2009 PDL season

USL Premier Development League
Official 2009 PDL Championship logo
Season 2009
Champions Ventura County Fusion
Matches played 544
Goals scored 1,790 (3.29 per match)
Top goalscorer Aaron Wheeler, Reading Rage, 17
Biggest home win 9-0, Ottawa Fury over Westchester Flames
Biggest away win 7-1, Ocean City Barons over Newark Ironbound Express
7-1 Los Angeles Legends over Fresno Fuego
Highest scoring 10 goals, Portland Timbers U23's 8-2 Yakima Reds
10 goals, Lancaster Rattlers 5-5 Fresno Fuego
10 goals, Hollywood United Hitmen 7-3 Ogden Outlaws
Average attendance 542
← 2008
2010 →

The 2009 USL Premier Development League season was the 15th season of the PDL. The regular season began on May 1, 2009, and ended on July 19, 2009. The PDL Championship Game was held on August 8, 2009, and was broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel in the United States.

Ventura County Fusion finished the season as national champions, beating Chicago Fire Premier 2–1 in the PDL Championship game in Ventura, California on August 8, 2009.

Reading Rage finished with the best regular season record in the league, winning 13 out of their 16 games, suffering just one loss, and finishing with a +41 goal difference.

Reading Rage striker Aaron Wheeler was the league's top scorer and MVP, knocking in 17 goals, while his teammate Jon Ports led the league with 10 assists. Mississippi Brilla goalkeeper Josh Pantazelos enjoyed the best goalkeeping statistics, with a goals against average of 0.615 on the season, including 8 shutouts.

Changes From 2008

Name Changes

  • Cary Railhawks U23's changed their name to the Cary Clarets to reflect their new association with English Championship team Burnley.
  • New Orleans Shell Shockers rebranded themselves as the New Orleans Jesters, having terminated their sponsorship deal with the Shell Oil Company.

New Franchises

  • Eleven franchises have been announced as joining the league this year:
Team Name Metro Area Location Previous Affiliation
Atlanta Blackhawks Greater Atlanta area Alpharetta, GA expansion
Forest City London London area London, ON expansion
Hollywood United Hitmen West Los Angeles area Pacific Palisades, CA expansion
Kitsap Pumas Kitsap County area Bremerton, WA expansion
Portland Timbers U23's Greater Portland area Portland, OR expansion
Real Colorado Foxes Denver area Highlands Ranch, CO expansion
Rio Grande Valley Bravos Rio Grande Valley area Pharr, TX expansion
Rochester Thunder Rochester area Rochester, MN expansion
Seattle Wolves Seattle area Tukwila, WA PCSL
Victoria Highlanders Victoria area Victoria, BC expansion
West Texas United Sockers Midland-Odessa area Midland, TX expansion

On hiatus

Folding

Standings

In 2009, there was a more balanced 8 divisions (down from 10 in 2008). The top 3 from each division qualified for the play-offs, with the division champion receiving a bye through the first round.

Legend
Team won the Division Title
Team qualified for playoff berth

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Kalamazoo Outrage 16 11 2 3 32 17 +15 36
2 Chicago Fire Premier 16 10 1 5 33 12 +21 35
3 Forest City London 16 8 3 5 27 16 +11 29
4 Michigan Bucks 16 8 5 3 26 22 +4 27
5 Indiana Invaders 16 5 7 4 24 25 −1 19
6 Cleveland Internationals 16 5 9 2 23 26 −3 17
7 Fort Wayne Fever 16 5 9 2 15 26 −11 17
8 Cincinnati Kings 16 4 9 3 17 31 −14 15
9 Toronto Lynx 16 2 13 1 18 40 −22 7
Source:

Heartland Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Des Moines Menace 16 11 1 4 35 13 +22 37
2 Thunder Bay Chill 16 8 3 5 27 16 +11 29
3 Real Colorado Foxes 16 8 5 3 28 19 +9 27
4 St. Louis Lions 16 6 4 6 29 25 +4 24
5 Rochester Thunder 16 5 10 1 21 25 −4 16
6 Kansas City Brass 16 4 9 3 28 37 −9 15
7 Springfield Demize 16 2 13 1 10 43 −33 7
Source:

Eastern Conference

Mid Atlantic Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Reading Rage 16 13 1 2 58 17 +41 41
2 Carolina Dynamo 16 10 4 2 38 19 +19 32
3 Cary Clarets 16 9 4 3 28 16 +12 30
4 Hampton Roads Piranhas 16 8 5 3 23 21 +2 27
5 West Virginia Chaos 16 5 8 3 23 37 −14 18
6 Fredericksburg Gunners 16 3 10 3 14 35 −21 12
7 Northern Virginia Royals 16 2 10 4 18 35 −17 10
8 Virginia Legacy 16 1 9 6 14 36 −22 9
Source:

