PDL season is finally here!

Six Carolina PDL teams are going to be starting their seasons this week! The six teams will be playing 14 games each over the course of the next ten weeks, and that’s not even including the playoffs. So. Many. Games.

That can be a bit overwhelming for fans wanting to catch as much action as possible, so before the season gets underway this weekend, I thought it would be fun to pick out just six games you won’t want to miss this summer.

The only criteria was that no two games would be on the same week, but I tried to sprinkle in every team, and I tried to find games most people could watch. Let’s go.

The PDL Champions host the Division Champions

Week one starts off strong on Saturday, May 12 with the PDL National Champion Charlotte Eagles hosting last year’s South Atlantic Division Champion Myrtle Beach Mutiny at the Sportsplex at Matthews at 2:00 p.m.

If you are a fan of watching afternoon soccer with two high-quality opponents looking to prove they belong at the top of the division again this season, this week one match is for you.

A Dynamo Doubleheader

The Carolina Dynamo are hosting a double header the next weekend on May 19. Their WPSL side will be hosting Lake Norman at 4:30 p.m. to be followed by the PDL team as they too play host to the Myrtle Beach Mutiny.

This is the first double header of the season. Ben Goshorn and I will be there to record an episode of our SNST’s Amateur Hour podcast about the stadium experience in Greensboro that day. Come on out and say hello!

New division, new stadium, new game day events

The Bantams of SC United are in a new division and conference this season, sadly leaving behind our other five Carolina PDL sides in the South Atlantic. While they will still play some of those Carolina teams, we will get the opportunity to see them play several teams the other Carolina teams will not.

And, June 2 is the opening game for SC United at their brand new stadium! They are hosting the Tri-Cities Otters at 7:30 p.m. that day.

Every night at their stadium this season will have a different international theme, and this one is British night. Let’s hope the Bantams can win the Deep South Division this season, as it feels like they’re traveling abroad for almost every away game.

Triangle Rivalry Time

On June 20, Tobacco Road will host North Carolina FC’s U-23s for some Wednesday night soccer amongst local rivals. This will be their second meeting of the year, and both teams are stacked with young talent. While the Mutiny and Eagles dominated the South Atlantic in 2017, these two teams could be challenging for the title by this time this season.

Tobacco Road was the only Carolina team that had any players listed in PDL’s list of 50 players to watch.

Myrtle Beach hosts the new guys

On June 30, the Mutiny will be hosting newcomer and non-Carolina side Lionsbridge FC. The Virginia side will have most of their first season behind them, but a contest in Myrtle Beach might be their toughest of the season: A band will be playing right behind the away bench.

Opposing coaches have complained about the headaches they get from playing in Myrtle Beach, so it should be a fun one to check out! Enjoy the Carolinas, Lionsbridge!

Decision Day for who makes the PDL Playoffs?

And finally on the last week of the season, we have the Charlotte Eagles hosting NCFC U23 on July 14.

Despite getting walloped in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night, the Eagles have been contenders for the division title every season since joining the PDL, and they’re still the reigning National Champs. As we mentioned before, North Carolina FC has brought in some legit talent this season, so make sure to watch them at least once this year. If you get to July 14 without having seen them, make sure you catch this game.

Of course, there are a lot of great games I left off this list. Each team deserves your support, and if you haven’t read our offseason preview of the 2018 season, be sure to do that too.

For updates on all six Carolina PDL teams, be sure to follow Soccer ‘n’ Sweet Tea on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. And subscribe to our Soccer ’n’ Sweet Tea’s Amateur Hour podcast, where each week you’ll hear about lower division soccer in the Carolinas!

Finally, if you don’t see enough coverage of your team out there, be part of the solution and write about them! That’s what we’re doing! Please reach out to us: We would love to have more coverage of each one of the soccer teams in the Carolinas from a fan perspective, and we’d love to help you provide your team’s voice here at SNST.

Enjoy the 2018 season, PDL fans!