MOBA Proud

It may be the offseason, but preparations never stop for the PDL executives, teams, and players. As the players and coaches are off at their respective colleges making a name for themselves and striving for a title, the league is already getting to work on making the 2017 PDL season the best one to date. In a sport where success is #1, everybody wants a piece of the action. This time last year, the Premier Development League was welcoming Peachtree City MOBA, Tormenta FC, Tri-Cities FC, San Diego Zest, FC Golden State, SF City FC, The Villages SC, and South Florida Surf into the ranks. Well, it's expansion time once again, and three new teams have been announced as the 2017 expansion to the already massive 67-team league, pushing that number up to 70. Lakeland Tropics On September 19, the first expansion team was announced to be the Lakeland Tropics, headed by CEO Andrew Haines and the Central Florida Sports Ventures. The Tropics, the eighth Florida-based team in the PD...

College soccer is now in full-swing, and spoiler alert: Peachtree City MOBA players are playing really well. All around the United States, from Atlanta to Hawai'i, MOBA players are making a name for themselves and proving they can play with the best of them. Clayton State: MOBA Playground Okay, there is no way the nets at Clayton State are regulation size. After just seven matches, Iain Smith, Ryan King, and Bilal Nakhli are responsible for nine of the eleven total goals scored by the Lakers this season. After King came out of the gates hot, scoring a hat trick against Barry, Nakhli put his name in the books by grabbing Clayton State's only goal against Eckerd in a 4-1 loss. Smith then looked to get a piece of the action and led the Lakers to their first win of the year against Auburn Montgomery by scoring two goals and assisting on the other in a dominant 3-1 victory. Sitting at 1-6 on the year, the schedule-makers didn't do the Lakers any favors, as they face E...

Week two of NCAA soccer comes to a close, and with that, everything is beginning to take form. The best teams are racking up the wins, and the worst are, well, not having the best time. Player success, however, is not based on wins and losses, but how well each individual player performs in the heat of the moment. MOBA players have seen success so far this season, and this week we take a look at some of the big stories featuring members of the 2016 Peachtree City squad, including both dominance, and heartbreak. King, Smith, Nakhli take the Lake Clayton State is one of two schools that features multiple talents off the MOBA squad, along with Georgia State. Despite sitting at 0-3, including a tough 2-0 loss to #5 Palm Beach Atlantic, MOBA players Ryan King, Iain Smith, and Bilal Nakhli are off to strong starts. All three players played in the first three games, and Smith and King are responsible for all four Laker goals this year, including Ryan King's hat trick...

As the first week of division 1 NCAA soccer comes to an end, the nerves are beginning to pass and the grind is beginning to set in. Stat sheets are beginning to fill up, the records are building, and the preseason polls are being proven incorrect. Every player looks to make the impact that puts their name in the history books, and Peachtree City MOBA players are no different. After a solid first season in the PDL, the relationship amongst teammates and opponents grows stronger, and now we turn our heads to the college pitches featuring some of the #MOBAProud men and the notable impacts they have made. Taku Mashingaidze: GMC Multi-talent Due to being in the NJCAA, Georgia Military College began their season earlier than most schools, so the impact from Taku can be proven more through statistics. After three games, GMC sits at 2-1 including back-to-back blowout wins at Thomas University and at home against Oxford College of Emory University, 6-0 and 7-0, respectively. S...

The Premier Development League is all about developing young athletes into the football superstars of the world. This mission has been more than successful, as seen by the profound amount of talent that has passed through the PDL, including former Boulder Rapids Reserve defender Nat Borchers, now a star player of the Portland Timbers, Brad Guzan (Chicago Fire Premier), goalkeeper for Middlesbrough F.C. of the English Premier League, and Graham Zusi (Central Florida Kraze), starting midfielder for Sporting K.C. and U.S. National Team member. The PDL is a breeding ground for young talent, and Peachtree City MOBA plans to be a hotspot for that talent. After a decent first season in the PDL, MOBA showed promise and potential under the leadership of head coach Jordan Davis, assistant coach and owner Volker Harms, goalkeepers coach Wesley Lutz, and striker Omar Jarun. Upon the completion of the season, many MOBA players headed back to college to continu...

"Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships." - Paul "Bear" Bryant (1913-1983) Probably the most respected coach and leader of the 20th century, Paul Bryant led the University of Alabama football team to six national titles (1961, 64, 65, 73, 78, 79) behind one of the strongest defenses in the nation year after year. Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. Bryant epitomized that. Defense is the cornerstone to almost every dynasty, and Peachtree City MOBA began their dynasty preaching defense, featuring some of the top defenders in the league in Salomon Lorenzano and Adam Sheikali. But there was one defenseman who really built a name for himself among the fans, and that man is Jack Coulton. Captain of the Reinhardt University men's association football team in Waleska, Georgia, the four-year All-AAC first-teamer features football experience from England and New Zealand, and also has three years of exp...

The most exciting time of any sport's season, by far, is opening day. Every team has a sense of optimism and promise and can't wait to finally get everything kicked off. Peachtree City MOBA and the rest of the USL PDL were no exception. After roughly 6-7 months of planning, recruiting, and signing, the 25-man roster took to Clinton, Mississippi and Traceway Park to take on the defending Mid South Division Champions, Mississippi Brilla FC, in their first-ever match as a team. Little was expected, as it was a matter of learning how the team went together more than anything, but excitement was brewing under the pitch. As the game kicked off, Mississippi immediately looked to press. Experience seemed to be taking precedence over anything else, and MOBA couldn't seem to find a rhythm. The ball seemingly stuck in Brilla's half, but Peachtree City showed that their defense, led by Salomon Lorenzano and Adam Sheikali was one to be trifled with. Goalkeeper Jeremy Booth was ...