Coming off their second straight penalty shootout win, third place Philadelphia Union II take on Toronto FC II at Subaru Park today for their first of three match ups this season.
Reflecting on the match against Orlando City B on Monday, head coach Ryan Richter showed dissatisfaction at getting a draw with the PK win when Union II had no shortage of chances to take the game outright. “A couple moments in the first half, more organized in our preparing for transitions could have probably stopped a lot of the problems they had caused us in a few moments that they did,” Richter shared. “And then, yeah, just our overall movement and desire to score. I showed the guys some clips and the things we can definitely improve.”
The MLS Next Pro level is, after all, as much about developing the talent that may go on to the MLS level and beyond as it is about winning. One such talent that has been developing is Venezuelan midfielder Giovanny Sequera, who Richter moved to right back for the last two games after Union Academy defender Gavin Wetzel graduated and departed to play for University of Pittsburgh. On Sequera, Richter noted:
“He’s obviously like a different style player, but he’s a winner. And he’s desperate to succeed and he’ll do anything to be successful in the field and his mentality- I think it’s part of the first two games in his life that he’s played as a right back, but this mentality can carry him a long way.
“So he has to continue to learn the position, that’s the biggest thing. It’s just him learning the position. Some of the nuances of the position, but he has a right mindset and mentality to do that, so we’re excited to see if he can string a number of good games together- he’s done two. Let’s see if he can go five good games in a row, and then and keep building off that.”
Union II touts the best goal differential by far in MLS Next Pro (17), and have conceded the fewest number of goals (11), all while utilizing four different keepers this season in Andrew Rick, Oliver Semmle, Mike Sheridan and Pierce Holbrook. The Union are sort of a goalkeeper factory when one looks around and sees beyond the Union’s three time Goalkeeper of the Year, Andre Blake. Matt Freese, John McCarthy, and Zac MacMath are just a few who have gone through the Union. Director of goalkeeping Phil Wheddon, Union II goalkeeping coach Ross Cain, and the rest of the staff have been huge for the club in maintaining continuity and maintaining excellence in that position.
“It’s a tough situation for all the goalkeepers mentally,” Richter noted. “When it’s this kind of rotation, when it’s Andy, Oliver, even with Pierce and Mike, but I think it starts with the communication and the way that Ross and Phil speak to these guys, lay out their plan, let them know the importance of the minutes that they get with Union II for their own personal development.
“Oliver’s case, obviously, he’s a little older than the Union II guys, so it’s more about him staying game ready and sharp for when these first team opportunities come up. And just that communication has put them in the right mindset when they approach every game. That for all four of them, so, credit to them. I think it goes again to the way that they treat these guys on a day to day basis that keeps them bought in, gets them fully focused when they step on the field.”
With Blake back in goal for the Union after Rick did a remarkable job filling in with the first team, it is anyone’s guess who will be in net versus Toronto FC II today. In any case, it is a position to have confidence in.
On facing Toronto FC II, who are currently in seventh place in the East at 6-5-3 and -2 goal differential, Richter knows it will not be an easy foe. “Yeah, just as we looked at them, much better than I thought from what I saw last year from the group of players that they have. I don’t know how much turnover there is just to be honest, how much turnover they had, but far sharper with the ball. Organized against the ball. So actually, I’m surprised at how tough of a game I think that we’re preparing for, but excited for it.”
Union II should have a deeper squad than they did for recent matches as some of the players finished their academy season, as well as players who are signed to the first team but get a lot of their minutes with Union II should be available as they did not feature against Nashville. Other than Cavan Sullivan, who made his first career MLS start and played 61 minutes- his longest appearance yet, none of the other players who regularly feature with Union II saw the field, making it likely they could see action today along with some young phenoms looking to make their mark. Recently announced MLS Next All Stars Malik Jakupovic and Jamir Johnson, as well as Willyam Ferreira, who had a very strong first pro appearance in the last match, will be ones to watch the other Academy standouts who have been contributing.
On how the squad is keeping focused as they chase New York Red Bulls II and Chattanooga in the standings, Richter related, “Communication every day, and I think they feel from us, from the staff, and from each other, how important every day is, and keeping them motivated, even when it’s hot out here, keeping them focused. And we take the approach that every day matters so much for what the goal that they have as individuals. And from that, the team success can come. And the other way around from the team’s success- everyone likes a winner and they think you’re a better player when you’re on a winning team, so you have to commit fully to that. And if we have this mentality and this mindset, then everyone gets better.”
Richter, for his part, has done an admirable job keeping the young men focused, and not only has Bradley Carnell lauded him for getting the players ready for the first team and the continuity he provides on his end with the philosophies and tactics of the Union organization, but MLS Next Pro recognized Richter for his efforts as they named him MLS Next Pro Coach of the Month for June after having an unbeaten run for the month despite having, at times, a thin squad missing key players.
“I think there’s no bigger team award than that, because it’s just a reflection of the hard work that the staff and players have put in through this month and the way that we’ve approached every single day,” Richter commented after finding out about the honor at training on Thursday. “So I’ll say, thank you- thank you to all the guys that I’m working with every day to get that honor.”
From excellence in players to coaching staff, Union II have a lot to be proud of, but they will need to keep striving for continued excellence as July and August get much busier and they face some tough opponents. Catch them today at Subaru Park at 3:00 PM, or on MLS Season Pass on AppleTV.
Main article photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union II
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