1997 PDL Season
Encyclopedia
The 1997 Premier Development Soccer League
season was its 3rd. The season began in April 1997 and ended in August 1997.
Central Coast Roadrunners
successfully defended the championship, defeating the Cocoa Expos
3-2. Spokane Shadow
won the regular season title, winning 14 games to 2 losses.
were promoted to the A League
. The Arizona Sahuaros
(formerly the Arizona Phoenix), Austin Lone Stars
, Fort Lauderdale Strikers
(formerly Florida Strikers), and San Francisco Bay Seals were promoted to the D-3 Pro League
.
6 teams folded after the 1996 season:
The Wichita Blue
went on hiatus for this year, and the Willamette Valley Firebirds
went on hiatus for the next two years.
Green denotes team has won playoff spot.
Orange denotes team gets bye into semifinals as defending champion.
* Lincoln and Twin Cities were both penalized 6 points. Des Moines was penalized 3 points
* Kalamazoo was penalized 6 points. Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Michigan were all penalized 3 points.
* Lexington was penalized 6 points. Chattanooga and Jackson were both penalized 3 points.
NOTE: Game between Cincinnati and Tucson was unable to be rescheduled before season's end, games was cancelled because it had no impact on playoffs.
* West Florida was penalized 6 points. Cocoa and South Florida were both penalized 3 points.
* Cascade and Puget Sound were both penalized 3 points.
* Southern California and Tucson were both penalaized 3 points
NOTE: Game between Cincinnati and Tucson was unable to be rescheduled before season's end, games was cancelled because it had no impact on playoffs.
The top four teams from every division except the Southwest earn playoff spots. With Central Coast already receiving a bye, the top two teams from the Southwest Division will play each other, however if Central Coast is in the top two, then the third place team receives a playoff spot. The Division winners would then face each other in the Conference finals.
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
season was its 3rd. The season began in April 1997 and ended in August 1997.
Central Coast Roadrunners
Central Coast Roadrunners
Central Coast Roadrunners were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2002, after which the team left the league and the franchise rights were transferred to the...
successfully defended the championship, defeating the Cocoa Expos
Cocoa Expos
Cocoa Expos was an American soccer team, founded in 1993. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home matches at...
3-2. Spokane Shadow
Spokane Shadow
Spokane Shadow was an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the franchise was terminated by the PDL after the 10-year old artificial turf at their home...
won the regular season title, winning 14 games to 2 losses.
Name changes
- Miami Tango changed their name to Miami BreakersMiami Strike ForceThe Miami Strike Force were an American soccer team based around Miami, Florida.They joined the USISL PDSL as the Miami Tango in 1996 , and became the Miami Breakers in the next season. The moved up to the USISL D-3 Pro League in 1998. For the 1999 season, the team was relegated back to the PDL...
. - Puget Sound Hammerheads merged with the D-3 Pro'sUSL Second DivisionThe United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
Everett BigFoot to become Puget Sound BigFootSeattle BigFootThe Seattle BigFoot were an American soccer team. After the 1996 season, the Everett BigFoot of the USISL Pro League and the Puget Sound Hammers of the USISL Premier League merged to become the Puget Sound BigFoot who played in the USISL PDSL during the 1997 season...
. - Southern California Gunners changed their name to Southern California Chivas.
New teams
6 teams were added for the season.| Team | Area | Location | Previous affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Birmingham area Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S... |
Birmingham, AL Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S... |
expansion |
 Cascade Surge Cascade Surge was an American soccer team based in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played its home games... |
Willamette Valley Area Willamette Valley The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions... |
Salem, OR Salem, Oregon Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood... |
from USISL Pro League USL Second Division The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid... |
 Cincinnati Riverhawks The Cincinnati Riverhawks were a professional soccer team that debuted in the USISL Premier Development League in 1997 and joined the A-League from 1998 to 2003... |
Greater Cincinnati area | Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's... |
expansion |
 San Gabriel Valley Highlanders San Gabriel Valley Highlanders were an American soccer team, founded in 1997 by a group of Armenian American businessmen and soccer fans as a competitive branch of the locally-based Ararat Soccer Club... |
Greater Los Angeles area Greater Los Angeles Area The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County... |
Glendale, CA Glendale, California Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California... |
expansion |
 Southwest Florida Manatees The Southwest Florida Manatees were an American soccer team that played in Cape Coral, Florida.-Year-by-year:... |
Southwest Florida area Southwest Florida Southwest Florida is a region of Florida , United States located along its gulf coast, south of the Tampa Bay area, west of Lake Okeechobee and mostly north of the Everglades... |
Cape Coral, FL Cape Coral, Florida Cape Coral is a municipality located in Lee County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1957 and developed as a master-planned, pre-platted community, the city grew to a population of 154,305 by the year 2010. With an area of , Cape Coral is the largest city between Tampa and... |
expansion |
 Yakima Reds Yakima Reds was an American soccer team based in Yakima, Washington, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference... |
Yakima area Yakima, Washington Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of... |
Yakima, WA Yakima, Washington Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of... |
from USISL Pro League USL Second Division The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid... |
Teams Leaving
The Nashville MetrosNashville Metros
Nashville Metros is an American soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...
were promoted to the A League
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. The Arizona Sahuaros
Arizona Sahuaros
Arizona Sahuaros is an American soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1989, the team is member of the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(formerly the Arizona Phoenix), Austin Lone Stars
Austin Lone Stars
The Austin Lone Stars were a soccer club that competed in the SISL, USISL and United Soccer Leagues from 1987 to 2000. The club originally started in 1987/88 as the Austin Sockadillos in the original indoor SISL league. They became the Austin Lone Stars in 1994.-History:In 1987, Fernando Marcos...
, Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Fort Lauderdale Strikers (USISL)
In 1994, the Fort Lauderdale Kicks began play in the USISL. The next year, with the folding of the American Professional Soccer League Strikers, the Kicks took the name Fort Lauderdale Strikers for themselves...
(formerly Florida Strikers), and San Francisco Bay Seals were promoted to the D-3 Pro League
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
.
6 teams folded after the 1996 season:
- Birmingham GrasshoppersBirmingham GrasshoppersBirmingham Grasshoppers were an American soccer team that played in Birmingham, Alabama from 1992-1996 as a member of the United States Interregional Soccer League. When the USISL split into two leagues in 1995, the Grasshoppers joined the Premier League...
- Fontana FalconsFontana FalconsThe Fontana Falcons were an American soccer team based in Fontana, California.They joined the USISL in 1993 as the Montclair Standard Falcons from Montclair, California and moved to the USISL Premier League in 1995....
- Oklahoma City HeatOklahoma City HeatThe Oklahoma City Heat were a Premier Development League franchise existing from 1995 to 1996. They played in Del City, Oklahoma....
- Orlando LionsOrlando LionsThe Orlando Lions was an American soccer team from Orlando, Florida which existed from 1985 to 1996. Over the years, the Lions competed at both the amateur and professional levels including some seasons as an independent team....
- Roanoke River Dawgs
- San Diego Top GunsSan Diego Top GunsThe San Diego Top Guns were an American soccer team based in San Diego, California that played in the USISL.-Year-by-year:...
The Wichita Blue
Wichita Blue
Wichita Blue, known in 1994 as Wichita Blue Angels, was an American soccer club based in Wichita, Kansas. The Blue played in several leagues including the Heartland Soccer League, Lone Star Soccer Alliance and the USISL.-History:...
went on hiatus for this year, and the Willamette Valley Firebirds
Willamette Valley Firebirds
Willamette Valley Firebirds were an American soccer team that played in Corvallis, Oregon.They began as the Palo Alto Firebirds based in Palo Alto, California. They moved to San Jose, California in 1994 and became the Silicon Valley Firebirds. They were renamed the Portland Firebirds after they...
went on hiatus for the next two years.
Standings
Blue denotes team has won their division.Green denotes team has won playoff spot.
Orange denotes team gets bye into semifinals as defending champion.
Central Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | SL | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln Brigade* | 16 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 23 | +11 | 32 |
| 2 | Omaha Flames | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 29 | +13 | 21 |
| 3 | Sioux City Breeze Sioux City Breeze The Sioux City Breeze were a soccer club based in Sioux City, Iowa. The club began in the USISL and moved to the USISL Premier League in 1995.-Year-by-year:... |
16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 38 | -12 | 24 |
| 4 | Des Moines Menace Des Moines Menace Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at Valley... * |
16 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 27 | +2 | 19 |
| 5 | Colorado Springs Stampede Colorado Springs Ascent Colorado Springs Ascent were an American soccer team who were members of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in 2000 and 2001, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.-Year-by-year:... |
16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 33 | -10 | 18 |
| 6 | Twin Cities Tornado Twin Cities Phoenix Twin Cities Phoenix, originally known as Twin Cities Tornado until 2000, were an American soccer team, founded in 1997, who were members of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2001, after which the team left the league and the... * |
16 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 39 | -10 | 11 |
* Lincoln and Twin Cities were both penalized 6 points. Des Moines was penalized 3 points
North Central Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | SL | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mid-Michigan Bucks | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 24 | +17 | 36 |
| 2 | Detroit Dynamite* | 16 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 41 | 20 | +21 | 28 |
| 3 | Kalamazoo Kingdom Kalamazoo Kingdom Kalamazoo Kingdom were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Kingdom folded their... * |
16 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 32 | 25 | +7 | 26 |
| 4 | Grand Rapids Explosion West Michigan Edge West Michigan Edge was an American soccer team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played... * |
16 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 27 | +8 | 22 |
| 5 | Michigan Madness Michigan Madness Michigan Madness were a USISL soccer club based in Ann Arbor, Michigan that played for two seasons. They began operations in 1995 as the Ann Arbor Elites and prior to the 1996 season, became the Madness. Before the 1997 season, the club folded.... * |
16 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 66 | -55 | 1 |
* Kalamazoo was penalized 6 points. Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Michigan were all penalized 3 points.
