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.
Changes from 1996 season
Name changes Miami Tango changed their name to Miami Breakers. Puget Sound Hammerheads merged with the D-3 Pro's Everett BigFoot to become Puget Sound BigFoot. Southern California Gunners changed their name to Southern California Chivas.
New teams 7 teams were added for the season. TeamAreaLocationPrevious affiliation Alabama SaintsBirmingham areaBirmingham, ALexpansion Cascade SurgeWillamette Valley AreaSalem, ORfrom USISL Pro League Cincinnati RiverhawksGreater Cincinnati areaCincinnati, OHexpansion Lincoln BrigadeLincoln AreaLincoln, NEexpansion San Gabriel Valley HighlandersGreater Los Angeles areaGlendale, CAexpansion Southwest Florida ManateesSouthwest Florida areaCape Coral, FLexpansion Yakima RedsYakima areaYakima, WAfrom USISL Pro League
Teams Leaving The Nashville Metros 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: Birmingham Grasshoppers Fontana Falcons Oklahoma City Heat Orlando Lions Roanoke River Dawgs San Diego Top Guns
The Wichita Blue went on hiatus for this year, and the Willamette Valley Firebirds went on hiatus for the next two years.
Standings
Central Conference
Central Division
North Central Division
Eastern Conference
Mid-South Division
Southeast Division
Western Conference
Northwest Division
Southwest Division
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.
Divisional brackets
PDSL Finals Brackets
United Soccer Leagues (RSSSF)
Championship MVP: Joe Munoz (CCR)
Honors Organization of the Year: Kalamazoo Kingdom Executive of the Year: Jeff Robbins, Spokane Shadow Fair Play Award: Detroit Dynamite
References