Don’t miss the Meet FC Sonic TV show that will be airing tonight, May 18th on Service Electric TV2 Sports show at 10:00 p.m. This show will also run Thursday, May 19th at 5:00 p.m. Watch coach Weitzman along with players Ryan Hess, Dan Odenwelder, and Todd Ervin talk about the upcoming season. Go Sonic!
FC SONIC PLAYERS GIVE BACK……
On Friday May 13, FC Sonic players and coaching staff took to the fields at the Iron Lakes Sports Complex to work the FC Lehigh Academy programs. Sonic players instructed youth players in the FC Lehigh Soccer School of Excellence (players between 5-10 years), Technical Training (players between 10-16 years), and Goalkeeping (players between 10-16 years) sessions. “I thought it was cool to have professional players there. It was lots of fun and very exciting and the Sonic guys were great and easy to work with,” said ten year old Emmerson Maseheimer. Coach Weitzman offered, “It’s extremely important to our organization that our Sonic players give back to the community, especially the youth. It’s terrific that the young players are coming to our games watching and cheering for players like Leslie Fraser and Cody Antonini, and then to work up close and personal with players like them is really special for the kids. Our hope is to continue to support the community and be positive role models for the youth.”
Join us to help raise funds for FC Sonic Soccer with a fun Celebrity Bartending event at Starters Riverport on Wednesday May 18th. All tips during this time will be donated to FC Sonic Soccer. Come mingle with our “celebrity bartenders” and cheer them on as they mix up your favorite cocktail!
Celebrity Bartenders will be: Club President Fred Stellato, and player Ryan Hess.
Starters Riverport: 17 W. 2nd Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015 – 610-625-2300
Starters Restaurants have agreed to support our efforts by donating up to 10% of all purchases between May 10th – June 12th to FC Sonic Soccer. We hope that you will support us in our fundraising efforts by dining at any of Starters three Bethlehem locations the next time you go out to eat. Just present the donation voucher below to the staff and they will do the rest! Thank you in advance for your support.
Click here to download the flyer!
The 2011 season of FC Sonic Lehigh Valley is set to begin at home on Monday May 16 with a match against a familiar opponent. The NPSL New York Red Bulls are headed to Bethlehem to face the Sonic in a rematch of last season’s Northeast Regional championship game, ultimately won by the Sonic, 3-2. The game is technically a “friendly” match, but both teams are likely to remember last year’s tight playoff battle, with the result being a match that will be anything but friendly.
The idea of this rematch was hatched immediately after the playoff match last July. “After the game, we were so impressed with the Red Bull side, we asked if we could play a friendly match at the Red Bulls’ home pitch in the 2011 season,” said club president Fred Stellato. “The Red Bulls coach immediately agreed, but asked if his squad could return to play again at Ulrich Stadium, because his team really appreciated our game day crowd and overall atmosphere”, reported Stellato. And so, the FC Sonic kick off the 2011 season with this top-notch opponent at home.
Last year’s game was a barnburner, to say the least. The seesaw match was tied 2-2 84 minutes into the game, with the visiting Red Bulls attacking with a vengeance. Just then, a long lead feed was taken on the fly by Sonic forward Joe Sales. Sales dribbled a bit, drawing out the Red Bulls keeper, then curled a beautiful shot into the far corner of the net, setting off a wild celebration by the rabid home fans who had urged the Sonic on all night. The Sonic held on to earn the trip to the NPSL Championship in Madison, Alabama, and the Red Bulls were left to wait for 2011 for a chance for revenge. That chance comes this Monday night…be there!
The NPSL soccer season is fast approaching and your FC Sonic squad couldn’t be more pumped up about it. Try-outs were held at the beginning of March, where players from all around the area competed for a spot on this year’s team. At the end of the try-outs, there were fifteen returning players as well has twenty new players accepted for training with the Sonic for the 2011 NPSL campaign.
“After several practices, the team is looking solid this year,” said James Graf, a veteran central defender for FC Sonic. “It looks as though we have attracted a diverse group of players from a broader geographic area. I would credit the success we had last year (NPSL Semifinals) for the large numbers coming out for tryouts and preseason,” explained Graf.
“I feel like the newcomers have really taken to our philosophy and our determination to be the best team in the league. The veterans as well as the coaching staff really have set lofty expectations. Credit the new guys who have done very well to match those expectations so far,” stated Charlie Sales, goalkeeper for the Sonic.
After winning the NPSL Northeast Region title, and making it to the national semis last year, the FC Sonic players have high hopes for the upcoming season. “Our goal is simple, win a national championship, “stated Ryan Hess, a Sonic midfielder and last season’s team captain. Hess went on to say, “We understand that we cannot just expect championships to happen, and in order to win in this league, we need to challenge each other and compete at every training session to prepare for the season.”
Get psyched, along with the team, for the season opener on May 16 against the New York Red Bulls, last year’s playoff opponent! The friendly will be held at Lehigh University’s Ulrich Sports Complex at 7PM. Be there, and watch out for a Sonic “Blast” !!!
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