2015 PDL season

The 2015 USL Premier Development League season was the 21st season of the PDL and consisted of 63 teams. The regular season began on May 2 and ended on July 19. The Michigan Bucks were the defending champions and posted the best overall record in the League; however, they were defeated by K-W United FC in the Central Conference finals. K-W United went on to win the league championship by defeating the Seattle Sounders FC U-23 1-0 in the semi-finals and in high scoring final they overcame the New York Red Bulls U-23 4-3. 63 clubs competed in the semi-professional soccer leagues.

USL Premier Development League
Season2015
ChampionsK-W United FC
Matches played432
Goals scored1,373 (3.18 per match)
Biggest home winDMM 10, CHI 0
(July 17)
DCU 10, WES 0
(July 18)
Biggest away winJER 8, WES 1
(June 10)
Highest scoringDMM 10, CHI 0
(July 17)
DCU 10, WES 0
(July 18)
Longest winning run6, Charlotte Eagles
(May 16 - June 13)
Longest unbeaten run14, Charlotte Eagles
(entire season)
Longest winless run14, WSA Winnipeg
(entire season)
Longest losing run6, Westchester Flames
(May 9 - June 13)
Highest attendance8,151 POR vs. KIT
(May 29)
Lowest attendance20 FLA vs. IMG
(June 14)
Average attendance458 (224 of 303 games reported) [1]
2014
2016

Changes from 2014

New/Returning teams

Team NameMetro AreaLocationPrevious Affiliation
Charlotte EaglesCharlotte metropolitan areaCharlotte, North CarolinaUSL Pro[2]
Lehigh Valley United SonicLehigh ValleyBethlehem, PennsylvaniaNPSL[3]
FC Miami City ChampionsMiami-DadeMiami, FloridaExpansion Team [4]
Calgary Foothills FCCalgary RegionCalgary, AlbertaExpansion Team [5]
Burlingame Dragons FCBay AreaBurlingame, CaliforniaExpansion Team [6]
Dayton Dutch LionsDayton metropolitan areaWest Carrollton, OhioUSL Pro[7]
New York Red Bulls U-23New York CityHanover, New JerseyNPSL[8]
Palm Beach Suns FCMiami-DadeBoca Raton, FloridaExpansion Team [9]
Toronto FC AcademyGreater Toronto AreaVaughan, OntarioExpansion Team [10]

Name Changes

Folding/moving

Standings

2015 Premier Development League standings.[16]

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 Bucks (C)1411124612+3435
2K-W United FC (T)1411213513+2234
3Forest City London (T)149413118+1328
4Toronto FC Academy143831930−1112
5Dayton Dutch Lions143921230−1811
6Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23143921031−2111
7Derby City Rovers142931835−179
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated

Heartland Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Des Moines Menace (C)141121387+3134
2Thunder Bay Chill (T)149233415+1930
3Chicago Fire U-23146621930−1120
4Springfield Synergy145632117+418
5St. Louis Lions144821932−1311[a]
6WSA Winnipeg140122943−342
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated
Notes:

Eastern Conference

Mid Atlantic Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1New York Red Bulls U-23 (C)149234019+2130
2Long Island Rough Riders (T)149413320+1328
3Jersey Express S.C. (T)148333614+2227[a]
4Reading United AC148333614+2227[a]
5D.C. United U-23148243220+1225[b]
6Ocean City Nor'easters147433116+1524
7Baltimore Bohemians144822231−914
8F.A. Euro143921732−1511
9Westchester Flames1411211363−504
10Lehigh Valley United Sonic1411211548−334
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated
Notes:

Northeast Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1GPS Portland Phoenix (C)14815199+1029
2Seacoast United Phantoms (T)149323216+1629
3Real Boston Rams147433417+1724
4AC Connecticut142751228−1611
5Western Mass Pioneers141112934−255
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated

South Atlantic Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Charlotte Eagles (C)141004318+2334
2Cincinnati Dutch Lions (T)148513025+525
3King's Warriors145542114+719
4Carolina Dynamo145721621−517
5West Virginia Chaos144731723−615
6SC United Bantams142931335−229
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated

Southern Conference

Mid South Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Mississippi Brilla (C)126332315+821[a]
2Midland/Odessa Sockers (T)146532414+1021[a]
3Laredo Heat145721728−1117
4Houston Dutch Lions124711928−913
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated
Notes:

Southeast Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Ocala Stampede (C)148332816+1227
2FC Miami City Champions (T)147431814+424
3SW Florida Adrenaline146442612+1422
4Floridians FC145721821−317
5IMG Academy Bradenton145721729−1217
6Palm Beach Suns FC145811827−916
7Orlando City U-23143651420−614
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated

Western Conference

Mountain Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1FC Tucson (C)148242815+1328
2Albuquerque Sol FC (T)148331912+727
3Las Vegas Mobsters145631919018
4Real Colorado Foxes[a]145452021−117
5BYU Cougars141851728−118
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated
Notes:

Northwest Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Kitsap Pumas (C)121002234+1932
2Portland Timbers U23's (T)12624179+822
3Seattle Sounders FC U-23 (T)127412110+1122
4Calgary Foothills FC123271516−116
5Lane United FC123721623−711
6Washington Crossfire121831328−156
7Puget Sound Gunners FC120751126−155
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated

Note: The Northwest Division will play a 12 game balanced schedule with each team facing all opponents in the division once at home and once away.

Southwest Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1Burlingame Dragons FC (C)1410132010+1033
2Ventura County Fusion (T)141022198+1132
3Fresno Fuego146533019+1121
4Southern California Seahorses143831824−612
5Golden State Misioneros142931425−119
6Orange County Blues U231421111132−217
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated

Conference Championships

Participants in the four conference championships were determined according to the specific rules of each conference. Games played prior to the conference semifinals are hosted by the team with the better record[17] with the conference championships (semifinals and final) played at a common location. Note that the Northwest division played 12 games rather than the 14 played by the other divisions; the teams agreed to the reduced schedule in order for the division to play a balanced schedule.[18]

Eastern Conference
The 1st and 2nd place teams from the Northeast and South Atlantic divisions play each other for their division's spot in the conference semifinals. The Mid Atlantic division 1st place teams goes straight to the conference semifinals with the 2nd and 3rd place teams playing each other for the final spot.
Southern Conference
The top two teams in each division qualify to play in the conference semifinals, with the 1st place team from the Mid-South division playing the 2nd place team of the Southeast division and vice versa.
Central Conference
The top two teams from Heartland division and the 1st place team from the Great Lakes division qualify for the semifinals with the final spot coming from a playoff between the 2nd and 3rd place teams in the Great Lakes division.
Western Conference
The Mountain and Southwest divisions have a play off between the 1st and 2nd place teams for their division's spot in the conference semifinals. The Northwest division's 1st place team and the winner of a playoff between the 2nd and 3rd place teams qualify for the conference semifinals.

