PDL Feature
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – The biggest conference in the PDL, the Eastern Conference has seen realignment this season with new additions to the Northeast and Mid Atlantic Divisions. The Ocean City Nor’easters return as defending conference champions, while eight of the conference’s teams will compete in this season’s U.S. Open Cup.
NORTHEAST DIVISION
CFC Azul – After finishing with a winning record in their inaugural season, the Azul slid down the division standings in 2013. The side was competitive throughout the season and finished with a division-high six draws, but returning coach David Kelly will look for a bounce-back season and chance at the club’s first playoff berth.
GPS Portland Phoenix – The Phoenix earned a third consecutive playoff berth in 2013 and will return to the Open Cup for a second consecutive year with another solid squad. Coach Ally Bain’s focus will be set on reclaiming the division crown against some strong returning and new clubs to the division, and will have returning All-Conference defender Gilbert Manier to build around at the back.
Montreal Impact U23 – A new addition to the league, the Impact U23 is in fact the club’s U21 side and includes a number of top young Canadian prospects. Among them is U20 international Anthony Jackson Hamel, who competed at last year’s CONCACAF U20 Championships, and he will be backed by a squad that could immediately contend for the division title.
Real Boston Rams – The official PDL affiliate of the New England Revolution, the Rams will aim to make a jump forward in their second season under new head coach Hobie Hare. A key figure in this will be Providence goalkeeper Keasel Broome, while Cole DeNormandie starred for the Crew Juniors Super-20 side as it claimed the league championship in 2012.
Seacoast United Phantoms – After a winless 2013 the Phantoms will try to rebound with the major focus for Coach Ian Scott set to be a restoration of scoring punch to a side that had just two goals last season. Former New Hampshire standout Bradley Hilton, a two-time America East All-Conference selection, will bring important experience to the side.
Vermont Voltage – Vermont had a strong second half to the 2013 season which propelled it into third place in the division and an Open Cup berth this season. Bo Vuckovic will hope his side can build on its success and claim a playoff berth for the first time since the 2003 season.
Westchester Flames – A newcomer to the Northeast from the Mid Atlantic Division, the Flames hope a new division brings greater success than in recent seasons. Holdovers from last season’s squad include Zach Gosse and Richard Heredia, who had a pair of goals, but Coach Gus Skoufis will look for some new faces to step up and help the Flames make a move up the standings.
Western Mass Pioneers – Consistently a solid side in the division, the Pioneers will try to break through and earn the first playoff berth in team history this season as Coach Federico Molinari returns to lead the side. The Pioneers have some solid players to call upon including goalkeeper Warren Gross and forward Alencar Junior, and certainly should challenge for a postseason berth.
MID ATLANTIC DIVISION
Baltimore Bohemians – After reaching the playoffs in their second season the Bohemians will have to cope without Coach Steve Nicholls and All-Conference selections Pete Caringi and Hugh Roberts, both now in USL PRO’s ranks. New coach Santino Quaranta will bring a wealth of knowledge to the side, however, and returnees such as Mamadou Kansaye and Matt Shinsky will try to help the side pick up where it left off.
F.A. Euro – F.A. Euro took a sixth-place finish in its inaugural season but will need to improve if it is to emulate the Bohemians’ breakout season of a year ago. Again led by Joe Balsamo, an early-season schedule that includes Ocean City, Reading and Baltimore will tell the story as to whether the jump into becoming a playoff contender will happen this season.
Jersey Express – The Express have been a perennial power in the Mid Atlantic, but missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009 last summer as they were edged out on tiebreakers by Baltimore and Reading. Head coach Jeff Matteo will be eager to return his side to the postseason, and conduct a strong run in the U.S. Open Cup, and he will again have a strong squad to pull from with returnees Joe Ovenseri and Chris Karcz, who finished tied for a team-high with six goals, set to lead the way.
Long Island Rough Riders – The Rough Riders were in contention for the playoffs with four games to play last season, but four consecutive defeats to the teams that finished above them in the standings put paid to their hopes. A solid squad returns including the side’s three leading scorers from a season ago in Tyler Botte, Dominick Sarle and Stephen Roche, as Long Island looks to contend again.
NJ LUSO Parma – Formerly the NJ LUSO Rangers, Carlos Rasolio’s side took a step back in 2013 after having a franchise-best 27 points in 2012. The side will feature some new faces in attack this season, but Yusuf Hamza is back to lead the midfield after appearing in all 14 games a season ago, as is defender Pedro Vilar.
Northern Virginia Royals – After finishing third in the South Atlantic Division a season ago the Royals move into the Mid Atlantic looking to make an immediate impact. Leading scorer Franck Tayou is set to return to the side after eight goals last season while the side is headed again by Richie Burke, who returns for his second stint in charge. Burke led the Royals to the postseason in 2011, and will hope for more success this season.
Ocean City Nor’easters – The defending division and conference champions, Ocean City has a number of key players returning to its ranks including All-Conference selection Dwayne Reid and Frank Tweneboa. Another key player set to suit up for the side this season is Jason Plumhoff, who claimed All-Conference honors a season ago for Reading United, which will make the Nor’easters formidable one again.
Reading United AC – A playoff participant for the past six seasons, Reading will have David Castellanos at the helm as he takes over as head coach from Brendan Burke. United should remain a strong contender, even with some key losses to the pro ranks, with Philadelphia Union Academy players Darius Madison and Shane Campbell both back for their second seasons, and other veterans such as goalkeeper Alex Bono, midfielder Manolo Sanchez and South Florida duo Lucas Baldin and Wesley Charpie all set to return.
SOUTH ATLANTIC
Carolina Dynamo – The defending division champions, Carolina will look to adjust to the appointment of Steve Diamond as the club’s head coach just prior to the season after Chris Little, an offseason appointment, chose to take the head coaching position at Elon University. Diamond will have a strong squad at his disposal with Boyd Okwuono, Mamadee Nyepon and All-Conference selection Brandt Bronico all returning as the Dynamo look to replicate their run to the 2012 PDL Championship Game.
Cincinnati Dutch Lions – A newcomer to the league, the Dutch Lions will aim to emulate the success of their USL PRO partner in Dayton. Set to be coached by Terry Nicholl and Alan Grothaus, Cincinnati will include Rowin van Zaanen, a veteran forward with Eredivisie experience in Holland, and will also look to bring some of the top local players as it looks to hit the ground running.
River City Rovers – A newcomer to the division from the Central Conference, River City will try to bounce back under new coach Tyrone Marshall. The former Jamaican international and MLS All-Star will have a solid roster at his disposal, including returnee Dylan Terry, who had five goals and three assists a season ago to lead the side.
SC United Bantams – The Bantams and Coach Gary Winchester will look to make a move up the standings after finishing fifth in a congested battle in the middle of the division last season. The Bantams were in contention at the midway point last season, but only four points in their last seven games left them looking for better this summer.
Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors – Entering their third season, the King’s Warriors will be hoping for a breakthrough after struggling in the second half of 2013. Forward Billy Forbes returns to Scott Reitnour’s squad after scoring seven goals and adding three assists a season ago, and he will be joined by a contingent of players from NCAA Division III champions Messiah College, all of whom will be looking to shine on a bigger stage.
West Virginia Chaos – After a pair of winning seasons that saw the side just miss out on the playoffs, the Chaos took a step back in 2013 as they recorded their lowest points total since 2008. The side will look to rebound this summer with Dion Peters back on the squad after recording four goals with the Michigan Bucks last season. Peters led the Chaos with seven goals in 2012 and will be a key figure for the side this season.