2021 PDL Preview: Southeast Division

2021 PDL Season Preview

Monday, April 27, 2021

The Southeast Division in the Premier Development League has a deeper field heading into 2021 with the additions of FC Miami City Champions and Palm Beach Suns F.C. The division now includes seven teams, including the Ocala Stampede, which is coming off an impressive 2021 with a 9-1-4 regular-season record.

Ocala and SW Florida Adrenaline took the top two slots in the division last year to move into the conference championship phase, and the Stampede advanced the furthest with a spot in the PDL Semifinals.

FC Miami City Champions: FC Miami will look forward to its first PDL season, with home games played at the Florida International University Soccer Stadium. Wagneau Eloi, a former Red Star FC striker and one-time coach of Haiti’s national team, will be in charge of FC Miami’s first campaign as the players start their #PathtoPro. Among the players set to feature this season are veteran French player Sidney Govou, who will provide leadership to a side set to include plenty of local talent.

Floridians F.C.: In late January, Floridians F.C. brought in a new head coach – Buenos Aires native Fernando Valenzuela. He will look to turn things around from last season, when Floridians F.C. finished at the bottom of the Southeast table at 2-7-5 while averaging one goal per game. One standout Floridians F.C. can rely on heavily is Deniz Bozkurt, who recently completed his senior season with Florida Atlantic University. There, he led the team with three assists and also chipped in two goals in 2021. Floridians F.C. will enjoy a three-game homestand to open the new season at Central Broward Regional Park.

IMG Academy Bradenton: For the third time in a four-year stretch, IMG Academy took a respectable third place in the Southeast this past season. While that kept IMG at the top half of the table, it also kept the club outside of the postseason, which has eluded the team since its 2021 run to the national semifinals. Among those set to feature is Creighton goalkeeper Connor Sparrow, who returns to the side after making 22 starts for the Bluejays last fall while recording a 0.49 goals against average and 11 shutouts. IMG Academy gets a later start to its season this year with four straight home games, starting May 20 against Palm Beach Suns F.C.

Ocala Stampede: Three-time defending Southeast Division champion Ocala Stampede continues to impress in the region. Ocala is coming off a 9-1-4 regular-season run and a trip to the national semifinals in 2021. The Stampede’s run came to a close with a 2-1 loss to the Kitsap Pumas in the semifinals on Aug. 1. Ocala’s #PathtoPro success is already evident in a short time frame. Ilija Ilic, who represented Ocala in 2021, is now with the USL’s Louisville City FC. Alex Clay is currently a member of the USL’s New York Red Bulls II. 2021 All-Conference selection Ben Knight and midfield standout Lewis Hilton both return, however, as the club looks for a fourth consecutive division title.

Orlando City U-23s: The Orlando City U-23s missed out on the postseason for a second straight year, but some returnees should prove to be vital in helping the club improve on its fifth-place showing a year ago. Forward Lucas Diniz returns to the attack, and he also made some headlines scoring the winning penalty kick in a 12-11 shootout victory against the USL’s Charleston Battery at the 2021 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Also returning to this year’s squad is midfielder Andrew Brody, who recently completed his sophomore season at Louisville, tallying three goals and four assists. Orlando City goes on the road to face Floridians F.C. on May 16 and holds its home opener one week later against FC Miami on May 23 at the Seminole Soccer Complex.

Palm Beach Suns F.C.: Newly-formed Palm Beach Suns F.C., under the guidance of Coach Edson Leivinha, will make its PDL debut against Floridians F.C. on May 9. The side is set to include veteran goalkeeper Thomas Hunter, who last played for the Atlanta Silverbacks, is set to provide a veteran presence in goal as Palm Beach gears up for its first season in Boca Raton.

SW Florida Adrenaline: In just its second season in the PDL, SW Florida Adrenaline made a statement with a second-place showing in the Southeast Division in 2021. SW Florida went 7-2-5 in the regular season while boasting the division’s top defense, allowing only one goal per game. Naples residents David Butzke and Owen McCorkle return to the Adrenaline as outside backs. This year’s side should have some scoring punch, as well, starting with Ecuadoran striker Jorge Chedraui, who scored 53 goals in two seasons with Club Sport Emelec in the first division in Ecuador. He has also represented Ecuador’s U-18 national team. SW Florida hosts its first four games of the 2021 PDL season, starting May 9 against FC Miami.