Jul. 16—Reading United’s 2023 season ended in bittersweet fashion Saturday night as Lehigh Valley United scored the equalizer in stoppage time to end the USL League Two match in a 1-1 draw at Alvernia.
With Reading seconds away from ending its season on a four-game winning streak, Lehigh Valley’s Peter Tichy received a cross inside the Reading box and got a shot on frame from the right side. The shot was initially blocked by Reading keeper Patrick Millard, but Tichy corralled the deflection and slotted the rebound past Millard to tie it four minutes into second-half stoppage time.
For Reading coach Casey Moore, as has been the case throughout a season filled with draws, failing to fully execute on offense gave Lehigh Valley the opportunity to remain in the game.
“To me, we just looked a bit too slow or we were missing the final connection to get into a good position to score or guys weren’t committed to really attacking the net to finish off some of the crosses that we put in,” Moore said. “So if we’re not fully committed to doing those things, then you leave the game vulnerable to have anything like that happen at the end.
“Some of that has felt a bit unlucky, because that’s kind of the way the whole year has gone a little bit. There have been a lot of games where we’ve controlled the game and had really dominant periods in the game; a lot of shots. So you have to finish your chances to finish teams off, especially when they’re a bit vulnerable, and we didn’t do that tonight, which then left the game hanging in the balance and they were able to find a goal.”
The bright spot of the evening, and maybe the season, for Reading (5-2-7) was the play of forward Sam Hershey. Hershey scored his team-high eighth goal of the season a minute into first-half stoppage time to give Reading a 1-0 lead.
After recovering a loose ball near midfield, Hershey got free of the defense on a breakaway before he was met by Lehigh Valley goalie Lance McGrane charging out of the net. However, Hershey calmly maneuvered the ball around McGrane and tapped in the empty-net goal just before halftime.
“It was kind of instincts kicking in more than anything,” said Hershey, a McCaskey grad. “I just saw the ball; I saw a bad back pass by their team. I got in on goal and basically tapped it around their goalie. Not the most complicated goal but, as a forward, you gotta get your goals somehow. It was an opportunistic one.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t make the playoffs but I’m looking forward to building next year.”
Hershey ended the night with four of Reading’s seven shots. Lehigh Valley (1-10-3) recorded 12 shots. Millard finished with six saves while McGrane made two saves.
Moore said that Hershey’s presence on the squad has been vital to the team’s success as he has developed immensely during his time with Reading. Growing from a member of the reserve team to having the skills of one of the league’s top forwards, Hershey has been something special for Reading.
“He’s been massive for us,” Moore said. “His development and growth as a player has been incredible. He might be the best center forward in our division, or one of the better center forwards in the entire league. His back-to-goal play is incredible. If you find him, he rarely loses the ball. So he’s a big, strong back-to-goal forward. And then he’s been good this year to find spaces in the box to finish moments off.
“So we’ve seen a lot of development from him. He’s a much better player than a year ago. Two years ago, he was with our reserve team. So he’s made a massive jump from that to where he is now.
“I can still see drastic areas where he can elevate his game, which is really exciting. He has a really high ceiling.”
Perhaps well-aware of his high ceiling, Hershey has transferred from Division II Lock Haven to Division I American University, where he will play his junior year in an effort to challenge himself.
During his two years at Lock Haven, Hershey totaled 24 goals and 13 assists, was named the 2022 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Player of the Year, the 2021 PSAC East Rookie of the Year and was a two-time All-PSAC East first-team selection. He helped Lock Haven win the 2021 PSAC East regular season championship and qualify for the 2021 NCAA Division II Tournament.
“I kind of want to challenge myself,” Hershey said of his decision to transfer, “and I played here (at Reading) last year as well. I played for the reserve team (two years ago) but I didn’t play as much because I was finishing up my club season. It was nice to be able to get in and prepare for the next season, which was last year.
“And then, (last season) that set the standard. I was always looking up to the guys who were playing on the first team and you always have to be humble and have to improve, but you also have to believe in yourself that you can play with anybody. So starting there allowed me to see that I can actually play at this level and then hopefully, someday, you know, play beyond college and on to the professional level.”
Hoping to one day play at the pro level, Hershey may be well on track if he continues to shine during his junior and senior seasons at American, according to Moore. Humbly, however, the striker said he will continue taking the small steps on his path to a big dream.
“He has a really bright future and I’m happy to have him with us,” Moore said. “I’m really excited about the season that he had and now we’re eager to see what he does in college.”
“I feel like I’m at the level right now where I can play professionally,” Hershey said. “I just gotta be in the right moment and take small steps over time. But for me, that’s the end goal is playing professional at some point in my life. Obviously, I got to start somewhere, so I’ll keep doing the small stuff and make it happen.”
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