Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

General

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Announces 2026 Awards Banquet and Annual General Meeting, Award Recipients Named

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Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer will host its 2026 Awards Banquet and Annual General Meeting on Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Sheraton Valley Forge in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.  

The 2026 Awards Banquet will take place on Friday, February 27 from 6-9 PM, celebrating the outstanding players, coaches, volunteers, administrators, and clubs who made a lasting impact during the 2025 season.  

Tickets for the 2026 Awards Banquet are available for purchase online at: eventbrite.com/e/2026-eastern-pennsylvania-youth-soccer-annual-awards-banquet-tickets-1898461041079 

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Saturday, February 28, with check-in beginning at 8:30 AM and the meeting starting promptly at 10 AM. Required attendees will receive AGM details directly via email.  

2026 Awards Banquet Recipients 

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is proud to recognize the following award winners:  

  • Administrator of the Year: Irene Dobrin, Dynamo United & Penn Athletics 
  • Volunteer of the Year: Janine & Pete Afflerbach, Harleysville FC 
  • Boys Team of the Year: YMS 10B Premier United 
  • Girls Team of the Year: Carlisle Area Youth Soccer Cannons 07/08G 
  • Boys Coach of the Year: Charlie Dodds, Lower Merion SC 007 
  • Girls Coach of Year: Adam Freeman, Penn FC Youth 2007 F Black 
  • D’Anjolell Award: Phoenixville Area Soccer Club 
  • Mike Barr Excellence in Coaching Award: Antonio Bayon and Danielle Fagan 
  • Service to Youth Award: Randy Garber and Mike Gorni 
  • Service to Community Award: Carlos Najera 

“These awards recipients highlight the coaches, volunteers, and organizations who continue to make a meaningful impact in youth soccer throughout Eastern Pennsylvania,” said Chris Branscome, CEO of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. “We look forward to celebrating their achievements and connecting with our membership during this special weekend.”  

Information about the 2026 Awards Banquet along with previous winners can be found here. Information about the Annual General Meeting can be found here.  

2026 United Soccer Coaches Convention – Single Day Passes

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Registration is now open for Single Day Passes to the 2026 United Soccer Coaches Convention, taking place in Philadelphia.

Eastern Pennsylvania coaches and members can take advantage of a significantly discounted rate by using a special promo code during registration.

Single Day Pass Details

  • Standard cost: $250
  • Discounted cost: $100
  • Promo code: PASingleCV26

Important Registration Information

  • The discount code must be used during online registration
  • Codes are valid through Friday, January 9
  • After January 9, the system will no longer accept discount codes
  • Codes cannot be used on site in Philadelphia
  • Each code is valid for one person, for one day only
  • Additional days must be purchased on site at the regular rate

Single Day Pass registration is available online and only offers the option to purchase one day at a time.

Register Here

Philadelphia’s 2026 World Cup™ Match Lineup 

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Philadelphia will host six FIFA World Cup™ matches at Lincoln Financial Field this summer, bringing global talent and international fanbases to the region. The slate includes group stage action featuring Brazil, France, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Croatia, and more, followed by a Round of 16 match on July 4.  

Fans across Eastern Pennsylvania will have the chance to experience World Cup™ soccer in their own backyard as the city takes the global stage.  

Philadelphia Schedule: 

  • June 14: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador (7 P.M.) 
  • June 19: Brazil vs. Haiti (9 P.M.) 
  • June 22: France vs. FIFA Playoff Winner 2 (5 P.M.) 
  • June 25: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast (4 P.M.) 
  • June 27: Croatia vs. Ghana (5 P.M.) 
  • July 4: Round of 16 Match (5 P.M.) 

West Chester Advances to National Quarterfinals

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West Chester University Women’s Soccer is moving on! The Golden Rams earned a 1-0 victory over Shepherd on Sunday afternoon to claim their eighth Atlantic Regional Championship and secure a spot in the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals.

It marks West Chester’s second regional title in the last four years and another milestone under head coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley, a former Eastern Pennsylvania Olympic Development Program coach who continues to lead one of the region’s most consistent postseason contenders.

With the victory, West Chester improves to 16-2-4 and remains one of the last teams standing in the national bracket. Next up is a National Quarterfinal matchup with Franklin Pierce on Saturday, December 6 with the winner advancing to the National Semifinals in Colorado Springs.

Good luck to the Golden Rams as they continue their postseason run!

U.S. Women’s National Team Wraps Up 2025 With 2-0 Win Over Italy

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The U.S. Women’s National Team closed its 2025 campaign with a 2-0 victory over UEFA Women’s Euro semifinalist Italy on Monday night in Fort Lauderdale. The match marked the 30th game under head coach Emma Hayes and capped a successful year in which the USWNT finished 12W-0D-3L with a 41-8 goal differential and an impressive 43 first-time caps, the most in a single year since 2001.

