TOUCHLINE Fall 2025 by A.E. Engine

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LOGOS

Honoring Our Past Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer 2026

As the 2025-26 season begins, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is stepping onto the field with more than just a new season ahead. We are carrying a piece of history. Our newly unveiled commemorative logo for the 2026 season marks a once-ina-lifetime year of milestones: the United States’ 250th anniversary, the FIFA World Cup’s arrival in Philadelphia, and the continued rise of youth soccer in our region.

The design of the logo blends the story of our nation, our state, and our game into one. At its heart, the Liberty Bell honors Philadelphia’s role in America’s founding, while the keystone shape reflects Pennsylvania’s identity and our own legacy since 1972.

A lightning bolt crack nods to Ben Franklin’s famous experiment and the energy building toward Philadelphia’s role as a World Cup host city. The number 26, styled in tribute to the official FIFA World Cup 2026 mark, takes center stage, surrounded by red, white, and blue stripes celebrating the Semiquincentennial. A classic soccer ball and our traditional wordmark tie it all back to where our passion begins, on the fields of Eastern Pennsylvania.

PUBLISHED BY:

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

4070 Butler Pike, Suite 100 Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Phone: 610-238-9966

Fax: 610-238-9933

E-mail: info@EPYSA.org

Website: EPYSA.org

EXECUTIVE BOARD

President - Lennie Brown

First Vice PresidentMelissa Murphy Weber

Second Vice PresidentBill Fuller

Treasurer- Jim Brown

SecretaryBill Ross

At-Large - Jim Christian

At-Large - John Mickle

State Youth Referee

Administrator - Jeff Tener

District 1 CommissionerJeff Tener

District 2 CommissionerRachel Gallegos

District 3 CommissionerGary Blockus

District 4 CommissionerEric McKitish

District 5 CommissionerScott Merritt

District 6 CommissionerPhil Frederick

OFFICE STAFF

Chief Executive Officer –Chris Branscome

Chief Operating Officer –Kelly Connor

Technical Director –Gary Stephenson

Assistant Technical Director –Fernando Carrizo

Assistant Technical Director –Anna-Kate DePaolo

Director of Operations –Leo Kelly

PRIMARY PRIMARY WITH WORDMARK

The logo is more than a design. It is a symbol of unity for the thousands of players, coaches, referees, and families who represent Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer each year. Whether it is worn on a jersey, displayed at an event or featured on a piece of gear, it will serve as a reminder of the shared pride and connection we have to our local community and also the global game.

This upcoming season offers a unique opportunity for every member of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer to be part of history. As Philadelphia prepares to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup, our players will see firsthand how the sport can bring nations, cultures, and communities together. Local clubs will have the chance to inspire the

next generation by showing that the passion for the game here in Eastern Pennsylvania is just as strong as anywhere in the world.

The nation’s 250th anniversary brings even greater significance to this season. The Liberty Bell once rang to mark a defining moment in history, and today our fields carry that same spirit through the sounds of the game. From the young players taking their first touches to elite players competing at the highest level, every team and every match adds to the rich story of soccer in Eastern Pennsylvania.

The 2025-26 season will be one of growth, opportunity, and celebration. As our teams take the field, we look forward to the moments that will define this chapter in our history. From the first practice to the final whistle, we will carry the energy of this historic moment with us, honoring the past, celebrating the present, and inspiring the future.

Director of Registration Services –Meghan Petroski

Grassroots Soccer Manager –JT Dorsey

Outreach/Grassroots

Soccer Specialist –Mallory O’Riordan

State Cup Manager –David Jones

Director of Communications –Morgan Weindel

Director of Marketing & Events –Karly Kaminsky

TOUCHLINE

Editor-in-Chief –Chris Branscome

Editors – Catie Branscome, Morgan Weindel

Photography – Catie Branscome

Designed and printed by A.E. Engine, Inc. www.ae-engine.com

SCORE EXTRA SAVINGS

2025 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THROUGH

THE LENS

FC DELCO NAL ‘06

FC DELCO NAL ‘06 closed out a championship season at Nationals, finishing 1-1-1 in group play after winning the State Cup, Eastern Regionals, and the NAL National Championship.

YMS 10B PREMIER UNITED

YMS 10B Premier United capped another strong run at the US Youth Soccer National Championships with a semifinal finish, marking their second straight trip to the final four.

HEX FC DOMINION 06/07B

National League qualifier HEX FC Dominion 06/07B put together a strong showing at the US Youth Soccer National Championships, finishing 2-1 in group play.

