2005 PDL season
The 2005 USL Premier Development League season was the 11th PDL season. The season began in April 2005 and ended in August 2005.
Des Moines Menace finished the season as national champions, beating El Paso Patriots 6-5 on penalty kicks, following a 0-0 draw in the PDL Championship game in El Paso, Texas on 13 August 2005.
Orange County Blue Star finished with the best regular season record in the league, winning 15 out of their 16 games, suffering just one loss, and finishing with a +39 goal difference.
Cape Cod Crusaders striker Andy Metcalf and Cocoa Expos forward Frederico Moojen were the league's top scorers, each knocking in 18 goals. Richmond Kickers Future's Christian Neagu led the league with 12 assists, while Orange County Blue Star keeper Nate Pena enjoyed the best goalkeeping statistics, with a goals-against average of 0.466 per game, and keeping 7 clean sheets in his 14 games.
Changes from 2004
Name changes
- Albany Blackwatch Highlanders became Albany Admirals
- South Jersey Barons became Ocean City Barons
New franchises
- Seven new teams joined the league this year, including four brand new franchises:
Team Name | Metro Area | Location | Previous Affiliation |
Augusta FireBall | Augusta area | Augusta, GA | expansion |
Bakersfield Brigade | Bakersfield area | Bakersfield, CA | expansion |
California Gold | Modesto area | Modesto, CA | previously in USL Pro Select |
Ottawa Fury | Ottawa area | Ottawa, ON | expansion |
San Diego Gauchos | San Diego area | San Diego, CA | previously in USL Pro Select |
Springfield Storm | Springfield area | Springfield, MO | expansion |
Westchester Flames | northern suburban New York area | New Rochelle, NY | previously in USL Pro Select |
Folding
- Eight teams left the league prior to the beginning of the season:
- *Chesapeake Dragons - Germantown, Maryland
- *Columbus Shooting Stars - Columbus, Ohio
- *Indiana Blast - Indianapolis, Indiana
- *Jersey Falcons - Jersey City, New Jersey
- *Lafayette Swamp Cats - Lafayette, Louisiana
- *New Jersey Stallions - Wayne, New Jersey
- *St. Louis Strikers - St. Louis, Missouri
- *Wisconsin Rebels - Menasha, Wisconsin
Standings