Tonight, the 2007 Storm will play their final game for Mercer United FC.  The Storm faceoff against Marlton Orange in an EDP III showdown, kickoff is 7PM at Community Park.   Formed in 2016, the Storm has produced some of the top players in the county.   Always wearing the MUFC crest with pride, these players and coaches have distinguished themselves on and off the pitch.  If your team is not training tonight, please come out and send our senior team off in style.  

To the Storm:

Win or lose in this farewell match is of no consequence.  The shadow you've cast is large and your legacy is well secured.  Play tonight's game for the love of your teammates, coaches, & club.  Try to conjure up that 5-year-old kid you once were. The one who was so excited, that he had his cleats on six hours before his very first game of pee-wee soccer.  Play for that kid.  Play tonight with no regrets and no shoulda- woulda-couldas.  Leave it all out there on the field.  Play for yourself, but most importantly play for your love of the game. 

Good luck tonight, Storm!

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

6/4/25

The end of May means tournament time!  We had several teams playing over Memorial Day weekend, as well as this past weekend at Sunburst 2025.  I will also sprinkle in some league games for this expanded two-week edition on the recap.  Let’s do it!

Right out of the gate we’re going to across the bridge into Pennsylvania, where the 2012 Union took part in the FC Delco Cup.  The Union showed well at this prestigious event by going 2-1 and finishing 2nd in their bracket, advancing to the semi-final round.  They took down BVB International Academy 3-1 in the opening game.  They then dropped a nailbiter 3-2 to the Sachem Slammers on a late PK.  Bouncing back on Sunday they beat White Plains 2-0 to get them through to the semi-final game.  Playing very solidly, but just unable to find the back of the net, Union lost 2-0 to the eventual tournament champion HBC Soccer Club.  Great weekend from Coach Matt and the boys!

The Scorpions Black also were busy on Memorial Day, playing in the EDP Memorial Day Cup in Pittsgrove, NJ.  They opened the weekend by beating United Philly Soccer United in a tight 1-0 match.  Later that day, the Scorps got a 2-0 victory over a tough Inter Connecticut FC.  Going into Sunday the Scorpions had a team Coach Tony had the Scorpions right where he wanted them going into the final group stage match against fellow Mercer County club PSA North Orange team. The Scorpions played a tight first half and got a 1-0 lead from a PK.  PSA came out hot in the second half and two mental mistakes from the Scorpions in their defensive 3rd cost them a trip to the final, as they dropped the game 2-1.  The Scorpions won the consolation game to close out the weekend 3-1 against Central Islip.  Good showing, Scorpions!

2016 Arsenal headed to Manalapan for Memorial Day and were shot out of a cannon on Saturday winning both matches in the group stage.  Opening up against Silver Lake Soccer, Arsenal put on a absolute clinic by winning easy 8-2.  The second game was a bit tighter, but they still handled their business beating Soccer Stars United 5-3. I’m sure General Manager Greg Shultz dreamt that night about them hoisting the cup the next day, just have to get by those pesky Mahwah Raiders. 

Welp, Mahwah was no joke, and they came to play. Arsenal took one right in the kisser losing 7-1.  Playing the 4th game and the second one of the day is always tough.  Particularly when you go up against a team you defeated earlier in the tournament.  Arsenal gave a valiant effort but lost the 3rd place consolation game to Soccer Stars United.  2-2 is nothing to be ashamed of.  Just ask the 2013 Dynamo who went 1-3 in Manalapan and played, what this coach is calling, forgetful soccer.  Forgetful Soccer – soccer that is played in a lackluster fashion; without maximum effort or joy.  Sorry Arsenal, I shouldn’t be making this about me.  Keep pushing on and working.  Your undefeated MOSA season is still very much alive! 

Let’s switch over the 2009 Falcons and them winning their Spring EDP Flight VI going undefeated with 7 wins and 1 draw.  The Falcons dominated the competition all year and Coach Rodrigo commanded a team that scored 18 goals while only conceding 4.  This group could definitely make a deep run in next year's State Cup.  Great job, Falcons!

Even with various Memorial Day tournaments, we still had a bunch of teams in action.  The 2009 Vipers continue to impress finishing in 2nd place in EDP VII at 4-2-3.  They beat Lawrence Hamnett 4-0 in the season finale.  The Vipers are a great story of a bunch of guys who came together and created a team out of thin air.  Team unity, camaraderie, and a love of the game is what makes this group go.  Fantastic season, Vipers!

Sunburst Tournament is always a good indicator that the end of the spring season is upon us.  It’s also a great way to see if your team has made strides over the spring season or if you need to shake it up going into the summer break. 

The 2013 Dynamo had their best Sunburst yet, going 2-1 on the weekend.  After an awful opening game against a really good Match Fit Surf squad, the Dynamo had some decisions to make.  Are they going to start playing the right way consistently?  Or are they going to regress and let bad habits take over?  I’m happy to report that they chose wisely and played inspired, smart soccer against West Windsor Black and SCPYS.  It started in the second game on Saturday when they beat West Windsor Black 3-1.  They came back the next day and took on a SCPYS. Actually, SCYPS played both MUFC 2013 teams at Sunburst.  Not something that happens a lot at tournaments, but, well, some things at Sunburst are hard to explain.  It's safe to say that SCYPS probably will not want to see the MUFC logo anytime soon.  Dropping a 4-1 game to the 2013 Guardians on Saturday evening and coming back the following morning and dropping a 4-1 game to the Dynamo.  Great showing from both MUFC 2013 teams!

The 2015 Dragons have been super busy as of late.  They have played a stretch of 6 games in four days.  A couple of league games, as well as fitting in Sunburst.  They met up with Flight leading Lakewood and took the wind out of their sails snapping their unbeaten streak that dates back to October 2024 winning a 4-3 thriller.  Although they were on the wrong side of the rainstorm Friday night that saw two of their games cancelled at Sunburst.  The Dragons came out ready to roll against Pasco on Sunday.  This was a back-and-forth game that saw the Dragons hit the post 3 times in the last five minutes.  They settled for a 2-2 draw, but the Dragons definitely had the better of the play recording 34 shots on goal.  They closed out the tournament with an 8-1 drubbing of Steel United.  Keep shooting, Dragons!

Mooch U12 and Mooch U10 teams both had a fantastic results at Sunburst with both teams taking home the title in their age brackets.  The Mooch U10 team got wins over NJ Premier 8-4, West Windsor Green 7-3, and East Brunswick Grizzlies 6-2 in the group stage.  They advanced to the final taking on SCP Youth Soccer.  This game was down to the wire, but Coach Charlie and the kids held on to get a 6-5 decision.  Congrats to Coach Charlie, Coach Sue and the boys! 

Mooch U12 put on an impressive display of goal scoring putting up 16 goals for the tournament.  They opened with a 3-0 win Edison United.  The next match was a high scoring 5-5 draw with YMS Vipers.  They then sealed a spot in the final with a 5-0 win against Hopewell.  Taking on PSA Orange in the final.  Mooch came out on fire and put up a 3-0 lead before PSA knew what hit them.  PSA managed to get one back, but it was not enough as the final whistle blew.  Mooch U12, Sunburst champs! 

To close this column out we’ll go back to MOSA and the Hotspurs getting a 2-1 victory against Monroe.  Reports out of Monroe said this one came right down to the wire with the Spurs getting the game winner on the last kick of the game.  Spurs sit at 3-2 and have a season deciding match coming up against arch-rival Toms River this week at Community Park.  Get this one, Spurs!

“Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”  Mark Twain

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

6/2/25

To quote the great John Fogerty and CCR:

"still the rain kept pouring, falling on my ears 

and I wonder, still I wonder, who'll stop the rain"

Apparently, no one since it rained for 6 days straight.  However, it did stop for the weekend so we could get some games in.  The fields were soft, but the play was good.  Okay, let’s get into it!

