Philadelphia Union U13s open Concacaf Under-13 Champions League in Costa Rica

Sixteen players from the Philadelphia Union Academy are getting a chance to showcase their skills in Costa Rica in the Concacaf Under-13 Champions League that’s kicking off today.

Recent additions Aaron Heard (a midfielder from Maryland), Matthew Routzahn (a forward from South Jersey) and Gael Medrano (a forward from Michigan) are part of the group competing in the tournament.

The Union roster includes goalkeepers Andrew Rick and Jonathan Evans, defenders Victor Volpato, Sebastian Brandt, Gavin Wetzel and Neil Pierre, midfielders Henry Bernstein, Samuel Graham, Antonios Horozoglou and Emerson Kekesi and forwards John Andrus and Dominic Wilson. The team is coached by Phil Karn.

The Union play Luz y Vida today at 1 p.m., Futbol Consultants at 3 p.m. tomorrow and wrap up group play on Monday against Chapulineros Oaxaca at 1 p.m. Games are 60 minutes long.

Games are being streamed live on the Scotiabank FC Facebook page.

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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