NATIONAL CHAMPS

Penn FC

Youth Black

Playing to the Final Whistle THE PENN FC MENTALITY

The Penn FC Youth Black team stayed composed, talked to each other, and trusted the work they had put in all year.

“That’s the thing about this group,” head coach Adam Freeman said. “No matter what the situation is, they play until the last whistle. They don’t panic, they don’t quit. They just keep going.”

That attitude – the refusal to break – carried Penn FC through every stage of the postseason. In the State Cup final, they beat a team that had beaten them earlier in the regular season, striking early and never letting the match get away.

“We changed some things around tactically and the mentality going into that game was that we were going to show them how we can really play,” Freeman said. “We went up 3-0 quickly and just controlled the rest of the game.”

Eastern Regionals became a showcase of focus and discipline. Across five games in six days, Penn FC didn’t concede a single goal in group play. The only two goals allowed came from a penalty kick and a free kick. Every match was won by at least four goals, a level of consistency Freeman credits to the team’s ability to execute under pressure.

Nationals presented new challenges. A group-stage loss meant they had to win their final match and hope for help elsewhere. They delivered a commanding 4-0 performance, and the results elsewhere fell their way.

“We talked about controlling what we can control,” Freeman added. “They went out and did exactly that. You could just see it in their eyes that day that they were on it.”

The semifinal brought the team’s first penalty shootout together. Freeman didn’t assign the order. “I put my hand in the middle and I said ‘If you want to take a PK, put your hand in the middle,’” he said. “Six players stepped forward without hesitation. We went down 3-1, but then we had the goalkeeper step up and make two incredible saves.”

Then came the final, where the real test awaited. Down 2-0 at halftime, Freeman reminded his players to stay patient. He had kept some of his attacking options fresh, anticipating that the last 30 minutes would wear on the opposition. But it was a message from veteran forward Viktorya Luckenbach that set the tone for the second half. Despite not starting after the break, she gathered her teammates and told them, “This isn’t over. We play to the final whistle.”

The breakthrough came from a perfectly timed header by Haley Bull off of a corner, and with it came a surge of belief. “We’d been saying all game, ‘If we get one, we can get another,’” Freeman said.

From there, Penn FC took control. They pressed with purpose, moved the ball quickly, and forced the other team onto the back foot. Sustained pressure and crisp passing led to the equalizer, and with the momentum full shifted, Penn FC pushed for the winner.

It came in the final minutes, a hard, driven shot that beat the keeper and sent the entire stadium into celebration. Even then, they kept their shape and composure, closing out the game without letting their opponent from Michigan back in.

“It’s one thing to come back,” Freeman admitted. “It’s another to finish the job and see it through. That’s who this team is.”

Freeman believes what made this team special was not just talent, but the way they embraced adversity. “A lot of teams can play when things are going well,” he said. “The special ones can still perform when things aren’t going their way. This group proved over and over that they will fight for every single minute.”

A lot of teams can play when things are going well. The special ones can still perform when things aren’t going their way.

The win, he added, was the result of more than the players alone. Parents who committed countless hours, club leadership who supported the program, and assistant coaches who balanced the approach all played their part. “It takes a lot more than just a coach and players to get to a national final,” Freeman said.

For the players, the championship will be a lasting memory. For Freeman, it will be remembered not only for the trophy, but how the team won it. “They will carry this into college, into their careers, into their lives,” he said. “It is the fight, the focus, the refusal to quit. That is what they will remember and so will I.”

2025 NATIONAL PRESIDENTS CUP THROUGH THE LENS

VEREINIGUNG ERZGEBIRGE SC VE MOUNTAINEERS

The Vereinigung Erzgebirge SC VE Mountaineers U18 Boys went undefeated at regionals and edged State College in the final to reach nationals, where they finished 2-1 and advanced to the semifinals.

TOWAMENCIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION TORNADOES

The Towamencin Youth Association Tornadoes U19 Girls reached the regional finals before closing their season at nationals.

HUNTINGDON VALLEY AA STINGERS 2010

Huntingdon Valley AA Stingers 2010 U15 Boys went unbeaten to win regionals and, after a 1-1-1 showing at nationals, advanced to the semifinals.

Brotherhood Above All

LOWER MERION SC’S CULTURE CARRIES THEM TO NATIONAL PRESIDENTS CUP TITLE

When the final whistle blew in Tampa, Florida, the Lower Merion SC 007’s weren’t just celebrating a national championship. They were celebrating years of friendship, loyalty, and a shared belief that culture wins before talent ever takes the field.