Gonna start with our senior team, 2007 Storm, who kept their unbeaten streak intact traveling to RUSA FC Gold and posting a 2-1 win.  This was a clash between the two top two teams in EDP Central Atlantic III.  By knocking off RUSA FC Gold, who are currently ranked 4th in the State of New Jersey, the Storm are now poised to win the flight.  With just a tournament and one league game to play, the Storm are rounding turn four and the finish line is in sight.  Finish strong, gentlemen!

The 2014 Dragons went on the road at Twin Pines to take on Lawrence and got a 5-2 win.  The Dragons are sitting in 3rd place in Flight 3 but have some critical games coming up that will decide the flight.  They have the Memorial Day weekend off but then play a grueling 6 games in 7 days to finish out the month.  Rest up, Dragons!

The 2013 Dynamo avenged a season opening 6-0 loss to Holmdel, by taking them down 3-2 in the second leg at the Mill.  The Dynamo played in a tough bracket the weekend before at YMS EPIC tournament and took that same intensity into this week’s game against Holmdel.  Currently sitting 4th in Flight 2 at 2-3-1, they will have their work cut out for them the next two weekends.  The Dynamo will be at the Manalapan Memorial Day Tournament, with Sunburst to follow the following weekend.  Hopefully, a strong week of practice will have them ready.  Good win, Dynamo!

2012 Union got a 5-0 win at Medford, with 5 different players finding the back of the net.  It was possession all day for the Union as they controlled the tempo and had their way with the Strikers.  The Union are 3 points off the lead in EDP V with 2 games to play.  They will face a tough Cohansey squad in their next match at RHS.  Keep working hard, Union!

2012/2013 Chelsea is still trying to slay the dragon that is Sayreville.  They had their best result yet, getting a 1-1 draw to the league leaders.  Leading 1-0 into the closing minutes, Chelsea was flagged for a PK, that Sayreville put away to knot it up at 1-1.  Although Chelsea is still searching for that first win against Sayreville, you can’t argue with the strides they have made against them.  After dropping the last 3 games to them and then taking them to the wire and getting the draw?  Keep your heads up.  That’s progress, Chelsea!

The 2014 Hotspurs get a 2-0 win against Stafford at the Mill.  Some fantastic goalkeeping kept the Spurs in the game and has them tied for 2nd place at 3-2 in Flight 5.  Not they they’re looking ahead, but the story on the Spurs Spring season can’t be written until they can take down top of the table, Toms River.  The Spurs are winless in the last three matches against the aforementioned Toms River.  No doubt that Coach Chris and the Spurs will give everything to get that W.  

The unbeaten streak continues, and so do the tie games.  2016 Arsenal drew 6-6 against an also unbeaten Lakewood squad at the Mill.  Arsenal has tied 3 of their last 4 matches. This one was particularly crazy with Coach Chase’s squad getting the equalizer on the very last strike of the game.  General Manager Greg Shultz’s ticker surely can’t take many more of these nailbiters.  But still a big goose egg in that loss column with three to play.  Coach Chase and the boys have to have the 6/15/25 season finale game against Berkeley circled on that calendar.  That one will probably tell the tale.  Good work, Arsenal!

"Talent is cheaper than table salt.  What's important is perseverance, hard work, and dedication to the things you want to see happen."  Frank Lloyd Wright

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

5/19/2025

We’re officially beyond the midway point of the season and MUFC is continuing to roll right along.  We had a few teams busy at a tournament and few more getting in some Mother’s Day games.  Let’s go to the video tape!!

We begin with the 2010 Scorpions Grey team getting the runner-up ribbon at the YMS Epic Tournament.  The Grey dropped the first one out of the gate 3-1 but showed a ton of grit getting a win and two draws in the next 3 games to finish second in the group.  Great job from coach Lyle and the fellas!

The Lady Panthers got in the point column this week posting a 1-1 draw against Wall.  The Panthers have been working extremely hard this season and it’s only a matter of time before that 1st win becomes a reality.  Keep working hard, Panthers!

The red hot 2014/15 Flames extended their win streak, making it three in a row.  The Flames lit up the Beachwood Jets 4-1 on Monday night at Community Park.  Coach Ghee has these boys pumped and they’re showing it week in and week out.  I always say, you just need a couple of wins to spark that confidence.  The Flames are starting to believe!

Another week, another victory for our senior team, 2007 Storm.  The Storm, completing the last leg of their farewell tour, took down Medford 2-0.  The Storm are a point off the lead of RUSA (who have a game in hand) but that should all be settled this week when they travel to Glassboro for a 10 AM kickoff with RUSA.  This one should most certainly be a tough test for the Storm, but I’m sure they will equal the task.  Keep your eye on the prize, Storm! 

 The 2016 Arsenal is still undefeated in the National flight 7 group sitting at 3-0-2. They tied a tough Berkeley team 4-4 but they still are keeping that goose-egg in the loss column.  Coach Chase is quite happy keeping the undefeated season intact but would love to add more wins to his tally. They currently are tied for first in flight 7.  Big game against Lakewood at the Mill this Sunday.  Get it done, Arsenal!

2014 Hotspurs made all the mothers very happy on Mother's Day posting a 7-1 victory against Jackson.  The Spurs are now 3-2 and are sitting 3rd in flight 5.  The Spurs are in a good spot going into the 2nd half of the season.  They will have to slay a few dragons that have alluded them, namely a tough Toms River squad.  Let's see what coach Chris has up his sleeve to push the Spurs over the top!

"Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day."  Dalai Lama

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

5/14/25

May is upon us, and it brought with it a huge weekend of soccer.  MUFC had games all over the place with league play and tournaments.  Alright, somebody fire up the cassette deck and hit play on that sweet mix tape.  Turn it up!

We’re getting things started on Thursday with the 2015 Dragons bouncing back from their first defeat by taking care of business at home against Millstone.  This game had goals all over the show (11 total) but the Dragons had 7 of them to get the win.  The Dragons did give up the lead a few times but kept getting after it.  Coach Tony, “I’m proud of how they never let the score affect the way they played.”  The Dragons are sitting 3rd in Flight 3 but have a huge match this weekend against an undefeated Lakewood squad who are sitting top of the table.  Keep pushin, Dragons!

Coach Rob and the 2009 Vipers continued their winning ways with two big wins this weekend.  The EDP Central Atlantic VII leaders improved to 3-1-3 on the season by avenging an early season loss at Liverpool, beating them 1-0 in Moorestown.  They doubled up yesterday by taking down Lawrence 5-0.  Coach Rob said, “discipline and hard work is paying off.”  This group of scrappers have all bought in and the results are beginning to pile up.    Let’s keep it up, Vipers!

The 2013 Dynamo finally got in the win column after a tie and 2 defeats.  They beat Beachwood Empire 2-1 on the road at Beachwood.  As with the last two games, the Dynamo went into half-time 0-0.  This time they came out and completed the next 30 minutes with the same intensity as the first half.  Falling behind 1-0, they regrouped and got a 2-1 victory.  Keep giving it everything for a full sixty minutes, Dynamo.  The results will come!

Moving across the tri-state to the land of Blue Hens. The 2012 Union did some damage at the Delaware independence Cup.  They went 2-1 on the weekend beating Delmarva Rush 11-0 and SJB 7-0.  Coach Matt, "I love watching them execute what we train."   They did get edged out of the final after dropping the 3rd game.  Overall, a real good showing.  Keep making MUFC nation proud!

The 2014/15 Flames are red hot right now winning their last two games.  This weekend they went on the road to cross-town rivals Hamilton and got the 1-0 victory.  Coach Ghee and the Flames have found a nice little groove and currently sit 3rd in flight 7.  Let’s see if they can make it three in a row when the always tough Howell United come to Community Park.  Keep lighting that candle, Flames!

You know what the sign of a really good team is?  When there is really nothing to gain, and you still give it everything right until the very end.  That is what the 2007 Storm are doing this spring season.  As the credits roll and the fat lady has started her vocal warm-ups, the Storm are still playing inspired soccer.  They went on the road to Liverpool and came away with a 4-2 victory.  They have yet to lose in this final curtain call of a season. 

One could argue that these guys could have let off the gas and just coasted to the finish line this last season.  But that is not the way this team operates.  They’re staring the end right in the face and saying not today.  The 2007 Storm are playing for their legacy.  They're playing for each other.  

