PDL unveils new Southern Conference line up, southeastern division teams

The Premier Development League will add a new division to the Southern Conference in 2018, and also revealed that the southeastern division, where the Lakeland Tropics finished third as an expansion team last season, will feture eight teams this spring.

Back are the division's two playoff teams, the SIMA Aguilas and FC Miami City. Also joining the Tropics will be The Villages SC, Weston FC, IMG Academy, Next Academy Palm Beach (the former Palm Beach Suns), and North County United (the former South Florida Surf). 

A full schedule of games will be released shortly. The Tropics 14-game regular season will feature a home and away with each of their division foes.

New to the Southern Conference will be the Deep South Division, with teams in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. ALso in the conference, as was the case last season, is the Mid South dvision with teams in Texas and Oklahoma.

The Lakeland Tropics season is expected to run from mid May to mid July. The team will hold an open tryout at Lake Parker Park in Lakeland on Saturday, Feb. 24 starting at 11 a.m. Call 863-240-0101 for more information.