On a hot and sunny California evening, Foothills FC clinched its second Western Conference Championship in three years by defeating FC Tucson 2-0 with perhaps their best performance of the season. Coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr agreed, “We played possibly our most complete team performance at the perfect time of year, when it counts.”

By virtue of their excellent regular season record (11W, 1L, 2D), Foothills FC now has the opportunity to host the PDL National Semi-Final this weekend at their fortress in Okotoks at 7:00pm. Foothills’ opponent for the match will be Chicago FC United, the Central Conference Champion, fresh of a victory over the previously undefeated and PDL’s Regular Season #1 ranked team, Des Moines Menace.

Foothills will definitely be looking forward to returning home, a place where they haven’t lost since their inaugural PDL season in 2015. This season in their new found home in Okotoks the team has flourished with a record of 5 wins and 2 draws in 7 matches and in those games the team has scored 14 goals while only conceding 3.

“This truly is a special group and I’m proud of the commitment each of them have put in,” Wheeldon continued, “whether it’s the lads who had to play every minute, the players who saw just a few minutes to the lads that are injured, they hunt together for a shared goal.”

This has been an amazing run for Foothills who are currently on a 9 game winning streak and who have not conceded a goal in over 535 minutes (over 5 ½ games). The team has also been able to get scoring from all over the pitch with 11 different players finding the back of the net this season, including the NW Division Scoring Champion Moses Danto who led the team with 11 goals.

Saturdays match is sure to be an entertaining one as Chicago FC United have become the underdog story of the PDL playoffs thus far and look to continue their surprise run. A regular season record of 7 wins, 5 losses and 2 ties saw the team sneak into the playoffs as the 4th seed in the Central Conference.

In the first game of the playoffs Chicago trailed the Daytona Dutch Lions 3-1 at halftime and it looked like an early exit was in store, however the team exploded 4 second half goals to win 5-3 and advance to the Conference Final to face a familiar foe. The Des Moines Menace was the top team in the entire PDL with a record of 13 wins and 1 draw on the season, including 4 wins over Chicago during the season by a combined score of 14-2. Chicago FC United shocked the Menace with a gutsy, hard fought 1-0 win on Saturday night in Des Moines to earn the crown of Central Conference Champion and booked their place in the PDL National Semi-Final.

The team is inviting everyone to pack the stadium on Saturday to cheer their Foothills FC to victory and on to the PDL Championship!! There are 74 teams in the PDL and we are now down to the final four, #HuntTogether and join the team as they hunt for the PDL National Championship Trophy this Saturday night in Okotoks!!

Tickets are available online at www.foothillsfc.ca or at the gate. Be sure to check the highest level of men’s soccer in Alberta in 2018 while enjoying the game day experience including food trucks, free giveaways, beer gardens, live music, half time entertainment, kids zone, and much more.

When: Saturday, July 28th: 7:00p.m. kick-off (Gates open at 6:00 p.m.)

Where: Foothills Composite High School

229 Woodhaven Drive, Okotoks AB

PDL PLAYOFFS EXPLAINED

As NW Division Champion, Foothills FC qualified for one of 4 playoff spots in the Western Conference with each Division winner earning their place, along with the team with the next best record in the three divisions. The four teams competed in a Conference Final Four during the weekend of July 20-22 with Foothills FC being crowned Western Conference Champion. There were 3 other Conference Playoffs held this past weekend with 3 other Conference Champions Crowned (Chicago FC United, Reading United AC, and the Villages SC). Now the 4 remaining teams play in two PDL National Semi-Finals on July 28th with the PDL Final taking place on August 4th. The Semi-Final & Final will be hosted by the higher ranking team.

ABOUT FOOTHILLS FC

Foothills FC has been operating in Calgary and competing in the Premier Development League, competing in the Northwest Conference since 2015. In 2016, Foothills FC was crowned Western Conference Champion and National Runner-up. Foothills FC’s mandate is to be a bridge for the future starts of the game to develop and succeed in Canada while providing our fans with a premier sporting experience. Foothills FC would like to thank all its sponsors including our jersey and game day sponsors: Telus, PetroTranz, Rogers Insurance, Secure Energy, Spruce Meadows, and Strikers Soccer

ABOUT PDL

The proven developmental leader in North American soccer's evolving tiered structure, the PDL features 74 teams within four conferences throughout the United States and Canada in 2018, including 18 teams affiliated with USL PRO or Major League Soccer clubs. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world, with 70 percent of all MLS draftees having PDL experience.

(Photo Credits to @BaitMedia)