The Philadelphia Union II are back in the playoffs for the second straight year looking to knock off a New England Revolution II team that gave them trouble during the season on Sunday night in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The MLS Next Pro team - a reserve team for the Philadelphia Union - features a number of players who played youth soccer in Eastern Pennsylvania.

Brothers Nelson Pierre (pictured above) and Neil Pierre both played for Super Nova FC in Harrisburg as kids. Nelson, 18, is signed to a first team contract but has spent the entire season with Union II while 15-year-old Neil signed an MLS Next Pro contract in July.

Two former FC Europa players are also on the squad with amateur defender/midfielder Daniel Krueger and goalkeeper Andrew Rick, who signed a professional MLS Next Pro contract in June.

Kyle Tucker, a Drexel grad who signed over the summer, played youth soccer at Penn Fusion and FC Delco while 17-year-old amateur right back Francis Westfield played at Philadelphia SC.

Some first team players have spent time playing at Union II this season, including former FC Europa and FC Montco forward Chris Donovan and former Fishtown AC, Philadelphia SC and Lighthouse SC star Quinn Sullivan. Brandan Craig, a former youth teammate of Sullivan, played some with Union II this season too but he’s been on loan with Austin FC since early July.

Sunday’s game against New England Revolution II - which has won all three of the meetings between the sides this season - is slated for an 8 p.m. kickoff and will be broadcast live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Union II Professionals
Andrew Rick, Wayne, Pa., FC Europa
Kyle Tucker, Phoenixville, Pa., Penn Fusion and FC Delco
Neil Pierre, Harrisburg, Pa., Super Nova FC

Union Academy Amateurs
Daniel Krueger, Philadelphia, Pa., FC Europa
Francis Westfield, Philadelphia, Pa., Philadelphia SC 


First Team Players
Chris Donovan, Paoli, Pa., FC Europa, FC Montco
Quinn Sullivan, Norristown, Pa., Fishtown AC, Philadelphia SC and Lighthouse SC
Nelson Pierre, Harrisburg, Pa., Super Nova FC

Photo Credit: Jack Verdeur