2018 PDL season

Premier Development League
Season 2018
Champion(s) Calgary Foothills FC
Regular Season Title Des Moines Menace
2019 Hank Steinbrecher Cup qualifier Reading United AC
2019 U.S. Open Cup qualifiers Black Rock FC
Brazos Valley Cavalry
Dayton Dutch Lions
Des Moines Menace
FC Golden State Force
SIMA Águilas
Red Bulls U-23
Reading United AC
South Georgia Tormenta
The Villages SC
Matches played 518
Goals scored 1,797 (3.47 per match)
Biggest home win BRV 8, CLB 1
(June 29)
Biggest away win DCR 1, MIB 14
(July 10)
Highest scoring MIB 14, DCR 1
(July 10)
Longest winning run 10 games
South Georgia Tormenta
(May 19 - July 5)
Longest unbeaten run 14 games
Des Moines Menace
(entire season)
Reading United AC
(entire season)
South Georgia Tormenta
(entire season)
Longest winless run 14 games
Derby City Rovers
(entire season)
WSA Winnipeg
(entire season)
Longest losing run 14 games
Derby City Rovers
(entire season)
WSA Winnipeg
(entire season)
2017
2019
All statistics correct as of July 16, 2018.

The 2018 Premier Development League season was the 24th season of the PDL, and the last under the PDL name. The regular season started on May 4 and ended on July 16. Calgary Foothills FC won the final championship under the PDL branding, having defeated Reading United AC 4–2 in extra time in the Championship game on August 4, 2018.

Changes from 2017

New teams

A total of 12 new member clubs join the PDL for the 2018 season.

Team Country City/area Stadium Founded Head coach Notes
AHFC Royals U.S. Houston, Texas Campbell Road Sports Park 2017 Jorge Carrasco
Birmingham Hammers U.S. Vestavia Hills, Alabama Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex 2013 Wulf Koch NPSL
Black Rock FC U.S. Lakeville, Connecticut Hotchkiss Athletic Fields 2013
Colorado Pride Switchbacks U23 U.S. Colorado Springs, Colorado Washburn Field & Weidner Field 2018 Diego Zaltron
Corpus Christi FC U.S. Corpus Christi, Texas Dr. Jack Dugan Family Soccer & Track Stadium 2017 Sammy Giraldo
Kaw Valley FC U.S. Topeka, Kansas Hummer Sports Complex 2017 István Urbányi
Lansing United U.S. East Lansing, Michigan Archer Stadium 2014 Nate Miller NPSL
Lionsbridge FC U.S. Newport News, Virginia Pomoco Stadium 2017 Chris Whalley
Memphis City FC U.S. Memphis, Tennessee Christian Brothers University 2015 Mark Franklin NPSL
Ogden City SC U.S. Ogden, Utah Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex 2017 Eric Landon
San Francisco Glens SC U.S. San Francisco, California Boxer Stadium 1961 Javier Ayala-Hil
Santa Cruz Breakers FC U.S. Aptos, California Cabrillo College Stadium, Aptos High School, & Monterey Peninsula College 1992

