The Reading United men and women’s teams entered the weekend in their respective divisions in third place, needing positive results to keep their post season hopes alive.
 
Friday night the Reading women hosted their local rivals PA Classics (Lancaster, PA) in the WPSL East Region Game of the Week at Alvernia.  The game featured an appearance by former Bayern Munich Women star (and current Lehigh Associate Head Coach) Gina Lewandowski.  Over 600 players and fans, and all eyes of the WPSL were on the two teams as they prepared to battle to increase their hopes of securing more summer soccer.
 
Reading wasted no time as their early pressure forced PA Classics into some uncharacteristic mistakes and in the 4th minute Ashley Lavrich picked up a loose ball in the visitors penalty box and deposited a scrappy goal to spot Reading a quick 1-0 lead.  The goal was Lavrich’s 8th goal of the season and leads the Mid Atlantic Commonwealth Division in only six game appearances.  In the 29th minute, Lavrich became provider and used her 3rd assist of the season to pick out a streaking Becca Kotula run that the Reading captain blasted past the helpless Classics GK for a 2-0 lead.
 
Reading maintained pressure and if not for a few key saves by PA Classics Marah Krick, the game easily could have been out of reach before halftime.  Nonetheless the teams entered halftime with Reading maintaining their 2-0 lead and outshooting Classics 11-7.
 
Halftime saw the visitors settle down and provide more pressure on Reading and in the 48th minute their pressure resulted in a quick response on a goal by Kaitlyn Economopolous.  But stalwart Reading GK Autum Monty used her communication and calm to keep Classics at bay the rest of the half, featuring four big saves (on 7 PA Classics 2nd half shots).  
 
In the 61st minute Reading Captain, and Woman of the Match, Becca Kotula iced the game with a clean finish to put the game out of reach and a 3-1 lead.
 
With the win, the Reading women leapfrogged PA Classics into playoff position but Classics host Keystone FC tonight to still maintain their chances for the post-season.  A PA Classics loss, or tie, would enable Reading to secure the Commonwealth Division playoff spot and host a play-in game July 5th or 6th (final date and time TBD).

With the Reading women setting the weekend tone for the club, the Reading men continued their march for a return to USL2 playoff soccer hosting Real Central NJ on Saturday night.  The Mid Atlantic Division standings feature a logjam of teams (Reading, West Chester United, Real Central NJ, and Philadelphia Lone Star) all vying for the coveted second place in the division and a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.  Reading entered the game one point ahead of Real Central NJ, with a game in hand, on 13 points (3rd place) and RCNJ on 12 points (4th place).
 
Unfortunately Mother Nature was once again Reading’s biggest rival as damaging storms were raging across the PA heartland.  A robust crowd came out to support the team and participate in the already once postponed Cancer Awareness Game jersey auction.  An appearance by local Reading Royals ice hockey team mascot Slapshot added excitement and flair to the early game activities.  Reading started brightly, hammering the Real Central NJ GK Andrew Kempe who was forced into 4 saves in the first half.  Unfortunately in the 23rd minute lightning in the area forced a stadium and field clearance.  After a nearly one hour delay, and some horrific rainfall drenched the stadium, the teams returned to action after 8pm.  Reading continued their offensive pressure and some clear opportunities on goal went begging, chances that Reading would regret not finishing later in the game.  With storms still in the area, Reading went into the abbreviated halftime tied 0-0.
 
After the break, Reading continued their offensive pressure, and defensive press.  Finally in the 54th minute a scramble in the box found the ball at the foot of Reading striker Modou Faye who unleashed a blistering shot that rocketed into the Real Central NJ net for a deserved 1-0 Reading lead. 
 
Unfortunately, only 15 minutes later Reading’s defense had a mental lapse that allowed RCNJ a rare foray into the Reading defensive third of the field and a free kick in a dangerous area.  The resulting Curt Calov free kick found the head of Luke Pompliano allowing RCNJ to even the score 1-1.  Reading continued to mount forays into the RCNJ box but Kempe continued to be up to the task.  With Reading outshooting RCNJ 17-10 on the game, Kempe was crucial to keeping the road point for RCNJ with his 11 saves on the night.
 
While the result was not what Reading wanted, the team still controls their destiny in the Mid Atlantic division.   Reading has three games remaining, with their divisional rivals West Chester United and Real Central NJ each with two games remaining.  If Reading wins out their final three games they stand a great chance of securing 2nd place in the division but will need West Chester to drop points in one of their two remaining games to guarantee a spot.  With the Saturday night draw, Ocean City secured a playoff spot for themselves.  The divisional playoff spots determination will likely come down to the final game of the season for the teams.  Reading host LVU Rush on July 13, while Ocean City host West Chester the same night.  In a rare occurrence the day may feature Reading fans having to cheer on their longest standing rivals in Ocean City.
 
The July 13 Reading home game will be “Fan Appreciation Night” and feature discounted fan gear, along with the twice postponed Cancer Awareness Night Jersey Auction.  Reading will feature once again in their pink jerseys and post game (pending weather) will feature a jersey auction with all profits donated to the St. Lukes Cancer Compassion Fund. 
 
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