2009 PDL season

The 2009 USL Premier Development League season was the 15th season of the PDL. The regular season began on May 1, 2009, and ended on July 19, 2009. The PDL Championship Game was held on August 8, 2009, and was broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel in the United States.

Ventura County Fusion finished the season as national champions, beating Chicago Fire Premier 2–1 in the PDL Championship game in Ventura, California on August 8, 2009.

Reading Rage finished with the best regular season record in the league, winning 13 out of their 16 games, suffering just one loss, and finishing with a +41 goal difference.

Reading Rage striker Aaron Wheeler was the league's top scorer and MVP, knocking in 17 goals, while his teammate Jon Ports led the league with 10 assists. Mississippi Brilla goalkeeper Josh Pantazelos enjoyed the best goalkeeping statistics, with a goals against average of 0.615 on the season, including 8 shutouts.

Name Changes

 * Cary Railhawks U23's changed their name to the Cary Clarets to reflect their new association with English Championship team Burnley.
 * New Orleans Shell Shockers rebranded themselves as the New Orleans Jesters, having terminated their sponsorship deal with the Shell Oil Company.

New Franchises

 * Eleven franchises have been announced as joining the league this year:

On hiatus

 * One team went on hiatus due to home stadium renovations:
 * Vermont Voltage – St. Albans, Vermont

Folding

 * Nine teams have been announced as leaving the league prior to the beginning of the season:
 * Atlanta Silverbacks U23's – Chamblee, Georgia
 * Cape Cod Crusaders – Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
 * Colorado Rapids U23's – Boulder, Colorado
 * Palm Beach Pumas – Wellington, Florida
 * Richmond Kickers Future – Richmond, Virginia
 * San Fernando Valley Quakes – Woodland Hills, California
 * San Francisco Seals – San Francisco, California
 * San Jose Frogs – San Jose, California
 * West Michigan Edge – Kentwood, Michigan

Standings
In 2009, there was a more balanced 8 divisions (down from 10 in 2008). The top 3 from each division qualified for the play-offs, with the division champion receiving a bye through the first round.

Mid South Division
''Note: Austin finish in third place as a result of winning the head-to-head season series 2–0–1 against El Paso. ''

Format
The top three teams from each division earn playoff bids. The division champion earns a bye to the Division Finals and the rights to host. The second place team will host the third place team in the Division Semifinals either at their home field or at the division champion's field. The two notable exceptions were the Chicago Fire Premier hosting Forest City London in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Ventura County Fusion hosting the Los Angeles Legends, despite Los Angeles having the higher seed.

Award Winners and Finalists
The awards finalists, Goalkeeper of the Year, and All-League teams were announced on August 4, 2009, with the winners announced on August 6.

Most Valuable Player

 * Aaron Wheeler, F, Reading Rage (Winner)
 * Tom Oatley, F, Kalamazoo Outrage
 * Debola Ogunseye, F, Mississippi Brilla

U19 Player of the Year

 * Christian Ibeagha, D, Cary Clarets (Winner)
 * Sheanon Williams, D, Carolina Dynamo
 * Max Touloute, F, Fort Wayne Fever

Defender of the Year

 * Christian Ibeagha, Cary Clarets (Winner)
 * Bonivenger Misiko, Fort Wayne Fever
 * Daniel Scott, Seattle Wolves
 * Chris Williams, New Orleans Jesters

Goalkeeper of the Year

 * Jimmy Maurer, Chicago Fire Premier

Coach of the Year

 * Casey Mann, Des Moines Menace (Winner)
 * Dan Fisher, Long Island Rough Riders
 * Mark Spooner, Kalamazoo Outrage
 * Brent Whitfield, Los Angeles Legends

Central Conference
F: Andre Akpan, CHI; Teal Bunbury, ROC; Tom Oatley *, KAL M: Dave Hertel *, MIC; Nolan Intermoia, TB; Brad Stisser, COL D: Anthony Di Biase, LON; Bonivenger Misiko *, FW; Wilson Neto, TB; Brian Wurst, KC G: Jimmy Maurer *, CHI Honorable Mention: Justin Ferguson, D, SPR; Saidi Isaac, F, IND; David Mueller, D, SL; Armin Mujdzic, F, DM; Yoram Mwila, M, CLE; Kyle Segebart, D, CIN; Jordan Webb, M, TOR

Eastern Conference
F: Cody Arnoux, CAR; Adam Arthur, WV; Aaron Wheeler *, REA M: Will Beague *, OTT; Adam Gazda, REA; Zach Loyd, CAR D: Brien Chamney, OTT; Christian Ibeagha *, CRY; Rich Martinez, LI; Sheanon Williams, CAR G: Tunde Ogunbiyi, OCC Honorable Mention: Frank Alesci, M, BRK; Zachary Carr, G, NJ; Kevon Harris, M, HR; Sean Kelley, G, NV; Michael Konicoff, M, WCH; Jerrod Laventure, F, NWK; Ken Manaham, G, FRB; Matthew Marcin, M, RI; Timothy Murray, G, NH; Ian Stowe, M, VIR

Southern Conference
F: Zak Boggs, BRD; Salvador Luna, RGV; Debola Ogunseye *, MIS M: Danny Galvan, LAR;Greg Mulamba, LAR; Gary Stopforth, NO D: Jamie Cunningham, AUS; Dwyane Demmin, MIS; Thomas Wharf, PAN; Chris Williams *, NO G: Ryan Cooper, LAR Honorable Mention: Jay Ambrosy, M, HOU; Lief Craddock, G, WTU; Janrai Gravely, G, DFW; Tommy Krizanovic, F, CF; Wilfrid Loizeau, M, ATL; Felipe Lowall, M, BR; Ryan McDonald, D, NAS; Jorge Muniz, G, EP

Western Conference
F: Rory Agu, TAC; Brent Whitfield, LA; Ryan Youngblood, POR M: Ely Allen, SEA; Tomislav Colic, SC; Michael Farfan, LA; Armando Ochoa *, HU D: Nick Cardenas, OGD; Mark Lee, KIT; Dan Scott *, SEA G: Dustyn Brim, KIT Honorable Mention: Richie Bindrup, M, BYU; Zach Brunner, G, LAN; Jason Devinish, M, VIC; Gagandeep Dosanjh, M, VAN; Eddie Gutierrez, M, FRE; Anthony Hamilton, F, VEN; Jacob Hustedt, M, BAK; Kristjan Johannson, G, ABB; Kristopher Minton, G, ORC; Vinicius Oliveira, F, YAK; John Prugh, F, SPO; Steve Reese, G, CSC

* denotes All-League selection