Northeast Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Ottawa Fury 16 12 0 4 48 8 +40 40
2 Long Island Rough Riders 16 12 2 2 32 10 +22 38
3 Ocean City Barons 16 9 4 3 31 15 +16 30
4 Brooklyn Knights 16 7 6 3 25 20 +5 24
5 Newark Ironbound Express 16 6 8 2 38 41 −3 20
6 Rhode Island Stingrays 16 4 9 3 23 41 −18 15
7 Westchester Flames 16 3 8 5 16 36 −20 14
8 New Hampshire Phantoms 16 3 9 4 20 32 −12 13
9 New Jersey Rangers 16 2 12 2 14 44 −30 8
Source:

Southern Conference

Mid South Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Laredo Heat 16 7 1 8 29 18 +11 29
2 West Texas United Sockers 16 8 5 3 25 19 +6 27
3 Austin Aztex U23 16 7 4 5 32 27 +5 26
4 El Paso Patriots 16 8 6 2 27 22 +5 26
5 Rio Grande Valley Bravos 16 6 5 5 32 28 +4 23
6 DFW Tornados 16 5 7 4 29 33 −4 19
7 Houston Leones 16 0 13 3 10 37 −27 3
Source:

Note: Austin finish in third place as a result of winning the head-to-head season series 2-0-1 against El Paso.

Southeast Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Mississippi Brilla 16 9 1 6 30 12 +18 33
2 Bradenton Academics 16 9 2 5 32 14 +18 32
3 New Orleans Jesters 16 5 0 11 24 13 +11 26
4 Panama City Pirates 16 6 5 5 23 21 +2 23
5 Baton Rouge Capitals 16 4 8 4 25 26 −1 16
6 Central Florida Kraze 16 4 9 3 18 31 −13 15
7 Nashville Metros 16 2 7 7 16 36 −20 13
8 Atlanta Blackhawks 16 3 10 3 16 31 −15 12
Source:

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Kitsap Pumas 16 12 1 3 40 13 +27 39
2 Portland Timbers U23's 16 11 3 2 43 20 +23 35
3 Seattle Wolves 16 10 3 3 29 18 +11 33
4 Cascade Surge 16 7 6 3 29 26 +3 24
5 Victoria Highlanders 16 6 6 4 37 25 +12 22
6 Vancouver Whitecaps Residency 16 6 7 3 26 22 +4 21
7 Tacoma Tide 16 5 7 4 34 40 −6 19
8 Abbotsford Mariners 16 4 10 2 28 36 −8 14
9 Yakima Reds 16 3 11 2 22 49 −27 11
10 Spokane Spiders 16 3 13 0 12 51 −39 9
Source:

Southwest Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Hollywood United Hitmen 16 10 3 3 38 17 +21 33
2 Los Angeles Legends 16 9 3 4 34 15 +19 31
3 Ventura County Fusion 16 7 2 7 26 21 +5 28
4 BYU Cougars 16 7 5 4 21 22 −1 25
5 Fresno Fuego 16 6 6 4 30 28 +2 22
6 Southern California Seahorses 16 4 4 8 25 22 +3 20
7 Lancaster Rattlers 16 5 7 4 33 38 −5 19
8 Orange County Blue Star 16 5 7 4 20 25 −5 19
9 Ogden Outlaws 16 4 11 1 24 39 −15 13
10 Bakersfield Brigade 16 2 11 3 14 38 −24 9
Source:

Playoffs

Format

The top three teams from each division earn playoff bids. The division champion earns a bye to the Division Finals and the rights to host. The second place team will host the third place team in the Division Semifinals either at their home field or at the division champion's field. The two notable exceptions were the Chicago Fire Premier hosting Forest City London in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Ventura County Fusion hosting the Los Angeles Legends, despite Los Angeles having the higher seed.

