Union II faces Columbus Crew 2 for the third and final time this season at Historic Crew Stadium on Sunday as they return to action after the international break. After building some positive momentum in their 2-1 win over FC Cincinnati 2 on August 31st and clinching a playoff berth, the squad will look to build on that form for the final four matches of the regular season.
Finding Form at FC Cincinnati 2
The team had been in a bit of a rut during the month of August, going winless in four matches, but came out with a strong first half at FCC2 en route to besting their opponent for the third time this season. Behind goals from Neil Pierre, Eddy Davis, and a solid debut from goalkeeper George Marks, it appeared to be a return to form.
Ryan Richter talked with The One Team We Agree On about that match:
“It was the style that we played in the previous games, it just didn’t look like the way that we have been playing the entire season, as far as in all aspects, but really in the organization. And this, the overall focus and buying defensively, to stay compact, to hunt as a team, and this is the way that we play, and this is the way that we’ve been successful. And we got away from that for a couple of weeks. And this was a good response, especially the first half. I think it was a really good response, how organized we were, how committed everyone was to the game plan, and we were very successful because of that.
“We scored two goals in the first half and created a lot of other chances. The second half, we opened up a little bit, but overall it was a really positive performance. I was really happy with with the guys’ commitment, with their commitment to the team and to the strategy of the game, and then they were able to find success from that. So that’s a nice reminder and hopefully kick start a good way to end the season with the four games left.”
One piece that had been missing was scoring from the strikers. Malik Jakupovic had gotten a late goal in their 3-1 loss to New England Revolution II on August 24th, but as a whole, the strikers were not scoring. Eddy Davis had been the team’s top goal scorer in 2024, but going into the match, only had four goals despite getting chances. He got number five against FCC2, and the team will need him and the other strikers to keep contributing as the playoffs near.
When asked about how big that goal was for Davis’s confidence, Richter replied, “Yeah, really good. And he’s been working well all season. He’s had tons of chances—that’s how it goes for striker sometimes—so we gotta get him rolling, and as long as he stays committed in all other aspects of the game, you know that the goals part will come. And hopefully this is where we can get a little hot streak and hopefully this game, scoring back to back games and kind of get on a roll here as we get towards the playoffs.”
Facing Columbus Crew 2
The first time the two teams met this season, Union II bested Crew 2 3-0 at home where Sal Olivas, Davis, and Jamir Johnson scored, and Oliver Semmle earned a clean sheet. The second time—on the road—Union II scored three unanswered goals (Leandro Soria, Giovanny Sequera, Davis) after conceding first, to win 3-1. Currently, Union II are 4th in the East at 11-5-8, and have been good on the road at 6-3-3. Crew 2 are 15th at 5-15-4 and are 5-5-2 at home.
Despite the success they have had, and Crew 2 being eliminated from playoff contention and at the bottom of the table, Richter knows not to take their opponent lightly, and has prepared his squad in that mindset.
“I would tell them, even where they’re at in the table, is, you know, all their home games have been good games” Richter shared. “It’s either that they win, or they’re drawing. If they lose, it’s a one goal, or they concede a goal in the last minute type of thing. There’s not been a game where they haven’t been really competitive at home.”
On how the teams match up, Richter is looking forward to the differences in how the squads play. “A clash of two styles, which I love, because I love to see which one is kind of right, you know?” Richter related. “And what’s cool with Crew 2 is they have the same philosophy with the first team and the second team, the same way that that we do here. So it’s a ball-playing team, super possession-oriented, and trying to build up and play out of a lot of tough situations against a team that’s super aggressive in their pressing, organized against the ball, and then plays in transition.
“So it’s cool to see the clash of the two styles and see who can be successful. But I love these games because it’s a nice challenge for our style of play, of say, ‘This is the way we believe in, let’s show that it’s the right way.’”
On the Goalkeepers
For those keeping track, Union II have now had five different goalkeepers in net for the squad this season: Andrew Rick, Oliver Semmle, Mike Sheridan, Pierce Holbook, and making his debut with Union organization, George Marks in their most recent match. Adding to that, it was announced Friday that Union II had signed Lou Liedtka to an MLS Next Pro contract. Factor in that JoJo Elliott and Alex Smith both made the bench as well this season and were important in training, and one can see the plethora of goalkeepers involved in the team’s successes.
The Union as a whole has had tremendous talent in goal, and both the first and second teams boast the best goal differentials in their respective leagues. With Holbrook sustaining a knee injury, Semmle loaned out, and Blake out with an injury (but now returned), the Union signed Marks to be a backup. He got his first bit of work with Union II in their win over FCC2.
“Yeah, he did really well,” Richter said of Marks in his debut. “A good personality in the back. That helps a lot, you know, the way he’s organizing the team, the way he’s speaking to the guys in front of him. And then he was really calm and composed in a couple moments when the game just needed to to settle down. He was able to do that for us. The goal, he can’t do anything about.
