 | |||
| Full name | Lehigh Valley United Sonic | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Sonic | ||
| Founded | 2009; 17 years ago (2009) | ||
| Stadium | Rocco Calvo Field atMoravian College inBethlehem, Pennsylvania | ||
| Owner | Soccer Association of the Lehigh Valley | ||
| President | Matt McTish | ||
| Head Coach | Andrew Adlard | ||
| League | USL League Two | ||
| 2024 | 6th, Mid Atlantic Division Playoffs: DNQ | ||
| Website | http://www.lehighvalleyunited.com/ | ||
Lehigh Valley United (also referred to asLVU) is an Americansoccer team based inBethlehem, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2009, the team plays inUSL League Two, the fourth tier of theAmerican Soccer Pyramid.
The team plays its home games at Rocco Calvo Field on the campus ofMoravian College. The team's colors are navy blue and white.
Lehigh Valley United was founded in 2009 by thenon-profit organization Soccer Association of the Lehigh Valley (SALV) to field a top-level team in theNational Premier Soccer League, considered the fourth division of theAmerican soccer pyramid and roughly equal to theUSL 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 successfulPennsylvania 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 defeatedChattanooga 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 theUSL PDL on November 18, 2014.[4]
| Year | Level | League | Regular season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Lehigh Valley Sonic | |||||
| 2010 | 4 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone 12W-1D-2L | National Semi Finals | did not enter |
| 2011 | 4 | NPSL | 2nd, Keystone 9W-2D-1L | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2012 | 4 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone 14W-1D-1L | Champions | First Round |
| FC Lehigh Valley | |||||
| 2013 | 4 | NPSL | 2nd, Keystone 11W-0D-3L | National Semi Finals | First Round |
| 2014 | 4 | NPSL | 2nd, Keystone 8W-2D-2L | Northeast Region Semi Finals | Second Round |
| 2015 | 4 | USL PDL | 10th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-1D-12L | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2016 | 4 | USL PDL | 6th, Mid-Atlantic 3W-1D-10L | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| Lehigh Valley United | |||||
| 2017 | 4 | USL PDL | 6th, Mid-Atlantic 4W-1D-9L | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2018 | 4 | USL PDL | 7th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-1D-12L | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2019 | 4 | USL League Two | 6th, Mid-Atlantic 4W-3D-7L | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due toCOVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 2021 | 4 | USL League Two | 6th, Mid-Atlantic 3W-1D-10L | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2022 | 4 | USL League Two | 6th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-1D-12L | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2023 | 4 | USL League Two | 6th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-3D-10L | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2024 | 4 | USL League Two | 6th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-2D-9L | did not qualify | did not qualify |
Sports teams based in thePhiladelphia metropolitan area | ||
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Main article:Sports in Philadelphia | ||
