Reading United News Release - www.readingunitedac.com
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
READING, Penn. – Reading United announced two “friendly” matches, including one against the United States Under-17 National Team on Sunday, May 22, with a time and place still to be announced. The U17 National Team game will act as a tune-up for the Americans, who will travel to Mexico in mid-June to take on the best in the world during the FIFA U17 World Cup. The team has recently included players from the Philadelphia region such as Zach Pfeffer, 16, the Philadelphia Union’s first Home Grown signing from Dresher, Penn., and Zack Steffen, a Downingtown product who plays for FC Delco. The team is coached by former Colombian international and FIFA World Cup veteran Wilmer Cabrera, who has led the team since 2007.
“It’s going to be great for me personally,” Reading Technical Director (and former National Team player) Troy Snyder said. “It’s a tremendous honor for the young men on the U17 National Team and for our Reading United team to be considered worthy opponents to prepare the US players for the U17 World Cup.”
The New York Cosmos, who are trying to secure an MLS franchise, will send their U23 squad to Reading on July 22 at Exeter’s Don Thomas Stadium. The U23 Cosmos, who are named after and claim lineage to the original New York Cosmos who played in the former North American Soccer League from 1971-1985 and sported players such as Pelé, are currently playing an exhibition schedule in preparation for their acceptance into the Premier Development League next season.
“Obviously we’re thrilled about this opportunity for our players, team, and fans, Reading United President Art Auchenbach said. "This further exemplifies the level of credibility established by Reading United, and PDL teams in general, and our constant push for exposure of our team to various levels of the game. No other pro-am soccer organization in our region has our quality of player, staff, or programs. Adding the US National Team and NY Cosmos to our schedule that already includes top-notch games with the Harrisburg City Islanders and Philadelphia Union speaks volumes about who we are and what we offer our players and fans.”
Before United takes on the U-17 team, it first must take on PDL opponents Westchester (N.Y.) Flames and the Ocean City Nor’easters. On Wednesday it will face the Flames, who are coming off a 3-0 defeat against the Jersey Express this past weekend, after trouncing the New Jersey Rangers by the same score the week before. The last time the two teams met was in 2006, as they split two games, both by a 2-0 margin.
Reading then returns home for a Friday evening matchup against the Nor’easters for a special affair at Oley Valley High School. Last season, Reading tied Ocean City twice. Three points were snatched away from United in their first meeting, as two goals by the Nor’easters in the 76th and 82nd minutes erased a two goal United lead. Reading returned the favor, as Reading’s James Wenger scored a goal in stoppage time to knot up their July 10th meeting at 1-1 in Ocean City, NJ.
For the Ocean City game, 50% of all pre-sold tickets and 10% of the walk-up sales will go towards establishing a scholarship fund in memory of Mark McKently, an Oley Valley soccer player who recently lost his life in a fatal car accident. Pre-sold tickets can be purchased by contacting Oley Valley’s head boys soccer coach Shawn Meals at smeals@ovsdpa.org. All other tickets can be purchased through readingunitedac.com or at the gate.
ABOUT READING UNITED AC
Reading United A.C. (formerly Reading Rage) is the Greater Reading area’s premier minor league soccer team. Led by the ownership group of Berks Professional Sports, Inc. the club was founded in 1995 as the Reading Rage. As the club entered its 15th season a name, logo, and color change was made to better feature the ties to the local and state community as well as the soccer goals of the team and its partners. Reading United is a Player Development Partner of the Philadelphia Union MLS team. For more information about Reading United AC, visit www.readingunitedac.com.