Other results around the club.  2016 Arsenal stayed unbeaten with 3-0 victory at Holmdel.  2012/2013 Chelsea beat Jackson 6-0 at Jackson. 

“Success is a journey, not a destination.  The doing is more important than the outcome.”  Arthur Ashe

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

5/5/25

from Junior Grassroots Soccer

You spend years chasing the game you love. Playing every weekend, holiday and summer collecting memories, trophies and battle scars. And then, in the blink of an eye, that’ll be it, you’ll walk away and it will all be over.

Be sure to know that one day you will leave that pitch for the last time. One day you will untie your boot laces forever. One day you will put your gloves in your bag, and there they will stay. One day you’ll see your teammates for the final time.

One day this won't be your life anymore. You won't know how many errors you made. After your last match has come and gone, you're going to remember the times when you wanted to quit, but didn't. You're going to remember the teammates, friends and families you loved along the way.

You're going to remember playing in the freezing cold, driving rain, and unbearable heat. You're going to remember the bonding, the joy of winning and the pain of losing. 

You're going to remember the early training and the late games. You're going to remember the coaches that never gave up on you. But most of all, you're going to remember the sheer happiness that came only from being on that pitch, in the heat of moment, giving it all you have for your team.

You're going to remember the moments you did more than you ever believed you could. You're going to remember the times you used every bit of talent you had. 

One day this won't be your life anymore. So for today, run as fast as your feet will take you. Commit to every tackle and give it everything you have. For today, make every time you play like it's the last chance you'll ever get. For today, play because you want to. Play because you need to. Play because you fell in love with this game all those years ago. Play with every piece of your heart and leave it all on the field. One day, this won't be your life anymore.

When that day comes, make sure you wouldn't change a thing.

Week 4 saw some rain and heavy winds descend on the games this past weekend.  Almost to the halfway point of the spring season.  Let’s see how we did, follow me! 

The 2008 Hurricanes got their first victory of the season posting a 3-0 win over Monroe.  The Hurricanes have been putting in the work and it’s good to see it paying off with much needed W.  Great job, Hurricanes!

The 2016 Arsenal team continued its winning ways winning a 5-4 thriller over the Aberdeen Mutiny at Community Park.  General Manager, Greg Shultz, is hyped to continue this undefeated start.  They will be tested this week when they travel to the un-mowed grass of Cross Farms Park (this writer's team played there this past weekend) for a big showdown with Holmdel.  You might want to bring the John Deere just to be safe.  Keep it up, Arsenal!

2014 Hotspurs got a 2-0 victory against the Jackson Scorpions at Sawmill.  The Spurs dominated a good portion of this game, but did have to fend off some late chances from Jackson in the 2nd half.  The Spurs are sitting tied for 2nd approaching week 4.  They will have their biggest test of the season when they visit the top of the table, Toms River Hotspurs.  Coach Chris and the Spurs 0-2 lifetime against Toms River finishing 2nd behind them this past fall season.  Go get this done, Spurs!

The 2007 Storm continues to roll through its swan song spring campaign, taking down PSA NL 6-2 at PSA.  That brings the Storm to 3-0 on the season and has them sitting in 2nd position in EDP Central Atlantic III.  I’m sure that coach Tim & coach Jim both have the division leading RUSA FC Gold game circled on the calendar.  But, to quote 90’s alt-metal rockers, Helmut, “in meantime” the Storm still have two steps to cross to get to that match.  Stay focused, gentlemen!    

“Success is falling nine times and getting up ten.”  Charles Maduike

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

4/29/25

Happy Easter to everyone!  Most teams were off this weekend, but we did have a few teams skipping the Easter egg hunt and playing some games.  Let’s get to it!

Starting off is our senior team, the 2007 Storm.  Playing in their final season, the Storm is still blazing a trail and adding to their storied legacy.  The Storm won the U19 EDP Easter Showcase, going 3-0 in group play and then beating Match Fit Shore in the final 3-0.  4 games, 17 goals, 0 conceded.  I’d say that it was a pretty good weekend for the fellas.  Great job from coach Tim,  coach Jim, and the boys!

Next up, 2016 Arsenal came back from 2-0, to get a 2-2 draw at Lakewood.  Arsenal is sitting in 2nd position in Mosa flight 7.  They have a tough Aberdeen Mutiny squad visiting this weekend at Community Park.  I’m sure coach Chase will have the boys ready to take care of business.  Way to stay tough, Arsenal!

The 2012 Union traveled to Twin Pines in Pennington to take on the Lawrence Hamnett Hurricanes.  The Union improves to 5-1 on the season, beating Lawrence 5-0.  The Union are sitting in 2nd place in EDP flight 5 with 4 games to play.  They have a tough match coming up on 6/1/25, when Cohansey SC will visit RHS for a late season showdown.  Keep pushing, Union!

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."  John Wooden

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

4/21/25

On Saturday April 5, 2025, Mercer United FC held club night at Subaru Park in Chester, PA, as the Philadelphia Union took on Orlando City SC.  The boys got to go on the field at halftime to slap hands with some of their heroes as they took the field for the second half.  Players, parents, and coaches got to witness a top-notch soccer match that was played to a 0-0 draw.  A good time was had by all!

After over a week of muddy fields and cancelled trainings, the rain finally stopped on Sunday and MUFC was off to the races.   Let’s get it going, shall we?  

We’ll start with our senior MUFC team, 2007 Storm. Playing the first of an MUFC quadruple header at RHS, the Storm took down a depleted Cherry Hill squad 5-1.  After finishing the first half up 2-1, the Storm broke through in the 2nd half to get the win.  Way to get it done, Storm!

The second game of the MUFC quad, saw the 2012 Union put a hurting on Match Fit Shore 6-1.  Coach Matt was pleased with “how the boys spread the ball around.”  Six different players had a goal or an assist.  Some of them had both. Good work, Union!

The third game saw the 2010 Scorpions Grey get off the snide, with a 3-0 victory over NLSA.  After a few losses and a draw, Scorps grey is finally seeing their hard work pay dividends. Good on ya, Scorpions Grey!

Staying with the 2010’s, Scorpions Black took the outer bridge crossing to Staten Island and beat AB7 Future Soccer Academy 5-1.  Coach Tony “was pleased with the way the boys bounced back” after a tough State Cup loss the week prior. Keep grinding, Scorpions Black!  

Mooch U10 got their first win of the season beating West Windsor 2-0.  Mooch is 1-1 after a four flight jump into flight 2.  They will be tested after the Easter break when they go on the road to take on Old Bridge.  Way to get that first win, Mooch!!

The 2014 Hotspurs got their first win of the season at Stafford.  It was a high scoring affair with a final score of 8-5.  This pulls the Spurs even at 1-1 on the season.  Nice one, Hotspurs!  

In other week two games, the 2009 Vipers played to a 1-1 draw in Vineland against Cohansey Premier.  The 2015 Dragons beat Lawrence 4-2, to improve to 2-0 on the season.  

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

Theodore Roosevelt 

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

4/16/25

It’s just this time of year. You know?  Wet grass, muddy goalmouths, cancelled practices, battered nets from a winter in the cold.  All that fun stuff!   To quote British one hit wonders, Thunderclap Newman, “because there’s something in the air”, and that something is the spring 2025 season! Okay.  Let’s do this!!  

We’ll start with the 2015 Dragons playing their first game ever as team and getting a “W” right out of the gate. They went on the road and came away a 5-1 victory against Point Pleasant.  Coach Tony was pleased with the outcome and hoped "this win would be the first of many to come."  Great job, Dragons!

The 2016 Arsenal came away with the result they were looking for, edging the flag-flying Beachwood side (they run around the field after games with a Beachwood flag, win or lose) 3-2 at Community Park.  Great job by Coach Chase and the kids getting started on the good foot!

The 2009 Falcons took down Edison United 5-0 at RHS.  The Falcons sit at 2-0 in EDP IV.  They should have a tougher test next time out going to cross-county foe, Princeton City.  

