Local Soccer Notebook: 9/16/17

Malvern native Jimmy McLaughlin returned to the familiar environment of City Island in Harrisburg on Tuesday night to take on his former team the Harrisburg City Islanders. McLaughlin made 47 appearances for the City Islanders back when they were the USL affiliate of the Philadelphia Union.

The home team thought they were heading to a victory when in stoppage time McLaughlin swiped two of those points away with this goal.

The goal was the fifth of the season for McLaughlin and the ninth for FC Cincinnati in league play.

While McLaughlin is continuing to excel in his post-Union career, a former Philadelphia Union Academy standout continues to make a case for a future pro deal with the organization.

That would be goalkeeper Andrew Verdi (Ivyland, Pa.), who helped lead Michigan to a 1-1 draw against top-ranked Indiana, making six saves on the night. His best save of the night on a 1-v-1 unfortunately ended up resulting in the lone Indiana goal but the redshirt freshman is growing by the week in confidence for a Wolverines team that so far seems to be living up to the preseason hype.

In other news of local interest this week:

Former Philadelphia Union Academy goalkeeper CJ dos Santos (Philadelphia, Pa.) was recently named to Benfica’s Youth Champions League roster. Dos Santos was also named to John Hackworth’s final training camp roster ahead of the U17 World Cup in India.

Matthew De George wrote about Radnor native Tim Holt’s efforts to bring Major League Soccer to San Antonio.

Four area men’s teams were ranked in the Top 25 of the United Soccer Coaches DIII college poll. Haverford was eighth followed by Messiah at 16, Franklin & Marshall at 22 and Rowan at 24. Haverford and Messiah were ranked second and third in the Mid-Atlantic Region along with Dickinson at No. 8 and Eastern at No. 9.

Millersville came in fifth and West Chester 10th in the Atlantic Region poll for Division II.

Lebanon Valley College junior forward Rileigh Jo Evitts was named the Division III Women’s National Player of the Week after scoring five goals in a 9-1 win over Marywood University on September 7.

Swarthmore was ranked 10th in the DIII women’s poll, followed by Messiah at No. 14.

Harrisburg City Islanders forward Pedro Ribeiro made the USL Team of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal against Saint Louis FC and delivering an assist against Tampa Bay Rowdies.

YSC Academy student and Continental FC defender Raimondo Partito (Philadelphia, Pa.) verbally committed to Providence.

PA Classics midfielder Gavin Watt (York, Pa.) verbally committed to Duquesne.

YMS and Pennsbury HS midfielder Obi Onuoha (Morrisville, Pa.) verbally committed to Temple.

Malvern Prep goalkeeper Jake Hodlofski was PA Prep Live’s Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week. The Penn Fusion Academy goalkeeper names former Philadelphia Union Academy goalkeeper Matt Freese as a peer mentor. Freese, who also played at Episcopal Academy and Penn Fusion is a freshman at Harvard.

Notre Dame defender Pat Berneski, a Philadelphia Union Academy grad from Warrington, scored the second goal of his career in a 3-0 win over NC State on Friday.

The Seattle Sounders website profiled Lititz native Brian Nana-Sinkham, who has played well in his first year as a pro at both outside back positions and in central defense in USL.

Sophomore midfielder Fede Prieto had this golazo for Delaware in a 2-0 win over Seton Hall.

Delran knocked off top-ranked Pennington this week on a beautiful free kick goal by John Strohlein.

Philadelphia Union Academy grad Raheem Taylor-Parkes opened his scoring account this week for Virginia in a 2-0 win over Marquette.

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