College Players to Watch: Philadelphia area natives

While the Philadelphia Union Academy gets a great deal of the attention these days developing youth players for the college and professional ranks, they aren’t the only club producing elite talent in our region.

More than 200 players from southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware will suit up at Division 1 schools this fall. Here are 20 players not from the Philadelphia Union Academy to keep an eye on.

Drew Skundrich, MF, Sr., Stanford (Lancaster, Pa.)
While plenty of players have been praised for the Cardinal’s incredible run of two straight national titles, Skundrich has been a critical sometimes overlooked piece of the puzzle. After playing outside back for the run to the first title, the PA Classics alum switched to his more natural position in the center of the midfield and second on the team in goals with four and third in points with 11.

Ben Lundgaard, GK, Sr., Virginia Tech (Greenville, Del.)
Entering his senior year, many are rating Big Ben as the second best keeper in the country behind Virginia star Jefferson Caldwell. After a successful stint with New York Red Bulls U23, he’s poised for another great year in Blacksburg.

Kevin Silva, GK, So., UCLA (Bethlehem, Pa.)
It seems like Silva is one of the few highly-rated prospects still left at UCLA after a rash of early departures to MLS and a couple key transfers to other schools. It took Silva a little bit of time to work his way into the starting lineup last season, but when he did he showed the kind of promise that has scouts at the next level excited about his potential.

Chad Poarch, MF/D, So., Delaware (Middletown, Del.)
The Continental FC alum returns closer to home after a productive freshman campaign at High Point in North Carolina. He’ll help fill an attacking void on a Blue Hens team that lost its all-time leading scorer Guillermo Delgado to graduation. So far in the preseason he appears to have no skipped a beat.

Will Smith, GK, So., Lehigh (Devon, Pa.)
After being noticed by Union staff at a charity match for West Chester United, Smith spent the rest of the summer training with Bethlehem Steel FC, which should give him plenty of confidence going into his second season with the Mountain Hawks.

Kenny Lassiter, F, R-Sr., La Salle (Narberth, Pa.)
After finishing school at Syracuse, Lassiter returns to the area for his final college season and adds a major holdup and scoring threat to the Explorers attack.

Matt Crawford, MF, Sr., St. Joseph’s (Bensalem, Pa.)
A two-way midfielder, Crawford led the team with seven goals last season and seemingly was always there when the team needed a spark.

Robert Gillin, MF, Jr., Delaware (Marlton, N.J.)
After a standout summer with Ocean City Nor’easters, Gillin is poised to be one of the leaders on a Blue Hens team that looks to have a promising season ahead of it despite several key departures. The South Jersey native is one of five Blue Hens named preseason all-conference.

Pat McCarthy, MF, So., La Salle (Cinnaminson, N.J.)
The younger brother of Philadelphia Union goalkeeper (and La Salle assistant), Pat will look to build on a solid first year with the Explorers in the midfield.

Eddie McCusker, D, Jr., St. Joseph’s (Washington Township, N.J.)
Eddie is expected to be one of the leaders on the back line for the Hawks this season, which narrowly missed out on the Atlantic 10 playoffs last season in part because of a stout defense.

Robert Miller III, F, So., Bowling Green (York, Pa.)
Miller was a supersub off the bench in his first year in Kentucky, scoring a pair of goals and adding four assists. The former PA Classics star, who also spent time in the Philadelphia Union Academy, received a boost of confidence over the summer being named team MVP for amateur club Toledo Villa FC.

Connor Ryan, MF, Sr., Drexel (Horsham, Pa.)
The Continental FC alum is a big part of a hard-working midfield that will look to turn things around for the Dragons after a difficult one-win season a year ago.

Matt Robinson, MF, R-Sr., La Salle (Lansdale, Pa.)
Robinson returned from a season lost to injury with six goals and six assists in 2016 and will again be the motor behind the Explorers attack both out wide and in center of the pitch.

Evan Vare, F, So., Lafayette (Jamison, Pa.)
The 2015 Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year did not disappoint in his first year at Lafayette, leading the team with seven goals and adding a pair of assists. Look for more goals to come in 2017.

Mark Forrest, F, Jr., Lehigh (Douglassville, Pa.)
The Hill School alum led the Mountain Hawks with seven goals and four assists last season and had a solid summer in the PDL with Lehigh Valley United.

Bryce Cregan, D, Sr., Pitt (Dallastown, Pa.)
A lot has changed in the Pitt program since Jay Vidovich took over the program ahead of last season, but Cregan has been a constant through the transition and will again provide stability in defensive side of the field for a team still searching for its first ever ACC win.

Mark Grasela, D, R-Sr., Temple (Philadelphia, Pa.)
With Carlos Moros Gracia and Matt Mahoney both gone to the professional ranks, Grasela will be looked to for leadership on the defensive side of the ball for the Owls.

Max Kroschwitz, F, R-Sr., Villanova (Pipersville, Pa.)
Max is back after sitting all of last season with an injury and should thrive in his role with the talented midfield behind him providing service.

Tanner Shane, D, So., William & Mary (Macungie, Pa.)
Shane had a solid freshman campaign, coming in second on the team in minutes on a team that is the favorites to win the conference.

Christian Takaki, MF, Fr., Army West Point (Harrisburg, Pa.)
It’s never clear how much playing time a freshman will get, even highly touted ones graduating out of the Development Academy, but Christian is the type of player who could make an immediate impact in West Point.

Below is a list of players from the region. Included are players from the state of Delaware, the southern counties of New Jersey (Ocean not included) and the south central and southeastern counties of Pennsylvania.