READING, PA (July 18, 2017) – Five wins separate Reading United A.C. from it’s first ever Premier Development League title.

On Tuesday night, Reading United (12-2-0) begin their quest to bring a championship trophy home to Berks County as they kick off play in the 2017 Premier Development League Playoffs on the road against New Hampshire based club, Seacoast United Phantoms (11-1-2). This is Reading’s ninth trip to the PDL Playoffs in ten seasons. The opening match of the Eastern Conference playoffs will be played at Amesbury Sports Park in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm.

Reading United head into the playoffs coming off an impressive 12 win season that culminated with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Lehigh Valley United on Saturday night in Allentown. Frantzdy Pierrot netted his team leading ninth goal of the campaign, while the defensive unit recorded it’s seventh shutout of the year.

Reading’s 12 victories tied the club with the New York Red Bulls U23s and the Oklahoma City Energy U23s for the most wins in the 72 team league. United’s offense was powered by Pierrot and Irish midfielder Aaron Molloy. The duo combined to score 16 of Reading’s 36 goals. Molloy played in 12 of Reading’s 14 league matches and led the team playing a total of 1,011 minutes.

The Reading United defense also excelled throughout the 2017 campaign, conceding just 10 goals and recording seven shutouts. The 10 goals was the fewest allowed in the Eastern Conference this season and the lowest total the club has given up since joining the PDL in 2004. The centerback tandem of Lamine Conte and Nathan Brown partnered for five of United’s seven clean sheet wins. Goalkeeper Alex Bouillennec was nearly unbeatable in goal for Reading as he gave up only three goals in nine matches.

The Seacoast United Phantoms swept their way to the PDL Northeast Division title, losing just once this season. The Phantoms fired 44 goals past their opponents this season, the second highest total in the Eastern Conference. Donnett Sackie led the Phantoms with nine goals. Midfield Audi Jepson, one of the PDL’s Top 50 prospects, led the team with seven assists.

With a win over Seacoast United, Reading will advance to the Eastern Conference Championship Weekend, which begins on Saturday, July 22nd in Statesboro, Georgia.