Lehigh Valley United

Last updated
Lehigh Valley United
LV Utd.PNG
Full nameLehigh Valley United Sonic
Nickname(s)Sonic
Founded2009;14 years ago (2009)
StadiumRocco Calvo Field at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
OwnerSoccer Association of the Lehigh Valley
PresidentMatt McTish
Head CoachAndrew Adlard
League USL League Two
2023 6th, Mid Atlantic Division
Playoffs: DNQ
Website Club website

Lehigh Valley United (also referred to as LVU) is an American soccer team based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2009, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.

Contents

The team plays its home games at Rocco Calvo Field on the campus of Moravian College. The team's colors are navy blue and white.

History

Lehigh Valley United was founded in 2009 by the non-profit organization Soccer Association of the Lehigh Valley (SALV) to field a top-level team in the National Premier Soccer League, considered the fourth division of the American soccer pyramid and roughly equal to the USL Premier Development League, while also supporting youth development and coaching. [1]

The team originally took its name from its youth club affiliate, FC Lehigh Valley United, and adopted "Sonic" from a corporate partnership with American restaurant chain, Sonic Drive-In, in a deal that lasted three seasons. This was also reflected in the club's logo, which was changed following the conclusion of the deal in 2012. The team shares its history and many former players with the successful Pennsylvania Stoners team, which won the NPSL Championship in 2008 but left the league at the end of the 2009 season. [2]

The Sonic had a successful first season, finishing first in Northeast Division/Keystone Conference and making it to the national semi-finals in the playoffs. Following a second place divisional finish in 2011, the club returned to first place in 2012 and defeated Chattanooga FC 1-0 in the National Championship game on July 29, 2012, winning their first league title. Since 2010, Sonic has posted a remarkable league and playoff record of 46 Wins, 4 draws, and 7 Losses. In 2013, Sonic represented the NPSL in US Soccer's Inaugural Amateur National Championship. After beating the Croatian Eagles (WI) in the national semi-final (1-0) Sonic then played the Carolina Dynamo (PDL) in the final losing 3-1 in penalty kicks (1-1 regulation) [3]

FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic joined the USL PDL on November 18, 2014. [4]

Year-by-year

Year Level LeagueRegular SeasonPlayoffs U.S. Open Cup
FC Lehigh Valley Sonic
2010 4 NPSL 1st, Keystone 12W-1D-2LNational Semi Finalsdid not enter
2011 4NPSL2nd, Keystone 9W-2D-1Ldid not qualifydid not qualify
2012 4NPSL1st, Keystone 14W-1D-1LChampions First Round
FC Lehigh Valley
2013 4NPSL2nd, Keystone 11W-0D-3LNational Semi Finals First Round
2014 4NPSL2nd, Keystone 8W-2D-2LNortheast Region Semi Finals Second Round
2015 4 USL PDL 10th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-1D-12Ldid not qualifydid not qualify
2016 4USL PDL6th, Mid-Atlantic 3W-1D-10Ldid not qualifydid not qualify
Lehigh Valley United
2017 4USL PDL6th, Mid-Atlantic 4W-1D-9Ldid not qualifydid not qualify
2018 4USL PDL7th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-1D-12Ldid not qualifydid not qualify
2019 4 USL League Two 6th, Mid-Atlantic 4W-3D-7Ldid not qualifydid not qualify
2020 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 4USL League Two6th, Mid-Atlantic 3W-1D-10Ldid not qualifydid not qualify
2022 4USL League Two6th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-1D-12Ldid not qualifydid not qualify
2023 4USL League Two6th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-3D-10Ldid not qualifydid not qualify

Honors

Domestic

Stadium

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References

  1. "LVU Sonic - About Us". FCSonic.com. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  2. "F.C. Sonic Lehigh Valley to take the field in 2010". NationalPremierSoccerLeague.com. February 19, 2010. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  3. Stephen Prendergast (July 29, 2012). "FC Sonic are NPSL Champions". SoccerNation.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  4. "Lehigh Valley United Makes Jump to PDL". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 18, 2014. Archived from the original on November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.