On stage after the official selection.                                  The Hermann Trophy

Quick Links:

Click Here for the ESPN Video and Article

Click Here for the Montreal Impact’s Web Announcement

Click Here for Andrew’s US U-23 National Team Camp Interview

 Click Here for the official announcement from the Missouri Athletic Club

January 12, 2012

 In Kansas City, MO., today, with the first pick of the 2012 MLS Super Draft the Montreal Impact selected PA Classics alumni Andrew Wenger. 

Having just finished his junior year at Duke University where he led the ACC in scoring Wenger opted to forgo his final year of NCAA eligibility to sign with MLS and Generation Adidas to be part of the 2012 MLS Super Draft.  The selection of Wenger today caps a phenomenal week for the All-American who on Sunday (1/8) was named the 2011 Hermann Trophy Winner.

The Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious college soccer award and is handed out on an annual basis via a vote of the NCAA Division I head coaches.  Andrew was a semi-finalist for the award in 2010 before picking up the top honor in 2011. 

Following an upcoming two week training camp with the US U-23 Men’s National Team, Andrew will head to Montreal and will join fellow PA Classics alum Zarek Valentin (Akron University) with the Impact.  Valentin and Wenger now both have the honors of being drafted in the top 5 of their respective classes in the MLS Super Draft.  In the 2011 draft Valentin was taken by Chivas USA with the #4 overall selection.  He played in 25 games and logged over 2200 minutes for Chivas this past summer before being chosen by Montreal in the expansion draft in December.  Wenger’s selection by Montreal will reunite the two PA Classics teammates, this time at the professional level.  Additionally, both have spent time together in the U-17 and U-23 National Team programs.  

The Lititz, Pa., native was selected as the 2011 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, completing the trifecta of ACC major awards after being named the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2009 and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year 2010.

Equally as successful in the classroom, Wenger has earned spots on both the All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll each of his three seasons. For his career, Andrew has started all 58 games, played all but 131 minutes in that span and scored 21 goals and 13 assists for 55 points.

Prior to his arrival at Duke University, Andrew was a member of PA Classics for years.  He was part of the first season of the USSF Development Academy program and it was there that he caught the eye Duke coach John Kerr Jr.  

Christian Pulisic, PA Classics U14 Academy Team and #7 for Team USA

Spain Video Journal #1         Barcelona Video Journal #2        US Club id2 Info & Links

Click Here for More Information

Click Here for Registration Form

2012    2013

On-Line Registration will open in March

Contact Director of Coaching Steve Klein with questions.  steve@paclassics.org

- Congratulations to Kyle Bitterman on his selection to the 2011 NSCAA HS All-American Team.  Kyle, a member of the PA Classics U18 Academy team, has been with PA Classics since U12.  This NSCAA honor is another accolade added to a great youth soccer career that has seen Kyle play for the U14 National Team, win a High School State Championship, and play in the USSF Development Academy National Finals againt LA Galaxy in 2011.  Upon graduation from Hempfield HS this June Kyle will continue his soccer career at Fordham University in NY.   FULL STORY:  CLICK HERE

-  Christian Pulisic, a member of the PA Classics U14 Academy Team,  was recently called back to the US U-14 National Team Final Pool for games in Chula Vista, California.  This is his second appearnce with the U14 team in 2011.   FULL STORY:  CLICK HERE

-  Two former PA Classics players, Andrew Wenger and Zarek Valentin, have earned call ups to the U23 National Team.  FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Zarek Valentin, who played for PA Classics before and after stints with the US Soccer Residency program in Bradenton, Florida, is currently with the Montreal Impact of MLS.  In March of 2011 Valentin was drafted #4 overall in the MLS Superdraft by Chivas USA.  He started 24 games for Chivas this past season and logged over 2100 minutes as a defender.  Prior to being drafted by Chivas, Valentin won the Division 1 National Soccer Championship while playing centerback for the Akron Zips in 2010.  

Valentin will also be heading to the Netherlands with the MLS Generation Adidas team to face Ajax later this month.  FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Andrew Wenger, a long time PA Classics player, has just recently finished his Junior year at Duke University where he served as the team captain in 2011 while leading both his team, and the entire ACC, in both goals and total points.  He was just recently named a 2011 Herman Trophy Semi-Finalist, which is the MVP award for all of college soccer.  

Wenger was named a semifinalist in 2010 after being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and to the NSCAA All-America first team. He is one of four players from the ACC to be represented.

Wenger moved up to the forward position this season after two years at center back for the Blue Devils. He paced the Blue Devils offense this season with 17 goals and eight assists for a league-high 42 points. His 17 tallies are tied for the most in Duke single-season history, while the 42 points are fifth and the most since Brian Kelley had 43 in 1995. In 2011, he registered at least one point in 11 games and twice had a career-best seven points. Wenger netted two hat tricks on the year and had five multiple-goal games.

