FC Sonic – Lehigh Valley NPSL Soccer

Thursday July 29, 2010 – Madison City School Stadium

Match 1 (1 Seed v 4 seed)
FC Sonic Lehigh Valley (Northeast, 10-1-1) v Sacramento Gold (West, 7-1-2)
5:30 pm CST

Match 2 (2 seed v 3 seed)
Chattanooga FC (Southeast, 6-2-0) v Madison 56ers (8-0-2)
8:00 pm CST

Friday July 30, 2010 – Madison City School Stadium

NPSL Third Place Match
Loser Match 1 v Loser Match 2
5:30 pm CST

Saturday July 31, 2010 – Madison City School Stadium

NPSL Championship Match
Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2
7:30 pm CST

UPDATE: 2010 NPSL Final Four Draw / Schedule Released

BETHLEHEM — FC Sonic had talent when it was needed and luck when talent wasn’t enough.

The Lehigh Valley chapter of the National Premiere Soccer League defeated its toughest opponent of the season in the New York Red Bulls, a U23 development team affiliated with the MLS club of the same name…. Read More

A goal by Jordie Ciuffetelli in the 88th minute against the Erie Admiral’s made all the difference for FC Sonic Lehigh Valley (10-1-1) as they captured the National Premier Soccer League Keystone Conference title and advanced to the Northeast Region playoffs with a 1-0 victory over Erie Admirals (9-1-2) this past weekend.

The game was a must win for FC Sonic who clinched a spot in the playoffs against the winner from the Northeast Region’s Atlantic Conference, soon to be determined, either the New York Red Bulls or the Brooklyn Italians.

The first round playoff match will be hosted by the Sonic at Lehigh University’s Ulrich Sports Complex on Saturday, July 17^th.  The game will begin at 7:30 pm.

All youth wearing any youth club jersey or any soccer jersey will be admitted for free, with a paying adult, to the playoff match.  Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $2 for seniors and youth.

FC Sonic Lehigh Valley (9-1-1) traveled to South Brunswick, NJ on Tuesday evening for an NPSL clash with the NJ Blaze. The Sonic needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and, to the delight of the faithful Sonic fans that made the trip south to watch their team, the Sonic scored a gutsy 3-0 victory.

Though the game was played in record high temperatures and on a less then desirable pitch, the FC Sonic players knew the importance of the match and put in a terrific effort on the night. The first half, similar to the majority of Sonic matches this summer, had the locals controlling the better part of play and creating at least a half dozen chances only to come up empty, resulting in a 0–0 halftime score.

During the break and just before stepping back onto the pitch, Sonic star forward, Ricky Mucelli, gathered his teammates together and asked the boys to put forth a little extra effort in the second half in order to keep the playoffs in view. Mucelli went out and led by example, and halfway into the second half, his Sonic mates strung together five consecutive passes slicing through the Blaze defense. Fellow forward Joe Sales then played a fantastic cross, behind the Blaze defenders, to the boots of Mucelli, who comfortably slipped the ball low to the keeper’s left for the 1-0 lead.

Just minutes later, Mucelli, carrying the ball tenaciously inside the box, was taken down and the Sonic were awarded a penalty kick. Sonic midfielder and captain, Ryan Hess, stepped up to the spot and gave his side a much needed insurance goal. In the final minutes of play, Lafayette College bound Ryan Wetherhold, a Parkland High School grad, solidified the win with his first NPSL goal off a Matt Ceconni assist.

The FC Sonic championship hopes come down to a match against the Erie Admirals, this Friday, at 730pm at Lehigh’s Ulrich Stadium. The Sonic sit in first place with 29 points on 11 games played. The Admirals are in second place with 28 points, having played one less match. Friday’s winner will take the Northeast – Keystone Conference crown and an invitation to the NPSL playoffs. FC Sonic won its first tussle with Erie, 1-0, so fans can expect a barnburner of a match.

FC Sonic Lehigh Valley remain in first place in the NPSL Northeast Keystone Conference after a convincing 6-0 rout of FC Reading Revolution on Tuesday evening at Lehigh University’s Ulrich Sports Complex.

FC Sonic forward Cody Antonini (Muhlenberg College) opened the scoring in the first half as he went one-on-one with the Revolution keeper and dribbled around him, slotting the ball into the back of the net. The score remained 1-0 at the half as the visitors defended well but had very little scoring threats on Sonic netminder Sam Bishop.

A hand ball in the Revolution box resulted in a Sonic penalty kick early in the second half and Sonic captain Ryan Hess converted to give the Sonic team some breathing room. With a 2-0 lead, the locals had the confidence to play attractive soccer for the remainder of the match. Antonini scored his second goal of the night midway through the second half and midfielder Hunter Norton, a Georgia Southern prospect, made it 4-0 moments later off a beautiful pass from forward Ricky Mucelli. Carlington Lamont and Eric Miller added tallies late in the game as FC Sonic improved its record to 8-1 (24 points) on the season.

FC Sonic must get past a tussle with local rival Pocono Snow on Saturday, July 3rd at 7:30pm at Lehigh’s Ulrich Soccer Stadium before taking on the Erie Admirals at home. The Admirals, in second place with 21 points and having suffered its only loss of the season at the hands of the Sonic, travel to the Lehigh Valley for a possible playoff birth showdown on Friday, July 9th at 7:30pm.

All FC Sonic Lehigh Valley home matches are played at Lehigh University’s Ulrich Soccer Stadium. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $2 for seniors and youth.