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GAME RECAPS
11/14/21
Keystone FC
1
2004 LIGHTNING
5
Sunday, Game 3, saw the Lightning face always tough local foe Keystone FC. In a rematch of a season game from March, the match seemed close for most of the first few minutes. "That didn't last long," explained Tad McFadden as he laughed. "Vegas had Keystone FC (+3.5) getting three and half points but I still took Lightning,"said McFadden, suggesting he could have guaranteed a win, Joe Namath style. Our research department determined that McFadden actually made all of that up, since the actual line was 2.5. Ok, still a joke. Vegas did not publish any betting lines for the game, nor do we suggest that gambling on sports is necessarily a good idea, but it sure makes the article sound good. Penn FC controlled the match for the majority of the game and despite getting only 1 - a nice lay off by Kate Economopoulos to Talya MacFarlane, the score was 1-0 at half. "I wish Kristen and Katelyn could shorten their last names to something like Jones or Smith. Economopoulos is way too long to type over and over again," said Tad. Get over it and get used to it McFadden! The ladies turned up the heat on the windy and frigid day in the second half. Kristen Econ added 2 goals on a nice assist from Liza Suydam. Liza then crushed a beautiful upper 90 herself to go up 4-0. "When I saw that goal, it made me think of the time Christian Laetnerr hit the game winning shot against Kentucky. Just gorgeous and so satisfying," Tad reported. Keystone did get one back off a direct kick later in the game. But the Lightning countered immediately on a nice goal by Justyce Hollenbach to end it with a final score of 5-1. The Lightning will play December 11, 12, and 13 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando Florida. This is the start of the PRO league schedule facing teams from around the country. More information to follow from our very own John Birdel and can be see at the site here: https://www.usysnationalleague.com/national-league-pro-orlando-2021/
National League P.R.O. Orlando 2021 | National League
The Lightning had a number of players from the very good 2005 Black team - many of whom played with them at Nationals in Florida. This team will also be in the PRO league we hope to be able to get a staff reporter on hand to report games for the season! A number of the 04 players were not in attendance due to continuing to play for State Titles in HS and much luck to them in the coming week!
11/14/21
Delco 04
0
2004 LIGHTNING
4
Game 2 on Saturday was against ECNL foe FC Delco 04. What was mostly a close match ended up swaying towards the Lightning, who scored 4 goals - Jamie Swartz, Justyce Hollenbach and 2 from Aubrey Strohecker guided by 3 assists by Kristen Economopoulos - ended with the win. "And here I thought the ECNL was the cream of the crop," joked Tad McFadden. "The Lightning girls made it look too easy." The defense played tough all game. "Delco didn't even sniff the goal," McFadden told us. "I almost felt bad for them and thought maybe the girls should give them a sympathy goal. Almost."Mel Love, Cath Martin, Rylyn Saner, Hannah Costa, and Lindsey Husic helped keeper Kayla Proch keep the clean sheet. "It was the cleanest sheet I've ever seen," reported McFadden. Lightning 04 moves to 2-0 on the year.
11/12/21
PA Classics
1
2004 LIGHTNING
3
Believe it or not, it's that time again...now at the u18 level...the Penn FC 04 Lightning began the new season at the FC Delco Fall Showcase at the Proving Grounds in Conshohocken, PA. John C. Birdel, recently promoted to OverTime Sports Vice President of Futbol Reporting for excellence in soccer journalism, still on assignment hanging with the CD Rams Lady Soccer team on the quest to the PA State HS title was not able to make the trip. However, he assigned out his duties and Tony Winning OTS reporter Tad McFadden was on scene and provided all the details.
The Lightning Ladies played a game each day over the weekend. Friday night, facing PA Classics for the first game since July, began short staffed. With a sub and a number of guest players, the team rose to the occasion. "I never doubted the team's ability to win," said McFadden. "They're the best soccer team named "Lightning' in the Northern Hemisphere, and Coach Bill (Becher) is one good looking dude, who knows how to coach." Coach Becher saw his team walk away with 3 goals before letting one in towards the very end on a PK hand ball in the box. Aubrey Strohecker added a goal while Justyce Hollenback added 2 of her own, all on very nice plays and finishes. Aubrey had a few assists as well. The Lightning are now 1-0 for the season.
11/7/21
Anderson Monarch
1
2010 BLACK
0
The Penn FC boys 2010 wrapped up the regular season by traveling to Philly for a game against Anderson Monarch. What was an evenly played and aggressive match tilted to the AM side 1-0 on a nice shot and save but a deflected ball ended up in the net. The boys and girls gave a strong effort all season. After potentially a make up game and a tournament in November, the team will regroup for a spring season in 2022. Great job to the team for the fall season!
11/6/21
Delaware Hockessin
2
2011 BLACK
2
Needing a win or a tie to maintain first place, the boys in black decided a tie was enough and came out of the first state with a tie. Chance McDermott was there and said," If you score more than the other team, you can't tie." After falling behind 1-0, Owen Coyne found an errant ball and ripped a beautiful cross-goal shot to the far post to tie the game at 1. The two teams would battle back and forth with similar styles of play. Freelance soccer guru and nationally renowned fan, JT Noyce, was overheard at the game saying that, "These two teams must be coached by brothers because they play the exact same style." McDermott, who thinks he knows a lot too said, "I told Noyce to say that."