“But yeah, overall, it was nice to have him. We probably won’t have him this weekend, I can say that now—he’s he traveled with the first team to Vancouver, so unless he flies, takes the red eye from Vancouver, he’s not going to play with us in Columbus. So Mike [Sheridan] will play this weekend.”
Sheridan has made two starts this season—a win at FCC2 in June, and a home loss to Revolution II in August. While not getting a lot of action this season, his brings a lot of leadership and skill to the overall young squad. Liedtka, who spent time training with Union II this summer, should be a good option for the squad as well if they need him to be in net.
“I’m very happy for Lou as he has worked hard for his opportunity and earned everything he’s achieved with Union II,” said Richter in Union II’s press release. “He’s a great addition to the team and environment as we prepare for the end of the year and the postseason.”
Liedtka, a local hailing from Wyncote and a Cheltenham graduate, played collegiately for Davidson and Vermont, and was impressive during that time. In 2024 at Vermont, he earned America East Defensive Player of the Week honors twice.
CJ Olney Returns
In a development that will surely bolster the midfield for Union II, homegrown CJ Olney has returned from his loan to USL Championship side Lexington SC, where he had been since July. The 18 year old appeared to fall behind on the depth chart after Lexington made some signings, and was not getting much playing time. He made three appearances, all off the bench, and had one assist. In 13 appearances (11 starts) this season with Union II, he has two goals and two assists.
Richter said Olney has been training “great” and will be in the squad this weekend for the match. While some looking at the loan may see a failure, Richter offered some great insight on Olney’s experiences with the loan.
“I think it was maybe not fully positive experience as far as the game time, but this was a valuable life experience for him, and understanding how hard the path that he’s on is going to be. So he’s come back, he looks lively, and he looks like he has a new appreciation of, like, ‘It’s not just going to go good every week. Every step is not going to be perfect.’ It’s something that you have to grind through. And he’s going to use this experience that didn’t work out great, and I would say, with Lexington, he’s going to use that experience to motivate himself to do well, to finish out this season. And as he prepares for preseason with the first team.
“Now he has a kind of a new appreciation of what men’s soccer is, and he will. I can see it already in the way that he’s kind of responding, the way he’s carrying himself, and the way he’s been around the group. He’s responding in a great way. And so that’s a little growing up experience for him, and I think it’s one that he’s going to take really positively through the next few years.”
National Team Call Ups
The Union/Union II had several players called to the US Youth National Teams during the break. Jamir Johnson, Kellan LeBlanc, and Cavan Sullivan went with the U-17s to the Netherlands for two friendlies, where Sullivan scored one goal. Called to the MNT Identity Camps were Eddy Davis, Sal Olivas, and Andrew Rick for the U-20s, Kaiden Moore and Neil Pierre for the U-19s, and Malik Jakupovic for the U-17s.
While Richter did not get to really see their performances, he did get feedback and spoke positively of those experiences for the players. “So we just get the reports from from their coaching staff,” Richter said. “And then, obviously, with the with the ’08 group, that’s kind of the last camp before they pick the squad for the World Cup. So, you know, from the report, everyone did well, but we’ll see what that means when they pick the final roster for the World Cup for the for the U-17s.”
On the attendees of the Identity Camps, Richter said they did well. “With Eddy and Sal again, it’s for them another week for them to try to impress the national team staff and be included in those in those rosters.”
Richter shared that Jakupovic did not end up attending the camp. “He stayed here just because he was dealing with a weird couple of weeks where he was sick, and then he had a little lingering type of soreness injury, and he ended up staying here just so he can kind of stay with the team and get back fit. I think that was a good decision from him, just where he was at, because he looks sharp now, and he looks fully ready to go.” The squad can definitely use their top goal scorer’s contributions as they finish the regular season and head to the playoffs. Perhaps goal number eight against Crew 2?
While some players were away, Richter had the players that remained focused, but having some fun with training. “Yeah, I mean, those are the most fun weeks for the players, because it’s like a lot of small sided games and a lot of small rondos. So you got a ton of touches, compete, and that’s really what the message is—like, ‘Guys, we’re not going to get into anything tactically, but we still work on our principles.’ We make sure it’s super competitive. But let’s also enjoy the week of training that we have.
“If that goes on for, you know, more than four or five sessions, it gets a little gets a little stale, guys want, need a game at the end to prepare for it. But for for a week, I think everyone kind of gets excited to play some small side. We [the coaches] jump in when it’s the weeks like this, so we enjoy it a little bit as well, but now it’s good to just keep the the days competitive, keep your fitness, you know, be selfish. We got through without any injuries. That’s the important part.”
With the players returning for a the three days before the match, Richter added that they could get their focus back on the upcoming match and get back in the rhythm for the season. They will need it as they make that push toward the playoffs.
Union II will play at 3:00 PM on Sunday, September 14th and can be viewed on MLS Season Pass on AppleTV.
Main article photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union II
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