Mid-South Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | SL | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati Riverhawks Cincinnati Riverhawks The Cincinnati Riverhawks were a professional soccer team that debuted in the USISL Premier Development League in 1997 and joined the A-League from 1998 to 2003... |
15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 28 | +20 | 30 |
| 2 | Jackson Generals* | 16 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 25 | +25 | 28 |
| 3 | Lexington Bluegrass Bandits Lexington Bluegrass Bandits Lexington Bluegrass Bandits were an American soccer team that played in Lexington, Kentucky.They joined the USISL in 1994, and moved to the USISL Pro League in 1995. They were relegated to the USISL Premier League the next year.-Year-by-year:... * |
16 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 45 | 22 | +23 | 26 |
| 4 | Alabama Saints | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 34 | -3 | 15 |
| 5 | Chattanooga Express Chattanooga Express Chattanooga Express were a soccer club that competed in the USISLfrom 1992 to 1997. The club originally started in 1992 as the Chattanooga Railroaders in the USISL. They became the Chattanooga Express in 1993. The club played in both the indoor and outdoor USISL leagues through 1996... * |
16 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 54 | -36 | 13 |
* Lexington was penalized 6 points. Chattanooga and Jackson were both penalized 3 points.
NOTE: Game between Cincinnati and Tucson was unable to be rescheduled before season's end, games was cancelled because it had no impact on playoffs.
Southeast Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | SL | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cocoa Expos Cocoa Expos Cocoa Expos was an American soccer team, founded in 1993. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home matches at... * |
16 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 23 | +23 | 34 |
| 2 | South Florida Future* | 16 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 22 | +20 | 31 |
| 3 | West Florida Fury* | 16 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 32 | 23 | +9 | 26 |
| 4 | Miami Breakers Miami Strike Force The Miami Strike Force were an American soccer team based around Miami, Florida.They joined the USISL PDSL as the Miami Tango in 1996 , and became the Miami Breakers in the next season. The moved up to the USISL D-3 Pro League in 1998. For the 1999 season, the team was relegated back to the PDL... |
16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 24 | +17 | 24 |
| 5 | Southwest Florida Manatees Southwest Florida Manatees The Southwest Florida Manatees were an American soccer team that played in Cape Coral, Florida.-Year-by-year:... |
16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 74 | -65 | 0 |
* West Florida was penalized 6 points. Cocoa and South Florida were both penalized 3 points.
Northwest Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | SL | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane Shadow Spokane Shadow Spokane Shadow was an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the franchise was terminated by the PDL after the 10-year old artificial turf at their home... |
16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 16 | +21 | 42 |
| 2 | Yakima Reds Yakima Reds Yakima Reds was an American soccer team based in Yakima, Washington, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference... |
16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 21 |
| 3 | Cascade Surge Cascade Surge Cascade Surge was an American soccer team based in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played its home games... * |
16 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 23 | +5 | 22 |
| 4 | Bellingham Orcas | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 40 | -14 | 18 |
| 5 | Puget Sound BigFoot Seattle BigFoot The Seattle BigFoot were an American soccer team. After the 1996 season, the Everett BigFoot of the USISL Pro League and the Puget Sound Hammers of the USISL Premier League merged to become the Puget Sound BigFoot who played in the USISL PDSL during the 1997 season... * |
16 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 39 | -12 | 13 |
* Cascade and Puget Sound were both penalized 3 points.
Southwest Division
| Place | Team | P | W | L | SW | SL | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Gabriel Valley Highlanders San Gabriel Valley Highlanders San Gabriel Valley Highlanders were an American soccer team, founded in 1997 by a group of Armenian American businessmen and soccer fans as a competitive branch of the locally-based Ararat Soccer Club... |
16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 20 | +23 | 36 |
| 2 | Central Coast Roadrunners Central Coast Roadrunners Central Coast Roadrunners were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2002, after which the team left the league and the franchise rights were transferred to the... |
16 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 34 | 17 | +17 | 34 |
| 3 | Tucson Amigos Tucson Amigos The Tucson Amigos were a soccer club based in Tucson, Arizona that competed in the SISL, USISL and United Soccer Leagues. Founder of the Tucson Amigos was Dennis Archer a local business owner of the Tucson Amigos Indoor Soccer Center.-Year-by-year:... * |
15 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 41 | -23 | 16 |
| 4 | Southern California Chivas* | 16 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 32 | -16 | 10 |
* Southern California and Tucson were both penalaized 3 points
NOTE: Game between Cincinnati and Tucson was unable to be rescheduled before season's end, games was cancelled because it had no impact on playoffs.
Format
Central Coast received a bye to the PDL Semifinals as the defending champion.The top four teams from every division except the Southwest earn playoff spots. With Central Coast already receiving a bye, the top two teams from the Southwest Division will play each other, however if Central Coast is in the top two, then the third place team receives a playoff spot. The Division winners would then face each other in the Conference finals.