Philadelphia Union II is headed back to the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs for the third straight season!
Union II officially clinched its spot into the postseason on Monday evening courtesy of their 4-3 victory over rivals New York City FC II.
With the spot secured, Philly is just the third team to make the postseason in all three years of MLS NEXT Pro history with St. Louis CITY SC 2 and Tacoma Defiance having already secured their Western Conference spots. The Boys in Blue have done it all season showcasing the club's Player Pathway philosophy with the youngest average age in the entire league. Despite a preceived lack of experience, the youthful Union have made diamonds under pressure time and time again.
With the team success has come individual success with Andrew Rick, CJ Olney and David Vazquez earning MLS Homegrown contracts while Union Academy graduate Frankie Westfield earned his first professional contract with Union II. Contributions have been from all over the organization with 12 members of the Union's MLS squad appearing in matches this season for Union II and a record 18 members of the Union Academy making the matchday roster in 2024.
Forwards Eddy Davis III, Sal Olivas and Leandro Soria were tasked with leading the front line for the Boys in Blue with just over 200 minutes of MLS NEXT Pro experience. All three have flourished with Davis battling for the league's Golden Boot with a club-record 13 goals scored in over 1,500 minutes played. Olivas and Soria have contributed key goals throughout the season too with each notching four apiece. Their contributions combined with a "veteran" midfield of Olney, Vazquez, Team Captain Kyle Tucker and more have led to the highest scoring offense in the Eastern Conference with 56 goals in 27 matches.
Goals makes the highlights but defense win championships and that is always at the top of the Union's style of play. Despite a rotating group of goalkeepers, the backline has allowed the fourth fewest goals in the league as the regular season reaches its conclusion. With a rotating cast of defenders the group's core has seen different combinations featuring Neil Pierre, Olwethu Makhanya, Jamir Berdecio and Westfield.
While Union II knows they will be particating for the MLS NEXT Pro Cup, there is still much do fight for as the Eastern Conference table is as tight as can be. Union II is pushing for the No. 1 seed in in the East with just two points seperating the Boys in Blue from FC Cincinnati 2. The position in the table is critical in MLS NEXT Pro with the top four seeds in each conference getting to pick their opponent. Eight teams from each conference make the postseason with seeds No. 1-4 in each conference are guaranteed a home match and will select their opponent regardless of where they finished in the table. In the second round, the highest remaining seed in each conference will select an opponent from any of the remaining three teams.
Playoff tickets for Philadelphia Union II will be announced shortly. Philadelphia Union II concludes its schedule of regular season home matches on Sunday afternoon as they face off against Atlanta United 2 on Sunday, September 29th. Tickets for the home finale can be purchased by clicking here!