For head coach Charlie Dodds, the win was the culmination of a season, and a decade built on relationships, “We went the whole entire spring and summer without losing,” Dodds said. “It was the kids. Seniors who showed up to everything, held each other accountable, and picked each other up. They put the team first, always.”

The 007’s dominated at Eastern Presidents Cup Regionals, going 5-0 with a staggering 20-1 goal differential, four clean sheets, and a 5-0 win in the final. But even then, their focus wasn’t on chasing hardware. As Dodds put it, “Our goal wasn’t regionals or nationals. It was ‘Can we win a state championship?’ Once we did, it was, ‘Why not regionals?’ And then, ‘Why not nationals?’”

Assistant coach Matt Kane has spent years alongside Dodds, watching this group grow. “We’ve always prioritized kids over soccer,” Kane said. “Winning cannot be the mission. It’s the outcome of doing things the right way. We’ve been about people over the game, development over winning, including parents in a healthy way, and being there for kids off the field. That’s our culture.”

That culture was tested in Tampa, where the competition was tougher. After rolling through states and regionals, the 007’s tied two groupstage matches against Wisconsin and Tennessee. Those results could have knocked them out. Instead, those moments became turning points.

“I think our second group-stage game we

recognized we needed to play as a team,” said Cooper Lechtman. “Instead of blaming each other when things went wrong, we realized if everybody does their job, we’re going to find success.”

Ben Norbury, one of the newer members of the 007’s, saw that unity immediately. “No one was playing for their own glory,” Norbury said. “Everyone had something bigger that they were playing for. Playing for our parents or playing for the culture they built. The brotherhood was unseen for club soccer for me.”

For some, the team’s culture was clear from day one. “It felt like I joined a family,” said Graham Costello, who joined in the spring. “This team and the coaches, they just wanted the best for you. They’re some of the best teammates I’ve ever played with.”

Ethan Howard, who joined the team right before nationals, had a similar experience. “At first I wondered how I’d fit in,” he admitted. “But within days in Tampa, I understood what they meant by ‘good culture.’”

By the time the 007’s reached the national final, they had become a team that embraced adversity. A lightning delay pushed kickoff back hours, but instead of frustration, the players joked that it was just “extra time” to spend with their brothers.

When the match finally began, they faced a talented Arizona team they had already beaten in group play. This time, it was tighter. A single goal and disciplined defending sealed the 1-0 win. “We trusted each other completely,” Lechtman said. “Everyone did their job. That’s how we became national champions.”

After the final, the celebrations were not just about the trophy. They were about everything that led to it – the extra winter sessions under darkened lights, team meals and movie nights, a teammate’s rap song that mentioned every single player before the championship game, and years of sticking together when other teams might have broken apart.

For veteran Andrew Laudenbach, this championship was the perfect ending. “To take home three tournament titles, it was a great way to end off my career. It wasn’t just the games though. I think the practices, joking with each other when we’re not playing, doing the little stuff together, those are all the great memories I’ll remember.”

“It’s surreal,” Lechtman said. “I think the thing that made our team so unique was that it was a group of guys that wanted to be there for each other. They weren’t there to play on a team that has a great name or play on a team that gets posted on Instagram. They were there because they loved each other, they loved their coaches, they loved their teammates, and I think that was the formula for success.”

Dodds summed it up simply: “Culture eats talent for breakfast. These boys bought in completely, and that’s why they’re national champions.”

Carlisle Cannons

FRIENDS FIRST, CHAMPIONS SECOND

In Carlisle and Boiling Springs, soccer is more than a game. It’s neighbors piling into cars for away matches, parents setting up folding chairs on the sidelines, and teammates growing up together from the first day they kicked a ball. For the Carlisle Cannons, that shared history is the foundation of everything they do. It’s the reason why a team from two small Pennsylvania towns could walk into the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup and leave as champions.

“We do everything together,” head coach Doug Fitzgerald said. “The message was the same: whatever happens we do it together.”

That togetherness shows in the way they move on the field. Many of the players have been with the team since 2015, some even longer, with friendships stretching back to age seven or eight. Over time they have learned each other’s tendencies, strengths, and even moods. Fitzgerald says that bond has carried them through tough moments – the kind of connection where a teammate knows exactly how to pick someone up without a word being spoken.