Name changes

Folded

Standings

Eastern Conference

Mid Atlantic Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Reading United AC 14 12 0 2 33 8 +25 38 Advance to the Eastern Conference Championship
2 New York Red Bulls U-23 14 10 3 1 45 17 +28 31
3 Long Island Rough Riders 14 9 4 1 26 16 +10 28
4 Ocean City Nor'easters 14 9 5 0 27 20 +7 27
5 F.A. Euro 14 3 11 0 10 33 −23 9
6 Evergreen FC 14 1 11 2 16 42 −26 5
7 Lehigh Valley United 14 1 12 1 10 35 −25 4
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Northeast Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Black Rock FC 14 9 2 3 33 19 +14 30 Advance to the Eastern Conference Championship
2 GPS Portland Phoenix 14 7 4 3 28 21 +7 24
3 Western Mass Pioneers 14 6 4 4 22 18 +4 22
4 FC Boston 14 5 6 3 23 25 −2 18
5 AC Connecticut 14 5 7 2 20 33 −13 17
6 Westchester Flames 14 2 5 7 17 23 −6 13
7 Seacoast United Phantoms 14 2 8 4 17 21 −4 10
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 8 2 4 40 19 +21 28 Advance to the Eastern Conference Championship
2 North Carolina FC U23 14 6 3 5 24 18 +6 23
3 Lionsbridge FC 14 4 5 5 23 20 +3 17
4 Charlotte Eagles 14 3 7 4 22 30 −8 13
5 Tobacco Road FC 14 3 7 4 18 30 −12 13
6 Carolina Dynamo 14 2 7 5 19 39 −20 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 11 1 2 30 7 +23 35 Advance to the Western Conference Championship
2 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 14 6 5 3 26 21 +5 21
3 Lane United FC 14 5 4 5 28 22 +6 20
4 TSS FC Rovers (J) 14 5 7 2 19 27 −8 17
5 Victoria Highlanders 14 5 9 0 14 25 −11 15
6 Portland Timbers U23 14 3 9 2 15 30 −15 11
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(J) Juan de Fuca Plate

Mountain Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Colorado Rapids U-23 14 8 2 4 42 23 +19 28 Advance to the Western Conference Championship
2 FC Tucson 14 7 3 4 29 19 +10 25
3 Albuquerque Sol FC 14 4 6 4 25 38 −13 16
4 Colorado Pride Switchbacks U23 14 4 7 3 26 28 −2 15
5 Ogden City SC 14 3 8 3 16 30 −14 12
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Southwest Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FC Golden State Force 14 12 1 1 38 10 +28 37 Advance to the Western Conference Championship
2 Ventura County Fusion 14 7 6 1 18 16 +2 22
3 Orange County SC U-23 14 6 5 3 16 14 +2 21
4 Santa Cruz Breakers FC 14 6 6 2 19 19 0 20
5 Fresno FC U-23 14 6 6 2 23 24 −1 20
6 San Francisco City FC 14 5 8 1 16 24 −8 16
7 San Francisco Glens SC 14 4 6 4 16 17 −1 16
8 San Diego Zest FC 14 3 6 5 15 29 −14 14
9 Southern California Seahorses 14 4 9 1 18 26 −8 13
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 Dayton Dutch Lions 14 8 3 3 29 15 +14 27 Advance to the Central Conference Championship
2 Lansing United 14 7 2 5 27 12 +15 26
3 Cincinnati Dutch Lions 14 6 4 4 24 17 +7 22
4 Michigan Bucks 14 6 4 4 42 18 +24 22
5 West Virginia Chaos 14 3 5 6 25 29 −4 15
6 Derby City Rovers 14 0 13 1 8 65 −57 1
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 13 0 1 37 6 +31 40 Advance to the Central Conference Championship
2 Chicago FC United 14 7 5 2 23 20 +3 23
3 Kaw Valley FC 14 6 6 2 21 23 −2 20
4 St. Louis Lions 14 6 6 2 26 24 +2 20
5 Thunder Bay Chill 14 6 7 1 21 20 +1 19
6 WSA Winnipeg 14 0 14 0 10 46 −36 0
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Southern Conference

Deep South Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 South Georgia Tormenta FC 14 11 0 3 30 10 +20 36 Advance to the Southern Conference Championship
2 Mississippi Brilla 14 8 2 4 31 18 +13 28
3 SC United Bantams 14 7 4 3 35 22 +13 24
4 Birmingham Hammers 14 5 5 4 25 28 −3 19
5 Tri-Cities Otters 14 5 7 2 30 28 +2 17
6 Peachtree City MOBA 14 4 6 4 25 33 −8 16
7 Memphis City FC 14 1 10 3 16 38 −22 6
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Mid South Division