With the game in question, the defense stood tall. Devin Bunn and Joey Berry hustled and kept the ball away from the goal all day. Later, Carson Washington would drill one home to give the boys a 2-1 lead. With the lead not safe, Brady Zellers narrowly missed on a shot and the rebound but found nothing but post. The boys could have used that goal because Hockessin would put one in to tie the game and that's how it would end.
McDermott tried to catch Coach Cooper for an interview but he was seen sprinting to his car trying to get to some other game that he was coaching later in the day. (Aka the District 3 championship with CD Boy's Soccer!)
With the tie the boys finish the fallseason at 10-4-2. Good work boys!
10/31/21
FISHTOWN
4
2011 BLACK
2
Penn FC Black 2010. The boys were back at it, looking to put a few goals on the board to get things back on track. Fishtown - Philly area - came to Keller field and after an even match that saw a few chances for both teams, the boys from out of town put up 3 goals and had a commanding lead into the half. Determined to get back into it, Penn FC got one back early in the second half. Addison Econ brought a ball deep into the corner and sent a cross that was put in by John Ulsh. FT added another to go up 4-1. But Penn FC continued to work their plan. Econ hit the cross bar and then hit the post. At the closing whistle, she laid one back from the end line to Addie Barger who placed the shot perfectly into the net to end on a good note. Though the final, 4-2 loss, was not a complete turnaround, the boys and girls worked well as a team to ‘win the 2nd half’. Next up is a pair of games on the road the weekend of Nov 6/7.
10/30/21
DELAWARE BLACK
2
2011 BLACK
4
Game two saw Black continue their scoring. Owen Coyne was back in form scoring 2 for the boys with the first being off a beautiful pass from Devin Bunn. Asian Moist would add a goal of his own off a goalie deflection of a Carson Washington shot. The win moves Black, who haven’t lost in 6 straight games to 10-4-1 on the year.
10/30/21
DELAWARE BLACK
3
2011 BLACK
3
The Boy traveled to Wayne, Pa for an indoor double header against the Delaware Union. Game 1 ended in exciting fashion, tied 3-3 but only after Owen Coyne netted the tying goal with 29 seconds left. OTS math whiz Heather Gray was there. “If Owen doesn’t score there, they lose,” Gray reported with confidence. Coyne totaled 2 goals in game 1. With the tie they move to 9-4-1 on the year.
10/24/21
LIONVILLE LIONS
3
2010 BLACK
0
Facing none other than the Lionville Lions ( not the PSU football lions who lost to unranked Illinois on Saturday), they boys gave up 2 goals before half and one more before it ended 3-0 as the Lions were not to be tamed. The team looks to regroup with a few more games next weekend
10/23/21
FC DELCO BLACK
4
2010 BLACK
3
Traveling to Downingtown on Saturday afternoon to face FC Delco Black, the boys looked to get on the board early. The boys fought hard but lost 4-3. With only one sub, and keeper Eljay scoring while playing in the field, the teams’ effort was valiant. On Sunday, they boys were back at it at Keller for a 9am start.
10/23/21
Lehigh Valley
1
2011 BLACK
3
The boys in black traveled to Bethlehem to take on Lehigh Valley. After keeping the field tilted their way in the first half, they were unable to find the back of the net. The halftime score was 0-0. "Boring first half," said Skip Skipperson 11 U soccer guru. "I left and went to Subway for an italian BMT."
The second half was much better in terms of action. Devin Bunn was fouled in the box and Carson Washington drilled the PK to the twine for a 1-0. Less than a minute later, Lehigh Valley got behind the defense and scored to tie it at 1-1. Washington would add a second goal later, as Penn FC kept the pressure on all game. Brady Zellers would ice it after he dropped a beautiful shot over the keeper and into the net from 25 yards out. It was the second win for the the '11 Boys as they move their record to 8-4.
10/19/21
Hershey
3
2010 BLACK
0
Hershey came out and was able to sneak one by the keeper for an early 1-0 lead.
They were able to add 2 more to take a 3-0 lead at half.
Penn FC came out in the second half ready to play some catch-up soccer. However no balls went in the goal despite a great all-around effort. The score ended the same as it was at half time. The boys now play on Saturday
10/17/21
KEYSTONE
2
2010 BLACK
0
The boys once again matched up against the Keystone Boys team. This time, two quick 2nd half goals for Keystone sealed the fate of this rematch with a 2-0 Loss. The boys play at Hershey on Tuesday night.
10/17/21
2011 CLASSICS
0
2011 BLACK
3
Coming into the game riding a 4 game losing streak, the boys had something to prove. Unfortunately, due to illness, injury, and other absences, they were missing their starting goalie, starting left back, and starting striker. With a total of 0 subs, the boys rose to the challenge and prevailed 3-0 over the 2011 Classics. Youth soccer mensa scholar Chance McDermott was on hand and reported, "This one came down to coaching. Coach Neil proved today that he is one of the best coaches of any sport in history, second only to Coach Steve, the coach of the 2008 Linglestown Juggernaut baseball team."
