Union II look to secure a cup final in North Texas

The organization that sacked their longest tenured coach just one day ago now has a chance to secure a cup final for the first time in club history. But it is not at the MLS level.

Philadelphia Union II will battle against North Texas SC in the MLS Next Pro Cup final Saturday evening in Frisco, Texas with kickoff slated for 8:30 p.m. EST. The match will be aired live via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. And it’s the first chance Union II have at securing a cup final in what is only the third year of existence for the Next Pro league.

For Union II Head Coach Marlin LeBlanc, the vibes for his club seem to remain high despite the sour news and negative fan reaction to Jim Curtin’s dismissal. For Union II, their goal remains simple: compete, have fun, and try to get a cup final win under their belts.

This Union II group is certainly not unaccustomed to playing in high stakes events. Much of the roster previously competed in the U-15 division at the GA Cup in 2023, the U-17 division this past year and in 2023. The U-17 team won the age bracket this year, which served as a galvanizing moment for the locker room culture. It’s not all that surprising that the groups’ past experiences together allowed them to make such successful strides in the 2024 MLS Next Pro season. They’re the youngest team in the league but the youth-filled roster is not plagued by lack of experience.

“It’s no different than any other game,” said LeBlanc during a weekly press conference on Thursday. “We have to be consistent. I think the consistency is what helps us go out and perform week after week. We didn’t win all these games by accident. We want them by being consistent, no matter whether it’s MLS Next Pro Cup, or if it was New England away, you know, we’ve approached it the same way. We won’t change the way we approach it.”

Saturday’s clash with North Texas SC is surely the largest and brightest moment Leblanc’s group will encounter. But LeBlanc and his staff remain laser focused on continuing to approach the match with the same mentality they’ve stuck with all year long.

“If we can remain true to our identity, not just on game day, but in terms of what we do heading into the game, we think that the magnitude itself just becomes a regular football match,” said LeBlanc. “That’s the way we want the young guys to approach it. You’ve got to give it the same professional approach that you do any other time.”

That professional mentality has been crucial for the Union organization as a whole. So it’s no surprise the young players on the Union II roster have taken that idea and ran with it.

But they’ll be tested against the best team in MLS Next Pro in North Texas. North Texas has not lost a match at home the entire season. In fact, they have only trailed at home for roughly 200 total minutes of game action.

North Texas boasts a highly talented offensive front while also possessing the league’s best goalkeeper in Michael Collodi. Collodi, earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors following a 13-4-6 record with a save rate over 70% and six clean sheet performances.

Offensively, North Texas features dynamic wingers and forwards which could be a handful for Union II to maintain. Pedrinho is a standout this year at 21-years old. He hails from Brazil and is a product of Flamengo’s academy. He leads the team in goals scored with 10 along with five assists on the year.

Another attacking option for North Texas would be Diego Garcia. The 18-year old has been an important player and has been vital on the offensive side of the field. He scored seven goals and registered three assists in 26 appearances during the regular season. So far in the postseason, he has contributed on goals twice in two games as well.

For Philadelphia, they’ll hope to continue reaping the rewards from their nine homegrown players – a solid unit that’s served as the wind in the team’s sails several times this year.

“I think these guys are a testament of a lot of talent that’s coming through,” said LeBlanc. You know, we started nine homegrowns. That’s a lot of young players that came through our system that played in that game.”

Team co-captain Frankie Westfield has most definitely made a name for himself this past season. He serves as the team’s main source of energy both on the field and in the locker room. At 18 years young, he served as the team’s ironman this season playing in 26 matches while logging over 2,300 minutes of game action. He scored six goals and tallied six assists as a defender.

CJ Olney will also need to step up once again for Philadelphia. The 17-year old attacking minded player has been pivotal for Union II all year long, most importantly in the opening rounds of their playoff run scoring a game winner against NYCFC II and contributing a crucial assist against Crown Legacy. Olney was rewarded with his performances this season with a spot on the 2024 MLS Next Pro Best XI.

And of course, we’d be remiss if we did not mention Cavan Sullivan here. He’s been a sparkplug for LeBlanc’s group. If Union II find a way to win in North Texas, chances are Sullivan plays a large role in the victory. He’ll have all eyes on him once again.

An early goal is likely the most effective way for Philadelphia to have a chance against a top-tier opponent like North Texas. North Texas is not familiar with playing from behind at home, which is typically Global Life Field in Arlington (tonight’s game will be at Toyota Stadium). So an early punch in the mouth via an early goal could unsettle the opposition just enough for LeBlanc’s youngsters to find a win.