The 2024 MLSNEXT Pro season has reached its halfway point, and Union II has been recognized as the league's Best Team in the annual midseason awards announcement.
The recognition is a well-deserved one, as Head Coach Marlon LeBlanc’s squad has claimed the top spot in the Eastern Conference after a dominant start to the year, all the while remaining steadfast to the club’s foundational pillars of youth development, technical continuity, and innovation.
“We've had a great start to the season, great first half of the season, but we want to keep that momentum coming,” said team captain Kyle Tucker.
“We know that every game is going to be a tough game in this league and we want to continue that stretch. Hopefully the second half of the season is just as good, if not better.”
The reserve side has seen great success in their first 13 matches, starting the year with 29 points earned through eight wins and three draws. They’ve only dropped two results this season; both of the losses came against a competitive FC Cincinnati side that sits one spot below them in the standings.
Within a roster constructed of Philadelphia Union academy products, new signings, first team depth improving in the club's system, and veteran leaders, multiple players have flourished this year, reaching new heights.
As for the academy contingent, Eddy Davis III leads the team with five goals so far this season, while CJ Olney has contributed to the most goals, tallying six assists while hitting the back of the net four times himself. In the midfield, Olney, Tucker, David Vazquez, and vice captain Frankie Westfield have been essential, facilitating the most chances for their teammates with more than 16 key passes each.
“It's just another day, you know, it's part of our goal to develop these players each day each week,” Anthony Flores said of the award.
“A lot of the credit should go to the players. They put in a lot of good energy every day, every week. They prepare well, they take care of their bodies off the pitch. This is just kind of a result of all the good things that they've been doing throughout the season so far, so we're happy for them.”
Union II has flourished while LeBlanc artfully navigated his role as team leader, maintaining the club's commitment to prioritizing development by boasting one of the youngest rosters in all of MLS NEXT Pro. Despite the age discrepancies from his roster and their opponents, the team has dominated scoresheets, while his focused remained locked on supporting his players as they prepare to take the next step.
In addition to success on the field, multiple players that started in the academy and had earned their pro debut on the Union II level have been called up to supplement the first team, including Homegrowns Andrew Rick, David Vazquez, and Cavan Sullivan. Each signed new contracts with the club, and 17-year-old CJ Olney earned his first team debut while signed to a Union II deal. They’ve each stepped up in training and during match action, drawing on their experience with Union II as they take on expanded roles in the face of international duties and injuries.
In the second half of the season, fans can anticipate an even younger group on matchdays as LeBlanc aims to continue integrating the next generation of Union talent from the Philadelphia Union Academy.