Brady Zellers was called into action as keeper for the first time all year. He more than stood tall, not letting a single shot get through. The defense of Bryce Heffleger, Joey Berry, Aiden Schreiber, and Dylan Spamer played solid all game while the offensive play of Devin Bunn, Charlie Marsar, Wesley Cooper and Carson Washington provided the scoring.
Early in the first half, Charlie Marsar collected a tipped ball off of Devin Bunn's shot and finished for a 1-0 lead. Later, a beautifully played combination would put Black up 2-0. After Zellers made a save, his punt cleared midfield and was touched perfectly by Cooper right to Bunn who took it up the sideline and drilled it toward the far post. "Greatest goal combination I've ever seen on a Sunday morning in Lancaster on October 17," said McDermott. "Should probably be an ESPY."
Black would add an insurance goal off a Wesley Cooper free kick (check out the video) who punched it perfectly from 30 yards out. "I'm going to start fundraising for a documentary on these boys," McDermott told us. "It'll have the best title ever- 'Bend it Like Cooper' ," announced Chance.
With the win the boys improve to 7-4 and will be back in action next weekend at Lehigh University. "These guys are so good, they're playing a college team?" asked McDermott.
10/16/21
CASA NAVY
2
2011 BLACK
1
It was a tough match for the boys with only 1 sub as they fell to CASA Navy 2-1. Navy went up 2-0 after a 30 yd shot found the net. Wesley Cooper scored for Penn FC but that’s all they could muster. A few other shots were off and time expired with the boys on the losing end. With the loss the team is now 6-4 on the year.
10/9/21
BALTIMORE CELTICS
4
2010 BLACK
3
Baltimore Celtic took a 3-0 lead but the team battled back led by goals by Charlotte Reed and John Ulsh to cut the lead to 3-2. Celtic scored late but so did PENN FC. The game ended 4-3 in favor of the Celts.
10/9/21
FC EUROPA
3
2010 BLACK
2
The team jumped up 2-0 by a pair of goals by Addison Econ. FC Europa scored 3 late goals to walk away with a 3-2 victory.
10/9/21
KEYSTONE FC
0
2010 BLACK
1
The team claimed some redemption with a 1-0 win and a goal by Caleb Sande late in the evenly matched game against Keystone FC. Keeper Eljay Snavely and some strong defense kept the Keystoners off the scoreboard. The boys (and girls) finished with 13 total points and 2nd in their 4 team bracket
10/9/21
CARLISLE
3
2011 BLACK
2
Owen Coyne scored early for Black but a couple of questionable calls led to 2 goals off a free kick and a PK by Carlisle who would add one in the 4th. Wesley Cooper netted on to cut the lead to 3-2 but that's how the first game would end.
10/9/21
READING
5
2011 BLACK
2
Black came out hungry for a W in game two. Owen Coyne found the back of the net and later Brady Zellers would add one to give Black a 2-1 halftime lead. Usually a strong second half team, the boys had a tough time with Reading's pressure in game two and ended up on the losing end 5-2.
10/9/21
COCKEYSVILLE
5
2011 BLACK
1
After an early goal by Cockeysville, Brady Zellers answered for PENN FC. A couple of injuries to an already depleted lineup led to some tired dudes and game 3 ended 5-1.
10/2/21
HURRICANES
0
2010 BLACK
7
Who goes to the beach to seek out a hurricane (other than those folks from the movie Twister)? Trekking nearly to the Delaware beach to face the Hurricanes of Smyrna, the boys came away with the victory. The final tally was more than 7-0. Multiple players had more than one goal including Addison Econ, Addie Barger, Caleb Sande, and Graham Richardson.
Eljay Snavely drills one home. Usually a keeper, he does it all!
Ladies working the defense.
Penn FC 2009 Girls Black - Champs! Penn FC Spring Warm Up
The young ladies from Penn FC at the 2009 age level started the spring season with a bang! Coach Adam Freeman had the girls work hard over the winter break and seemed to have the group prepared to start off right. After this first weekend on the pitch, the girls won all four of their games by scoring 7 goals and only allowing 1 (see the link here for full results: Championship Bracket
An all around team effort can be credited to the victories as the defense was led by impressive work by Gemma Rickabaugh from the center back position (earning "Player of the Weekend" honors). Lyla Mosca, Lexi Misiolek , Kennedy Isom, Jillian Gar and keeper Lily Templeton helped shield the attack. The midfield was able to control the ball well through the middle with some strong skill by Charlotte Reed, Ava Acri, Addy Barger, Kyleigh Batory, Lexi Waschko and Chelsea Gula (1 goal). Leading the attack, Jenna Faulkner (1goal), Taylor Haag (2 goals) and Addison Economopoulos (3 goals) had defenders on the run most of the time with well placed balls from width as well as down the middle of the field.
Coach Adam seemed pleased but analyzed the weekend as one to build upon for further improvement as the team heads into the league season in a few weeks! Congratulations to the ladies on a well earned tournament victory!
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