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 league consisted of 68 teams across eight divisions with the elimination of the Midwest and New England divisions. 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 One team went on hiatus due to home stadium renovations: Vermont Voltage – St. Albans, Vermont
Folding Nine teams have been announced as leaving the league prior to the beginning of the season: Atlanta Silverbacks U23's – Chamblee, Georgia Cape Cod Crusaders – Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Colorado Rapids U23's – Boulder, Colorado Palm Beach Pumas – Wellington, Florida Richmond Kickers Future – Richmond, Virginia San Fernando Valley Quakes – Woodland Hills, California San Francisco Seals – San Francisco, California San Jose Frogs – San Jose, California West Michigan Edge – Kentwood, Michigan
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. LegendTeam won the Division Title Team qualified for playoff berth
Central Conference
Great Lakes Division
Heartland Division
Eastern Conference
Mid Atlantic Division
Northeast Division
Southern Conference
Mid South Division
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
Western Conference
Northwest Division
Southwest Division
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 Semifinals
Divisional Finals
Conference Finals
PDL Semifinals
PDL Championship
Championship MVP: Rodrigo López (VCF)
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 Aaron Wheeler, F, Reading Rage (Winner) Tom Oatley, F, Kalamazoo Outrage Debola Ogunseye, F, Mississippi Brilla
U19 Player of the Year Christian Ibeagha, D, Cary Clarets (Winner) Sheanon Williams, D, Carolina Dynamo Max Touloute, F, Fort Wayne Fever
Defender of the Year Christian Ibeagha, Cary Clarets (Winner) Bonivenger Misiko, Fort Wayne Fever Daniel Scott, Seattle Wolves Chris Williams, New Orleans Jesters
Goalkeeper of the Year Jimmy Maurer, Chicago Fire Premier
Coach of the Year Casey Mann, Des Moines Menace (Winner) Dan Fisher, Long Island Rough Riders Mark Spooner, Kalamazoo Outrage Brent Whitfield, Los Angeles Legends
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; Gregory 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; Gagan 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 United Soccer Leagues 2009 2009 W-League Season
References