2003 PDL season


The 2003 USL Premier Development League season was the 9th PDL season. The season began in April 2003 and ended in August 2003.
Cape Cod Crusaders finished the season as national champions for the second time, beating Chicago Fire Reserves 2-0 in the PDL Championship game. New Orleans Shell Shockers finished with the best regular season record in the league, winning 16 out of their 18 games, suffering just 2 losses, and finishing with a +35 goal difference.
Cape Cod Crusaders striker Joseph Ngwenya and Vermont Voltage forward Bo Vuckovic were the league's top scorers, each knocking in 17 goals. Des Moines Menace midfielders Tomas Boltnar and Joseph Kabwe and Nashville Metros Ben Buerger led the league with 10 assists each, while Indiana Invaders keeper Christopher Sawyer enjoyed the best goalkeeping statistics, with a goals-against average of 0.287 per game, and Richmond Kickers Future keeper kept 7 clean sheets and had a GAA average of 0.568 in his 12 games.

Changes from 2002

New franchises

Team NameMetro AreaLocationPrevious Affiliation
Abbotsford RangersAbbotsford areaAbbotsford, BCexpansion
Albany Blackwatch HighlandersAlbany areaSchenectady, NYexpansion
BYU CougarsProvo areaProvo, UTexpansion
Columbus Shooting StarsColumbus areaColumbus, OHexpansion
Fort Wayne FeverFort Wayne areaFort Wayne, INexpansion
Fresno FuegoFresno areaFresno, CAexpansion
Jersey Shore BocaJersey Shore areaToms River, NJexpansion
Nevada WondersCarson City areaCarson City, NVexpansion
New Orleans Shell ShockersNew Orleans areaNew Orleans, LAexpansion
St. Louis StrikersSt. Louis areaSt. Louis, MOexpansion
South Jersey BaronsGreater Trenton areaTrenton, NJpreviously in D3 Pro
Toledo SlayersToledo areaMaumee, OHexpansion
West Virginia ChaosCharleston areaCharleston, WVexpansion

Folding

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Heartland Division

Eastern Conference

Mid Atlantic Division

Northeast Division

Southern Conference

Mid South Division

Southeast Division

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Southwest Division

Playoffs