By Matt Ralph/NPSL.com
Entering their first NPSL East Region final as a club on Saturday night, the number 365 had become a mantra for New Haven United FC, repeated in the huddle before, during and after the conclusion of their rematch with West Chester United SC.
A year earlier, New Haven United’s inaugural season came to an end at Widener University with a 4-0 loss to West Chester United. Back in Chester but in an indoor venue at WSFS Bank Sportsplex, New Haven was back facing West Chester United with revenge on their mind and a spot in the NPSL National Semifinals on the line.
“We had this game locked in our calendar,” said New Haven defender Agnaldo Germano. “Win the championship, and our conference, come here, get the job done and get to the semifinals.”
Playing indoors at the complex next to MLS club Philadelphia Union’s home, New Haven United came out strong with a number of chances from the opening whistle, pinning West Chester United into their own side of the field. The breakthrough came through build-up from the back to the front with a line-breaking pass through the middle, a ball sent to the right flank and a sliding cross in the box by Preston Alessio that set up Lucas Almeida for a shot that pinged around before getting past West Chester goalkeeper Alex Demars.
West Chester had their response less than 10 minutes later when John Ricks collected a pass in the box from Garry Zhang and calmly finished with his left past New Haven goalkeeper Christian Rodriguez.
The score wouldn’t stay level for long and after Parker Vasic drew a foul, Alessio – the league’s TopDrawerSoccer Young Player of the Season – stepped up to convert the free kick and make it 2-1 in the 35th minute. If the Alessio free kick was a dagger to West Chester’s chances of returning to the National Semifinals for the first time since 2023, the goal right before halftime was the back breaker.
It started with a booming kick from the goalkeeper Rodriguez, who hit it well past midfield to the feet of Almeida, and it was flicked it to Ali Taleb. Then Taleb did the rest to punish West Chester and put New Haven into a commanding 3-1 lead going into the halftime break.
“You can’t give up a goal like that just before halftime if you want to win a national championship,” West Chester United SC head coach Blaise Santangelo said. “They had a lot of skill, they were winning second balls all over the field for 90 minutes, and they were really good one-on-one defenders.”
Work rate and teamwork was also on display for the New Haven team, and it was following up on a shot that rewarded Alessio for his second goal after he ran to goal to pounce on a rebounded shot right into his path. The fourth goal of the night – scored in the 64th minute – was a much-needed cushion as West Chester tried to push back into the game.
“This win means so much to everyone,” Alessio said. “History was made tonight, and it took everyone’s effort.”
Carter Burris pulled a goal back for West Chester in the 68th minute to make things interesting, but that would be as close as they would get in the latter part of the game. The task of coming back was made even harder when August Axtman was sent off in the 80th minute.
West Chester still pushed but was unable to pull any closer in the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time. Rather than booking a return trip to the National Semifinals, West Chester United’s season came to an end the way New Haven’s did in 2025, just over 365 days earlier.
“I’ve coached at least 60 percent of these players since they were 14, 15-years-old,” New Haven United head coach Kledis Capollari said. “So, it’s just special for me.”
Photo Credit: Matt Ralph/NPSL.com