Staying in EDP, the 2012 Union improved to 2-1 in EDP V with a convincing 6-0 win over Marlboro Spartan Gold. Coach Matt was looking for "more consistency" from the fellas, after dropping a 2-1 loss a day earlier to the NJ Blaze.  I think it’s safe to say they heard him and responded in kind.  Way to bounce back, Union!

Mooch U12 went on the road to Twin County and came away with a 4-1 win.  Jumping up 3 flights should see them facing more formidable competition this season.  I’m sure they will be equal to the task. Good start, Mooch!  

2012/2013 Chelsea came from behind winning. 4-3 thriller at RHS. Chelsea fell behind 2-0 in the first half, but a good halftime talk from Coach Rodrigo lit a fire. Chelsea battled back and they were knotted 3-3 with 10 minutes to go.  Chelsea finally broke through on long ball over the top.  A foot race ensued, and the Chelsea forward was able to chip one over the keeper’s head for the game winner.  Nice comeback, Chelsea!

In other games, the 2016 Panthers tied Ocean 1-1, and the 2013 Dynamo played to a 0-0 deadlock against Middletown.  

Keep working hard, MUFC!

"You can't put a limit on anything.  The more you dream, the further you get."  Michael Phelps

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

4/7/25

Mercer United FC held tryouts last week and had a record breaking 450 + players attend tryouts over two days!  MUFC is poised for a big year with 20 teams currently playing this spring and adding brand new teams for the fall 2025 season.  If you missed the tryouts and are still looking to catch on with one of our teams, our tryout registration link is still open.  Sign up and someone will be in touch. 

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

3/17/25

If you haven't heard its tryout season! We will be hosting tryouts Tuesday March 4th and Thursday March 6th at Robbinsville High School turf.

Tryouts are a great opportunity to see how all your hard work stacks up against other players. Make sure you visit our tryout page for more information so you can register to be part of the fun.

The Trentonian released it’s All CVC & All Area soccer honors for the Fall 2024 High School season.  Mercer United F.C. is proud to have 12 current and former players recognized for their performances this season.  Congratulations to the following players: 

All-CVC - 1st Team

Tyler Tafrow - Steinert - 2007 Storm

Jake Reilly - Steinert - 2007 Storm

Elliot Morris - Steinert - 2007 Grey

All-CVC - 2nd Team

Dennis Chaykovskyy - Steinert - 2007 Storm

Mark Gavrish - Hamilton West - 2007 Storm

Ryan Checkowski - Steinert - 2007 Rockets

All-CVC - Honorable Mention

Ayomide Talabi - Hamilton West - 2007 Storm

Matt Tafrow - Steinert - 2007 Storm

Dylan Lopez - Hamilton West - 2005 Raptors

Alex Garcia Cruz - Hamilton West - Storm

Ben Shaffer - Hamilton West - 2005 Raptors

All-Prep - Honorable Mention

Luciano Verducci - Hun School - 2007 Storm

All-Area - 1st team 

Tyler Tafrow - Steinert - 2007 Storm

Elliot Morris - Steinert - 2007 Grey

All-Area - 2nd Team

Jake Reilly - Steinert - 2007 Storm

All-Area - 3rd Team

Dennis Chaykovskyy - Steinert  - 2007 Storm

The 2010 Scorpions Black traveled across the Delaware this past weekend to play in the CRUSA FC Bucks November Classic.  They came away being crowned champions after a winning in a PK thriller in the final.  The Scorpions went 2-0 in pool play beating Council Rock, 1-0, on header by Chris Oppong Berko in the opener.  They then beat the YMS Generals in the 2nd game 3-1.  Chase Lyon, Yadier Frias, and Matt WIlmot chipped in the scoring.  The semi-final saw the Scorpions come away with another 1-0 decision against a tough Philadelphia City Football Club.  Yadier Frias accounted for the lone goal, assisted by Ryan Moraes-Lima.

Moving onto the final, the Scorpions faced the Bensalem Soccer Academy.  They played 1-1 through regulation, with Ryan Moraes-Lima scoring for the Scorps.  The Scorpions went on to win in PK's 5-4.  Anthony Mevoli, Ryan Moraes-Lima, Yadier Frias, Christian Orozco, and Harry Dodd, notched kicks from the spot.  Goalkeeper, Gabe Jones, had two shutouts in the tournament and conceded only 2 goals in 4 games.  In speaking with Coach Tony, “the boys played great soccer over the two days, and I was happy to come away as tournament champs.”  Way to represent, Scorpions Black! 

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

11/26/24

The MOSA Fall 2024 season came to an end this past weekend and it saw all MUFC teams finishing strong and playing great soccer.  MUFC had 13 teams competing in MOSA this fall, and the club finished with an overall win/loss record of 94 wins, 25 losses, and 9 ties. 

While wins and losses are important, the more important things are these:  We had 13 teams come together to train and work hard every week.  They established friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime.  They learned to play soccer the right way and grow the game we love.   

As a former player, I can honestly say that the bonds and friendships that I made as a player are some of the most long-lasting of my life.  Soccer fields are the launching pad for kids to go on and do great things.  Yes, they will become better players, but they will hopefully all become better people by being part of a team. 

Here is a breakdown of the final weekend…

The 2015 Cobras beat Old Bridge 5-2 at Community Park.  The Cobras finished the season 9-0-1 and won the U10 National 2 title.  That’s two seasons in a row with the Cobras taking home hardware.  Great job from Coach Talar and the boys!

U10 Mooch beat the Point Pleasant Stingrays 7-1 and finished their inaugural season top of the table in U10 National 7.  I would hazard a guess that this one ranks right up there with the National Championships that Coach Charlie has won.  Fantastic job, Mooch!

It was business as usual for the 2014 Thunder, taking down Old Bridge 4-2 at Ticetown Soccer Fields in Old Bridge.  The Thunder (9-0-1) captured their second consecutive division titles, as well as keeping their MOSA league unbeaten streak intact, winning the U11 National 1 title.  Hey, MOSA premier flight?  Can you hear the “Thunder” in the distance?  See you in Spring 25!

The 2014 Hotspurs went to Manchester and took down the Monsters 3-2.  The Spurs (7-2-1) finished 2nd in U11 National 6.  I have no doubt the Spurs will be equal to the task when they jump up a flight in Spring 25.  Great first season for Coach Chris and the Hotspurs!

The 2013 Dynamo took down the Rumson Thunder Dawgs 5-2 at Community Park.  After having a tough Spring 24 season, the boys put that in their rearview and had a “why not us?” mentality this Fall.  Well, if you put the work in, big things can happen. The Dynamo (7-3) finished as champions of U12 National 3 division.  Way to come back strong, Dynamo!

U12 Mooch (10-0) completed their perfect season traveling to Barnegat for a 7-2 victory.  This is also the inaugural campaign for the Mooch U12 team and they definitely turned some heads with +47 goal differential.  Can’t wait to see what the future holds for this team as the move up in flights.  Great Job, Mooch!

U13 Chelsea team finished in 2nd place in National 5, with a 6-0 victory over Toms River Davies.  Chelsea finished the season 7-2-1 and got better as the weeks progressed.  Big ups to Chelsea 2012/13!

The 2011 Mavericks completed the perfecto by defeating Marlboro 6-0 at the Vanderburg Soccer Complex.  The Mavs went 10-0 winning the U14 National 1 division.  If this is the swan song for the Mavs, they certainly went out in style by capturing the MOSA Cup and the league title this Fall.  Awesome job from Coach Mark and the fellas!

The late fall HS season is in full swing, and it saw two teams get wins.  The 2010 Scorpions Grey rebounded from an opening week defeat by beating Princeton FC Milan 2-1.  Coach Lyle and this newly formed 2010 team are still finding their feet, but it’s great to see things going I the right direction.  Way to bounce back, Grey!

The 2009 Vipers beat Mount Laurel 2-0 on a brisk Sunday night matchup at the Mill.  Coach Rob had the boys in tip-top form, and they took it to MLU scoring two goals in the second half, after playing the first half 0-0.  Great win, Vipers!

