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With 2017 quickly drawing to a close, the time has come for the world to look back at a year full of just about everything. The sports world was all over the chart with emotions, from ecstasy to disappointment, and everything in between. The Clemson Tigers overcame a second half deficit to become the first ACC team to win the College Football Playoff. Super Bowl 51 ... happened. Atlanta United stormed on to the MLS scene in style, exceeding everybody's expectations. Toronto FC won their first MLS Cup in club history. The United States will not be in Russia next Summer for the first time in thirty years. The Houston Astros won their first World Series. Once again, the Cleveland Browns are pushing an 0-16 season. 2017 has been exciting to say the least, and right here in Peachtree City, the landscape of soccer continued its growth on Highway 74. PDL Club Showing Signs of Growth While the 2017 season may not have been the season that everybody hoped it would be, the sun continu

With 2018 drawing nigh, it is time to begin thinking about the 2018 PDL season. 2018 marks MOBA's third year in the league, and hopes are high following the club's first two years in the league. While the roster is yet to be formed, the coaching staff has been set with the hope of finally having some stability on the touchline. Over the club's first two seasons, Peachtree City has seen three different head coaches and a number of assistants, but with the youth system finally set in place (and seeing great success), focus can finally be put on improving the highest level of soccer the club has to offer. MOBA announced former Northern Irish international Campbell Chapman as the head coach of the women's team back on November 6th, and on the 16th the club announced who would be taking the reins of the PDL side. Omar Jarun - Head Coach Arguably one of the biggest names to come out of Peachtree City, Jarun has seen his career come full circle over the last twelve yea

An announcement that slid under the radar back in March, MOBA Soccer Academy unveiled plans to enter the Women's Premier Soccer League as an expansion club in 2018. The top amateur women's league in the country, the MOBA WPSL team rounds out the structure of the MOBA development pyramid, as players can enter the youth academy and build their talent before moving on to either the PDL or WPSL during their college careers. Plans have been in the works for months to get things in order, and the first step has now been taken toward the construction of a team, as MOBA announced on Tuesday that former Northern Irish international Campbell Chapman would become the club's first ever head coach. Born in Sutton in Ashfield, England in 1963 to Mansfield Town star Sammy Chapman, Campbell Chapman enjoyed a very decorated ten-year professional career at clubs such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, IFK Ostersund, Kaskinen IK, Birkakara FC, and Al Ahli SC. During hi

With the regular season finale drawing near, lots of questions still remain about final seeding. Only a handful of matches remain to lock up spots in the conference tournaments, and all across the United States, one can find a story worth following. Whether it be the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, or any league in between, the final week of the season has been one to watch. Sheikali, Terriers Look to Lock Up Top Spot in PL After a shocking 0-5-0 start to the campaign in which the Terriers did not score a goal but conceded thirteen, something had to change before Boston kicked off Patriot League play against American University on September 23rd. Under the leadership of thirty-three year head coach Neil Roberts and senior defender Adam Sheikali, the Terriers turned on the jets and haven't let up since, going 8-2-2 in their next twelve, including 6-1-0 in the Patriot League. During that stretch, fortunes got flipped on their heads as the Terriers only conceded six goals, including six cle

Heading into late October, crunch time is officially underway. Only a couple of matches remain in the regular season, and wins have never been more important. Across the country, players are prepping for one last push before the post-season, and the closer it gets, the higher the stakes become. Games are never easy, but MOBA players around the United States are making winning look like nothing. Meyer Leads #9 Louisville on 6-Match Unbeaten Run After fellow red-shirt freshman Jake Gelnovatch beat him for the starting job, head coach Ken Lolla called upon young Cardinal Will Meyer to take over between the posts for the first time in his career on September 26th against USF at home. Since then, there has been no looking back. Starting and playing the full ninety of the last six matches, Meyer has the Cardinals 4-0-2 in that stretch while conceding just one goal, a fifty-fourth minute equalizer in that first match against the Bulls. That gives Meyer an outstanding 0.15 goals against