Bracket

Divisional First Round Divisional Finals Conference Finals PDL Semifinals PDL Championship
                             
GL1 Kalamazoo Outrage 1
Great Lakes Division
GL2 Chicago Fire Premier 2
GL2 Chicago Fire Premier 1
GL3 Forest City London 0
GL2 Chicago Fire Premier 3
NE3 Ocean City Barons 0
NE1 Ottawa Fury 1
Northeast Division
NE3 Ocean City Barons (AET) 2
NE2 Long Island Rough Riders 0
NE3 Ocean City Barons 2
GL2 Chicago Fire Premier (AET) 2
MA3 Cary Clarets 1
HL1 Des Moines Menace 2
Heartland Division
HL3 Real Colorado Foxes 1
HL2 Thunder Bay Chill 0
HL3 Real Colorado Foxes 1
HL1 Des Moines Menace 0
MA3 Cary Clarets 1
MA1 Reading Rage 1
Mid-Atlantic Division
MA3 Cary Clarets 2
MA2 Carolina Dynamo 1
MA3 Cary Clarets 3
GL2 Chicago Fire Premier 1
SW3 Ventura County Fusion 2
MS1 Laredo Heat (AET) 1
Mid-South Division
MS2 West Texas United Sockers 0
MS2 West Texas United Sockers 2
MS3 Austin Aztex U23 1
MS1 Laredo Heat (AET) 1
Southern Conference
SE2 Bradenton Academics 3
SE1 Mississippi Brilla 2
Southeast Division
SE2 Bradenton Academics (AET) 3
SE2 Bradenton Academics 1
SE3 New Orleans Jesters 0
SE2 Bradenton Academics 1
SW3 Ventura County Fusion 6
NW1 Kitsap Pumas 2
Northwest Division
NW3 Seattle Wolves 0
NW2 Portland Timbers U23's 2
NW3 Seattle Wolves 3
NW1 Kitsap Pumas 1
Western Conference
SW3 Ventura County Fusion 2
SW1 Hollywood United Hitmen 1
Southwest Division
SW3 Ventura County Fusion (AET) 3
SW2 Los Angeles Legends 1
SW3 Ventura County Fusion 2

Divisional Semifinals

Carolina Dynamo 1 - 3 Cary Clarets
Rojo Yellow card 32'
Shriver 66'
Roberts Yellow card 70' 		(Report) Ibeagha Yellow card 34'
Schilawski 59' 72'
Grossman Yellow card 65'
O'Brien Yellow card 68'
Petrasso 90'
Referee: (USA)
Long Island Rough Riders 0 - 2 Ocean City Barons
(Report) Neptune Yellow card 34'
Carmichael 23'
Noone 73'
Attendance: 436
Referee: Bill Renderos (USA)
West Texas United Sockers 2 - 1 Austin Aztex U23
Rios Yellow card 23'
Becerra Yellow card 24'
Everson 46'
Furness 51' Yellow card 59'
Franco Yellow card 69'
James Yellow card 90' 		(Report) McFayden 17' Yellow card 42'
Helton Yellow card 32'
Mirsky Yellow card 71'
Attendance: 1,460
Referee: Jonathan Johnson (USA)
Portland Timbers U23's 2 - 3 Seattle Wolves
Brown 6'
Youngblood 33'
Farfan Yellow card 90' 		(Report) Chursky 30' 81' 90'
Zimmerman Yellow card 52'
Attendance: 235
Referee: David Grbavac (USA)
Chicago Fire Premier 1 - 0 Forest City London
Akpan 67'
Sinovic Yellow card 69' 		(Report) Di Biase Yellow card 70'
Referee: David Jarzc (USA)
Ventura County Fusion 2 - 1 Los Angeles Legends
Motagalvan 7'
Hamilton 18'
Byrne Yellow card 34'
Barrera Yellow card 68'
Hill Yellow card 80' 		(Report) Js. Barton Yellow card 4'
Randolph Yellow card 57'
Whitfield 77'
Attendance: 560
Referee: Federico Figari (USA)
New Orleans Jesters 0 - 1 Bradenton Academics
Young Yellow card 27'
Callon Yellow card 59' Yellow-red card 90'
Duncan Yellow card 88'
Gledhill Yellow card 90' 		(Report) Morris 34'
Hepple Red card 88'
Kendall Yellow card 90'
M&F Bank Stadium
Ridgeland, Mississippi
Attendance: 234
Referee: Justin Brown (USA)
Real Colorado Foxes 1 - 0 Thunder Bay Chill
Donaldson Yellow card 26'
Cephers 49'
Jennings Yellow card 51'
Stisser Yellow card 87' 		(Report) Neto Yellow card 16'
Bukoski Yellow card 51'
Putrus Yellow card 77'
Abolaji Yellow card 77'
Attendance: 161
Referee: Hidajet Tica (USA)

