Less than two weeks away from their first ever MLS game in franchise history, the Philadelphia Union have been in training camp for a little over a month now. Peter Nowak started the first official training camp for his expansion side in North Carolina in early February. The two week long first leg of the camp included scrimmages against High Point University, UNC-Wilmington, and Wake Forest University, all of which were closed to the public.
The Union did take part in an exhibition match against The University of North Carolina in Greensboro on February 13th. The first half of the match saw forward Sebastian Le Toux record a hat trick and put the expansion side up 3-0 at the half. Shea Salinas opened the scoring in the second half with a goal in the 54th minute. The goal of the night came from 17 year old Jack McInerney, who had an impressive strike from just over the midfield line, catching the North Carolina keeper off guard. McInerney’s goal in the 89th minute of the match capped off an impressive 5-0 victory for the expansion side.
The second leg of Nowak’s preseason camp took the expansion side south of the border to Guadalajara, Mexico. While the first leg of the camp was mainly focused on physical conditioning, the second leg was more tactical and also saw the club face professional competition for the first time. Scrimmages against Mexican Second Division side Universidad de Guadalajara, and Mexican First Division powerhouse Chivas De Guadalajara gave the expansion side their first taste of what was to come during the upcoming season. Nowak chose Guadalajara not only for the opportunity to face quality professional clubs, but to challenge his players at tough altitude conditions as well.
Nowak and his club are currently in Tampa, Florida for the third and final leg of the preseason camp. The third leg of the camp will focus on putting the final touches on both the tactical and fitness sides before the start of the season. The Union will also face their first test against MLS competition on March 14, when they meet FC Dallas in their final exhibition match before first kick in Seattle on March 25th (assuming there is no work stoppage by either the players or the owners).
There have been some surprises during the camp thus far. Jack McInerney, 7th overall pick in the 2010 Superdraft, has impressed many including Peter Nowak during camp. McInerney, who is only 17, not only scored a brilliant goal in the match against North Carolina, but also managed to score in the scrimmage against Chivas De Guadalajara as well. There were questions as to whether he would start the season being loaned out to the Union’s USL affiliate Harrisburg City Islanders due to his young age, but his performance has definitely earned him a shot with the big club.
Trialist and former Temple University star J.T. Noone has also turned some heads during camp. Noone has performed well thus far, scoring a goal in the Chivas De Guadalajara scrimmage and also tallying two assists through 5 preseason matches/scrimmages. He remains one of only two trialists still with the club, the other being Roger Torres who was recently signed to the club on loan. Noone has definitely made his case to be offered a spot on the roster.
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