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