# 2009 PDL season

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.
* Legend
* Team won the Division Title
* Team qualified for playoff berth

### Central Conference
#### Great Lakes Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Kalamazoo Outrage | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 17 | +15 | 36 |
| 2 | Chicago Fire Premier | 16 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 33 | 12 | +21 | 35 |
| 3 | Forest City London | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 27 | 16 | +11 | 29 |
| 4 | Michigan Bucks | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 22 | +4 | 27 |
| 5 | Indiana Invaders | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 24 | 25 | −1 | 19 |
| 6 | Cleveland Internationals | 16 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 23 | 26 | −3 | 17 |
| 7 | Fort Wayne Fever | 16 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 26 | −11 | 17 |
| 8 | Cincinnati Kings | 16 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 31 | −14 | 15 |
| 9 | Toronto Lynx | 16 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 18 | 40 | −22 | 7 |

#### Heartland Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Des Moines Menace | 16 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 35 | 13 | +22 | 37 |
| 2 | Thunder Bay Chill | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 27 | 16 | +11 | 29 |
| 3 | Real Colorado Foxes | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 28 | 19 | +9 | 27 |
| 4 | St. Louis Lions | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 29 | 25 | +4 | 24 |
| 5 | Rochester Thunder | 16 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 21 | 25 | −4 | 16 |
| 6 | Kansas City Brass | 16 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 28 | 37 | −9 | 15 |
| 7 | Springfield Demize | 16 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 43 | −33 | 7 |

### Eastern Conference
#### Mid Atlantic Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Reading Rage | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 58 | 17 | +41 | 41 |
| 2 | Carolina Dynamo | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 19 | +19 | 32 |
| 3 | Cary Clarets | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 28 | 16 | +12 | 30 |
| 4 | Hampton Roads Piranhas | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 27 |
| 5 | West Virginia Chaos | 16 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 23 | 37 | −14 | 18 |
| 6 | Fredericksburg Gunners | 16 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 35 | −21 | 12 |
| 7 | Northern Virginia Royals | 16 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 35 | −17 | 10 |
| 8 | Virginia Legacy | 16 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 36 | −22 | 9 |

#### Northeast Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Ottawa Fury | 16 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 48 | 8 | +40 | 40 |
| 2 | Long Island Rough Riders | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 10 | +22 | 38 |
| 3 | Ocean City Barons | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 31 | 15 | +16 | 30 |
| 4 | Brooklyn Knights | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 24 |
| 5 | Newark Ironbound Express | 16 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 38 | 41 | −3 | 20 |
| 6 | Rhode Island Stingrays | 16 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 23 | 41 | −18 | 15 |
| 7 | Westchester Flames | 16 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 16 | 36 | −20 | 14 |
| 8 | New Hampshire Phantoms | 16 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 20 | 32 | −12 | 13 |
| 9 | New Jersey Rangers | 16 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 44 | −30 | 8 |

### Southern Conference
#### Mid South Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Laredo Heat | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 29 | 18 | +11 | 29 |
| 2 | West Texas United Sockers | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 25 | 19 | +6 | 27 |
| 3 | Austin Aztex U23 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 32 | 27 | +5 | 26 |
| 4 | El Paso Patriots | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 27 | 22 | +5 | 26 |
| 5 | Rio Grande Valley Bravos | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 23 |
| 6 | DFW Tornados | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 29 | 33 | −4 | 19 |
| 7 | Houston Leones | 16 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 37 | −27 | 3 |
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

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Mississippi Brilla | 16 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 30 | 12 | +18 | 33 |
| 2 | Bradenton Academics | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 32 | 14 | +18 | 32 |
| 3 | New Orleans Jesters | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 24 | 13 | +11 | 26 |
| 4 | Panama City Pirates | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 23 |
| 5 | Baton Rouge Capitals | 16 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 25 | 26 | −1 | 16 |
| 6 | Central Florida Kraze | 16 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 18 | 31 | −13 | 15 |
| 7 | Nashville Metros | 16 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 36 | −20 | 13 |
| 8 | Atlanta Blackhawks | 16 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 16 | 31 | −15 | 12 |

### Western Conference
#### Northwest Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Kitsap Pumas | 16 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 40 | 13 | +27 | 39 |
| 2 | Portland Timbers U23's | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 43 | 20 | +23 | 35 |
| 3 | Seattle Wolves | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 18 | +11 | 33 |
| 4 | Cascade Surge | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 26 | +3 | 24 |
| 5 | Victoria Highlanders | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 25 | +12 | 22 |
| 6 | Vancouver Whitecaps Residency | 16 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 26 | 22 | +4 | 21 |
| 7 | Tacoma Tide | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 34 | 40 | −6 | 19 |
| 8 | Abbotsford Mariners | 16 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 28 | 36 | −8 | 14 |
| 9 | Yakima Reds | 16 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 22 | 49 | −27 | 11 |
| 10 | Spokane Spiders | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 12 | 51 | −39 | 9 |

