fire U-23 14 8 4 2 28 18 +10 26
4 Kokomo Mantis FC 14 4 6 4 23 25 −2 16
5 St. Louis Lions 14 2 8 4 19 28 −9 10
6 WSA Winnipeg 14 1 11 2 7 51 −44 5
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Southern Conference

Southeast Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 The Villages SC 14 9 3 2 37 18 +19 29 Advance to Southern Conference Championship
2 South Florida Surf 14 8 2 4 28 15 +13 28
3 FC Miami City 14 6 4 4 31 22 +9 22
4 Floridians FC 14 6 5 3 20 16 +4 21
5 SW Florida Adrenaline 14 5 8 1 16 32 −16 16
6 IMG Academy Bradenton 14 4 9 1 14 25 −11 13
7 Palm Beach Suns FC 14 2 9 3 12 30 −18 9
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Mid South Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 OKC Energy FC U23 14 10 3 1 33 15 +18 31 Advance to Southern Conference Championship
2 Midland/Odessa Sockers 14 8 3 3 20 14 +6 27
3 Mississippi Brilla 14 4 6 4 14 20 −6 16
4 Saint Louis FC U23 14 3 8 3 17 29 −12 12
5 Albuquerque Sol FC 14 3 9 2 11 23 −12 11
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Calgary Foothills FC 14 8 3 3 22 12 +10 27 Advance to Western Conference Divisional Qualifiers
2 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 14 8 6 0 21 16 +5 24
3 Washington Crossfire 14 5 4 5 16 14 +2 20
4 Kitsap Pumas[a] 14 5 4 5 12 15 −3 17
5 Victoria Highlanders 14 3 5 6 17 19 −2 15
6 Lane United FC 14 3 5 6 13 16 −3 15
7 Portland Timbers U23s 14 2 7 5 14 23 −9 11
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ Kitsap Pumas had three points deducted for using an illegal player against Victoria Highlanders.

Central Pacific Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Fresno Fuego[a] 14 10 3 1 23 11 +12 30 Advance to Western Conference Divisional Qualifiers
2 Burlingame Dragons FC 14 7 5 2 28 19 +9 23
3 San Francisco City FC 14 6 6 2 19 16 +3 20
4 BYU Cougars 14 4 6 4 12 18 −6 16
5 Las Vegas Mobsters 14 3 8 3 13 26 −13 12
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ Fresno Fuego deducted one point for illegal substitution against San Francisco City FC.

Southwest Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FC Tucson 14 11 1 2 38 12 +26 35 Advance to Western Conference Championship
2 San Diego Zest FC 14 8 1 5 27 12 +15 29 Advance to Western Conference Divisional Qualifiers
3 FC Golden State Force 14 8 4 2 38 23 +15 26
4 Ventura County Fusion 14 7 4 3 24 18 +6 24
5 Southern California Seahorses 14 2 9 3 17 24 −7 9
6 Orange County Blues U-23 14 2 10 2 13 38 −25 8
7 LA Laguna FC[a] 14 2 11 1 17 44 −27 4
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ LA Laguna FC had three points deducted for not having a proper venue.


Playoffs

Divisional Qualification Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Semifinals Championship
               
SA1 Charlotte Eagles 0
MA2 Ocean City Nor'easters 1
NE1 GPS Portland Phoenix 1
MA2 Ocean City Nor'easters 3
MA2 Ocean City Nor'easters 4
Eastern Conference
MA1 Reading United AC 1
MA1 Reading United AC 3
NE2 Western Mass Pioneers 1
MA1 Reading United AC 2
SA2 Carolina Dynamo 1
SA2 Carolina Dynamo 4
SA3 SC United Bantams 1
MA2 Ocean City Nor'easters 0
NW1 Calgary Foothills FC 3
SW1 FC Tucson 3
CP2 Burlingame Dragons FC 2
CP1 Fresno Fuego 2
CP2 Burlingame Dragons FC 3*
SW1 FC Tucson 1
Western Conference
NW1 Calgary Foothills FC 2
NW1 Calgary Foothills FC 3*
NW2 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 1
NW1 Calgary Foothills FC 1
SW3 FC Golden State Force 0
SW2 San Diego Zest FC 2
SW3 FC Golden State Force 3*
NW1 Calgary Foothills FC 2
GL1 Michigan Bucks 3
GL1 Michigan Bucks 3
HL2 Thunder Bay Chill 0
GL1 Michigan Bucks 2
Central Conference
HL1 Des Moines Menace 0
HL1 Des Moines Menace 5
GL2 K-W United FC 1
GL1 Michigan Bucks 3
MS2 Midland/Odessa Sockers 0
MS1 Oklahoma City Energy U23 2
SE2 South Florida Surf 1
MS1 Oklahoma City Energy U23 0 (1)
Southern Conference
MS2 Midland/Odessa Sockers 0 (2)*
SE1 The Villages SC 1
MS2 Midland/Odessa Sockers 2
  • After extra time

