The PDL announced that Seattle, Wash. will host the 2015 PDL Championship presented by Nike, as the four conference champions converge on Starfire Stadium this weekend. Sounders FC U23 will be joined by K-W United FC, the New York Red Bulls U23 and the Ocala Stampede to determine the 2015 PDL Champion as the championship returns to the west coast for the first time since 2011.
The Sounders U23 claimed the Western Conference Championship on Saturday night as a goal by Jonathan Campbell earned a 2-1 victory against FC Tucson. The Sounders U23 last reached the national semifinals in 2012, when the side was led by current U.S. Men’s National Team player DeAndre Yedlin.
The Ocala Stampede return to the PDL Championship for a second consecutive season as Southern Conference champions, after taking a 2-0 win against the FC Miami City Champions to claim the conference title on Saturday. Lewis Hilton and Ricardo Diegues scored for the Stampede to send them through to the national semifinals.
K-W United FC advanced to its first PDL Championship on Saturday as it defeated defending PDL champions the Michigan Bucks. Ken Krolicki and Adam Polakiewicz each had a goal and assist for United in the victory, with K-W now aiming to claim the championship for the Great Lakes Division for the third time in four seasons (FC London 2012, Michigan Bucks 2014).
The New York Red Bulls U23 have reached the PDL Championship in their inaugural season in the league, as they dethroned defending conference champion the Jersey Express in Sunday’s Eastern Conference Championship Game. Joe Farrell scored late in extra time to give the Red Bulls U23 a 2-1 win against the Express, and a berth in the national semifinals.
2015 PDL Championship presented by Nike
At Starfire Stadium, Tukwila, Wash.
National Semifinals
Friday, July 31
Ocala Stampede vs. New York Red Bulls U23, 9 p.m. ET
Sounders FC U23 vs. K-W United FC, 11 p.m. ET
Championship Game
Sunday, August 2
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m. ET
The 2015 PDL All-Conference Teams will be announced later on Monday, as the week of build-up to the championship begins. The 2015 PDL All-League Team is set to be announced on Tuesday, with the finalists for the 2015 PDL Awards to be announced on Wednesday. The award winners will be announced at Thursday’s Championship Luncheon, part of the 2015 PDL Championship in Seattle, Wash.
Both the semifinals and the championship game at the 2015 PDL Championship presented by Nike will be streamed live on the PDL’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/USLPDL), with live updates also available through the league’s official Twitter account (@USLPDL).
PDL: The proven developmental leader in North American soccer's evolving tiered structure, the 2015 PDL features 63 teams within four conferences throughout the United States and Canada, including 10 teams affiliated with the USL or Major League Soccer clubs. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world, with 70 percent of all MLS draftees having PDL experience. The PDL season consists of 14 regular season matches for each team, seven home and seven away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions.
PDL PR - Jay Preble / Nicholas Murray / Charlie Corr - Tampa, FL - 813.963.3909 - Twitter: @USLPDL
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