CJ Olney and Frankie Westfield Named to Next Pro Best XI

Frankie Westfield was supposed to be starting college this fall at Penn State but instead he put together the kind of season worthy of a Best XI nod from MLS Next Pro. The Philadelphia Union II defender from Philadelphia was joined on the Best XI by CJ Olney.

Westfield, 18, was still away with the United States U20s when the news was shared at training on Wednesday so he had to wait a day to get his customized Best XI jersey. The vice captain’s rise through the academy is one of the unlikely stories of the years. While his talent was not a surprise, his development trajectory has exceeded expectations, particularly in a season where he has played mostly as a left back instead of his usual right back spot.

Westfield, the vice captain, led the team in minutes with 2,313 and was tied for second in goals with Olney with 6 and was second on the team in assists with 6.

“Frankie’s progression over the last two and a half, three years has been astonishing, really,” Union II head coach Marlon LeBlanc said in a press conference last month. “We took a young man and moved him out of his natural position in order to develop a first team player, to learn a new position. All he’s done is taken that on head first and become a really viable left back option as well.”

Olney, a 17-year-old from New Jersey, took a big step forward in his development leading the attack with 8 goals and 6 assists across 1,867 minutes.

“Everyone is really close together on and off the field, going to school together, going to the training together, everything,” Olney said in an article posted on the Union website. “Even hanging out off the field. Just bringing together the group has been awesome, and it’s helped me perform well on the field and get really close with the guys.”