In the last game of his first season as Reading United’s head coach, Alan McCann was staring defeat in the face for the first time. His team had already locked up first place in the Mid-Atlantic division of the Premier Development League’s Eastern Conference, but after giving up two goals against last place Lehigh Valley, who only had eight in their previous 13 games, McCann knew his team still had a chance to preserve an undefeated season. He turned to his bench and called on speedy Spencer Burkhardt.
Eleven minutes later Reading was up 3-2. Burkhardt, the catalyst, scored the second, and his team finished the year 12-0-2, with the playoffs looming this weekend.