Lehigh Valley United

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.

Lehigh Valley United
Full nameLehigh Valley United Sonic
Nickname(s)Sonic
Founded2009 (2009)
StadiumRocco Calvo Field at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
OwnerSoccer Association of the Lehigh Valley
PresidentMatt McTish
Head CoachAndrew Adlard
LeagueUSL League Two
20236th, Mid Atlantic Division
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

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 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 to COVID-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

Honors

Domestic
  • National Premier Soccer League
    • National Champions (1): 2012 (Also, 2008 Champions as PA Stoners)
  • Keystone Division Titles (NPSL):
    • Winners (2): 2010, 2012,
  • Northeast Conference Champions (3):
    • 2010, 2012, 2013

Stadium

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.
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