Conference Championships

The PDL Conference Championships were held on the weekend of July 22–24, with the four conference champions advancing to the PDL Semifinals.[15]

Eastern Conference

July 19, 2016 South Atlantic Division Play-in Game Carolina DynamoNorth Carolina 4–1SC United BantamsSouth CarolinaMacpherson Stadium
Browns Summit, North Carolina
5:45 PM EDT
Report
July 19, 2016 InterDivision Play-in Game Reading United ACPennsylvania 3–1Western Mass PioneersMassachusettsDon Thomas Stadium
Reading, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM EDT
Report
July 19, 2016 InterDivision Play-in GameGPS Portland PhoenixMaine1–3 Ocean City Nor'eastersNew Jersey New England College
Portland, Maine
8:00 PM EDT
Report
July 23, 2016 Conference SemifinalCharlotte EaglesNorth Carolina0–1 Ocean City Nor'eastersNew Jersey Don Thomas Stadium
Reading, Pennsylvania
5:00 PM EDT Report
July 23, 2016 Conference Semifinal Reading United ACPennsylvania 2–1Carolina DynamoNorth CarolinaDon Thomas Stadium
Reading, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EDT
Report
July 24, 2016 Conference FinalReading United ACPennsylvania1–4 Ocean City Nor'eastersNew Jersey Don Thomas Stadium
Reading, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM EDT
Report

Southern Conference

July 22, 2016 Conference SemifinalThe Villages SCFlorida1–2 Midland/Odessa SockersTexas Taft Stadium
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
6:00 PM CDT
Report
July 22, 2016 Conference Semifinal OKC Energy U23Oklahoma 2–1South Florida SurfFloridaTaft Stadium
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
9:00 PM CDT
Report
July 23, 2016 Conference FinalOKC Energy U23Oklahoma0–0
(1–2 p)		 Midland/Odessa SockersTexas Taft Stadium
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4:00 PM CDT Report

Central Conference

July 22, 2016 Conference Semifinal Des Moines MenaceIowa 5–1K-W United FCOntarioUltimate Soccer Arena
Pontiac, Michigan
5:00 PM EDT
Report
July 22, 2016 Conference Semifinal Michigan BucksMichigan 3–0Thunder Bay ChillOntarioUltimate Soccer Arena
Pontiac, Michigan
7:30 PM EDT
Report
July 23, 2016 Conference Final Michigan BucksMichigan 2–0Des Moines MenaceIowaUltimate Soccer Arena
Pontiac, Michigan
7:30 PM EDT
Report

Western Conference

July 19, 2016 Northwest Division Play-in Game Calgary Foothills FCAlberta 3–1 (a.e.t.)Seattle Sounders FC U-23Washington (state)Broadview Field
Calgary, Alberta
9::30 PM MDT
Report
July 19, 2016 Central Pacific Division Play-in GameFresno FuegoCalifornia2–3 (a.e.t.) Burlingame Dragons FC California Chukchansi Park
Fresno, California
10:00 PM PDT
Report
Attendance: 4,972[16]
July 19, 2016 Southwest Division Play-in GameSan Diego Zest FCCalifornia2–3 (a.e.t.) FC Golden State Force California James Madison High School
San Diego, California
10:00 PM PDT
Report
July 22, 2016 Conference Semifinal Calgary Foothills FCAlberta 1–0FC Golden State ForceCaliforniaKino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
9:00 PM MDT
Report Attendance: 1,052[17]
July 22, 2016 Conference Semifinal FC TucsonArizona 3–2Burlingame Dragons FCCaliforniaKino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
11:00 PM MDT
Report
Attendance: 1,052[17]
July 23, 2016 Conference FinalFC TucsonArizona1–2 Calgary Foothills FCAlberta Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
10:30 PM MDT
Report
Attendance: 1,121[18]

PDL Championship

The PDL Championship semi-finals are to be held on the week of July 24–31. The 2016 PDL Championship Game will be held on the weekend of August 5–7.[15]

Semifinals

July 30, 2016 National SemifinalOcean City Nor'eastersNew Jersey0–3 Calgary Foothills FCAlberta Tennessee Avenue Soccer Complex
Ocean City, New Jersey
5:00 PM EDT
Report
July 30, 2016 National Semifinal Michigan BucksMichigan 3–0Midland/Odessa SockersTexasUltimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
7:30 PM EDT
Report

Championship Game

August 6, 2016 National Final Michigan BucksMichigan 3–2Calgary Foothills FCAlbertaUltimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
7:30 PM EDT
Report
Attendance: 1,486[19]

Awards

  • Most Valuable Player: Chevaughn Walsh (OCN)
  • Young (U21) Player of the Year: Sven König (KWU)
  • Coach of the Year: Demir Muftari, (MIB)
  • Defender of the Year: Alhassan Abubakar (MIB)
  • Goalkeeper of the Year: Ryan Cretens (CAR)
  • Creative Player of the Year: Adam Najem (MIB)

[20]

