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.
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.
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.
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)
FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic joined the USL PDL on November 18, 2014.
Year-by-year YearLevelLeagueRegular seasonPlayoffsU.S. Open CupFC Lehigh Valley Sonic20104NPSL1st, Keystone 12W-1D-2LNational Semi Finalsdid not enter20114NPSL2nd, Keystone 9W-2D-1Ldid not qualifydid not qualify20124NPSL1st, Keystone 14W-1D-1LChampionsFirst RoundFC Lehigh Valley20134NPSL2nd, Keystone 11W-0D-3LNational Semi FinalsFirst Round20144NPSL2nd, Keystone 8W-2D-2LNortheast Region Semi FinalsSecond Round20154USL PDL10th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-1D-12Ldid not qualifydid not qualify20164USL PDL6th, Mid-Atlantic 3W-1D-10Ldid not qualifydid not qualifyLehigh Valley United20174USL PDL6th, Mid-Atlantic 4W-1D-9Ldid not qualifydid not qualify20184USL PDL7th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-1D-12Ldid not qualifydid not qualify20194USL League Two6th, Mid-Atlantic 4W-3D-7Ldid not qualifydid not qualify2020Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic20214USL League Two6th, Mid-Atlantic 3W-1D-10Ldid not qualifydid not qualify20224USL League Two6th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-1D-12Ldid not qualifydid not qualify20234USL League Two6th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-3D-10Ldid not qualifydid not qualify20244USL League Two6th, Mid-Atlantic 1W-2D-9Ldid not qualifydid not qualify20254USL League Two6th, Mid-Atlantic 2W-3D-7Ldid not qualifydid not qualify20264USL League Two2nd, Mid-Atlantic 10W-2D-2LTBAdid 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 Ulrich Sports Complex at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (2010–2012) Whitehall High School Sports Complex, Whitehall High School, Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania (2013–present)
References
External links