THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Chill travel to Portland, Oregon, this weekend to take part in the 2010 Premier Development League (PDL) Championship. The schedule is set for Friday-Saturday, August 6-7, 2010, at PGE Park, home of the Portland Timbers U23.
Similar to the Conference Championship, the Chill will be one of four teams taking part in the weekend’s competition. The Champions of each of the four conferences will travel to Portland to take part in two semi finals on Friday, August 6th, that will determine the teams for the PDL Championship Final on Saturday, August 8th (7:00 p.m. EDT).
The first semi final will see the Chill (Central Conference Champion) face off against the Baton Rouge Capitals (Southern Champion). The Capitals defeated the Houston Leones by a score of 2-1, to earn a birth in the Championship. The game will take place on Friday, August 8th, at 8:00 p.m. (EDT).
The Portland Timbers U23 (Western Champion) have ridden a perfect regular season record (16-0-0) into the playoffs, and knocked off the Hollywood United (2-1) and Kitsap Pumas (2-1) to earn the right to host the 2010 PDL Championship weekend, and are the favourite to take the trophy. Portland’s opponents, Reading United AC (Eastern Champion), have a tough task ahead of them, but after defeating MPS Portland Phoenix (2-0) and Ottawa Fury (3-2) to get to the Championship, feel they are more then capable of an upset.
The two losers of the semi finals will take part in a consolation final, on Saturday, August 7th, at 4:00 p.m. (EDT). The winners will move on to the 2010 PDL Championship Final on August 7th, at 7:00 p.m. (EDT). The semi finals and consolation final will be available to watch online at www.usllive.com. The Championship Final will be broadcast LIVE on Fox Soccer Channel.
Game Schedule for August 6th-7th, 2010.
Semi Final 1
Friday, August 6, 2010 – 8:00 p.m. (EDT) – #3 Baton Rouge (Visitor) vs. #2 Thunder Bay (Home)
Semi Final 2
Friday, August 6, 2010 – 10:30 p.m. (EDT) – #4 Reading United AC (Visitor) vs. #1 Portland (Home)
Consolation Final
Saturday, August 7, 2010 – 4:00 p.m. (EDT) – Loser of Semi Final 1 vs. Loser of Semi Final 2.
PDL Championship Final
Saturday, August 7, 2010 – 7:00 p.m. (EDT) – Winner of Semi Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi Final 2.