2016 PDL season

Football league season

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

Changes From 2015

New/Returning teams

Name Changes

• Golden State Misioneros became LA Laguna FC.
• Springfield Synergy became Saint Louis FC U23.

Folding/Moving

• Forest City London – moved to League1 Ontario
• Houston Dutch Lions – moved to National Premier Soccer League
• Puget Sound Gunners FC – Folded
• Boston Rams – Folded
• Real Colorado Foxes – Folded
• D.C. United U-23 – Folded its PDL team
• Orlando City U-23 – Folded its PDL team
• Ocala Stampede – Folded

On Hiatus

• Laredo Heat^[14]

Standings

Tiebreakers

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

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Mid Atlantic Division

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

South Atlantic Division

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Heartland Division

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Southern Conference

Southeast Division

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Mid South Division

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Western Conference

Northwest Division

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

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

Source: Premier Development League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:

1. LA Laguna FC had three points deducted for not having a proper venue.

Playoffs

• 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

Carolina Dynamo v SC United Bantams

Reading United AC v Western Mass Pioneers

GPS Portland Phoenix v Ocean City Nor'easters

Charlotte Eagles v Ocean City Nor'easters

Reading United AC v Carolina Dynamo

Reading United AC v Ocean City Nor'easters

Southern Conference

The Villages SC v Midland/Odessa Sockers

OKC Energy U23 v South Florida Surf

OKC Energy U23 v Midland/Odessa Sockers

Central Conference

Des Moines Menace v K-W United FC

Michigan Bucks v Thunder Bay Chill

Michigan Bucks v Des Moines Menace

Western Conference

Calgary Foothills FC v Seattle Sounders FC U-23

Fresno Fuego v Burlingame Dragons FC

San Diego Zest FC v FC Golden State Force

Calgary Foothills FC v FC Golden State Force

FC Tucson v Burlingame Dragons FC

FC Tucson v Calgary Foothills FC

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

Ocean City Nor'easters v Calgary Foothills FC

Michigan Bucks v Midland/Odessa Sockers

Championship Game

Michigan Bucks v Calgary Foothills FC

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]

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. "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. @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.