The Cannons’ climb to the national stage started years ago. They reached the Challenge Cup finals in 2021 and 2022 before winning it in 2024. After that victory, the team decided together to take on the Presidents Cup. Fitzgerald liked that it was their choice. “I want them to be co-creators in this process,” he said. “It is about empowering them to have a say in what we do.”

Moving into EDP play brought stiffer competition and the lessons they needed to grow. They won the Presidents Cup, then advanced through regionals by keeping their focus narrow. “We take care of our business when it’s time for business,” Fitzgerald said. “We shut out the noise and focus on what needs to be done.”

At nationals, that mindset proved critical. In the semifinal, the Cannons trailed 1-0 in heavy heat and humidity. They gathered during a water break,

U18 Girls

NATIONAL CHAMPS

Carlisle Cannons

made tactical changes, and pushed higher up the field. The result was an equalizer, then a penalty kick to secure the 2-1 win. Fitzgerald has replayed that match more than the championship itself. “The semifinal is the clearest picture of who we are,” he said. “We are not going to stop and we are going to keep coming at you.”

The title match was their final statement. Tess Hughes scored first with what Fitzgerald called an “absolute banger,” and Ella Garman buried a penalty to make it 2-0. With their back line holding strong, Fitzgerald knew the trophy was theirs.

The national spotlight did not just shine on the team as a whole. Four Cannons earned individual honors for their play in Tampa. Captain and center back Reese Hughes, who scored the equalizer in the semifinal, was named to the 18U Girls Best 11. Goalkeeper Elisabeth Bordner claimed the 2025 18U Golden Gloves Award. Midfield Sammie Knisely, with two goals and two assists, also made the Best 11. Joining them was captain and forward Ella Garman, whose three goals helped power Carlisle to the title.

But for the Cannons, the memories go beyond the scoreboard. There were pool jumps after tough matches, dinners filled with laughter, and team meetings that turned into dance parties. “That’s the important stuff,” Fitzgerald said. “That’s what lasts.”

Their championship run was not fueled by chasing bigger clubs or constant roster changes. They stayed loyal to their group, growing together and trusting each other. “We decided we were going to have success together and learn a lot together,” Fitzgerald said. “Either way, we’re going to do it with our group.”

That loyalty is part of what makes this title so meaningful for a small-town club. It was not just about proving they could compete on the national stage, it was doing it their way, with their lifelong friends, parents and coaches who believed in them, and with a community that celebrated every step.

Fitzgerald hopes the girls carry more than a medal from the experience. He wants them to remember the long drives, the inside jokes, the way they lifted each other when things got hard. “If they keep that love for the game and for each other, they will take this into college, into their careers, into their lives,” he said. “That bond is something you never lose.”

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Get to Know Your Soccer Peers

REESE R.

Age: 17

What’s your favorite soccer memory so far?:

My favorite soccer memory so far is from last year when we won Regionals in West Virginia despite the heat, and made one of our team parents wear this crazy palm tree outfit to our last game. What’s the best advice a coach has ever given you?: The best advice I have received is “Younger you would be proud of where you are now.”

CLARK M.

Age: 8

What’s your favorite position to play and why?: Right defender because I like stopping goals.

What’s your favorite soccer memory so far?: I did a croqueta in a game and then cleared the ball.

DECLAN S.

Age: 12

Who’s your soccer idol?: Neymar.

What’s your favorite soccer memory so far?: Playing and scoring in England.

ABBY M.

Age: 13

If you could play for any professional team, which one would it be and why?:

US Women’s National Team because the players are such an inspiration on and off the field. It’s the ultimate goal to get to represent USA.

What’s the best advice a coach has ever given you?: If you’re not winning you’re learning.

KEYSTONE KID

Take Keystone Kid on your adventures! Whether it’s practice, road trips, tournaments, or just hanging out with friends, snap a photo with your colored-in Keystone Kid and tag @EPaYouthSoccer or email it to communications@epysa.org.

Young Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Players Show Their Art Skills

Ainsley S.

Ainsley drew herself in action, proudly wearing her Perfect Touch Soccer gear with a soccer ball at her side, capturing the energy of her game.

Samantha C.

Samantha created “Soccer Princess,” a colorful self-portrait with a poem that turns her headband into a crown, cleats into heels, and the soccer field into her ballroom.

If you have drawn, painted, written, or created anything inspired by the game, we want to see it! Whether it’s a sketch of your favorite player, a poem about your team, or a painting of your favorite soccer memory, send it our way!

Email submissions to communications@epysa.org along with your name, age and club team!

Select submissions will be featured in upcoming issues of Touchline!