PDL Conference Championships Set

The field for the PDL Playoffs was completed on Sunday night, as berths from the Mid Atlantic Division came down to the final day of the season. The Michigan Bucks claimed the league’s regular season championship, with an exciting week of action set to crown four conference champions next weekend.

The Bucks claimed the regular-season title with a 2-0 victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions to finish with a record of 11-1-2 for 35 points. The 2014 PDL champion, Michigan will host this weekend’s Central Conference Championship at Ultimate Soccer Arenas, where they will face longtime rival the Thunder Bay Chill on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Heartland Division champion Des Moines Menace will await the winner of Tuesday night’s contest between K-W United FC and FC London in the conference’s other semifinal, with the Central Conference Championship Game set for Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.

FC Tucson was awarded the right to host the Western Conference Championship for a second consecutive season after it rallied to defeat Albuquerque Sol F.C. on Saturday in the Mountain Division Playoff. Tucson will face the Northwest Division champion Kitsap Pumas in the Western semifinals on Friday night at the Kino Sports Complex at 8 p.m. PT, while the Southwest Division champion Burlingame Dragons will face the Sounders FC U23 in the other semifinal earlier in the evening. The two winners will meet on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. PT for a place at the PDL Championship.

Mississippi Brilla FC was selected to host the Southern Conference Championship and will meet the FC Miami City Champions in the conference semifinals on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. CT. Defending Southern Conference champions the Ocala Stampede will face Midland/Odessa Sockers FC in the earlier semifinal, with the two winners set to meet at Clinton Stadium in Jackson, Miss. on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The host for the Eastern Conference Championship has yet to be determined, with the New York Red Bulls U23 the only side to have booked their place in the conference semifinals so far. The three sides to join them will be determined on Tuesday night, as GPS Portland Phoenix hosts the Seacoast United Phantoms in the Northeast Division Playoff, the Long Island Rough Riders host the Jersey Express for the right to be the Mid Atlantic Division’s second representative, and the Charlotte Eagles host Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC in the South Atlantic Division Playoff.

Follow all of the action from the 2014 PDL Playoffs via twitter (@USLPDL), and also on Facebook and Instagram as the league’s 21th season shines the spotlight on some of the top college and academy prospects from throughout the country.

2015 PDL PLAYOFFS

Division Playoffs

Semifinals

Friday, July 24

Des Moines Menace vs. K-W United FC/FC London, 5:30 p.m. ET

Michigan Bucks vs. Thunder Bay Chill, 7:30 p.m. ET

Final

Saturday, July 25

Semifinals winners, 7:30 p.m. ET

Southern Conference Championship

At Clinton Stadium, Jackson, Miss.

Semifinals

Friday, July 24

Ocala Stampede vs. Midland/Odessa Sockers FC, 5 p.m. CT

Mississippi Brilla vs. FC Miami City Champions, 7:30 p.m. CT

Final

Saturday, July 25

Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m. CT

Western Conference Championship

At Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz.

Semifinals

Friday, July 24

Burlingame Dragons FC vs. Sounders FC U23, 6 p.m. PT

FC Tucson vs. Kitsap Pumas, 8 p.m. PT

Final

Saturday, July 25

Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m. PT

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.

Twitter: @USLPDL