2014 PDL season

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.

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

Changes from 2013

New teams

Seven new clubs joined the PDL in 2014.

Team NameMetro AreaLocationPrevious Affiliation
Montreal Impact U23Greater MontrealMontreal, QuebecCSL[2]
Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23Pittsburgh metropolitan areaPittsburgh, Pennsylvaniaexpansion [3]
Cincinnati Dutch LionsGreater CincinnatiCincinnati, Ohioexpansion [4]
Albuquerque Sol FCAlbuquerque metropolitan areaAlbuquerque, New Mexicoexpansion [5]
Las Vegas MobstersLas Vegas–Paradise, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevadaexpansion [6]
Lane United FCLane County, OregonEugene, Oregonexpansion [7]
San Jose Earthquakes U-23Santa Clara County, CaliforniaSan Jose, Californiaexpansion [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

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Michigan Bucks14923388+3030
2K-W United FC148332620+627
3Chicago Fire Premier147522120+123
4Forest City London146443225+722
5Toronto Lynx142931535−209
6Pittsburgh Riverhounds U231421111337−247
Source: [citation needed]

Heartland Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Des Moines Menace141211327+2537
2St. Louis Lions146441816+222
3Thunder Bay Chill146712217+519
4Springfield Demize13454811−316
5WSA Winnipeg1421021033−238
6Chicago Inferno[a]503217−62
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:

Eastern Conference

Mid Atlantic Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Jersey Express1410134515+3033
2Reading United AC149143012+1831
3Long Island Rough Riders148242613+1328
4Ocean City Nor'easters147522424023
5Baltimore Bohemians146622321+220
6Northern Virginia Royals143921730−1311
7F.A. Euro1431011636−2010
8NJ-LUSO Parma1411301040−303
Source: [citation needed]

Northeast Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Seacoast United Phantoms141112287+2135
2Connecticut FC Azul149232713+1430
3Western Mass Pioneers148423316+1726
4Montreal Impact U23147522617+923
5Real Boston Rams146622126−520
6GPS Portland Phoenix144911932−1313
7Westchester Flames1421021136−258
8Vermont Voltage140104927−184
Source: [citation needed]

South Atlantic Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1West Virginia Chaos147342417+725
2Cincinnati Dutch Lions146442720+722
3King's Warriors146442320+322
4Carolina Dynamo146622126−520
5SC United Bantams144821923−414
6River City Rovers143741927−813
Source: [citation needed]

Southern Conference

Mid South Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Austin Aztex1411123711+2635
2Laredo Heat147432316+724
3Midland/Odessa Sockers147432619+724
4Mississippi Brilla143742032−1213
5Houston Dutch Lions1411031237−256
Source: [citation needed]

Southeast Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Ocala Stampede149142916+1331
2SW Florida Adrenaline147252714+1326
3IMG Academy Bradenton145721522−717
4Panama City Beach Pirates144642327−416
5Orlando City U-23142751623−711
6Floridians FC142751423−911
Source: [citation needed]

Western Conference

Mountain Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1FC Tucson1411213511+2434
2BYU Cougars147432325−224
3Albuquerque Sol FC143561216−415
4Las Vegas Mobsters144911731−1413
5Real Colorado Foxes142841218−610
Source: [citation needed]

Northwest Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Kitsap Pumas14914259+1631
2Victoria Highlanders (J)148333218+1427
3Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23148333419+1527
4Portland Timbers U23's145452020020
5Seattle Sounders FC U-23145721820−217
6Washington Crossfire143651822−414
7Puget Sound Gunners FC14392931−2211
8Lane United FC1421021027−178

Southwest Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Ventura County Fusion148332617+927
2Los Angeles Misioneros147252817+1126
3San Jose Earthquakes U-23147432718+924
4Fresno Fuego146712518+719
5OC Pateadores Blues145722029−917
6Southern California Seahorses1411211441−274
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
   
MA2Reading United0
NE2Connecticut FC Azul3
Northwest Division Playoff
Western Conference
   
NW2Victoria Highlanders2
NW3Vancouver Whitecaps U-237
Inter-Divisional Playoff
Western Conference
   
MT1FC Tucson2
SW2Los Angeles Misioneros1
Inter-Divisional Playoff
Western Conference
   
SW1Ventura County Fusion1
MT2BYU Cougars0

Eastern Conference Championship

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

Central Conference Championship

Michigan Bucks v St. Louis Lions
July 25, 2014 Semifinal Michigan Bucks 3–1 (a.e.t.) St. Louis Lions Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
4:30pm CDTCatic 13', 107'
Ben 93'
Dereis  98'
ReportCojocov 10'
Matthews  45'
Edemba  81'
Walsh  119'
Referee: Trent Payne
Des Moines Menace v K-W United FC
July 25, 2014 Semifinal Des Moines Menace 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
K-W United FC Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30pm CDTFricke  7'ReportWhiteman  26'
Robinson  69'
Keely  103'
Attendance: 3,679
Referee: Jeremy Uecker
Penalties
Hellmann
Bartlett
Macadam
Bales
Fricke
Murrell
Keely
Robinson
Camargo
Perea
Des Moines Menace v Michigan Bucks
July 26, 2014 Final Des Moines Menace 0–2 Michigan Bucks Valley Stadium
West Des Moines, Iowa
7:30pm CDTLópez  71'   90'ReportGoldsmith 14', 23'
Kaba  30'
Beresford  56'
Tribbett  79'
Referee: Brent Wilson