Eastern Conference Championship

v Jersey Express S.C.
July 21, 2015 Mid Atlantic Division Qualifier Long Island Rough Riders 1–3 Jersey Express S.C. Cy Donnelly Stadium
South Huntington, New York
7:00 PM EDTMurphy  35'
Kramer 48'
Whitcomb  50'
Report[permanent dead link]Alvarenzo 52'
Robertinho 62'
Kherlopian 87'
Referee: Rosario Camdelia
v Seacoast United Phantoms
July 21, 2015 Northeast Division Qualifier GPS Portland Phoenix 2–1 (a.e.t.) Seacoast United Phantoms Yarmouth High School
Yarmouth, Maine
7:00 PM EDTWheeler 25'
Appah  45'
Greaves  65'
Shangraw  79'
Smith 103'
Report[permanent dead link]McCabe 60'  70'
Goff  95'
Attendance: 850
v Cincinnati Dutch Lions
July 21, 2015 South Atlantic Division Qualifier Charlotte Eagles 3–2 Cincinnati Dutch Lions Queens Sports Complex
Charlotte, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDTRegis 20', 38'  77'
Abubakar 28'
Odenbeck  43'
Botes  67'
Report[permanent dead link]Dupont  36'
Smythe 40'
Schluter  67'
Merhaut 89'
Attendance: 550
Referee: David Erbacher
v GPS Portland Phoenix
July 25, 2015 Semifinal New York Red Bulls U-23 4–0 GPS Portland Phoenix Lubetkin Field
Newark, New Jersey
7:30 PM EDTLema  34' 63'
Swenson 45'
Knudson 52'
Farrell 66'
Report[permanent dead link]Braem  33'
Campbell  76'
Melville  88'
Referee: Rosario Candela
Jersey Express S.C. v Charlotte Eagles
July 25, 2015 Semifinal Jersey Express S.C. 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Charlotte Eagles Lubetkin Field
Newark, New Jersey
5:00 PM EDTKarcz 84'
DaSilva  88'
Ferreira  117'
Report[permanent dead link]Culbertson  65'
Regis  78'
McCarter  85'
Kremers 90'  116'
Referee: Dave Breckner
Penalties
Correa
DaSilva
Argolo
Torres
Silva
Amankona
Kremers
Odenbeck
Culbertson
Regis
Jersey Express S.C. v New York Red Bulls U-23
July 26, 2015 Final Jersey Express S.C. 1–2 (a.e.t.) New York Red Bulls U-23 Lubetkin Field
Newark, New Jersey
5:00 PM EDTOtto  43'
DaSilva 69'  72'
Correa  86'   117'
Lopes  106'
Report[permanent dead link]Thomson 61'
Farrell  68' 115'
Knudson  71'
Attendance: 342
Referee: Bartek Cheislak

Southern Conference Championship

v Midland/Odessa Sockers
July 24, 2015 Semifinal Ocala Stampede 1–0 Midland/Odessa Sockers Clinton High School
Clinton, Mississippi
5:00 PM CDTHilton 80' (pen.)ReportDennis  84'Attendance: 127
Referee: Mark Herrington
v FC Miami City Champions
July 24, 2015 Semifinal Mississippi Brilla 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(2–3 p)
FC Miami City Champions Clinton High School
Clinton, Mississippi
7:30 PM CDTCruz  38'
Garces  53'
Report[permanent dead link]Gonzalez  30'
Lopez  104'
Attendance: 1,020
Referee: Mark Dreifuss
Penalties
Cruz
Buffington
Almeida
Gonzalo
Tambini
Nirennold
Garcia
Valdes
Merzouk
v FC Miami City Champions
July 25, 2015 Final Ocala Stampede 2–0 FC Miami City Champions Clinton High School
Clinton, Mississippi
7:30 PM CDTHilton 39' (pen.)
Diegues 48'
Parreiras  52'
Garcia  63'
Craig  65'
Arico  88'
Report[permanent dead link]Rodriguez  37'
Mathieu  39'
Parrado  74'
Attendance: 159
Referee: Andrew Musashe

Central Conference Championship

v Forest City London
July 21 Great Lakes Division Qualifier K-W United FC 2–0 Forest City London University Stadium
Waterloo, Ontario
7:30 PM EDTCamargo  39'
Polk 60', 83'
Perez  65'
Report[permanent dead link]Pucci  25'
Hemming  39'
Attendance: 337
Referee: Scott Decker
v Thunder Bay Chill
July 24 Semifinal Michigan Bucks 3–2 (a.e.t.) Thunder Bay Chill Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
7:30 PM EDTWysong  35'
Rezende  50'
Postelwait  75'
Devries 79'
Owens 85'
Adelabu 115'
Report[permanent dead link]Silva 27'
Swartzendruber 43'
Roberts  54'
Andrade  73'
Campano  105'
Attendance: 912
Referee: Donovan Noocha
v K-W United FC
July 25 Final Michigan Bucks 1–3 K-W United FC Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, Michigan
7:30 PM EDTRezende  43'
de Vries 77'
Postlewait  81'
Report[permanent dead link]Krolicki 9'
Polakiewicz 14'  36'
Cain 55'
Referee: Marc Lawrence

