1998 PDSL season


The 1998 Premier Development Soccer League season was the 4th PDSL season. The season began in April 1998 and ended in August 1998.
San Gabriel Valley Highlanders won the championship, defeating the Jackson Chargers 3-2. Jackson won the regular season title, winning all 16 games and posting a whopping +84 goal difference. Four teams from the Pacific Coast Soccer League joined as associate members this season, with two going on to become full members in 1999.

Changes from the 1997 season

Name changes

13 teams were added for the season, 9 expansion teams and four associates from the Pacific Coast Soccer League.
TeamAreaLocationPrevious affiliation
Abbotsford Athletes In ActionAbbotsford areaAbbotsford, BCPacific Coast Soccer League
Bradenton AcademicsSouthwest Florida areaBradenton, FLexpansion
Central Florida LionheartsCentral Florida areaSeminole, FLexpansion
Colorado CometsDenver areaCommerce City, COexpansion
Fox River RebelsFox Cities areaMenasha, WIexpansion
Indiana InvadersMichiana areaSouth Bend, INexpansion
Kansas City BrassKansas City areaLiberty, MOexpansion
Miami TangoGreater Miami areaMiami, FLexpansion
Northern Arizona ProspectorsPrescott-Chino Valley areaPrescott Valley, AZexpansion
Okanagan Valley ChallengeOkanagan Valley areaKelowna, BCPacific Coast Soccer League
Seattle HibernianSeattle areaSeattle, WAPacific Coast Soccer League
Silicon Valley AmbassadorsSouth San Francisco Bay areaSanta Clara, CAexpansion
Victoria Umbro SelectVancouver Island areaVictoria, BCPacific Coast Soccer League

Teams leaving

The Cincinnati Riverhawks were promoted to the A-League and the Miami Breakers were promoted to the D3 Pro League following the 1997 season.
7 teams folded after the 1997 season:
The Lexington Bluegrass Bandits and Tucson Amigos went on hiatus for this year.

Standings

Central Division

Great Lakes Division

Northwest Division

Southeast Division

Southwest Division

Playoffs

Format

Kalamazoo hosted the Finals and received a bye to the National Semi-Finals.
''The top four teams from the Central, Great Lakes, Southeast, and Southwest divisions, however, if Kalamazoo places in the top four in the Central Division, the fifth place team will take their spot. The top two teams in the Northwest Division will play the top two associate teams from the PCSL. The team with the most points to lose in the Divisional rounds will play in the Regional round as a wild card against the Divisional champion with the most points. The remaining four teams will play each other based on geography.

Divisional brackets

Regional finals

PDSL finals bracket