Divisional Finals

Hollywood United Hitmen 1 - 3
(AET)		 Ventura County Fusion
Hazdovac 26' (Report) Byrne 35'
Barrera Yellow card 96'
Myerson 105' 117'
Becerra Yellow card 111'
Attendance: 358
Referee: Steve Elliott (USA)
Reading Rage 1 - 2 Cary Clarets
Mulholland Yellow card 15'
Bienenfeld Yellow card 45'
Hogan Yellow card 54'
Wheeler 57'
Burke Red card 86' 		(Report) Minogue Yellow card 19'
Ibeagha Yellow card 21'
Petrasso Yellow card 35'
Drake 60'
Brown Yellow card 64'
Lassiter Red card 69'
90' (OG)
Attendance: 518
Referee: Tim Snyder (USA)
Ottawa Fury 1 - 2
(AET)		 Ocean City Barons
Maloney 7'
Pradié Yellow card 63'
Schippers Yellow card 104' 		(Report) Richter Yellow card 35'
Melchionni Yellow card 45'
Noone Yellow card 45' 60'
Bellamy 98'
Attendance: 780
Referee: Senussi Ali (USA)
Kalamazoo Outrage 1 - 2 Chicago Fire Premier
Oatley 58'
Lima Yellow card 83' 		(Report) Cutshaw 67' (PK)
Edgar 77'
Attendance: 530
Referee: Jason White (USA)
Mississippi Brilla 2 - 3
(AET)		 Bradenton Academics
Hunt 33'
Lawrence Yellow card 41'
Paulini Yellow card 75'
Lilly 90+'
Lemma Red card 90+' 		(Report) Lopes 22'
Boggs Yellow card 45' 85'
Williams Yellow card 53'
Reis Yellow card 77'
Ingvarsson Yellow card 91'
Morris 99'
McFarland Yellow card 120'
Attendance: 1,806
Referee: Thai Huynh (USA)
Des Moines Menace 2 - 1 Real Colorado Foxes
Jordan 27' (PK)
Salem 38'
Schmoker Yellow card 41'
Pearson Yellow card 62'
Jordan Yellow card 78' 		(Report) Donaldson 4' (PK) Yellow card 11'
Werth Yellow card 88'
Salvaggione Yellow card 90'
Attendance: 3,683
Referee: Dan Cataldi (USA)
Laredo Heat 1 - 0
(AET)		 West Texas United Sockers
Ordaz Yellow card 50'
Mulamba Yellow card 74'
Ramos 119' 		(Report) Collazo Yellow card 5'
Furness Yellow card 36'
Everson Yellow card 45'
Steven Yellow card 115'
Attendance: 1,425
Referee: Courtney Jackson (USA)
Kitsap Pumas 2 - 0 Seattle Wolves
Phillips 15' 71' (Report) Bates Yellow card 41'
Morris Yellow card 51'
Scott Yellow card 90'
Attendance: 2,329
Referee: Jeremy Hanson (USA)

Conference Finals

Ocean City Barons 0 - 3 Chicago Fire Premier
Carmichael Yellow card 38'
Banks Yellow card 73'
K. Miller Yellow card 79'
Chapman Red card 88' 		(Report) Blades 18' Yellow card 75'
Braun 66'
Akpan Yellow card 75'
Cutshaw 76'
Attendance: 3,633
Referee: Doug Wolff (USA)
Ventura County Fusion 2 - 1 Kitsap Pumas
Hamilton 26'
Aghasyan Yellow card 83'
López 92+' Yellow card 92+' 		(Report) Lipset 45'
Mohn Yellow card 51'
Attendance: 55
Referee: Jorge Luna Hernandez (USA)
Des Moines Menace 0 - 1 Cary Clarets
Schmoker Yellow card 48'
Salem Yellow card 74'
Mujdzic Yellow card 28' 		(Report) Fitzgerald Yellow card 28'
Brown Yellow card 48'
Grossman 70'
Drake Yellow card 79'
Ibeagha Red card 90'
Attendance: 3,633
Referee: George Major (USA)
Laredo Heat 1 - 3
(AET)		 Bradenton Academics
Mulamba Yellow card 19'
Quinones 57' Yellow card 120'
Bautista Yellow card 68'
Infante Yellow card 97'
Perez Red card 113' 		(Report) McFarland Yellow card 19'
Hepple 20'
Reis Yellow card 63'
Voutier Yellow card 87'
Morris 116'
Lopes 120'
Attendance: 1,498
Referee: John Lohr (USA)