Western Conference Championship

v Albuquerque Sol FC
July 18, 2015 Mountain Division Qualifier FC Tucson 2–1 Albuquerque Sol FC Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
7:30PM MSTRamos  45'
Martinez  56'
Sandoval 61'
Reyna 86'
Espindola  88'
Report
Report[permanent dead link]
Zacarias  2' 28'
Rollie  39'
Lawrence  43'
Aguilar  87'
Attendance: 907
Referee: Robert Hullner
v Ventura County Fusion
July 18, 2015 Southwest Division Qualifier Burlingame Dragons FC 1–0 Ventura County Fusion Burlingame High School
Burlingame, California
2:00PM PDTCadigan  66'
Razo 90'  90'
Report[permanent dead link]Mercado  66'
Arramdani  85'
Okunorobo  87'
v Seattle Sounders FC U-23
July 19, 2015 Northwest Division Qualifier Portland Timbers U23's 1–4 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 Merlo Field
Portland, Oregon
3:00PM PDTMacchione 6'
Sperber  30'   82'
Kahsay  54'
Report[permanent dead link]Delgado 10'
Lee  29'
Olsen 64'
Campbell 73'
Johnson 90+'
Peterson  90+'
Attendance: 300
Referee: Andrew Marihart
FC Tucson v Kitsap Pumas
July 24, 2015 Semifinal FC Tucson 4–1 Kitsap Pumas Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
8:00 PM PDTZambrano 31'
Espindola 35', 52', 59'  86'
Rodiguez  55'
Sinclair  89'
Prost  90+'
ReportJenson  22' 64'
Masiman  65'
Keitz  72'
Jammett  78'
Patino  87'
Attendance: 1,522
Referee: Mathew Stewart
v Seattle Sounders FC U-23
July 24, 2015 Semifinal Burlingame Dragons FC 0–1 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
6:00 PM PDTReport[permanent dead link]Delgado 60'
Lee  75'
Attendance: 1,522
Referee: Ramy Touchan
v Seattle Sounders FC U-23
July 25, 2015 Final FC Tucson 1–2 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 Kino Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
7:30 PM PDTReyna 36'Report[permanent dead link]Sukura 2'
Campbell 72'
Valot  78'
Attendance: 1,681
Referee: Matthew Sternheim

Playoff Bracket

Divisional QualificationConference SemifinalsConference FinalsSemifinalsChampionship
               
MA1New York Red Bulls U-234
NE2GPS Portland Phoenix0
NE1Seacoast United Phantoms1
NE2GPS Portland Phoenix2
MA1New York Red Bulls U-23 (AET)2
Eastern Conference
MA3Jersey Express S.C.1
MA2Long Island Rough Riders1
MA3Jersey Express S.C.3
MA3Jersey Express S.C. (PEN)1 (5)
SA1Charlotte Eagles1 (4)
SA1Charlotte Eagles3
SA2Cincinnati Dutch Lions2
MA1New York Red Bulls U-23 (AET)2
SE1Ocala Stampede1
SE1Ocala Stampede1
MS2Midland/Odessa Sockers0
SE1Ocala Stampede2
Southern Conference
SE2FC Miami City Champions0
MS1Mississippi Brilla0 (2)
SE2FC Miami City Champions (PEN)0 (3)
MA1New York Red Bulls U-233
GL2K-W United FC4
GL1Michigan Bucks (AET)3
HL2Thunder Bay Chill2
GL1Michigan Bucks1
Central Conference
GL2K-W United FC3
HL1Des Moines Menace2
GL2K-W United FC3
GL2K-W United FC2
GL3Forest City London0
GL2K-W United FC1
NW3Seattle Sounders FC U-230
NW1Kitsap Pumas1
MT1FC Tucson4
MT1FC Tucson2
MT2Albuquerque Sol FC1
MT1FC Tucson1
Western Conference
NW3Seattle Sounders FC U-232
NW2Portland Timbers U23's1
NW3Seattle Sounders FC U-234
NW3Seattle Sounders FC U-231
SW1Burlingame Dragons FC0
SW1Burlingame Dragons FC1
SW2Ventura County Fusion0

