West Chester United honors memory of Roger Tucker in third annual pro combine

Some of the top amateur talent from the region was on display at YSC Sports on Saturday at the third annual Pro Combine hosted by West Chester United in partnership with Baltimore-based club Christos FC.

West Chester United had several familiar players from their various competition platforms along with some additions – like Zach Barrett fresh off a national championship with Vermont – while Christos had a mix of local college and club standouts, including a couple familiar faces in Villanova defender Kyle Dixon and former Union Academy defender Uriel Koffi.

Ken Roby opened the scoring early for the hosts and was instrumental throughout the day combining with fellow attackers Jack Jasinski, Josh Luchini, Michael teDuits, Marcus Brenes and Patrick Short. Short assisted Roby on the first goal and Luchini set up Jasinski with a second late in the first 30-minute period. Luchini was the recipient of a pretty line-breaking pass from Jack McDaid for the third and deTuits scored off a back heel from Jasinski on a goal-scoring play started by an outlet pass from Liedtka.

The display of talent on both sides of the field was apparent throughout the match. The two teams will play again at noon on Saturday at YSC Sports. The event was started in 2022 as a way to showcase talent in both squads for professional scouts. Philadelphia Union II midfielder Kyle Tucker played in the event in its first year and later went on to sign an MLS Next Pro deal with the local side. His father, Roger Tucker, was an assistant coach in the West Chester United program, helping guide teams to national championships in the Werner Fricker cup in 2022 and the Hank Steinbrecher Cup in 2023.

“They’ve been around longer and won seven national titles while we’ve won three,” West Chester United head coach Blaise Santangelo said of Christos. “So we’re just trying to stay on their coattails and learn from them.”

Creating opportunities for high level players to play at the next level was something that was near and dear to Roger Tucker’s heart and motivated his involvement with the club. Tucker died unexpectedly in early August so Saturday’s event was the first to be played in his memory.

“He was a big part of this, a big believer in it, and obviously it helped his son, Kyle, on his road to get a contract as a pro,” Santangelo said.

West Chester United’s jerseys featured “RT” in a circle above the adidas logo for the first time, something Santangelo says they plan to keep well beyond this year’s combine.

“Just doing something in his name is really important,” Santangelo said. “For all that he’s done for all the kids, hundreds and hundreds of kids.”

Kyle Tucker was on hand for the day, sitting alongside some of his former teammates on the bench for the match.

“Being named in memory of my dad was very special so I thank Blaise and Larry (Sancomb) for that,” Kyle Tucker said. “I know how much these games meant to my dad, giving players opportunities to get seen was a big component of his and he was a big fan of these events.”