As the college season reaches its final games, any and all wins are becoming more and more important. With almost all matches coming in conference from now on, getting results late will be crucial in securing a high seed in the conference tournament. While almost all MOBA players have been in great form this season, a select group of players have been dominating conference play in almost every division. Williams, Fidler Running Things for Reinhardt Despite a rough start to the season, the Reinhardt Eagles, led by senior midfielder Jordan Williams and junior midfielder Todd Fidler, find themselves in prime position deep into conference play, sitting 7-0-1 in the AAC, including an active eight-match unbeaten streak. During this unprecedented run of success, Williams and Fidler have combined for ten goals, three from Williams and seven from Fidler, all coming in wins, with Fidler being honored with the AAC Player of the Week following a two-goal showing against Union away. They are

As we finally get into the heat of the college season, post-season play is starting to creep into the minds of coaches and players all across the country. The next two weeks will be crucial for seeding in conference tournaments, and winning as many matches as possible never hurts. Over the last few matches, it has been MOBA products who have been stealing the spotlight, securing some essential victories for their respective schools. Avery, Canes Break Cold Stretch With Much Needed Win After a very strong start in which Georgia Southwestern went 3-0-1 in their first four, the Hurricanes team found themselves struggling mightily in the second half of September, losing five straight between September 16th and September 30th. While that many losses in a season may not be bad, that many early could be detrimental to a season. Heading into October, the Canes desperately needed a win, and it just so happens that it was Chris Avery who stepped up. Facing off with a Point University te

During MOBA's first two years in the PDL, a large amount of the players that have made up the rosters have been players from schools in the NCAA Division II and the NAIA. While these players may not receive the national attention they deserve, they continue to impress those that are watching and draw eyes with each passing week. Through the first month of the season, Peachtree City players from these schools have been in great form, scoring goals and contributing positive minutes to teams that continue to win. Robinson Continues to Score for Queens After a somewhat shaky start to the season in which Edmundo Robinson only scored twice in the Royals first five matches, all the speculation can finally be put aside. Through nine games, the Queens #11 is truly on song, as he has now scored six goals in his last six games to go along with his team-high two assists. A prolific striker for MOBA in the late matches of last season, Robinson has carried over his success to Charlotte, w

All across the United States, college players are beginning to find their footing as we make our way into mid-season. After four weeks, things are beginning to get interesting, as many schools begin conference play, and the stakes get higher. Right here in the state of Georgia, MOBA players are making their presence felt, and the effects are continuing to show on the score sheet. Thomas, Young Harris Dominating Mid-Season After starting off the year with back-to-back home victories, the Mountain Lions saw a bit of slippage in matches three and four as they drew Tusculum at home and lost to #24 Lincoln Memorial away. That loss of form cost Young Harris there spot in the top 25, but since then, the Lions have been on a tear. Staring down a four-game home stretch, they knew that they needed to use it to the best of their advantage, and that is exactly what they did. Through three of those four games, the Mountain Lions are 3-0-0, scoring seven goals in that stretch. It isn't

As the march of the college season continues, and we get into mid-September, the conference tables are beginning to take form, and the outcome of the season is starting to come into view. All across the country, some schools are pulling away from the pack, some are falling into a very deep hole, and others are in a dead heat for conference tournament positioning. While large schools like Wake Forest and Louisville take up the news, big things are happening at the small schools, and this week we take a look at some of the best MOBA performers from the NCAA Division II and the NAIA. Robinson Back in Form at Charlotte The top scorer for MOBA over the summer with four goals, Edmundo Robinson had gotten off to a rough start at Queens University of Charlotte, as he failed to score in the Royals first three matches. That all changed on September 9th, as Robinson finally got his name on the score sheet against Flagler at home in Queens' 4-1 victory. Coming out of the half knotted at