All-League and All-Conference Teams

[21][22][23][24][25]

Eastern Conference

F: Nathan Regis (OCN), Santi Moar (CHE), Chevaughn Walsh (OCN) *
M: Arun Basuljevic (NYR) *, Marco Micaletto (CHE), Paul Marie (REA)
D: Cameron Botes (CHE), Juan Sanchez (CHE), Marquez Fernandez (BAL) *, Peyton Ericson (TRM)
G: Ryan Cretens (CAR) *

Central Conference

F: Sven König (KWU), Sullivan Silva (TBC), Russell Cicerone (MIB)
M: Aleksi Pahkasalo (DRC), Anthony Putrus (TBC), Sergio Camargo (KWU)
D: Alhassan Abubakar (MIB) *, Tom Owens (MIB) *, Austin Ledbetter (DMM), Moustapha Fofana (DRC)
G: Nico Campbell (DMM)

Western Conference

F: Mark Verso (GSF), Christian Chaney (FRE) *, Dominic Russo (CGY) *
M: Michael Turner (TUC), Erik Holt (SDZ), Jose Hernandez (GSF)
D: Josh Smith (BUR), Niko de Vera (POR), Gordon Hall (TUC), Nathan Aune (WAS)
G: Augustin Rey (FRE)

Southern Conference

F: Carlos Araujo (VIL), Bruno Henrique (MIO), Mohamed Kourouma (MIA)
M: Tosan Popo (SWF), Lucas Coutinho (SFS) *, Noah Keats (OKC) *
D: Kimathi Kaumbutho (SWF), Fernando Machado (MIO), Sebastian Pineda (OKC), Josh Taylor (OKC) *
G: Paulo Pita (VIL)

* denotes All-League player

Attendance

Teams with an average home attendance of at least 1,000:[26]

Team Home average
Fresno Fuego 3,441
Des Moines Menace 2,856
Burlingame Dragons 2,357
FC Tucson 1,379
Albuquerque Sol 1,121

References

  1. ^ "Kokomo, Indiana Joins PDL for 2016 Season". United Soccer Leagues (USL). September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  2. ^ "PDL Awards Franchise to OKC Energy FC". United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 29, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  3. ^ "Oklahoma City Energy U23 team announced, kicks off PDL season in May". Chris Brannick. Oklahoma City Daily Oklahoman. February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  4. ^ "PDL Awards Franchise to Statesboro, Georgia". United Soccer Leagues (USL). August 6, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  5. ^ "ANNOUNCEMENT: SF CITY FC IS JOINING THE USL PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE FOR 2016". San Francisco City FC. January 12, 2016. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  6. ^ "SF City FC joins Premier Development League". San Francisco Chronicle. January 12, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  7. ^ "PDL Awards Franchise to Peachtree City, GA". Premier Development League (PDL). January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  8. ^ "PDL Awards Franchise to San Diego". Premier Development League (PDL). January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  9. ^ "PASADENA-BASED CLUB JOINS GROWING CONTINGENT IN CALIFORNIA; JON SPENCER TO MANAGE TEAM". Premier Development League (PDL). January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  10. ^ "PDL Awards Franchise to The Villages, Fla". Premier Development League (PDL). January 22, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  11. ^ "PDL Awards Franchise to Port St. Lucie, Fla". Premier Development League (PDL). January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  12. ^ "PDL Announces Addition of Tri-Cities FC for 2016 Season". Premier Development League (PDL). January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  13. ^ "Victoria Highlanders Return to the PDL". Premier Development League (PDL. January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  14. ^ "Laredo Heat Announce Hiatus from PDL in 2016". Laredo Heat SC. December 1, 2015. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  15. ^ a b "PDL Announces 2016 Schedule and Alignment". USL PDL. February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  16. ^ "Fuego eliminated from PDL playoffs in extra-time thriller". Fresno Bee.
  17. ^ a b @FCTucson (July 22, 2016). "Official attendance tonight of 1,052 for the Western Conference Semifinals! #Path2Pro" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ @FCTucson (July 23, 2016). "Official attendance tonight of 1,121. Thanks to everyone who came out! #Path2Pro" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "Michigan Bucks win 3rd PDL championship". Crain's Detroit Business.
  20. ^ "2016 PDL All-League Awards Announced". Premier Development League (PDL). August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  21. ^ "2016 PDL All-Southern Conference Team". Premier Development League (PDL). July 26, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  22. ^ "2016 PDL All-Central Conference Team". Premier Development League (PDL). July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  23. ^ "2016 PDL All-Eastern Conference Team". Premier Development League (PDL). July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  24. ^ "2016 PDL All-Western Conference Team". Premier Development League (PDL). July 29, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  25. ^ "2016 PDL All-League Unveiled". Premier Development League (PDL). August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.[dead link‍]
  26. ^ "Taking Attendance 11/6/2016: The Big List [UPDATED] – kenn.com blog". www.kenn.com. Retrieved April 19, 2018.