TAMPA, FL (August 15, 2019) –  USL League Two announced two Reading United players were placed on the All-Eastern Conference team for the 2019 season. Midfielder Felipe Hideki and defender Lamine Conte were placed among the top 11 players out of the Northeast, Mid Atlantic, and South Atlantic Divisions that comprise the Eastern Conference. The accolades were the first for both players, who played in their second and third seasons with Reading United, respectively.

“Both were central figures behind the scenes and on the field,” said Reading United head coach, Alan McCann. “We asked them to take on more responsibility off the field to uphold our standards and continue our culture every day. They were both fantastic with that, which not a lot of people see or understand how vital that is.”

Hideki showed marked improvement in his second year with Reading, leading the team with eight goals between regular season and playoffs. All seven of his regular season goals came in just as many games to end the season, providing a much needed hot streak that pushed Reading to its second consecutive divisional crown. His eighth goal may have been the most important of the season - a 120th minute penalty kick that completed a comeback from a two-goal deficit to Tormenta FC 2 in the League Two Semifinals. In his two seasons in Reading, the Mid-America Nazarene midfielder has tallied 13 goals and three assists over the course of 24 games.

Conte slid into the team captain role this past summer as part of his third season in Blue and Gold, quarterbacking a defense that recorded eight shutouts in 14 league games. The Union Academy alum saw time in 12 games this past season, racking up 1090 minutes on the Reading backline. Over his three seasons, the University of Louisville defender has played just over 52 hours of soccer as Reading’s primary option at center back, holding opponents to less than one goal per game.

McCann continued, “On the field, everyone could see how good they both are. I expect both of them to be in the professional ranks after their college seasons. I’m looking forward to watching their careers continue to grow.”