The Lititz, Pa., native was selected as the 2011 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, completing the trifecta of ACC major awards after being named the ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Wenger is the first player since Jay Heaps to collect All-ACC first team honors in each of his first three seasons.

Equally as successful in the classroom, Wenger has earned spots on both the All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll each of his three seasons. For his career, the Lititz, Pa., native has started all 58 games, played all but 131 minutes in that span and scored 21 goals and 13 assists for 55 points.

Duke finished the year with an 11-8-3 record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament second round for the second consecutive year.  

Congratulations to our 2012 Girls players who will be continuing their soccer playing careers after departing PA Classics in June.  Below are some pictures of PAC players signing their Letters of Intent.

Cedar Cliff High School:  

Erika Schrock - West Chester University and Marissa Neifert - California University of PA

Hershey High School:

Erica Ndlovu - United States Military Academy, West Point

Warwick High School:

Brittany Hasson - St. Francis University 

Redland High School:

Erin "Z" Dziedzina - Randloph-Macon College

Cumberland Valley High School:

Amanda McKee - Radford University & Becky Murphy - United States Air Force Academy

Conestoga Valley High School:

Lauren Pezzica - California University of PA

Penn Manor High School:

 Sara Bennis - West Chester University & Logan Kramer - Arkansas State University

Northern High School:

Lauren Berry - Temple University

Palmyra High School:

Beth Harvey - Elizabethtown College

(w/ E-Town Head Coach Jason Petronis)

MORE PHOTOS COMING SOON

Click Here for the full announcment as reported by the National Soccer Wire on January 11, 2012.

Bethesda All-Tournament Teams 

Congratulations to Maddie Mohr (U14), Jocelyn Yurchack (U16), and Brittany Hasson (U18), who were recently named to the ASL All-Tournament Teams for the first event weekend, the Bethesda Tournament. Only 11 players per age group were selected out of a pool of over 300 players per age group.  FULL STORY:  CLICK HERE

Additionally, Alecia has been named as the North East Conference's Defender of the Year for 2011.

Alecia played for PA Classics from 2003 to 2010 (u12 to U18) and graduated from Donegal HS in June 2010.

PA Classics U12 Boys Panthers Revolution '98

2011 EPYSA National Championship Series State Cup Champions

Full Story: Click Here

Congratulations to the PA Classics girls High School players who won awards during the Spring 2011 season.

List of Award Winner

ASL Press Release:  August 24, 2011.  Click Here

The Atlantic Soccer League is expanding in 2011-2012 to host a girls program, which will partner it’s already successful boys program.  PA Classics is one of four girls programs coming into the 18 team framework in 2011, which will see 14 boys member clubs add their girls programs also.  Along with PA Classics the ASL will see the addition of Baltimore Bays Chelsea (MD), Matchfit Chelsea (NJ), Cobb FC (GA), Hockessin SC (DE), Roanoke Star (VA), and 4 others.  

In joining the Atlantic Soccer League PA Classics will enjoy playing against some of the best and strongest clubs on the east coast on a continual and consistent basis.  The league plays nine games over three events plus a championship weekend.  Events include the Bethesda Showcase in Bethesda, MD; Triangle Friendlies in Fayetteville, NC; Jefferson Cup in Richmond, VA; and the SAC Memorial Day Cup - Championship in Columbia, MD.  Acceptance into the league also guarantees acceptance into these high level events with priority on seeding and fields.  

“As a club we are very pleased to join the Atlantic Soccer League.  We look forward to the strong competition throughout the coming years as well as the development and exposure opportunities the ASL will create for our female athletes,” said club VP Mike Henning.

ASL Expansion Article

ASL League Framework

www.aslsoccer.net

Northeast Pre-Academy League returns for a third year, becomes part of US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues

[US Club Soccer website]

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Apr. 13, 2011) – Entering its third season in 2011-12, an expanded Northeast Pre-Academy League will become part of US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues (NPL), which are leagues throughout the country with the highest level of competition in a given area.

The Northeast Pre-Academy League will join a trio of new leagues in the NPL that have been announced recently, including the Midwest Developmental League, Southeast Pre-Academy League and Texas Pre-Academy League.

Since its founding in 2009, the Northeast Pre-Academy League has grown from 12 clubs in its inaugural season to 18 clubs for the 2011-12 season. The league has also expanded from two age groups back in its first year to U-12 through U-15 boys’ age groups in 2011-12. Each member club, of which all are members of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, will take part in the U-14 and U-15 age groups, while most will take part in the U-12 and U-13 age groups.

