Local Soccer Notebook 6/16

Continental FC midfielder Joey Martini (Chester Springs, Pa.) was one of 32 players invited to travel to Madrid, Spain to train with Real Madrid Foundation coaches through the Generation adidas International Select program. Martini was a member of the Philadelphia Union Juniors from 2010-14.

FC Brandwine has signed on as a club affiliate to Penn Fusion to identify and develop players. "As an organization, we are looking to partner with key clubs in the greater Philadelphia area, to increase our footprint and work with like-minded Technical Staff that are creating a positive environment in the Zone 1 (U06-U12) age groups.” Penn Fusion general manager Mark Thomas PFSA said in a news release.

Goldey-Beacom announced the signings of six players for the fall season, including three players from Delaware (Johan Tejeda Cordoba, Cole Lewis and Marco Maddalena) and one from South Africa (Nicholas Ladeira), Australia (Ethan Maguire) and Spain (Sergi Varona).

Penn Fusion midfielder Charlie Collins (West Chester, Pa.) verbally committed to play college soccer at La Salle beginning in fall 2018.

Drexel head coach Doug Hess has rounded out his staff for the 2017 season with the addition of Sam Lane, who played at Franklin & Marshall and coached at Suwanee: The University of the South in Tennessee the past two seasons.

Villanova assistant Mike Montross has been elevated to associate head coach.

Rowan University’s 2017 schedule has been released. Ditto for Delaware Valley University.

Reading United forward Frantzdy Pierrot and Ocean City Nor’easters defender Nikola Fimic both made the PDL Team of the Week. Ocean City goalkeeper Todd Morton (West Chester, Pa.) and New York Red Bulls U23 midfielder Brian White (Flemington, N.J.) received honorable mentions.

USL club Pittsburgh Riverhounds have established a development partnership with Ocean City Nor’easters. “Both clubs expect the affiliation to provide key improvements in player identification, establishing an expanded player-scouting network between the clubs, in addition to staff development initiatives within the framework that links the USL and the PDL. Initiatives are expected to include collaboration between the staffs of both clubs in training, film work, as well as the potential for Ocean City prospects to trial with the Hounds throughout the summer.”

Steven Short, vice president of the new USL D3 league launching in 2019, said in an interview that there aren’t any immediate plans for any current teams in USL to move down to the new division. The article also mentions a number of potential markets for the new regionally-focused league, none anywhere near Philadelphia.

Reno 1868 FC forward Antoine Hoppenot (Princeton, N.J.) was named to the USL Team of the Week after recording the game-winning goal to beat Sacramento Republic FC and an assist in a win over Rio Grande Valley FC.

Have local soccer news? Send it to me at matthew.r.ralph@gmail.com.