A Hat Trick on Her Birthday

 

Gunston SC (VA) forward Ari Anderson celebrated her 18th birthday on Saturday with a hat trick in a 5-3 win over Velocity Premier SC (ME) in one of several high-scoring affairs on Saturday at the USYS Eastern Presidents Cup in Conshohocken and Plymouth Meeting, Pa.

 

“I was aiming for the win,” Anderson said after the game. “But when I scored the first one I thought ‘maybe I can score a second’ and when I scored the second ‘maybe I can score a third.’”

 

The goals were important ones too for a Gunston SC team that needed a bounce back win after a 3-0 loss to Lancaster Elite Sprinters to open play in the 18U Girls Division. The division is the lone division that won’t be playing a semifinal and a final. Instead the five-team group will all play each other with the champion being decided by standings.

 

Anderson planned to celebrate her birthday off the field with her teammates Saturday playing a round of mini-golf. 

 

World Cup Photo Box

 

Philadelphia Soccer 2026 set up shop with an action figure photo box at The Proving Grounds on Saturday, giving players and family members a chance to pose for photos. A few of the photos are below.

 

Friday was the one-year anniversary of Philadelphia being awarded the bid as one of the host sites of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

  

 

Perfect So Far

 

After two days of action, just nine (out of 117) teams can say they have had a perfect start, winning both games without conceding a goal.

 

Warrington SC Storm (14U Girls - PAE), Allegheny Force (16U Girls - PAW), Cohansey SC Premier (14U Boys - NJ), West Mont United (12U Girls - PAE), BVB International Academy (13U Boys - PAW), BVB International Academy (16U Boys - PAW), JAE Academy (13U Boys - NJ), Naugatuck Youth Soccer (15U Boys - CT) and Deptford Premier (15U Girls - NJ) are the nine teams.

 

Up Next

 

Sunday will be the final day for games at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School as the competition shifts entirely to The Proving Grounds for the semifinals on Monday and finals on Tuesday.

 

Helpful Links

Photos
Visitor Guide
Visit Valley Forge App
Schedule

​