USL PDL Open Qualifying Change

According to the Kitsap Pumas (linked above) they automatically qualify for the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup since they won their division. Joining them would be the Portland Timbers U-23 side, as they were the best remaining American team.

Other qualifiers based on last year's standings in the PDL (and assuming that this is true for all PDL divisions) would be the Michigan Bucks, Chicago Fire, Des Moinse Menace, Real Colorado Foxes, Long Island Rough Riders, Reading United, MPS Portland Phoenix, New Hampshire Phantoms, Carolina Dynamo, Northern Virginia Royals, Laredo Heat, Chivas El Paso Patriots, Mississippi Brilla, Central Florida Kraze (now Orlando City U-23), Fresno Fuego, Ventura County Fusion

Now that would be 18, so I may be jumping the gun.

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Kitsap Pumas beat Laredo Heat 1-0 to win the 2011 USL PDL championship.

Great weekend for the Seattle Sounders. They fought through fatigue, heat, humidity and a goal deficit to end Sporting Kansas City's 14 game unbeaten streak in MLS. The 2-1 victory marks the second time the Sounders have come from behind in overtime to defeat the Sporks. To be fair, the Sporks outplayed the Sounders for the majority of the match even after designated player Omar Bravo was sent of for a reckless challenge.

An interesting spectacle to Saturday night's United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League title match between the Laredo Heat and Kitsap SC Pumas was a padded rugby-style helmet worn by Kitsap player, Kyle Johnson. The helmet was approved by the league for use by Johnson as he recovers from a concussion suffered earlier in the season.

The Kitsap Pumas captured the 2011 PDL Championship by downing the Laredo Heat 1-0 Saturday. The teams met after the Pumas had defeated former champion the Thunder Bay Chill 3-1 in the semifinals, while the Heat knocked off the Long Island Rough Riders by a 4-1 score to enter the championship match.

The Kitsap Pumas captured the 2011 PDL Championship by downing the Laredo Heat 1-0 Saturday. The teams met after the Pumas had defeated former champion the Thunder Bay Chill 3-1 in the semifinals, while the Heat knocked off the Long Island Rough Riders by a 4-1 score to enter the championship match.

More than 60 teams compete in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League to win a title. Saturday, those championship dreams were realized by a team from the Pacific Northwest. The Kitsap SC Pumas, from nearby Seattle, won its first PDL title. The magic happened for them in front of a national audience watching on Fox Soccer Channel.

Felix Garcia with ball.This interview was conducted with Felix Garcia, a forward with the Laredo Heat of the Premier Development League (PDL) of United Soccer Leagues (USL). Felix is 20 years old and is a former player with the U-20 National team and signed with the Houston Dynamo. He is on loan this year with Laredo.

Starting in the Pacific Northwest of the PDL where the Kitsap Pumas and Portland Timbers U-23 wind up their US Open Cup Qualifying perfectly tied. Tuesday there will be a coin flip to determine which team gets to compete for the Open Cup and a potential regional Third Round match with the Seattle Sounders.

While #TheTrialist earned the fame, and the contract, the Seattle Sounders have had several other players into camp at various points over the past few years who are now scattered in the lower divisions of the USSF. These players are in the NASL (Division 2), USLPro (Div 3) and the PDL (Div 4). With Seattle lacking some depth these days and the ability to get a loan for one of these players being fairly simple, it may be time to start tracking their performance in these other leagues.