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Brazos Valley Cavalry FC 14 9 2 3 42 19 +23 30 Advance to the Southern Conference Championship
2 OKC Energy U23 14 9 4 1 37 22 +15 28
3 AHFC Royals 14 7 7 0 29 29 0 21
4 Corpus Christi FC 14 6 6 2 32 32 0 20
5 Texas United 14 5 6 3 32 32 0 18
6 FC Cleburne 14 4 9 1 20 42 −22 13
7 Houston FC 14 2 8 4 16 31 −15 10
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 10 2 2 23 6 +17 32 Advance to the Southern Conference Championship
2 The Villages SC 14 9 2 3 31 8 +23 30
3 Lakeland Tropics 14 9 2 3 29 13 +16 30
4 IMG Academy Bradenton 14 6 6 2 24 30 −6 20
5 FC Miami City 14 5 8 1 25 36 −11 16
6 Weston FC 14 4 9 1 19 31 −12 13
7 Next Academy Palm Beach 14 4 10 0 18 25 −7 12
8 North County United 14 2 10 2 13 33 −20 8
Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Playoffs

Conference Semifinals Conference Finals National Semifinals National Championship
                       
DS Tormenta FC 0
WC The Villages SC 1
WC The Villages SC 2*
Southern Conference
SE SIMA Aguilas 1
SE SIMA Aguilas 2
MS Brazos Valley Cavalry F.C. 1
WC The Villages SC 0
MA Reading United AC 1*
MA Reading United AC 4
SA Myrtle Beach Mutiny 3
MA Reading United AC 2
Eastern Conference
WC New York Red Bulls U-23 1
NE Black Rock FC 1
WC New York Red Bulls U-23 2
MA Reading United AC 2
NW Calgary Foothills FC 4*
SW FC Golden State Force 2(1)
WC FC Tucson 2(3)
WC FC Tucson 0
Western Conference
NW Calgary Foothills FC 2
NW Calgary Foothills FC 1
MT Colorado Rapids U-23 0
NW Calgary Foothills FC 1
HL2 Chicago FC United 0
HL1 Des Moines Menace 0(4)
GL2 Lansing United 0(3)
HL1 Des Moines Menace 0
Central Conference
HL2 Chicago FC United 1
GL1 Dayton Dutch Lions 3
HL2 Chicago FC United 5

Bold = winner
* = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

Conference Championships

The PDL Conference Championships were held over the weekend of July 20–21. Matches were played at: Whittier, CA (Western Conference, host FC Golden State Force); Reading, PA (Eastern Conference, host Reading United AC); Des Moines, IA (Central Conference, host Des Moines Menace); and Statesboro, GA (Southern Conference, host South Georgia Tormenta FC). The four conference champions advanced to the PDL semifinals.

Eastern Conference

July 20, 2018 Conference Semifinal Black Rock FC 1–2 New York Red Bulls U-23 Gurski Stadium
West Lawn, Pennsylvania
5:00 PM EDT
Report
July 20, 2018 Conference Semifinal Reading United AC 4–3 Myrtle Beach Mutiny Gurski Stadium
West Lawn, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EDT
  • El Medkhar 27'
  • Bennett 71', 87'
  • Roberts 90'
Report
  • Yamamoto 70'
  • Piggott 76'
  • Ibarrondo 90'
July 21, 2018 Conference Final Reading United AC 2–1 New York Red Bulls U-23 Gurski Stadium
West Lawn, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM EDT
Report
  • Coco 61' Yellow card
  • Kouma Yellow card
  • Da Silva Yellow card

Southern Conference

July 20, 2018 Conference Semifinal SIMA Aguilas 2–1 Brazos Valley Cavalry F.C. Erk Russell Park
Statesboro, Georgia
5:00 PM EDT
  • Espana 29'
  • Novaes 35'
  • Diouf Yellow card
  • Agu Yellow card
  • Graydon Yellow card
Report
July 20, 2018 Conference Semifinal South Georgia Tormenta FC 0–1 The Villages SC Erk Russell Park
Statesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDT Report
  • Antonio 34'
  • Dos Santos Yellow card
  • Gyau Yellow card
July 21, 2018 Conference Final SIMA Aguilas 1–2 (a.e.t.) The Villages SC Erk Russell Park
Statesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDT
  • Gueye 17'
  • Diouf Yellow card
  • Graydon Yellow card
Report
  • Paiva 21'
  • Raimundo 104'
  • Torres Yellow card
  • Gyau Yellow card

