CHESTER, Pa.— In midweek friendly action, Union II hosted Los Angeles-based MLES Academy at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex’s Kinetic Field on a beautiful Wednesday evening, emerging victorious 6-1. While several players got on the scoresheet, John Ruf especially had a strong performance as he was a key part of several goals. Malik Jakupovic, Sal Olivas, Zach Mastrodimos, and Sammy Gallegos also scored for Union II.
MLES is an elite German academy founded and coached by Marcel Lowitsch, and according to their website, “MLES cooperates with various Bundesliga clubs, maintains close collaboration with Youth Bundesliga development academies, Major League Soccer academies, and several NCAA Division I and II colleges.” It was not their first time visiting the Union, as they played the U-18s in a friendly in August 2025, prevailing 3-2.
As it was a friendly, it was a chance for many players to get minutes and play in various positions. The starting lineup consisted of Malik Jakupovic and John Ruf at striker, and Tyler Gladstone, Willyam Ferreira, Abdoulaye Diop, and Timo Mendoza in the midfield. The back line had Oliver Pratt at left back, Kaiden Moore and Mamoutou Berthé (who is usually at midfield) at center back, and wearing the captain’s arm band, Matheus De Paula at right back. Charli Lorenz, who has only been on the bench so far for Union II, was in goal.
Union II saw the bulk of the early chances, including a shot on target by Gladstone that the MLES keeper made a great save on. Union II never really let their foot off the pedal, however. MLES did bring some pressure at times, but the home squad was clearly the dominant side throughout the match.
Union II found the back of the net first via Ruf in the 20th minute to open the scoring. MLES answered in the 28th minute with a goal that rolled weakly into the bottom right of the net, out of Lorenz’s reach. Substitutions were made for Union II, with Jett Harrison and Mateo Gallegos replacing Mendoza and De Paula, whose captain’s armband went to Moore. Gallegos has been a starting defender on the U-18s and was on the bench for Union II in the 2025 Eastern Conference Final versus Red Bull II.
Jakupovic followed up with a goal in the 34th minute, and then in the 44th minute, Ruf pressured the MLES keeper, who was unable to clear the ball out, instead deflecting the ball into his own net and sending Union II into halftime with the 3-1 lead.
As the second half commenced, Sal Olivas, Sammy Gallego, and Zach Mastrodimos replaced Ruf, Ferreira, and Gladstone. Mastrodimos, a rising sophomore who just transferred from UCLA to Rutgers, is a Union Academy alum and featured in the past for Union II, and has been training with them this summer as other college players have been doing.
Though MLES had a few shots, the second half was a barrage of Union II attack. Olivas made short work of adding onto the tally, scoring in the 51st minute after finishing the cross sent by Mastrodimos. Three minutes later, it was Mastrodimos’s turn as he dinked the ball over the keeper to make it 5-1.
Additional substitutions came for Union II as Moore, Berthé, Diop, and Jakupovic departed for Andrew Craig, taking the captain’s armband, Lennon Harrington, Óscar Benítez, and Ruf once again.
Union II had one more goal as Ruf crossed the ball in front of the goalmouth to Gallego, who tapped it straight in to make it 6-1 in the 64th minute, and that would end up being the final score.
Most of Union II’s players on hand saw minutes in the match, and it can be assumed that several others could see time in the first team’s friendly on Thursday against New England Revolution. It was a low-key but constructive affair as they prep for their next match, at home and back in the confines of Subaru Park when they face Huntsville City at 3:00 PM on Sunday.
All photos and videos by Jillian Almoney.
The One Team We Agree On 
Leave a comment