The rumblings of the future PDL success on the field began to tremble in 1999 with Mid Michigan’s US Open Cup performance, but it was another Central Conference side keeping the city of Chicago among the list of USL champions for a second straight year.

The Mid Michigan Bucks made the most of their opportunity in the US Open Cup, advancing all the way to the Third Round. After upset victories over the D3 Pro League’s Austin Lone Stars and eventual A-League champion Minnesota Thunder, the Bucks took Colombian superstar Carlos Valderrama and Major League Soccer’s Tampa Bay Mutiny to the limit. In front of a Mid Michigan record crowd of 4,887 at White Pine Stadium in Saginaw, the Bucks outshot the Mutiny 16-10, but could only put one past goalkeeper Scott Garlick and Musa Shannon’s two-goal night gave Tampa Bay the 2-1 victory.

Mid Michigan’s Open Cup success spilled over into its regular season as it claimed the Great Lakes Division championship with a 14-2 record. However, a first round upset by Sioux City over the Bucks gave the Breeze a date with Chicago with a trip to Spokane, Washington for the PDL Championship tournament at stake.

The Sockers pull off the second upset of the Central Conference playoffs, winning 3-1 over Sioux City. In the league semifinals, Chicago shut down the attack of the New York Freedoms and cruised into the championship game with a 1-0 victory. Having won the D3 Pro League championship as the Chicago Stingers in 1998, the new-look franchise was searching for its second title in as many seasons. This time against the host Spokane Shadow., who reached the final after a 10- regular season and a 2-1 victory over Northwest Division champion Williamette Valley in the other league semifinal.

Chicago coach Brett Hall’s Sockers relied on a solid defense that allowed just two goals in four postseason contests to knock off Spokane 3-1 and win the 1999 PDL Championship.

Chuck Codd put the Sockers on top in the 18th minute by burying a rebound past goalkeeper Brian Mullen. Just before halftime, Mike Dunne put the Sockers up by a pair of goals when he carried the ball toward the top of the penalty area and hit a drive that went into the corner of the goal in the 44th minute.

It was 3-0 for Chicago when Andy McDermott took a long pass from Joe Marks, raced by Spokane’s Justin Franson and slotted a shot past Mullen from 22 yards. Jeff Rose spoiled Adam Throop’s shutout bid in the 88th minute.

Despite the championship game loss, the tournament was still a success for the Shadow, who drew a franchise record crowd of 3,843 to Joe Albi Stadium for the final and nearly 8,000 fans for the two-day event.