FC Sonic Lehigh Valley Signs Coaches, Players

  The Lehigh Valley's minor league soccer team, FC Sonic announce the signing of returning head coach, Dave Weitzman as well has several key players from the 2010 squad for the upcoming 2011 season. FC Sonic has also signed Kyle Grim, an assistant coach for Emmaus High School; he will be the teams assistant coach as well as director of goal keepers for the upcoming season. 
 The team has also signed five players from last year’s national semifinalist Sonic side.  Team captain, Ryan Hess, has committed to return, along with forwards Leslie Fraser and Sky Rimmele, defender AJ Barnold and goalkeeper Charlie Sales. Coach Weitzman said, “We are very happy to have a returning core of fine veterans. We are hopeful of signing a few more of the Sonic players from last year in the near future." 
  FC Sonic open their season on May 16th against the NY Red Bull at Lehigh University's Ulrich Soccer Stadium 

FC Sonic Signs Veteran Players

    We are excited to announce the signing of four starting players returning from last years Northeast Conference Championship team. Central midfielder Ryan Hess (3 goals), defensive midfielder Dan Odenweider, outside back Jordie Ciuffetelli, and center back AJ Barnold. All four of these players have made a commitment to return to FC Sonic Lehigh Valley for the 2011  NPSL Soccer season.

  Other key returning players are brothers Joe and Charlie Sales. Joe, a forward came back from a serious knee injury last year to post two goals. The second goal came in the final minutes against the NY Red Bull that propelled FC Sonic into the NPSL Semi-finals in Alabama. Charlie, a back up keeper to former pro Sam Bishop, posted 14 saves and earned two shutouts, including a key 1-0 victory against the Erie Admirals.

  FC Sonic also signed forwards Ryan Wetherhold (2 goals), and Eric Miller (1 goal); along with defensive midfielder Schuyler Rimmele. Coach Weitzman stated "All nine of these players know what kind of commitment must be made to be successful. I have a lot of trust in them."

FC SONIC ANNOUNCES 2011 SEASON SCHEDULE

FC Sonic Lehigh Valley, the area’s minor league soccer club playing in the National Premier Soccer League, released its season schedule for 2011. The season opens with a bang, with a rematch against last year’s NPSL playoff opponent, New York Red Bulls, on May 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Lehigh University’s Ulrich Sports Complex, the home pitch for FC Sonic. 

The NPSL season includes home and away matches against a local rival, Pocono Snow, as well as Keystone Division sides from Buffalo, Erie and New Jersey, and two new franchises,  Buxmont Torch and Atlantic City Crusaders. The regular season schedule ends with a home match against another local foe, FC Reading Revolution, on July 16. The winner of the Keystone Division will head to the playoffs for a date against the NPSL Northeast Atlantic Division, with the winner advancing to the NPSL semifinals, where, last season, FC Sonic finished third.

The schedule is as follows:

DATE                         DAY                   PLACE                 OPPOSITION                  TIME

May 16	Monday	Home	New York Red Bulls	7:00 p.m.
May 19	Thursday	Away	New Jersey Blaze	7:30 p.m.
May 21	Saturday	Away	Pocono Snow	TBD
May 25	Wednesday	Home	Buxmont Torch	7:00 p.m.
June 04	Saturday	Home	Atlantic City Crusaders	7:30 p.m.
June 10	Friday	Away	Erie Admirals	7:00 p.m.
June 12	Sunday	Away	FC Buffalo	TBD
June 17	Friday	Home	New Jersey Blaze	7:30 p.m.
June 24	Friday	Home	FC Buffalo	7:30 p.m.
June 26	Sunday	Home	Erie Admirals	4:00 p.m.
July 01	Friday	Home	Pocono Snow	7:30 p.m.
July 09	Saturday	Away	Atlantic City Crusaders	6:00 p.m.
July 13	Wednesday	Away	Buxmont Torch	7:00 p.m.
July 16	Saturday	Home	FC Reading Revolution	7:30 p.m.
July 22	PLAYOFFS

                                       For further information, go to www.fcsonic.org