Everyone has his superstitions.  One of mine has been when I started to go anywhere, or to do anything, never to turn back or to stop until the thing intended was accomplished.”           Ulysses F. Grant

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

11/19/24

The 2011 Mavericks captured their second MOSA Curci Cup title by beating the Toms River Invaders 2-0.  This was a hard-fought match that saw the game deadlocked 0-0 at halftime.  It must have been some pep-talk at halftime from Coach Mark, because the Mavs came out flying in the 2nd half.  Colton McElroy took a pass down the right flank and sent a nice ball into the mixer that Louie Manousos got on the end of and put the Mavs up 1-0. 

Toms River battled back with a few offensive flourishes, but Mavs keeper, Mateo Corso, was having none of it making easy work of a few chances.  The Mavs sealed the deal when Liam Pingicer finished a ball from Cole Gottesman making it 2-0, with about 10 minutes to go.  Some more lockdown defense from the Mavs, the final whistle, and the Mavs win their second MOSA Curci Cup title.  Great job, Mavericks!

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

11/18/24

The Fall 24 finish line is in sight for most of the MUFC teams, however, one has already crossed it in superb fashion.  The 2012 Union put a giant cherry on top of what was an already successful Fall, by beating Hamilton 2-1, in the season finale.  As you know, the Union were competing in two leagues this fall, EDP & MOSA, they won both leagues.  They went 9-0-1 in the MOSA Premier division and 7-1-1 in EDP Central Atlantic VI.  The Union scored 64 goals and surrendered only 13 in 19 games of the dual campaign.  Fantastic work, Union!

The 2011 Mavericks stayed undefeated in MOSA U14 Flight 1 by beating Millstone 1-0.  The Mavs have one game remaining but have already clinched the division.  As the Mavs keep rolling along in league play, they have their eyes on a bigger prize, The MOSA Curci Cup final. They will face the Toms River Invaders on 11/16/24 at the Vanderburg Soccer Complex in Marlboro, NJ at 11AM.  Good luck, Mavs!

MUFC Flames team got a 4-2 win at Monroe and are threatening to get to .500 before season’s end.  Chelsea (3-4-1) is slowly climbing the U11 Flight 8 division sitting in 4th place with 2 to play.  Coach Rob is confident that they will keep working hard and finish the season on the good foot. 

The 2013 Dynamo got the job done against a tough Middletown team, coming from behind to win 3-2.  The Dynamo avenged a 4-0 blanking against Middletown from earlier in the season.  They sit at the top of the table in MOSA U12 Flight 3 with one game to play.  In speaking with…myself…Its important to keep the boys focused and practicing well these final few weeks.  Let’s finish the season strong!

The 2013 Guardians secured at least a 2nd place finish in MOSA U12 Flight 1 with a 2-0 win over Stafford.  It’s safe to say that Stafford has seen enough of the Guardians this season, losing to them for the 3rd time (including in MOSA Cup).  The Guardians finish with a rematch at Neptune.  I’m sure Coach James and the boys will be looking to avenge the season opening loss they suffered at the hands of the Warriors.  Get er done, Guardians!

The Mooch teams keep the win train chugging along notching two more over the weekend.  Coach Charlie’s U10 team put a hurting on the Toms River Knights, 8-2, at Community Park.  They sit at the top of the U10 Flight 7 division with one game to play.  A win will secure them the title.  The U12 Mooch team continued their dominance over the U12 Flight 8 division beating the East Windsor Eagles 6-1.  They remain undefeated at 9-0 and can finish the perfecto with a win at Barnegat on final day of the season. 

The 2012/2013 Chelsea team defeated Stafford 7-1 at Stafford.  Chelsea sits tied for 2nd place in U13 Flight 5.  Right now, goal differential appears to favor them, and they should be in good shape to win 2nd place outright. A strong showing in the season finale at Toms River should do the trick. 

The 2014 Thunder took down Holmdel 7-1 at Community Park.  They moved to 8-0-1 on the season with one to play.  The Thunder are trying to complete two consecutive seasons of undefeated MOSA league play.    They travel to Old Bridge to face the Falcons who sit at the bottom of the table.  Could this be the MOSA swan song for the Thunder?  Has their reign of thrashing MOSA teams come to an end?   EDP looms large for Coach Ken and the fellas!

There are no secrets to success.  It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”  Colin Powell

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

11/11/24

Gobble, Gobble!  Thanksgiving is just a few short weeks away and MUFC will be running its annual Pie/Dessert Fundraiser!  Just scan the QR code on the flyer to order some delicious pies for your family and friends this holiday season.  Thanks!

November showed up with unseasonably hot weather, it also saw some MUFC teams continue to stay hot by posting wins.  The 2011 Mavericks got two wins this week.  The first was a decisive 4-0 win in the MOSA Curci Cup semi-finals over Hamilton.  They move on to their 3rd consecutive MOSA cup final.  They also improved to 8-0 in the MOSA league by beating Penninsula SC.  The Mavericks have clinched 1st place in U14 Flight 1, with two games to play. 

The high school aged teams returned this week for some late Fall season matches.  The newly formed 2010 Scorpions Grey team got a 3-0 win in their inaugural match.  Way to come out of the gate strong, boys!  The 2009 Vipers revived a dormant MUFC team name and played to a hard fought 2-2 draw against Manalapan. 

The 2012 Union (8-0-1) continued to roll beating Penninsula 6-0 at Robbinsville Community Park.  The 2014 Hotspurs (6-1-1) traveled north on 130 and got a 6-2 win over the East Windsor Lions.  Both Mooch teams posted wins in week 8.  Mooch U10 (6-0-2) took down the Freehold Heat 7-2 at Freehold.  Mooch U12 (8-0) continued their unbeaten streak by downing Toms River Athletico 4-0. 

Let’s have a great week of training, MUFC!

“Self control leads to common sense, poise, and peace of mind.”   Remez Sasson

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

11/4/24

The MOSA Cup semi-finals will take place Tuesday and Wednesday and three MUFC teams will be in action.  All three games will be played against crosstown rival, Hamilton Soccer Club.  Tonight’s game sees the 2011 Mavericks against the Hamilton Cosmos at Robbinsville HS.  The Mavs have played the Cosmos twice this season, winning both games.  It’s not an easy task to beat a team 3 times in a season, let alone in the span of a month.  The Mavs have been working hard getting ready for this familiar foe and it should a be a tight match.  Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45PM on the RHS turf.  Good luck, Mavericks!

On Wednesday night, the 2014 Thunder and the 2013 Guardians travel to Hamilton for a double-header, 6:30PM & 7:45PM.  The first game sees the 2014 Thunder taking on the reigning MOSA Cup champs, Hamilton Cobras.  The Thunder are currently still riding a MOSA unbeaten streak that stretches back to Spring 24.  Always tough to knock off the champs, but Coach Ken is sure to have the Thunder primed and ready for the match.  These two teams have never met, so its anyone guess which way this one goes?  My money is on the Thunder!

The nightcap has Coach James and the Guardians taking on the top of the MOSA Premier division, Hamilton Renegades.  The Renegades are also the reigning MOSA Cup champs and are looking to repeat.  However, in speaking with Coach James yesterday, the Guardians have other ideas.  Coach James, “They’re a strong side, but we’re a strong side, as well.  We will need to be at our best and limit mistakes to win this.”   It’s a tough mountain to climb, but this Guardian team is much improved since their last meeting with the Renegades.  One thing is for sure, they will be ready!

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

10/29/24

This time of year, sees the leaves changing and the surrounding trees that line most soccer complexes exploding with color.  These vistas of color and the beauty they bring, make for a perfect companion for the beautiful game.  Today, along with the aforementioned “exploding with color trees”, saw MUFC exploding with goals and not conceding a whole lot of them. 

We’ll start with the 2014 Thunder who won 6-0 against Union Beach.  Good to see the Thunder get back on the good foot after a very unusual 3-3 draw the week prior.  Not that there is anything wrong with a tie, but its very out of character for a Thunder team who has been pummeling teams all season.  This win puts them back in the right direction going into their MOSA Cup semi-final match on Wednesday at Hamilton.  More on that later this week. 