PDL Championship

[19]

Semi-finals

v Ocala Stampede
July 31, 2015 New York Red Bulls U-23 2–1 (a.e.t.) Ocala Stampede Starfire Sports Complex
Tukwila, Washington
6:00 PM PDTInnocenzi 7'
Echevarria  97'
Farrell 114'
Report[permanent dead link]Parreiras  26'
Janneh 38'
Raymundo  45'
Arico  110'   112'
Referee: Charles Spaniola

Championship

v New York Red Bulls U-23
August 2, 2015 K-W United FC 4–3 New York Red Bulls U-23 Starfire Sports Complex
Tukwila, Washington
2:00 PM PDTPolk 6'
Perez 33'
Whiteman-Asiamah 45+'
Pasanen 62'
Rutz  71'
Krolicki  79'
Report[permanent dead link]
Report[permanent dead link]
Knudson  29'   90+'
Thomsen 52'
Williams 68'
White 82'
Echevarria  90+'
Referee: Kelsey Harms

Championship MVP: Nathan Ingham (KWU)

Awards

  • Most Valuable Player: Anthony Grant (SUP)
  • Young (U21) Player of the Year: Timothy Mueller (LNU)
  • Coach of the Year: David Dixon, (CHE)
  • Defender of the Year: Dennis Castillo (POR)
  • Goalkeeper of the Year: Matt Grosey (KIT)

[20]

All-League and All-Conference Teams

[21][22]

Eastern Conference

F: Anthony Grant (SUP) *, Nathan Regis (CHE) *, Khesanio Hall (OCN)
M: Carlos Silva (JER) *, Joe Holland (LIR), Sam Blackman (SWV)
D: Kouassi Sylvain N’Guessan (JER), Tim Schmoll (NYR), Jordan Becker (BAL), Lalas Abubakar (CHE)
G: Matt Williams (GPS)

Central Conference

F: James Pucci (LON), Ben Polk (KWU), David Goldsmith (MIB)
M: Calvin Rezende (MIB), Sergio Camargo (KWU), Jacob Cawsey (STL), Moses Danto (WSA)
D: Oyvind Alseth (KWU), Zach Carroll (MIB), Andrew Herr (PIT)
G: Yuta Nomura (SPS)

Western Conference

F: Timothy Mueller (LNU) *, Guillermo Delgado (SEA), Pedro Espindola (TUC)
M: Todd Wharton (POR) *, Nick Hamer (KIT), Renato Bustamante (FRE)
D: Dennis Castillo (POR) *, Jonathan Campbell (SEA) *, Cory Keitz (KIT), Kalem Scott (TUC)
G: Matt Grosey (KIT) *

Southern Conference

F: George Kelley (HOU), Jason Collister (IMG), Paulo Vaz (FLA)
M: Sergio Royo (MIS) *, Billal Qsiyer (SWF), Lewis Hilton (OCA)
D: Hugo Leroux (MIA) *, Walker Hume (MIO), Isaac Sanchez (MIO) *, Paco Craig (OCA)
G: Michael Yantz (SWF)

* denotes All-League player

References