Local Soccer Notebook 6/30

Jeremy Payne has been officially named head coach of the Eastern University men’s soccer team after serving in the role on an interim basis after Mark Wagner retired from the post in March. Payne starred at Messiah College in his playing days and was an assistant under Wagner for two years. He becomes just the third head coach of the program in the last 27 years.

Recent YSC Academy graduate Fred Gil has been officially announced as part of the incoming recruiting class at the University of South Florida. He joins Philadelphia Union Academy teammate Josue Monge (Philadelphia, Pa.), who was announced previously.

Defender Som Savafi (Bala Cynwyd, Pa.) and forward Dominick Haley (Oxford, Pa.) are part of seven new additions announced to St. Francis University’s incoming recruiting class. They join previously announced recruits from the area Kevin Smolyn (Holland, Pa.) and Brandon Ott (Spring City, Pa.).

Wake Forest head coach Bobby Muus announced his incoming class, which includes Philadelphia Union Academy and Bethlehem Steel FC teammates Justin McMaster (King of Prussia, Pa.) and Mark McKenzie (Bear, Del.).

The Eastern Pennsylvania U17 and U16 Olympic Development Program teams both captured Region 1 championships last weekend. Click here to read about the U17 team and here to read about the U16s.

Manchester United youth player Matthew Olosunde was back home in Trenton, visiting with the city’s mayor to promote Mooch Soccer, an inner city soccer program.

Reading United midfielder Aaron Molloy was named to the PDL Team of the Week.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds goalkeeper Keasel Broome (Claymont, Del.) was named to the USL Team of the Week. Harrisburg City Islanders forward Pedro Ribeiro and FC Cincinnati midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin (Malvern, Pa.) were honorable mentions.

Team USA for the 20th World Maccabi Games beginning July 4 in Israel will feature a number of players with ties to the Philadelphia area. Jonathan Dolezal of Wynnewood, Pa., University of Pennsylvania (’14); Lance Dotzman of Holland, Pa., Muhlenberg College (’14); Ryan Jones of Holland, Pa., Marywood University (’13); Max Kurtzman of Gladwyne, Pa., University of Pennsylvania (’15); Daniel Rubenstein of Bryn Mawr, Pa., Wesleyan University (‘17); and Alec Weiss of Merion, Pa., Villanova University (’13).

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