While World Cup Qualifiers have been filling up the news over the last week (the U.S. continues to be the reason I have high blood pressure), college soccer has had its fair share of breakouts over the last week, with some outstanding performances from some players, while others were out making school history. While it is still early, it goes without saying that the season is starting to heat up, and it is only September. Georgia State Records Biggest Upset in School History Coming off a 1-0 loss to #11 Louisville, few favored Georgia State to pull off, arguably, the largest upset of the new season on the road against #2 Wake Forest. Going up against a historically very strong team in the Demon Deacons, the Panthers had to bring their A-game if they hoped to have a fighting chance. Head coach Brett Surrency put out the best lineup he could form, one which included three players who recorded minutes with Peachtree City MOBA last season in Salomon Lorenzano, Lukas Joyner, and Ja

With the first few college matches in the books, teams are beginning to find out if all of those off-season preparations have paid off. Getting off to a good start is important, but a loss or two early isn't the end of the world so long as it doesn't become a habit. All across the United States and Canada, PDL players are making their marks on the 2017 season, and Peachtree City MOBA players have been no different, a few of which have led their squads to glory in the opening two weeks. James Thomas Leads Young Harris Early Up in the mountains of north Georgia, the Mountain Lions of Young Harris College put on a good show on opening day. Taking on Eckerd at home, things got off to a good start as Seba Andreassen put in the opening goal for Young Harris in the twenty-first minute. Already up 1-0, Andreassen made his presence felt again as he recorded the assist on Marco Micaletto's far post goal right before halftime, and the Lions went into the break up two. With

With a new champion crowned, another PDL season is in the books. Things did not go to plan, to say the least, for Peachtree City MOBA during 2017, but that's old news. Now, the focus shifts to the collegiate pitch, where MOBA talents from coast to coast prep to face a new season of college soccer. Each year brings with it new opponents, new challenges, and the same ultimate goal: winning a championship. While every collegiate player on the MOBA roster has the ability to lead their school to that goal, here are three players to keep a close eye on during the upcoming year. Edmundo Robinson - Junior - Queens University of Charlotte Royals Leading MOBA in scoring with four goals in nine matches last season, forward Edmundo Robinson heads to Charlotte to join up with the Royals for a third campaign. Under the leadership of head coach Oliver Carias, Robinson has seen decent success during his two seasons, scoring five goals and recording an assist in twenty-seven matches, inc

Three months, fourteen regular season matches, and five rounds of playoffs later, a champion has finally been crowned. A season filled with excitement, drama, heartbreak, and history, 2017 has been everything that PDL fans had hoped for. All around the country, teams had been going toe-to-toe to earn their spot in the final, and on Saturday, August 5th, just two remained, and one was crowned as champion in the third-straight U.S. vs. Canada PDL Final. Photo Courtesy: Premier Development League Historically one of the most successful clubs in the Premier Development League, Ontario-based Thunder Bay Chill have been the team to beat during any given season. Building a team mostly from Chill Academy prospects to be coached by some of the best coaches in North America, the Chill have captured seven Heartland Division titles and five Central Conference titles in their eighteen-year history. Speculation began to creep up over the last few seasons, however, that Thunder Bay had bee

With the opening rounds of the PDL Playoffs concluded, all that remains is for the final four teams to face off for the championship. The season has been long, and once again, Peachtree City MOBA find themselves on the outside looking in. While the 2017 campaign did not go as planned, year two did hold a long list of positives for the seasons to come. During the offseason, MOBA made a number of big acquisitions, including Jamaican internationals goalkeeper Nick Nelson and midfielder Khallil Stewart, Trinidad and Tobago international midfielder Matthew Wooling, University of Dayton standout defender Michael Brezovsky, and former Memphis City talent Santiago Moore. Alongside returning players like Todd Fidler, Adam Sheikali, and Salomon Lorenzano, the 2017 roster seemed well set to make a run, and hopes were high throughout the pre-season as MOBA walked through their three match schedule. Securing a home and away win against Georgia Revolution FC and another home victory against