The 2014 Hotspurs picked up it’s 5th win of the season with a 4-0 win at “the Mill” against the Stafford Stingrays.  The Spurs still sit in 2nd place in Flight 6, with another showdown with top of the table Toms River looming.  I know Coach Chris wants some payback against "the other Hotspurs team" in Flight 6.  From this casual observer of how the Hotspurs have been practicing, I see a much different result coming when they face Toms River at “the Mill.”  Keep working hard, Spurs. 

Both Mooch teams continued their undefeated seasons.  Mooch U10 was able to hold on and hold off UFA 4-3 to improve to 6-0-1 on the season.  U10 Mooch remains top of the table in Flight 7 with a +30-goal differential.  The U12 Mooch squad won 3-1 after falling behind early on a penalty kick.  They improved to 7-0 and remain untouched in 1st place in Flight 8.  They should continue this forward trajectory when they face a winless Toms River team next Sunday at Community Park. 

Another weekend, another double shot of wins for the 2012 Union as they continue their successful Fall 2024 campaign.  The first came in a 2-1 victory over Battle of Monmouth an EDP IV match-up.  They remain at the top of that division at 7-0-1.  They got the 2nd “W” of the weekend, traveling to Howell to take on the Crusaders.   The Union improved to 6-0-1 winning 4-0 at Soldier Memorial Park.  Great job, Union!

The 2013 Guardians traveled to Count Basie field in Red Bank (is there anything not named after Count Basie in Red Bank?) to take on the Galaxy.  The Guardians took down the Galaxy 3-0 to improve to 6-1 on the season.  They remain top of the heap in U12 Flight 1.  The Guardians are getting ready for the MOSA Cup semi-final match on Wednesday with Hamilton.  More on that in a day or two. 

In other games, the 2015 Cobras beat the Jackson Cubs 6-2 this morning at Community Park.  The Cobras remain at the top of U10 Flight 2.  The 2013 Dynamo avenged an early season loss at Holmdel, but shutting them out 4-0 at home.  They sit one point behind first place Middletown in in U12 Flight 3.  The 2011 Mavericks continued their pillaging of U14 Flight 1 with a 3-0 win against Toms River.  The Mavs are preparing for their MOSA Cup semi-final on Tuesday night at RHS.  Look for my MOSA Cup semi-final preview that will drop Tuesday. 

“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.” ― Vincent Van Gogh

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

10/27/24

Reaching the second half of the Fall 24 season, saw a slew of teams in action.  We’ll start with the double header I caught at Community Park on Saturday afternoon.  The 2012 Union pounded Hi-Tempo Academy 7-1 in the first game.  This game was fairly close in the first half, before the Union turned it on in the 2nd half and exploded with goals in bunches.  The Union remains at the top of the table in EDP. 

The nightcap of the double header was the 2011 Mavericks in a quarterfinal MOSA Cup match.  The Mavs took down a completely outmatched Old Bridge squad, 6-1.  This one was never close with the Mavs controlling every facet of the match.  They now move on to the semi-finals against crosstown rival, Hamilton Cosmos.  This is the 3rd match between these two teams in as many weeks, with the Mavs winning the first two.  Coach Mark “we hope to continue an attacking style and put pressure on their defense.”  Will the 3rd time be the charm for the Mavs?  Odds are in their favor. 

MUFC had two teams playing away at Marlboro on Sunday.  The first was the 2013 Dynamo who took down Marlboro White 3-0.  The Dynamo are 4-2 in U12 Flight 3 and sitting in 2nd place.  They will be looking for some revenge this coming week at “the Mill” taking on a Holmdel team beat them earlier in the season.  Let’s hope they practice well this week and are primed and ready for their next match. 

The second game at the Marlboro Middle School turf saw the MUFC Lady Panthers claw back to 500 on the season with a 4-0 victory over the Marlboro Wildcats.  The Panthers have won two straight and are climbing back into contention in U9 Flight 4.  Keep up the good work, Panthers!

The Arsenal got a big win over Middletown 5-2.  Great result, considering the Arsenal faced the same Middletown team at the Freehold Frightfest the day before and lost.  Could it have been costume malfunctions?  This writer thinks so, because they bounced them the very next day sans costumes.  To quote Guardians coach James, when an unknowing assistant coach suggested entering the team in the Freehold Frightfest.  “Dress the team in costumes to play football?  Crazy Americans."  Anyway, way to bounce back, Arsenal!

Speaking of the 2013 Guardians, they beat Old Bridge 6-0 at Community Park.  The Guardians are now tied at the top of the table with East Windsor with identical records.  This season may be decided two weeks from now when they travel up route 130 for a rematch with the East Windsor. 

Rounding out the weekend, the 2015 Cobras continued their unbeaten season by edging Beachwood 1-0, along the banks of Toms River.  The 2014 Hotspurs picked up win number four with a 3-0 victory at Point Pleasant.  The Spurs are two points off the lead in U11 Flight 6. 

"Inside the ring or out, aint nothing wrong with going down.  It's staying down that's wrong."  Muhammad Ali

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

10/21/24

The 2011 Mavericks begin their quest for their 2nd MOSA Cup on Saturday 10/19/24.  The Mavericks will face off against the Old Bridge Cyclones at Community Park in Robbinsville, NJ at 5PM.  The Mavs are currently 5-0 in U14 Flight 1, while the Cyclones are 2-2-1 in U14 Flight 2.  That being said, anything can happen in MOSA Cup play.  The Mavericks will still need to bring their best game to be successful.  Good luck Mavs!

KM

10/18/24

It was a beautiful weekend for the Mount Laurel Columbus Day Tournament and four Mercer United teams brought home  hardware.  Let’s start with the 2015 Cobras who took 1st place in the U10 Caribbean bracket.  The Cobras went 3-0 on the weekend with wins over the Lawrence Hamnett Tsunami 3-0, Moorestown SC Vipers 3-2, and closed out the tournament with a 3-1 victory over the SJEB FC White.  Job well done, Cobras!

The 2014 Thunder continued their domination of any and all comers going 3-0 and taking 1st place in the U11 Americas bracket.  The Thunder opened with a 3-1 win over an always tough Lawrence Hamnett squad.  They then moved onto the host club, Mount Laurel, and disposed of them 5-1 in the second game on Saturday.  Sunday saw the Thunder close it out with a 4-0 win over the Freehold Vipers.  This is the second consecutive tournament that the Thunder have won.  Can they make it three in a row by taking the MOSA Cup?  Time will tell. 

The 2011 Mavericks took 2nd place in the U14 Discovery bracket.  The Mavs went 1-1 on Saturday, dropping the opener to eventual champion, Voorhees Attack, 3-0.  They bounced back in the second half of the day with a 3-1 win over Rancocas Valley.  Needing a win to secure a 2nd place finish, the Mavs took care of business in the Sunday closer against Hamilton, winning 3-1.  Not a bad weekend for Coach Mark and the boys. 

The 2013 Dynamo continued to improve this season by taking 2nd place in the U12 Americas bracket.  In three hard fought games, the Dynamo showed fight and a never quit attitude that is becoming their calling card.  Dropping a tough 4-3 heartbreaker on day one to Princeton SA, the Dynamo took care of business on Sunday morning beating West Windsor Black 1-0.  The Dynamo lost 3-1 to the eventual bracket champ Medford Blue Devils 3-1, forcing a 3-way tie for 2nd place.  Pitching a shutout in the morning game against WWPS gave the Dynamo the extra point and moved them into sole possession of 2nd place.  Congratulations to all the teams who competed this weekend! 

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”  Pele

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

10/13/2024

Columbus Day 2024 Tournament weekend has a boatload of MUFC teams competing in the tri-state area.  The bulk of which will be playing at the Mount Laurel Columbus Day Tournament.  The Mount Laurel Columbus Day Tournament is one of the biggest in New Jersey, hosting 350+ teams over three days.  MUFC will be represented by the 2011 Mavericks, 2013 Guardians & Dynamo, 2014 Hotspurs & Thunder, & the 2015 Cobras.  Meanwhile, the 2012 Union team will be heading Warminster, PA for the Jack Walsh Memorial Tournament.  Good luck to all the MUFC teams and lets bring home some hardware!   

