The 1998 Premier Development Soccer League season was the 4th PDSL season. The season began in April 1998 and ended in August 1998.
San Gabriel Valley Highlanders won the championship, defeating the Jackson Chargers 3–2. Jackson won the regular season title, winning all 16 games and posting a whopping +84 goal difference. Four teams from the Pacific Coast Soccer League joined as associate members this season, with two (Abbotsford and Seattle) going on to become full members in 1999.
Changes from the 1997 season Name changes Puget Sound BigFoot changed name to Seattle BigFoot.
New teams 13 teams were added for the season, 9 expansion teams and four associates from the Pacific Coast Soccer League. TeamAreaLocationPrevious affiliation Abbotsford Athletes In ActionAbbotsford areaAbbotsford, BCPacific Coast Soccer League Bradenton AcademicsSouthwest Florida areaBradenton, FLexpansion Central Florida LionheartsCentral Florida areaSeminole, FLexpansion Colorado CometsDenver areaCommerce City, COexpansion Fox River RebelsFox Cities areaMenasha, WIexpansion Indiana InvadersMichiana areaSouth Bend, INexpansion Kansas City BrassKansas City areaLiberty, MOexpansion Miami TangoGreater Miami areaMiami, FLexpansion Northern Arizona ProspectorsPrescott-Chino Valley areaPrescott Valley, AZexpansion Okanagan Valley ChallengeOkanagan Valley areaKelowna, BCPacific Coast Soccer League Seattle HibernianSeattle areaSeattle, WAPacific Coast Soccer League Silicon Valley AmbassadorsSouth San Francisco Bay areaSanta Clara, CAexpansion Victoria Umbro SelectVancouver Island areaVictoria, BCPacific Coast Soccer League
Teams leaving The Cincinnati Riverhawks were promoted to the A-League and the Miami Breakers were promoted to the D3 Pro League following the 1997 season.
7 teams folded after the 1997 season: Bellingham Orcas Chattanooga Express Lincoln Brigade Michigan Madness Omaha Flames (team folded early in 1998 season, division games were rescheduled) Southwest Florida Manatees West Florida Fury
The Lexington Bluegrass Bandits and Tucson Amigos went on hiatus for this year.
Standings LegendDivision champion Team qualified for playoff berth Team gets bye into semifinals as host.
Central Division
Great Lakes Division
Northwest Division
Southeast Division
Southwest Division
Playoffs Format Kalamazoo hosted the Finals and received a bye to the National Semi-Finals. The top four teams from the Central, Great Lakes, Southeast, and Southwest divisions, however, if Kalamazoo places in the top four in the Central Division, the fifth place team will take their spot. The top two teams in the Northwest Division will play the top two associate teams from the PCSL. The team with the most points to lose in the Divisional rounds will play in the Regional round as a wild card against the Divisional champion with the most points. The remaining four teams will play each other based on geography.
Divisional brackets
Round of Six
PDSL finals bracket United Soccer Leagues (RSSSF)
Championship MVP: Arshak Abyanli (SGV)
Honors Organization of the Year: Jackson Chargers Executive of the Year: Dave Nesbit, Des Moines Menace Fair Play Award: Spokane Shadow
References