READING, PA (July 19, 2018) - Reading United A.C. (12-0-2), champions of the Mid-Atlantic Division, begin their march through the 2018 Premier Development League postseason when they host the 2018 South Atlantic Division Champions, the Myrtle Beach Mutiny (8-2-4), at Wilson High School’s Gurksi Stadium on Friday evening in the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

United enter the postseason as one of just three teams that finished the 2018 PDL campaign with an unbeaten record after completing a thrilling 3-2 come from behind win over Lehigh Valley United in the regular season finale. Midfielder Ezana Kahsay scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute to secure Reading first-ever undefeated season. Kahsay got the rally started with a goal in the 77th minute, while Spencer Burkhardt leveled the match five minutes later to set up the dramatic ending.

Reading’s 2018 side sports some of the best young prospects in the country. Aaron Molloy, the Premier Development League’s top prospect, is the motor that drives the team from his midfield role. Molloy, who will be entering his junior season with Penn State this fall, has four goals and four assists and leads the team with 1,037 minutes played this season.

United features an attack led by veteran forwards Khori Bennett and Kieran Roberts, as well as midfielder Felipe Hideki. Bennett leads the team in goals with six scored in 2018. The trio has combined to score 16 this season.

Defensively, Reading has been imperious in 2018, allowing a conference low eight goals. Lamine Conte and Kamal Miller, both of whom appear on the PDL’s Top Prospects list, have anchored the Reading defense. Goalkeeper Bennet Strutz has posted six shutouts this season and sports a microscopic 0.64 goals against average.

Reading Head Coach Alan McCann knows his team is ready for the test Myrtle Beach presents, saying, “The team’s full of confidence. After the Lehigh Valley United game, it was good to go through something tough and come out the good side. We’ve had some talk this week about improving on that performance. We’ve got players coming back in and that’s helping as well, so the team is very confident.”

Molloy echoed his head coach’s sentiments, commenting, “All the boys are raring to go for the weekend ahead, full of confidence and looking forward to getting on the field.” He continued, “I feel we have a very good chance going into the game.”

Myrtle Beach make the trip north following a season in which they claimed their second consecutive South Atlantic Division title. The Mutiny finished the regular season on a seven match unbeaten run. They wrapped up their 2018 campaign with a 1-1 draw at home against the unbeaten Deep South Division champs, Tormenta FC.

The Mutiny sport one of the best offensive units in the PDL’s Eastern Conference, having scored 40 goals in their 14 regular season matches, second only to the New York Red Bull’s U23s. Jon Ander leads the Mutiny with nine goals and has scored in each of Myrtle Beach’s last four games. Romario Piggott is second on the team with six goals and six assists.

The winner of this match will have just hours to rest before moving on to the PDL Eastern Conference Final to be played on Saturday night at Gurksi Stadium. Kickoff for the match is set for 7:00pm.

Tickets for all three match of the Eastern Conference Final Four can be purchased on the Reading United website at www.readingunitedac.com/tickets. Children aged 10 and younger are free.