READING, PA (August 3, 2018) – For the first time in club history, Reading United A.C. (15-0-2) are set to play in the Premier Development League’s Championship match where they will face the Western Conference Champions, Calgary Foothills U23 (14-1-2), at Wilson’s Gurski Stadium on Saturday, August 4th. Kickoff for the match is set for 7:00pm and will determine which club wins their first ever Premier Development League Championship.

After defeating Villages SC in the PDL National Semifinal, United will be hosting their first ever PDL Championship. United were National Semifinalists in 2008 and 2010.

United enter the game coming off an exciting extra thriller against Villages SC where Kieran Roberts ended the stalemate with a late goal in the second period of extra time to send United to their first ever PDL Championship appearance. The goal was Roberts’s seventh of the season and his second of this great playoff run.

Standout midfielder Felipe Hideki acknowledged the partnership between the Union, Steel, and United has helped them prepare for this week. “Being able to practice with the Steel this week has really helped us out and has made me realize what I need to focus on for the game. The key for me has been to stay mentally focused because championship games don’t come around too often.”

Khori Bennett, all-time leading goalscorer in Reading United history, reiterated on how prepared the squad is going into this historic game. “I think we are well prepared for the game and since it is the first championship game in club history everyone is really excited so if we keep doing what we have been doing all year, then I think we will be in a good position to win the game.”

The Calgary Foothills U23 squad makes the journey from Canada to Reading after winning the Northwest Division with 35 points total. Foothills FC have been tremendous in the post season, not allowing a goal in any of their three playoff games, extending a run of not conceded a goal to six straight games, which tracks back all the way to the regular season (540 minutes). The Foothills fierce defense is backstopped by the PDL Goalkeeper of the Year, Marco Carducci.

In the conference final, Calgary defeated FC Tuscon, 2-0, with goals from Ali Musse and William Akio. Musse has been on a tear for Calgary throughout the postseason scoring three out of the four goals for them. He ranks second in playoff goals this post season just behind United’s Bennett with four goals.

Calgary defeated Central Conference Champions, Chicago FC United, 1-0, with Moses Danto assisting Musse to find the game-winning goal in the 58th minute. Danto leads the team in goals with eleven on the season, which ranks 5th in the league this season. He is the No. 50 prospect on the Premier Development League Top Prospect List.

This is will be Calgary’s second ever appearance in the title game. In just their second year in the PDL, Foothills FC were defeated by Michigan Bucks, 1-0, in the 2016 championship game in Pontiac, Michigan.  

The PDL Championship, presented locally by Inperium Management Services, will be available for live stream at the PDL website and on Reading United’s YouTube channel. Tickets to the PDL Championship at Wilson’s Gurski Stadium are available online at www.readingunitedac.com/tickets with all children 10 and under admitted to the match for free.