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Focus, consistency key as United prep for LVU

By Sean Doyle, 07/13/18, 5:45PM EDT

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READING, PA (July 13, 2018) – Having locked up the Mid-Atlantic Division title and a place in the Premier Development League’s postseason, unbeaten Reading United A.C. (11-0-2) close out the regular season on Saturday, July 14th when they welcome their in-state rivals, Lehigh Valley United (1-11-1), to Wilson High School’s Gurski Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:00pm.

This will be the third meeting of the season between the PDL’s only Pennsylvania based clubs. Reading United hold a commanding lead in the all-time series, 8-1-1, and have won their last six matches against their nearest rivals.

In their last meeting on June 12th, Reading United controlled play and scored a clinical 3-0 victory over Lehigh Valley at Gurski Stadium. Reading United midfielder Aaron Molloy, the top prospect in the Premier Development League, scored twice in the first half. Kahil Elmedkhar’s goal in the 57th minute of the game sealed the win for Reading. The Reading United defense limited Lehigh Valley to just two shots on the night and picked up the unit’s fifth clean sheet of the season.

Reading United head in to the regular season finale buoyed by last weekend’s 4-2 win over the Ocean City Nor’easters that clinched the Mid-Atlantic Division title for Reading. Felipe Hideki, Khori Bennett and Daniel Krutzen scored first half goals for Reading, but Ocean City managed to score two first half goals of their own to keep the match tense going into halftime. Khori Bennett’s 64th minute tally, his team high sixth of the season, was enough for United to overcome the Nor’easters, 4-2, and secure a second division title in three years.  

Lehigh Valley United limp into Gurski Stadium mired in a 10 match winless streak. Only the winless Evergreen Hammers have a worse record than Lehigh Valley. In their last match, Lehigh Valley United suffered a 3-2 defeat on the road at the hands of Ocean City. It was the first time in 2018 that the Eastern Conference’s lowest scoring team had recorded more than one goal in a game.

Reading United Head Coach Alan McCann expects his side to maintain focus, saying, “It’s all eyes on Lehigh. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We need to go out and continue the form and stay consistent with what we’re doing.” McCann continued, “We’re going in there to get a job done and keep ourselves to the high standards we set.”

GAME NOTES

- Aaron Molloy and Khori Bennett are currently tied with 14 career goals for Reading United. That places them in fifth place on Reading United's all-time goals scored list. Aaron Wheeler leads all Reading players with 17 goals scored.

- If Aaron Molloy plays on Saturday against Lehigh Valley, he will move past Jon Ports and into fifth place on Reading's all-time games played list. Molloy and Ports are currently tied with 33 appearances for Reading. Ged Quinn is the current leader in games played for Reading with 60 appearances for the club. 

- The 2018 Mid-Atlantic Division title was Reading's fifth division title since the club joined the Premier Development League in 2004. Reading has captured the division title in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016 and 2018.

- By capturing the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Division, Reading United has likely qualified for the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.


Action from the last meeting between the teams on June 12th. Reading won the match 3-0. (Photo Credit: Dave Musante)