The USWNT struck twice in the first half. Catarina Macario opened the scoring with her eighth goal of the year. Minutes before halftime, Jaedyn Shaw doubled the lead after a well-timed pass from Alyssa Thompson, securing her ninth international goal. Lily Yohannes, one of three teenagers in the starting lineup, added an assist.

Defensively, the U.S. stayed locked in. Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey posted her third consecutive shutout and her fourth straight start, anchoring a back line that limited Italy to just one shot on target. The match also featured a milestone first start for defender Kate Wiesner, who debuted following her NWSL playoff run with the Washington Spirit.

With the win, the USWNT closes the year on a high note and will regroup for January training camp in Southern California. The team is set to play Paraguay on January 24 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. with a second match to be announced soon.

Still Dancing: Jefferson and West Chester Head to NCAA Third Round

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Two Eastern Pennsylvania programs are moving forward in the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Tournament. Jefferson University and West Chester University advanced through the opening rounds and will now compete in the third round on November 30.

Jefferson earned its spot with back-to-back 2-1 wins, starting with a double-overtime victory against Wilmington (DE) in the first round. The Rams followed that performances with another strong showing, defeating Saint Anselm 2-1 to keep their postseason run alive.

West Chester put together an impressive run as well. The Golden Rams opened with a 5-2 win over West Virginia State, then posted a 2-0 shutout against Fairmont State to move on to the third round.

Next up, Jefferson will face Franklin Pierce at noon on Sunday, November 30 while West Chester will meet Shepherd at 1 P.M. Good luck to both teams!

2026 United Soccer Coaches Convention

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The United Soccer Coaches Convention returns to Philadelphia in January 2026, bringing thousands of coaches, educators, and leaders from across the country together for a week of development, networking, and more. With on-field sessions, classroom education, exhibitors, awards, and special events, it’s one of the most anticipated gatherings in the game.

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer encourages our coaches, administrators, and community members to take advantage of everything the Convention has to offer. Whether you’re looking to earn new certifications, explore new coaching methods, or simply connect with others in the game, this year’s event is right in our backyard.

We’re also able to extend a special registration offer to our Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer community. Use the information provided below:

We have a special code and discount for our members.

EPYSAcv26

This code will not be stacked or combined with any other codes and will give anyone who uses it the rate of $395 (members and non-members of United Soccer Coaches) for general registration. They will have the option to purchase additional tickets in the registration. The code is valid only for new registrations and no refunds will be issued for existing registrations. The code will be valid starting today through 12/31. No codes will be accepted or used at on-site registration.

Ready to register?
Click the link below to sign up and apply your discount code at checkout:
Register Here

U.S. Men’s National Team Earns Back-to-Back Wins to Close November Window

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The U.S. Men’s National Team closed out the November international window with two strong performances, earning a 2-1 win over Paraguay on November 15 and a 5-1 victory against Uruguay on November 18.

Against Paraguay at Subaru Park, the U.S. opened scoring early through Gio Reyna before Paraguay quickly equalized. The match stayed equal until the second half, when Folarin Balogun put the U.S. back in front with the eventual game-winner. The result continued the team’s positive form and featured several key returns to the lineup, including Reyna and Joe Scally.

Three days later in Tampa, the U.S. delivered one of its most convincing results of the year. Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Freeman, and Diego Luna all scored in the first half, with Freeman finding the net twice. Tanner Tessmann added another goal in the second half, and despite a late first-half response from Uruguay, the U.S. remained in control throughout the match.

The back-to-back wins extended the U.S. Men’s National Team’s unbeaten run against World-Cup qualified opponents to five consecutive matches as the team moves closer to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil. The next international window is scheduled for March 2026.

College Soccer Playoffs: November 20–22

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College playoff season is here, and teams from across Eastern Pennsylvania are gearing up for a huge week of NCAA Tournament action. From Division I to Division III, our local programs are stepping onto the national stage with a chance to extend their seasons and make deep postseason runs.  

Division I Men’s:

  • Lafayette vs. Cornell 
    • November 20 | 5 P.M.  

Division III Men’s:

  • Dickinson vs. Lynchburg 
    • November 22 | 10 A.M. 
  • Messiah vs. Tufts 
    • November 22 | 11 A.M. 

Division I Women’s:

  • Penn State vs. Virginia 
    • November 20 | 6 P.M. 

Divison II Women’s:

  • Kutztown vs. Fairmount St. 
    • November 21 | 10 A.M. 
  • Bloomsburg vs. Gannon 
    • November 21 | 1 P.M. 
  • West Chester vs. West Virginia St.  
    • November 21 | 1 P.M. 
  • Jefferson vs. Wilmington (DE) 
    • November 21 | 3 P.M. 

Division III Women’s:

  • Messiah vs. Calvin  
    • November 21 | 1:30 P.M. 
  • Penn State Harrisburg vs. Mary Washington 
    • November 22 | 1:30 P.M. 
  • Swarthmore vs. Carleton 
    • November 22 | 2:30 P.M.