The 18 clubs competing in the Northeast Pre-Academy League for the 2011-12 season include:

Northeast Pre-Academy League champions in the U-13 through U-15 age groups will be crowned in a postseason tournament in which eight qualifying teams in each age group will compete. From there, Northeast Pre-Academy League champions can compete at the inaugural National Premier Leagues Champions Cup in July 2012.

In addition, there will be two optional NPL Showcases over the course of the year that will feature scouting by U.S. Soccer national staff. US Club Soccer will operate and manage the NPL Showcases, which will include 2-3 games for each participating team over three days. Further details on NPL Showcases will be released in the coming weeks.

“We are looking forward to participating again in the Northeast Pre-Academy League,” said David McCollum, FC Westchester’s Director of Coaching. “The league has been tremendously beneficial to our younger players, complementing the training regimen with exposure to high-level, meaningful competition on a weekly basis that both accelerates their development and helps them to prepare for the rigors of competing in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.”

“Over the last two seasons the Northeast Pre-Academy League has given our Bolts players the platform needed in preparation for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy,” said Brian Ainscough, Director of Coaching at FC Greater Boston. “As Director one of my top priorities is to find the best competition for our young players. The Northeast Pre-Academy League offers that quality to our club.”

“PA Classics is excited to once again be part of the Northeast Pre-Academy League,” said Steve Klein, the club’s Director of Coaching. “This will be our second year in the Northeast Pre-Academy League and it has been a vital part of the development of our players. The great competition and format of the league has truly helped prepare our boys for the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy.”

About the National Premier Leagues (NPL):

The NPL offers a platform for long-term player development by providing consistent and meaningful games between the region’s top players and also provides opportunities for players to be scouted by U.S. Soccer national staff. Winners of each league within the NPL will qualify for US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues Champions Cup.

Leagues within the NPL currently include the Midwest Developmental League, NorCal Premier League, Northeast Pre-Academy League, Northern Illinois Soccer League, Oregon Premier League, Southeast Pre-Academy League and Texas Pre-Academy League. Several other National Premier Leagues across the country will be announced shortly.

The NPL is an important component of US Club Soccer’s 10-year vision to refine the landscape for competitive youth soccer. The vision recognizes that:

• Properly-structured youth soccer clubs are the vehicle through which player development does and must occur in the United States.

• Clubs should play in leagues that provide meaningful games, allow establishment of the proper training-to-game ratio, and eliminate calendar congestion.

• National Premier Leagues, as well as the best clubs, should be integrated in US Club Soccer’s id² national identification and development program, include Player Development Programs in select local markets, and work closely with U.S. Soccer staff regarding player identification, and player and coach development.

The NPL website is currently under construction and will be launched in the coming weeks.

About US Club Soccer:

US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. A member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, US Club Soccer has grown to include member clubs and leagues in all 50 states. In addition to sanctioning and administering tournaments, leagues and other competitions as well as offering a range of programs for its members, US Club Soccer annually conducts the National Cup. US Club Soccer also directs its own player identification and development program – id².

    Pep Guardiola, Manager of FC Barcelona            Teammates at the Chelsea training ground 

In the past two years Christian Pulisic has been fortunate enough to experience soccer at the highest of youth levels as he has been invited to, and participated in, team trials with three internationally acclaimed clubs, FC Barcelona of Spain, Chelsea FC of England, and FC Porto of Portugal.  Christian has been to Barcelona twice, having attended weeklong sessions in October of 2008 and 2009, and spent time at Porto and Chelsea in 2010. 

Christian trained in seven to ten day sessions at these locations working along side other talented young players from around the world.  He has had the opportunity to see the full youth Academy systems these clubs have in place, and experience cultures far different than his American roots.    While the workouts were both fun and trying, the most difficult part for Christian was that in Porto and Barcelona the coaching staff didn’t speak English, so he was forced to listen to the directions in Spanish and Portuguese and then try to figure out the exercises on his own based on what the other players were doing.   

Aside from the high-class soccer education that Christian received in these short spells in Europe, he has had other phenomenal non-soccer playing moments that he can always remember from the trips.  Experiences including; having a private lunch with his dad and Pep Guardiola (the manager of Barcelona), watching a game at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea’s Home Stadium) on the day they beat Wigan to clinch the Barclay’s Premier League title in 2010, and catching a Europa League game at Porto. 

Although by birth year a true U12 player, Christian currently plays on the U14 Elite ’96 team coached by Aleks Radovic, and for the U14 Development Academy team coached by Todd Wawrousek and his father, Mark.

A humble and hard working player, Christian hails form a soccer family.  Both parents, Kelley and Mark, are part of the PA Classics coaching staff, and both were All-American soccer players themselves at George Mason University.  As a family they lived in London for one year where Kelley taught grade school and Mark worked on continuing his soccer education, gaining his UEFA “A” License.  At present they reside in Hershey where Christian works just as hard at being a full time 7^th grader.