Southern Conference Championship

Ocala Stampede v Laredo Heat
July 26, 2014 Semifinal Ocala Stampede 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)
Laredo Heat House Park
Austin, Texas
5:00pm CDTHilton 87'
Knight  115'
ReportLuna 86'
Ferreira  99'
Referee: Ismael Elfarth
Penalties
Walmsley
Hilton
Ilic
Knight
Clay
Fernández
Moreno
Ibarra
Hernández
Austin Aztex v SW Florida Adrenaline
July 26, 2014 Semifinal Austin Aztex 3–1 SW Florida Adrenaline House Park
Austin, Texas
7:30pm CDTAmbrose 15'
Jobe 57'
Cortes 87'
ReportLe Bras 37'
Wilks  89'
Attendance: 4,754
Referee: Ledzek Stalmach
Austin Aztex v Ocala Stampede
July 27, 2014 Final Austin Aztex 0–2 Ocala Stampede House Park
Austin, Texas
7:30pm CDTSeoane  48'
Perales  87'
Ambrose  89'
ReportJanneh 11'
Ilic 55'
Blandon  84'
Bailey  90+'
Attendance: 2,228
Referee: William Tomlinson

Western Conference Championship

Kitsap Pumas v Bye
Quarterfinal Kitsap Pumas v Bye
Victoria Highlanders v Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23
July 16, 2014 Quarterfinal Victoria Highlanders 2–7 Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 Royal Athletic Park
Victoria, British Columbia
7:00PM PDTMitrou  17'
Basso  38'
Barrett  45+'
T. Hughes  45+'   70'
Sturrock 51'
J. Hughes 54'
Rowley  79+'
Report
Report
Cook 6', 18' (pen.)
Farahani 8'
Lakhan  23'
Levis  40'
Cousens 43', 72'
Froese 53', 85'
Attendance: 1,531
Referee: Darnell Smit
Ventura County Fusion v BYU Cougars
July 19, 2014 Quarterfinal Ventura County Fusion 1–0 BYU Cougars Peter Johann Memorial Field
Las Vegas, Nevada
8:55PM PDTChongo  40'
Stanley 41'
Report
Box score
Referee: Charles Farr
FC Tucson v Los Angeles Misioneros
July 19, 2014 Quarterfinal FC Tucson 2–1 Los Angeles Misioneros Peter Johann Memorial Field
Las Vegas, Nevada
6:30PM PDTKelly 28'
Volesky 29'
Phillips  51'
Velazco  53'
Ramos  72'
Report
Report
Christian  20'
Nwabueze 49'
Referee: C. Scott
Kitsap Pumas v Ventura County Fusion
July 25, 2014 Semifinal Kitsap Pumas 3–3 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)
Ventura County Fusion Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
6:00pm MSTKeitz  19'
Gonzalez  41'
Catalano 45+'
Kelly  73'
Sanchez 83'
Chamberlain  86'
Danciu 98'
ReportKiffe 10'  32'
Cazarez 15'
Keny-Guyer  41'
Argueta  82' 120+'
Alfaro  86'
Palacios  105+'
Referee: Matt Sternheim
Penalties
Keitz
Shelton
Sanchez
Danciu
Kiffe
Alfaro
Cazarez
Colvey
FC Tucson v Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23
July 25, 2014 Semifinal FC Tucson 1–0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
8:00pm MSTPhillips  49'
De Rada 90+'
ReportStewart  15'
Farahani  48'
Attendance: 1,853
Referee: Charles Farr
FC Tucson v Kitsap Pumas
July 26, 2014 Final FC Tucson 0–3 Kitsap Pumas Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
7:30pm MSTPhillips  65'
Ramos  72'
Rookwood  90+'
ReportKeitz 7'  28'
DeZorzi  9'
Jensen  41'
Shelton  54'
Gonzalez 55'
Ortinau 66'  74'
Kelly  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)
            
NE1Seacoast United Phantoms0
SA1West Virginia Chaos2
SA1West Virginia Chaos1
Eastern Conference
MA1Jersey Express3
MA1Jersey Express2
NE2Connecticut FC Azul0
MA1Jersey Express1
GL1Michigan Bucks2
HL1Des Moines Menace (PEN)0 (4)
GL2K-W United FC0 (3)
HL1Des Moines Menace0
Central Conference
GL1Michigan Bucks2
GL1Michigan Bucks (AET)3
HL2St. Louis Lions1
GL1Michigan Bucks1
NW1Kitsap Pumas0
MS1Austin Aztex3
SE2SW Florida Adrenaline1
MS1Austin Aztex0
Southern Conference
SE1Ocala Stampede2
SE1Ocala Stampede (PEN)1 (5)
MS2Laredo Heat1 (4)
SE1Ocala Stampede1
NW1Kitsap Pumas2
MT1FC Tucson1
NW3Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-230
MT1FC Tucson0
Western Conference
NW1Kitsap Pumas3
NW1Kitsap Pumas (PEN)3 (3)
SW1Ventura County Fusion3 (1)

PDL Championship

Semi-finals

Kitsap Pumas v Ocala Stampede
August 1, 2014 Kitsap Pumas 2–1 Ocala Stampede Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
5:00pm EDTRivas 42'
Jensen  63'
Catalano  72'
Sanchez 89'
ReportHilton 45'
Janneh  82'
Referee: Connor Williams
Michigan Bucks v Jersey Express
August 1, 2014 Michigan Bucks 2–1 Jersey Express Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
7:30pm EDTTribbett 54'
Steinberger 78'
ReportEze 38'
Correa  50'
Martínez  79'
Caso  79'
Referee: Donovan Noocha

Championship

Michigan Bucks v Kitsap Pumas
August 3, 2014 Michigan Bucks 1–0 Kitsap Pumas Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
1:00pm EDTKolarac  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