Indiana University Athletics
Traylor leads Michigan Bucks to PDL Championship
8/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 13, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Junior back Charley Traylor led the Michigan Bucks to the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) Championship on Saturday, Aug. 12, defeating the Laredo Heat 2-1 in the championship game.
Traylor started the championship game for the Bucks. He was part of a defense that allowed just two goals over four games in the playoffs.
Michigan came from the 13th-seeded position to win the title, the lowest seed ever to win the PDL Championship. The team defeated third-seeded Boulder (4-0), fourth-seeded Chicago (4-1) and ninth-seeded Orange County (2-0) before topping the fifth-seeded Heat.
The USL Premier Development League features a 59-team format within four conferences, consisting of 16 regular season matches. The schedule is augmented by participation in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and various exhibitions. Players have the ability to compete in the PDL throughout the summer months in a professionalized setting while maintaining their collegiate eligibility.
Traylor is one of several Hoosiers who spent their summer in the PDL. Senior midfielder Josh Tudela, playing with the Kalamazoo Kingdom, was named to the PDL All-Central Conference team.
Traylor is one of four IU men's soccer players to win a national championship with their respective club teams in 2006. Senior forward Kevin Robson and senior back Greg Stevning led the Scott Gallagher Soccer Club to the National Cup title in the under-23 division of the United States Adult Soccer Association on Aug. 6. Redshirt freshman Darren Yeagle scored the game-winning goal to lead Javanon to a victory in the under-19 boys final of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships on July 30.
The Hoosiers travel to Fort Wayne on Monday, Aug. 14 to continue training camp. The team will face Illinois-Chicago on Aug. 15 and Maryland in the IPFW Soccer Showcase on Aug. 18th in exhibition competition.
Ranked 13th in the College Sports News preseason top-30 poll, IU begins the regular season on Aug. 25 against Creighton.