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

10/11/2024

Week five marked the midway point of the fall season and it saw two MUFC teams notch their first wins.  We’ll start with our newest addition to the MUFC family, the 2016/2017 Panthers.  The Panthers are the first MUFC girls’ team in a bit, and they have been working hard to get that first “w” (technically their second win, but the first one was by forfeit).  The Panthers defeated the Red Bank Ravens 4-1 at Community Park to improve to 2-3 on the season.  Way to go Panthers!

The other MUFC team to get in the win column for the first time this season was the 2014/2015 Flames.  The Flames took down the Middletown Wolfpack 4-2 at home.  The Flames are working under the direction of Coach Rob, he had this to say about the match “the boys are really starting to play the right way.   We’ve been working on spacing and keeping our shape.”  Onward and upward for the fightin Flames! 

The 2011 Mavericks continued their undefeated MOSA season getting a 3-1 victory over the Millstone Cheetahs.  The Mavs are 5-0 scoring 24 goals and conceding 8.  To quote 80’s one hit wonder band, Timbuk 3, “the future's so bright” for the Mavs in the second half of the season, shades wont’ be enough. 

The 2012/2013 Chelsea team beat Stafford 6-0 to improve to 3-1 on the season.  Chelsea sits in second place behind Sayreville.  Chelsea lost a 4-3 thriller to Sayreville in week 3 and is primed for the rematch in late October at Sayreville.  This division is a two team race the rest of the way. 

In other games, the 2013 Guardians beat Stafford 3-1 on the road.  The 2015 Cobras beat Wall 2-1.  The 2014 Thunder walloped Holmdel 6-2. The 2012 Union won in both leagues, 2-0 against UFA in EDP and 4-0 against Hamilton in MOSA.  Mooch U10 team beat Toms River 6-0.  Mooch U12 notched another victory against the East Windsor Eagles 5-3. 

Columbus Day Tournaments this weekend.  A bunch of MUFC teams will be in action.  More on that later in the week! 

“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.”

Michael Jordan

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

10/7/24

A rainy week 4 weekend saw multiple Mercer United teams close out the month of September on the good foot.  We begin at the crack of 8:45AM, as the U10 Mooch side took down the Freehold Heat 8-2 at Community Park.  U10 Mooch is 3-0-1 on the season, with a plus 18 goal differential, thus far.  Mooch will be on the road at Toms River in week 5.

The 2016/17 Arsenal took the ride up Route 130 for a mid-day showdown with the Monroe Rebels and came away with a 4-3 victory.  This is their second victory of the season and Coach Chase likes what he sees saying “this team is getting better every week.”  Great to see them progressing in the right direction. 

Another week and another victory for the 2015 Cobras, 3-0 at home against Middletown.  The Cobras are currently 4-0 and sitting at the top of the table in flight 2.   Coach Kelly “liked the defense, ball movement, and finishing today.”  This is all leading up to a week 5 showdown at Wall, who currently sit in second place at 3-1.  These two teams met this past summer at Sunburst, with Wall getting the better of the Cobras.  It's safe to say that Coach Kelly and the Cobras have had this game circled on their calendar since the Fall schedule was released.   Should be a barnburner!

This writer was on hand to watch the 2014 Thunder over at Community Park and the Thunder did not disappoint.  Playing against a physical Lawrence Hamnett squad, the Thunder trounced Lawrence 7-2.  The Thunder continue their two season MOSA unbeaten streak improving to 4-0 on the season.  The Thunder are a team to watch, as the MOSA Cup gets underway next month. 

It was a triple header over at “the Mill”, as the 2013 Guardians, 2013 Dynamo, as well the 2014 Hotspurs were all in action.  The Guardians posted a 3-2 win in the opener against an always tough East Windsor squad.  Playing with no subs, the Guardians held strong as East Windsor threw everything they had at them in the second half.  Coach James said “he was pleased with how different players stepped up and played positions that they don’t usually play.”  Solid win for the Guardians. 

In the second half of the double header, the Dynamo continue to shake off a trying Spring 24 season, by posting a 4-2 win over the Colts Neck Lightning.  The Dynamo are seeing goals spread throughout the team and the defense is getting more solid by week in and week out.  The Dynamo currently sit in 2nd place in flight 3.  Top of the table Middletown will be a tough test in week 5. 

Closing out the triple header the Hotspurs drew with East Windsor 1-1.  The Spurs now get ready for the “Battle of Spurs” in week 5 as they travel to Toms River to take on the other Hotspurs.  Should be a great match and will be a real test for both teams. 

The 2012 Union continue to punish every team in front of them with two more wins over the weekend in EDP & MOSA, respectively.  The Union spread out 11 goals over two matches this weekend and improved their overall record to 10-0-1.  Coach Matt said “team ball, spreading out the goal-scoring and solid defense are the key ingredients of this group”.  Sounds like a recipe for success!

Finally, the 2011 Mavericks improved to 4-0 winning 7-1 at Peninsula.  They sit in first place in flight 1 and seemed poised to be a tough out in MOSA Cup play in October.  If only I was a betting man, I would strongly consider putting my money on the Mavs to take home some hardware.

“Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication.”

Mike Krzyzewski

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

9/29/24

The 2024 MOSA Curci Cup draw was released yesterday, and it sees 5 Mercer United FC teams slated to compete in the Fall 2024 tournament.  The MOSA Curci Cup is a single elimination in season tournament that has teams from all flights competing for a chance to take home the cup.  Teams are divided into two brackets in each age group and play week to week, single elimination style.  All leading up to the MOSA Curci Cup Finals on November 16, 2024.

First round games will see the highflying Thunder 2014 team at home to take on the Lacey Thunder in the, you guessed it, “Battle of the Thunder."  Let’s see if our Thunder can produce some lightning (Ba, Dum, TSS) and get the win. 

On the other side of the 2014 bracket, the 2014 Hotspurs will be traveling for their first-round match.  They, like the Thunder, will also be taking on a team from Lacey, the Lacey Knights.  This game is slated for a 7PM kickoff on 10/1/24 at Hebrew Park.  Observing the Hotspurs training sessions this week, this group will be ready for the challenge!

In the hotly contested 12U 2013 division, The Dynamo and Guardians both received first round byes and are slated to play second round games against Marlboro Gold and the Stafford Surge, respectively.   The Dynamo will travel to the turf at Marlboro for a second-round match against Marlboro Thunder Gold.  The Dynamo will need their best to advance and need to remember that anything can happen in tournament play. 

The Guardians will be home for second-round flight one showdown against the Stafford Surge.  The Guardians have yet to face the Surge this season and this will be the first of 3 matches they will play this season.  The Guardians have had success at the MOSA Curci Cup in years past.  Who can forget the dreaded shootout loss to the Freehold Flames in the finals of 2022?  Coach James hasn’t and marks the MOSA Curci Cup on his calendar every year. 

Rounding out the MUFC teams playing MOSA Cup this Fall are the 2011 Mavericks.  The Mavericks won the MOSA Curci Cup in 2023, beating Union Beach 4-1 in the final.  The Mavs open at home against the Old Bridge Cyclones.  The game date and time is still to be determined, but I have to imagine that “the Mill” will be rockin for this one. 

Good luck to all the teams!

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

9/27/24

Mercer United FC is proud to announce that 4 current players have been selected to compete on the NJYS ODP team for the 24/25 season.  Braeden Kmiec, MUFC 2011 Mavericks, was selected for the 2011 NJ ODP team.  Rocco Gangone, Ryan Takate, Alex Casqueria, MUFC 2012 Union, were selected for the NJ ODP 2012 team.  

The Olympic Development Program (ODP) is a national team program in the United States that identifies and develops young soccer players. It is designed to identify and develop the best soccer players in the country, and it is operated by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The ODP is a nationwide network of regional and state-level programs that provide high-level training and competition for players in various age groups. Players who are selected for the ODP participate in regional and national camps and tournaments, and they also have the opportunity to be selected for national team programs at the youth level. The goal of the ODP is to identify and develop players who have the potential to represent the United States in international competition, including at the Olympic Games.

