2017 Peachtree City MOBA Season Preview

Questions have been asked. Guesses have been made. Expectations have been set. All that is left is to see what happens, as the 2017 Premier Development League season is finally here. Following last season's 3-9-2 finish, MOBA looks to hit the ground running and never look back, as they plan to be the dark horse in the South Atlantic Division.

Playing in what is considered the most highly competitive division in the league, the 11-team South Atlantic features the likes of reigning division champ Charlotte Eagles, Carolina Dynamo, and SC United, all of whom made the playoffs last season. The division also includes second year teams South Georgia Tormenta FC and Tri-Cities Otters FC, as well as expansion sides Myrtle Beach Mutiny FC, Wilmington Hammerheads FC, North Carolina FC U23, Nashville SC U23, and Tobacco Road FC. Tightly packed and tightly contested, the run at the division title will not be easy, and with only two teams qualifying for the playoffs, wins will be a highly-valued commodity. In MOBA's case, however, their road to the PDL playoffs may be easier than most other teams, as they only take on one team who qualified for the playoffs last year in SC United, as the Bantams fell 4-1 at the Carolina Dynamo in the first round. Despite that, MOBA can't afford to take any opponent lightly, as Tormenta FC will be looking to fight their way into the playoffs, and Tri-Cities plans to bounce back strong following last season's struggles.

During the pre-season, Peachtree City completed a feat that is rare in sports in general, but especially so in soccer. Playing three matches, two against Georgia Revolution FC and one against the East Point Pumas, MOBA went 3-0-0, winning by an average margin of 3.66. Coming out on fire, the yellow and black put away fourteen goals in the pre-season and only conceded three, for a goal differential of +11. MOBA saw seven different players score in those three games in Santiago Moore (2), Todd Fidler (3), Khallil Stewart (2), Ryan King (2), Tomide Adabale (3), Ibrahima Sissoko (1), and Victor Forti (1). Peachtree City's most dominant performance was against the Revs in the first pre-season match at home, as MOBA hammered the Revs with seven goals, including Tomide Adabale's hat trick, and Peachtree City won handily, 7-1. They closed out the pre-season at home against the Pumas, winning 4-2 in what was a very physical, scrappy game that saw numerous yellow cards as well as a two-yellow red card in stoppage time. Going undefeated without a number of their potential starters is a testament to both the coaching prowess of Volker Harms and the talent of this year's roster. Heading into Nashville for the season opener on May 13th, MOBA is sure to have their sights at the top, as they showed the entire league the ability and attacking power they have, along with the strength and athleticism of the backline and goalkeepers.

Keys to Victory (Season Edition)

  • Take Advantage of your Talent: The 2017 MOBA roster features a wealth of incredible talent from all over the world. From America to England to France to Jamaica to Haiti, all eleven players on the pitch for any given match have the ability to be a difference maker. Take advantage of each player's respective talent, and the playoffs are surely on the horizon.
  • Play with Fire: From the outside, the PDL may seem like a minor league where development is more important than success. Ask the players, coaches, and staff, and they will tell you the exact opposite. No matter what team you are playing, every squad is going out there with one goal in mind: yours (Get it ... one goal in mind). If the whole team plays with the same fire that got them all three wins early on, Peachtree City will be a team that nobody looks forward to playing.
The 2017 season is panning out to be an exciting year for all 72 PDL clubs, and the MOBA Soccer Academy will be the premier place to be for all the regular season action. Individual and group tickets (10 or more) are available NOW for every regular season matchup, and standard and VIP season tickets are still up for grabs! Get YOUR tickets are MOBASoccer.com/tickets.

#MOBAProud
Photo Courtesy: Peachtree City MOBA

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