#### Southwest Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Hollywood United Hitmen | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 38 | 17 | +21 | 33 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Legends | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 15 | +19 | 31 |
| 3 | Ventura County Fusion | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 26 | 21 | +5 | 28 |
| 4 | BYU Cougars | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 22 | −1 | 25 |
| 5 | Fresno Fuego | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 30 | 28 | +2 | 22 |
| 6 | Southern California Seahorses | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 22 | +3 | 20 |
| 7 | Lancaster Rattlers | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 33 | 38 | −5 | 19 |
| 8 | Orange County Blue Star | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 25 | −5 | 19 |
| 9 | Ogden Outlaws | 16 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 24 | 39 | −15 | 13 |
| 10 | Bakersfield Brigade | 16 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 38 | −24 | 9 |

## 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 First Round | Divisional First Round | Divisional First Round | | | Divisional Finals | Divisional Finals | Divisional Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | PDL Semifinals | PDL Semifinals | PDL Semifinals | PDL Championship | PDL Championship | PDL Championship |
| | | | | | GL1 | Kalamazoo Outrage | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Great Lakes Division | Great Lakes Division | Great Lakes Division | | | GL1 | Kalamazoo Outrage | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Great Lakes Division | Great Lakes Division | Great Lakes Division | | | GL2 | Chicago Fire Premier | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| GL2 | Chicago Fire Premier | 1 | | | GL2 | Chicago Fire Premier | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| GL3 | Forest City London | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| GL3 | Forest City London | 0 | | | | | | GL2 | Chicago Fire Premier | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | NE3 | Ocean City Barons | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | NE1 | Ottawa Fury | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Northeast Division | Northeast Division | Northeast Division | | | NE1 | Ottawa Fury | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Northeast Division | Northeast Division | Northeast Division | | | NE3 | Ocean City Barons (AET) | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| NE2 | Long Island Rough Riders | 0 | | | NE3 | Ocean City Barons (AET) | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| NE3 | Ocean City Barons | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NE3 | Ocean City Barons | 2 | | | | | | | | | GL2 | Chicago Fire Premier (AET) | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | MA3 | Cary Clarets | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | HL1 | Des Moines Menace | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Heartland Division | Heartland Division | Heartland Division | | | HL1 | Des Moines Menace | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Heartland Division | Heartland Division | Heartland Division | | | HL3 | Real Colorado Foxes | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| HL2 | Thunder Bay Chill | 0 | | | HL3 | Real Colorado Foxes | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| HL3 | Real Colorado Foxes | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| HL3 | Real Colorado Foxes | 1 | | | | | | HL1 | Des Moines Menace | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | MA3 | Cary Clarets | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | MA1 | Reading Rage | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Mid-Atlantic Division | Mid-Atlantic Division | Mid-Atlantic Division | | | MA1 | Reading Rage | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Mid-Atlantic Division | Mid-Atlantic Division | Mid-Atlantic Division | | | MA3 | Cary Clarets | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| MA2 | Carolina Dynamo | 1 | | | MA3 | Cary Clarets | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| MA3 | Cary Clarets | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MA3 | Cary Clarets | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | GL2 | Chicago Fire Premier | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SW3 | Ventura County Fusion | 2 |
| | | | | | MS1 | Laredo Heat (AET) | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Mid-South Division | Mid-South Division | Mid-South Division | | | MS1 | Laredo Heat (AET) | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Mid-South Division | Mid-South Division | Mid-South Division | | | MS2 | West Texas United Sockers | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| MS2 | West Texas United Sockers | 2 | | | MS2 | West Texas United Sockers | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| MS3 | Austin Aztex U23 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MS3 | Austin Aztex U23 | 1 | | | | | | MS1 | Laredo Heat (AET) | 1 | | | | | | |
| Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | MS1 | Laredo Heat (AET) | 1 | | | | | | |
| Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | SE2 | Bradenton Academics | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | SE1 | Mississippi Brilla | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | | | SE1 | Mississippi Brilla | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | | | SE2 | Bradenton Academics (AET) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| SE2 | Bradenton Academics | 1 | | | SE2 | Bradenton Academics (AET) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| SE3 | New Orleans Jesters | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| SE3 | New Orleans Jesters | 0 | | | | | | | | | SE2 | Bradenton Academics | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | SW3 | Ventura County Fusion | 6 | | | |
| | | | | | NW1 | Kitsap Pumas | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Northwest Division | Northwest Division | Northwest Division | | | NW1 | Kitsap Pumas | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Northwest Division | Northwest Division | Northwest Division | | | NW3 | Seattle Wolves | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| NW2 | Portland Timbers U23's | 2 | | | NW3 | Seattle Wolves | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| NW3 | Seattle Wolves | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NW3 | Seattle Wolves | 3 | | | | | | NW1 | Kitsap Pumas | 1 | | | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | NW1 | Kitsap Pumas | 1 | | | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | SW3 | Ventura County Fusion | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | SW1 | Hollywood United Hitmen | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | | | SW1 | Hollywood United Hitmen | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | | | SW3 | Ventura County Fusion (AET) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| SW2 | Los Angeles Legends | 1 | | | SW3 | Ventura County Fusion (AET) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| SW3 | Ventura County Fusion | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### PDL Championship
## 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;Greg 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; Gagandeep 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