We a very proud of these players and are sure that they will represent Mercer United FC in the best way.  We want to congratulate them on this achievement and can’t wait to watch them distinguish themselves amongst some of the top players in New Jersey.   Way to go!
 

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

9/26/24 

It was perfect 77-degree soccer day and it saw a bunch of MUFC teams in action.  We’ll start with MUFC Mooch 2013 team getting 6-1 win over the Monroe Edge.  The Mooch 2013 team improves to 3-0 and sits at the top of the table in MOSA flight 8.  Staying with the 2013 age group, the Guardians won at home against the Red Bank Galaxy.  Not to be outdone, the 2015 Cobras improved to 3-0 on the season with a 3-2 come from behind victory on the road at Jackson.  The Cobras are sitting pretty at the top of MOSA flight 2 at three wins and zero defeats. 

Coach Chris has the 2014 Hotspurs in top form as they edged the Stafford Stingrays 2-0 at Stafford.  That makes three up and three down for the spurs, thus far.  Not to look past their next match at home against an always tough East Windsor side, but they are on a collision course to meet the other undefeated team at the top of MOSA flight six, the Toms River Hotspurs.  Mark your calendars for the week 5 “Battle of the Spurs”.  

Some other results from today, the 2011 Mavericks won another nail-biter with a 3-2 victory over Toms River at “the Mill”.   The Mavs improved to 3-0 and are at the top of MOSA flight 1.  The 2014 Thunder traveled to Union Beach and got a 2-1 decision against the Force.  The Thunder are 3-0 and in first place in MOSA flight 1.  Coach Ken “liked the way the boys picked it up in the 2nd half after playing a little sloppy in the 1st half.”   That’s the sign of a complete team.  The Thunder have won 13 straight MOSA matches.  Keep it up, fellas.    

Keep working hard this week MUFC! 

“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”

John Wooden

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

9/22/24

Week 2 of this Fall 2024 season saw seven MUFC teams post victories. 2013 Guardians got their first win of the season with a 6-0 drubbing against the Old Bridge Knights. This game was over early as the Guardians posted all six goals before halftime. Meanwhile, the 2015 Cobras notched their second victory of the season against Beachwood FC at Community Park.  Coach Kelly Talar talking about the result, “very pleased that the scoring was spread out between five different Cobras against a very tough Beachwood team.” Great job Cobras!

Over at Sawmill, the 2013 Dynamo already improved their total victories from this past Spring moving to 2-0 with a 5-1 victory against Marlboro Thunder White. Five different players found the back of the net. Dynamo are starting to believe again! The 2014 Thunder followed with their second 2-0 win of the season against the Freehold Vipers. This was a good, hard fought, game that saw the Thunder throw everything at the Freehold defense, only to come away with two goals. A lot of firepower up front for the Thunder, it could have easily been 6-0.  Credit to the Freehold goalkeepers for keeping this game close.

The 2012 Union, who are playing in EDP and MOSA simultaneously, got their second victory of the weekend. They took down Match Fit Shore 2-0 on Saturday and the Holmdel Hammers 2-1 in a Sunday showdown at Holmdel. Coach Matt had this to say about the weekend, “we played solid team ball finding the back of the net enough to get the job done. Finishing is a skill that takes time to develop and especially when you transition from 9v9 to 11v11.”   Develop, it will. Still in early days here. 

The 2011 Mavericks got a 4-3 come from behind victory at home against West Windsor. The Mavs scored the winner with a less then a minute to go to improve their record to 2-0 on the season. The 2014 Hotspurs found the back of the net six times taking down the Breakers of Point Pleasant FC. The Spurs find themselves at the top of the table the U11 National 6 flight. They will travel to Stafford next week and see if they can make it three in a row. 

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up."  Babe Ruth

Keith Monacchio 

MUFC Beat Writer

9/15/24

Round one of the Fall 2024 State Cup kicks off this week and the MUFC 2011 Mavericks have drawn Princeton FC Lazio in their 14U opening round match.  The game is scheduled for 7PM on Thursday 9/12/24 at the Sawmill YMCA.  Lazio boasts a 117 State ranking and will be a tough out for the Mavericks. 

Mavericks skipper Mark Kmiec had this to say about the tournament "we're excited to represent MUFC in the NJ State Cup and are looking forward to competing with some of the top teams in NJ.  The boys worked hard in pre-season training and are ready to compete for the title."

Getting a home game right out of the gate is a plus and "the mill" is sure to be rocking.  Come on out and support the Mavericks in their quest for the cup!

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

9/10/24

A beautiful late summer Sunday saw the kickoff of the Fall 2024 season for Mercer United FC.  A number of teams were making their MUFC debut.  We’ll start with the 2016/2017 Arsenal who posted a 6-2 victory over the Point Pleasant Makos.  In speaking with team manager Greg Shultz before the match he said “this team has talent and will be ready to play!”  I’d say he was right on the money with that assessment. 

The 2014 Hotspurs were another team getting off on the good foot in their inaugural match.  Spurs took down the Manchester Monsters 4-1.  Coach Chris Dixon, who was coaxed out of retirement for a second go round with MUFC, had the Hotspurs pumped and ready.  They’ll need the same intensity next week when they’ll meet a hungry Point Pleasant team who dropped their opener 1-0. 

The 2012/2013 Chelsea team made a great entrance into the MUFC family by blanking Toms River Davies 6-0.  Coach Rodrigo was pleased with what he saw with this new group of players and in the half that this writer watched, I concur. 

In other action, the 2012 Union beat the Freehold Scorpions 7-1, while the 2015 Cobras got the best of the Old Bridge Royals 5-2.  The 2013 Dynamo traveled to Rumson and got a 3-0 win over the Thunder Dawgs and the 2011 Mavericks stepped on Marlboro Gold 7-1 at home.  The 2014 Thunder jumped up an unheard of 4 flights and still blanked Old Bridge 2-0.

Great start to the season MUFC and keep working hard!

 “Perform at your best when your best is required.  Your best is required each day.” 

                                                                                                               John Wooden

Keith Monacchio

MUFC Beat Writer

9/8/24

Mercer United Union 2012 team took second place at the Al Perlini Memorial Tournament in Warminster, PA.  Playing 4 games in one day, the Union were 3-0-1 on the weekend scoring 9 goals and only conceding 1.  This being the Union’s first foray into playing 11v11, I would say that the effort that gave has them off to a fantastic start! 

As the summer heat starts to cool, and the daylight starts to fade into the evening,  Mercer United FC is deep into preseason training and our teams look poised to have their most successful year yet.  This past summer has seen MUFC add 5 new teams which includes welcoming Mooch Soccer into our fold, bringing us to a total of  18 teams going into the 24/25 season. 

We are also proud to be running the recreational soccer program in Robbinsville this fall which will improve soccer opportunities for our youngest players as they learn to play the beautiful game.

The Mercer County NJ area has always been a hotbed for soccer talent and Mercer United FC is happy to offer players an opportunity to take their game to the next level.  All 18 teams will be competing in various leagues & tournaments through the year.  We will be posting weekly updates in this space, spotlighting different teams throughout the Fall 2024 season.  Please check back from time to time to see how our teams are progressing.  The future is bright for Mercer United FC and we look forward to seeing you on the pitch!

Mercer United F.C. is a travel soccer club partnered with the Hamilton Area YMCA Sawmill, is located in Hamilton Township in Mercer County, New Jersey and a club affiliate of the Philadelphia Union (https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/youth/)   . We are a volunteer-driven 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization that has been providing Hamilton area boys and girls with a quality soccer experience for more than 40 years. Our competitive travel teams can be found on the pitch in the Monmouth Ocean Soccer Association (MOSA) and EDP leagues.

We also play various indoor leagues in January and February and numerous tournaments in the Northeast throughout the year. 

Greg Schultz

Tony Mevoli

Matt O’Grady

Jim Barton

Keith Monacchio