Lehigh Valley United (also referred to as LVU) is an American

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

team based in

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Bethlehem is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Northampton and Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Lehigh counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Bethle ...

. Founded in 2009, the team plays in

USL League Two USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league will featu ...

, the fourth tier of the

American Soccer Pyramid The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur association football, soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Although sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are no ...

. The team plays its home games at Rocco Calvo Field on the campus of

Moravian College Moravian University is a private university in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The institution traces its history to girls' and boys' schools opened in 1742 by Moravians, descendants of followers of the Bohemian Reformation under John Amos Comenius. ...

. The team's colors are navy blue and white.

History

Lehigh Valley United was founded in 2009 by the

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

Soccer Association of the Lehigh Valley (SALV) to field a top-level team in the

National Premier Soccer League The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American men's association football, soccer league. The league is officially affiliated to the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and has automatic qualification for the U.S. Open Cup. ...

, considered the fourth division of the

American soccer pyramid The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur association football, soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Although sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are no ...

and roughly equal to the

USL Premier Development League USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league will featu ...

, while also supporting youth development and coaching. The team originally took its name from its youth club affiliate, FC Lehigh Valley United, and adopted "''Sonic''" from a corporate partnership with American restaurant chain,

Sonic Drive-In Sonic Corporation, founded as Sonic Drive-In and more commonly known as Sonic (stylized in all caps), is an American drive-in fast-food Chain store, chain owned by Inspire Brands, the parent company of Arby's, Jimmy John's, Buffalo Wild Wings, ...

, in a deal that lasted three seasons. This was also reflected in the club's logo, which was changed following the conclusion of the deal in 2012. The team shares its history and many former players with the successful

Pennsylvania Stoners The Pennsylvania Stoners were an American soccer team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2007, the team played in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid, i ...

team, which won the NPSL Championship in 2008 but left the league at the end of the 2009 season. The Sonic had a successful first season, finishing first in Northeast Division/Keystone Conference and making it to the national semi-finals in the playoffs. Following a second place divisional finish in 2011, the club returned to first place in 2012 and defeated

Chattanooga FC Chattanooga Football Club is an American professional soccer team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 2009, the team is in MLS Next Pro starting in 2024. Prior to joining MLS Next Pro, the club played in the National Indep ...

1-0 in the National Championship game on July 29, 2012, winning their first league title. Since 2010, Sonic has posted a remarkable league and playoff record of 46 Wins, 4 draws, and 7 Losses. In 2013, Sonic represented the NPSL in US Soccer's Inaugural Amateur National Championship. After beating the Croatian Eagles (WI) in the national semi-final (1-0) Sonic then played the Carolina Dynamo (PDL) in the final losing 3-1 in penalty kicks (1-1 regulation) FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic joined the

USL PDL USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league will feature ...

on November 18, 2014.

Year-by-year

Honors

Domestic

** National Champions (1): 2012 (Also, 2008 Champions as PA Stoners) * Keystone Division Titles (NPSL): ** Winners (2): 2010, 2012, * Northeast Conference Champions (3): ** 2010, 2012, 2013

Stadium

* Ulrich Sports Complex at

Lehigh University Lehigh University (LU), in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States, is a private university, private research university. The university was established in 1865 by businessman Asa Packer. Lehigh University's undergraduate programs have been mixed ...

(2010–2012) * Whitehall High School Sports Complex, Whitehall High School,

Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania Whitehall Township is a township with home rule status in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. The township's population was 29,173 as of the 2020 census. Whitehall Township is a suburb of Allentown in the Lehigh Valley metropolitan ...

(2013–present)

References

2009 establishments in Pennsylvania Association football clubs established in 2009 Soccer clubs in Pennsylvania Sports in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USL League Two teams {{Pennsylvania-footyclub-stub