Central Conference

July 20, 2018 Conference Semifinal Dayton Dutch Lions 3–5 Chicago FC United Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
4:30 PM CDT
Report
  • Alfaro 28'
  • Todd 53'
  • Prpa 70', 82'
  • Alba 90'
  • Gomez Yellow card
July 20, 2018 Conference Semifinal Des Moines Menace 0–0
(4–3 p)
Lansing United Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30 PM CDT Report
July 21, 2018 Conference Final Des Moines Menace 0–1 Chicago FC United Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30 PM CDT Report

Western Conference

July 20, 2018 Conference Semifinal Calgary Foothills FC 1–0 Colorado Rapids U23 Rio Hondo College
Whittier, California
4:00 PM PDT
Report
July 20, 2018 Conference Semifinal FC Golden State Force 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(1–3 p)
FC Tucson Rio Hondo College
Whittier, California
7:00 PM PDT
Report
July 21, 2018 Conference Final Calgary Foothills FC 2–0 FC Tucson Rio Hondo College
Whittier, California
7:00 PM PDT
Report

PDL Championship

Semifinals

July 28, 2018 National Semifinal Reading United AC 1–0 (a.e.t.) The Villages SC Gurski Stadium
West Lawn, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM EDT
  • Zandi Yellow card 45+1'
  • Roberts 115'
  • Waso Yellow card
  • Conte Yellow card
Report
  • Lopes Yellow card
  • Da Silva Yellow card 68'
  • Torres Yellow card
  • Gyau Red card
July 28, 2018 National Semifinal Calgary Foothills FC 1–0 Chicago FC United Foothills Field
Okotoks, Alberta
7:00 PM MDT Report
Attendance: 1,250

Final

August 4, 2018 National Final Reading United AC 2–4 (a.e.t.) Calgary Foothills FC Gurski Stadium
West Lawn, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM EDT
Report 1 Report 2
Attendance: 2,278

Awards

  • Most Valuable Player: Ryosuke Kinoshita (DMM)
  • Golden Boot: Marek Weber (SCU)
  • Young (U21) Player of the Year: Luka Prpa (CHI)
  • Coach of the Year: Alan McCann, (REA)
  • Goalkeeper of the Year: Marco Carducci (CGY)
  • Defender of the Year: Jordan Skelton (MIS)

All-League and All-Conference Teams

Eastern Conference

F: Ifunanyachi Achara (BLR), Khori Bennett (REA), Charlie Ledula (LIR)
M: Jakov Basic (BOS), Ricardo Gomez (MYB), Aaron Molloy (REA) *, Brian Saramago (NYR)
D: Prosper Figbe (BLR), Kamal Miller (REA), Kevin O'Toole (NYR)
G: Bennet Strutz (REA)

Central Conference

F: Austin Ricci (MIB), Kinoshita Ryosuke (DMM) *, Tucker Stephenson (KAW)
M: Kyle Carr (LNU), Brad Dunwell (MIB), Luka Prpa (CHI) *, Tate Robertson (DAY) *
D: Ebenezer Ackon (LNU), Mark Lindstrom (CIN), Grant Stoneman (CHI)
G: Carlos Mercado (DMM)

Southern Conference

F: Brandon Guhl (BVC), Juan Tejada (LAK), Marek Weber (SCU) *
M: David Graydon (SIM), Marco Micaletto (SGT) *, Leonardo Paiva (VIL), Toni Soler (SGT)
D: Mathieu Laurent (BIR), Jordan Skelton (MIS) *, Gabriel Torres (VIL) *
G: Pablo Jara (SGT)

Western Conference

F: Moses Danto (CGY) *, Santiago Patino (SEA), Samuel Villava (GSF)
M: Elijah Adekugbe (CGY), Nico Pasquotti (CGY), Matteo Polisi (TSS), Willy Spurr (LAN)
D: Henry Lander (TUC), Callum Montgomery (VIC) *, Dominick Zator (CGY)
G: Marco Carducci (CGY) *

* denotes All-League player