PDL Semifinals

Cary Clarets 1 - 2
(AET)		 Chicago Fire Premier
Drake 63' (PK)
Grossman Yellow card 65'
O'Brien Yellow card 99'
Petrasso Yellow card 105'
Bouemboue Red card 110'
Willis Red card 120'
Gutierrez (coach) Red card 120' 		(Report) Braun 38'
Rice Yellow card 63'
Rodriguez (coach) Red card 67'
Akpan 95'
Attendance: 206
Referee: Landis Wiley (USA)
Ventura County Fusion 6 - 1 Bradenton Academics
Guzman Yellow card 27'
López 38'
Becerra 40'
Hamilton 45' 54'
Barrera 53'
Guerrero Yellow card 62'
Aghasyan 90' 		(Report) Lopes 35'
Reis Yellow card 45'
Attendance: 101
Referee: Andrew Gage (USA)

PDL Championship

Ventura County Fusion 2 - 1 Chicago Fire Premier
Becerra 8'
Guzman Red card 33'
Smarte Yellow card 35'
Mikkelsen (coach) Red card 60'
Motagalvan Yellow card 70' 92+'
Smith (coach) Red card 92+' 		(Report) Blades Yellow card 47'
Akpan 74'
Sunderland (coach) Red card 90'
Attendance: 3,512
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal (USA)

Award Winners and Finalists

The awards finalists, Goalkeeper of the Year, and All-League teams were announced on August 4, 2009, with the winners announced on August 6.

Most Valuable Player

U19 Player of the Year

Defender of the Year

Goalkeeper of the Year

Coach of the Year

All-League and All-Conference Teams

Central Conference

F: Andre Akpan, CHI; Teal Bunbury, ROC; Tom Oatley*, KAL
M: Dave Hertel*, MIC; Nolan Intermoia, TB; Brad Stisser, COL
D: Anthony Di Biase, LON; Bonivenger Misiko*, FW; Wilson Neto, TB; Brian Wurst, KC
G: Jimmy Maurer*, CHI
Honorable Mention: Justin Ferguson, D, SPR; Saidi Isaac, F, IND; David Mueller, D, SL; Armin Mujdzic, F, DM; Yoram Mwila, M, CLE; Kyle Segebart, D, CIN; Jordan Webb, M, TOR

Eastern Conference

F: Cody Arnoux, CAR; Adam Arthur, WV; Aaron Wheeler*, REA
M: Will Beague*, OTT; Adam Gazda, REA; Zach Loyd, CAR
D: Brien Chamney, OTT; Christian Ibeagha*, CRY; Rich Martinez, LI; Sheanon Williams, CAR
G: Tunde Ogunbiyi, OCC
Honorable Mention: Frank Alesci, M, BRK; Zachary Carr, G, NJ; Kevon Harris, M, HR; Sean Kelley, G, NV; Michael Konicoff, M, WCH; Jerrod Laventure, F, NWK; Ken Manaham, G, FRB; Matthew Marcin, M, RI; Timothy Murray, G, NH; Ian Stowe, M, VIR

Southern Conference

F: Zak Boggs, BRD; Salvador Luna, RGV; Debola Ogunseye*, MIS
M: Danny Galvan, LAR;Greg Mulamba, LAR; Gary Stopforth, NO
D: Jamie Cunningham, AUS; Dwyane Demmin, MIS; Thomas Wharf, PAN; Chris Williams*, NO
G: Ryan Cooper, LAR
Honorable Mention: Jay Ambrosy, M, HOU; Lief Craddock, G, WTU; Janrai Gravely, G, DFW; Tommy Krizanovic, F, CF; Wilfrid Loizeau, M, ATL; Felipe Lowall, M, BR; Ryan McDonald, D, NAS; Jorge Muniz, G, EP

Western Conference

F: Rory Agu, TAC; Brent Whitfield, LA; Ryan Youngblood, POR
M: Ely Allen, SEA; Tomislav Colic, SC; Michael Farfan, LA; Armando Ochoa*, HU
D: Nick Cardenas, OGD; Mark Lee, KIT; Dan Scott*, SEA
G: Dustyn Brim, KIT
Honorable Mention: Richie Bindrup, M, BYU; Zach Brunner, G, LAN; Jason Devinish, M, VIC; Gagandeep Dosanjh, M, VAN; Eddie Gutierrez, M, FRE; Anthony Hamilton, F, VEN; Jacob Hustedt, M, BAK; Kristjan Johannson, G, ABB; Kristopher Minton, G, ORC; Vinicius Oliveira, F, YAK; John Prugh, F, SPO; Steve Reese, G, CSC

* denotes All-League selection

See also