Chester—After defeating FC Cincinnati 2 at home last Sunday, 2-seed Union II prepare to face 5-seed Huntsville City FC on Saturday in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference Semifinals. The top seed, New York Red Bulls II, chose Chicago Fire II in the “pick-your-opponent” format heading into this round, leaving Huntsville for Union II.

The last time these two teams met (March 28) may feel like a lifetime ago. That match was a 2-2 draw with Union II goals from Sal Olivas and Cavan Sullivan, and Huntsville prevailed in the penalty shootout. Both teams have changed a bit since they faced each other last, but more so with Union II. Looking at the starting lineup, Zach Mastrodimos, David Vazquez, Isaiah LeFlore, and Oliver Semmle are no longer with the squad. Sullivan was in the starting lineup, but will be unavailable. Gavin Wetzel, who is playing for Pitt now, had been with the team still, but was serving a red card suspension.

While Jordan Griffin, Jamir Johnson, Kellan LeBlanc, and Cavan Sullivan were all called to the U-17 World Cup and will miss the remainder of the MLS Next Pro Playoffs, Sullivan is staying back with the Union’s first team for the first two playoff games to provide midfield depth. According to head coach Ryan Richter, Sullivan will just be with the first team, who play on Sunday at home against Chicago Fire in the first round of the MLS Playoffs.

“I think it’s a very, very different team than than the first time that we played them. They have a few changes as well, but, you know, probably more consistent,” Richter said of his squad and Huntsville.

“But nothing’s changing in the styles,” Richter continued. “I think we probably just got a little sharper and organized against the ball, and for them, they got a little better in their possession. So it’s cool to see two teams stick to the style that they want to play, but just improving that over the course of the year. And obviously that was, I think it was the third or fourth game of the season that we played them. But going back now, it should be a really highly competitive game.”

Union II have their share of very talented players leading the attack, including a striker on a hot streak in Stas Korzeniowski, who has scored seven goals in the last five matches, including a brace against FC Cincinnati 2. Malik Jakupovic had eight goals in the regular season, tied with Korzeniowski, but has mainly featured off the bench. Many other strong pieces are there, including a stalwart defense anchored by center backs Neil Pierre, who was named MLS Next Pro Defender of the Year, and Rafael Uzcátegui, who perhaps could have made the Best XI for the league if they did a back four as he has been tremendous. They will face a Huntsville squad that has its share of talent and will bring real challenges.

Alan Carleton and Christian Koffi have combined for 36 goals and assists this season for Huntsville, and have been a lethal combination. “They’re two of the best players in the league, I would say, and you can see they have a real understanding for each other in the games,” Richter said. “Koffi, I mean, he’s very dynamic, but when he gets into these positions, he’s looking for Carleton in the cutback areas. So they kind of have that connection, know how to play each other, and just have that understanding in the field.”

Richter has faith in the collective group, and in the leadership provided by the more veteran players, but also knows they are young and still so inexperienced as a whole.

“For the guys who ran it last year, they’re still only one or two year pros, I would say. So they’re still young players, and they need the experience as well, but it’s cool for us to go through as a group,” Richter said. Players like Neil Pierre, Markus Anderson, Sal Olivas, Eddy Davis, Nick Pariano, and CJ Olney amongst others have been in high pressure situations and can impart some of their knowledge, but they still have a lot of learning to do. The whole group is learning together.

“It’s something they have to go through together, and it’s something that you only gain with experience. So that’s kind of what this is… a little bit higher pressure than a regular season game, and this is where the players can grow and get on to get that experience,” Richter said. “So that’s another step for us of something that we wanted as part of their development, something that they need. That’s why it’s important that we’re in the playoff positions and competing in these high level games, because that’s when players really get better, and that’s what we need to challenge them with.”

Richter has had his own share of playoff and big game experience, including as an assistant coach with the first team under Jim Curtin when they went to the MLS Cup in 2022. While he admitted it was different being an assistant, there were lessons he could take from those experiences and impart to his team, as well as apply to his own coaching.

“These experiences of when you have to make decisions in really high pressure situations, that you get the experience that you can be calm and really think through situations and make sure you’re making the right ones,” Richter shared. “And maybe I’ll make the wrong ones, maybe I’ll make the right ones. But I think, you know, when you reflect on it, after you go through it, you kind gain that experience, and that’s how you get better. And it’s the same for same for the players. You know, it’s the same type of idea. So that’s what we’re all working on together.”

Union II will have a tough task in front of them, but they have also been very good at home (7-2-5) and have that home field advantage in their favor. Huntsville have been decent on the road at 6-5-3 in the regular season, and just shut out Chattanooga on the road, winning 2-0. They conceded the fewest goals in the regular season (32) in the league, the only team better in that regard than Union II (34), with the latter having the best goal differential in the league. Even with players missing, Union II’s players have shown the ability to rise to the occasion, step up, and fight together. Buckle up for what should be a great match.

The action kicks off at 6:00 PM at Subaru Park on Saturday, October 25, and for those not able to support in person, catch it on MLS Season Pass on AppleTV.

Main article photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union II