Signed for the First Team, Starring for the Second Team
Young Union players Nick Pariano and Markus Anderson showcase their talent in Union II’s playoff run, aiming to bring home the MLS Next Pro Cup.
Chester, Pa. — After defeating Columbus Crew 2 in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference Finals, Union II have another shot at a trophy as they prepare to face North Texas in tomorrow's MLS Next Pro Cup. This season has exceeded expectations for many, as Union II finished with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference (15-9-4, 52 points), tied for the most goals scored (59), and recorded the fifth fewest goals conceded (41). This magical season also saw the club achieve their first playoff win, a 1-0 victory over New York City II, followed by wins against Crown Legacy and Columbus Crew 2, securing their place in the final. The team has often been the youngest on the field, yet their age hasn’t held them back. While Cavan Sullivan, Neil Pierre, Frankie Westfield, CJ Olney, David Vazquez, Eddy Davis, and Andrew Rick receive much of the attention, two other players have emerged as key contributors this season: Nick Pariano and Markus Anderson.
Pariano, signed last December to a Homegrown contract, and Anderson, signed in January to a first-team deal, have both been making a notable impact with the second team this season. Pariano was loaned to Union II for the entire 2024 season, while Anderson has alternated between the first and second teams.
These two aren’t the first in Union history to experience this, and they won’t be the last. Jesús Bueno and Jeremy Rafanello are two notable examples. Bueno was signed in July 2021 and featured eight times for the first team, playing 53 minutes in his debut season. The next season, he primarily played for Union II, starting 14 games and registering six goals and two assists in 1,221 minutes. After impressing with the second team, Bueno earned more game time with the first team in 2023, playing in 36 games and contributing two goals and four assists in 1,740 minutes. He was awarded a new contract through 2026, with an option for 2027. Jeremy Rafanello, signed in August 2022 on a homegrown contract, played in three games for Union II, scoring one goal and assisting another in 132 minutes. The following season, he started 19 games for Union II, scoring nine goals and adding five assists in 1,477 minutes.
Pariano, 21, joined Union II after wrapping up a successful senior season at Duke University, where he set career highs with four goals and eight assists in 18 games. He earned All-ACC First Team, All-South Region Third Team, and Academic All-America First Team honors. Despite his strong season, there was some uncertainty about what would come next.
“Yeah, I was a little surprised, but I was real happy,” Pariano said of receiving a homegrown contract. “I’m happy that I ended up back here—it’s home for me now. There are a lot of unknowns at the moment in college. I was super excited, super happy that they wanted me back.”
Prior to Pariano joining Duke, he was a member of the Philadelphia Union Academy, making appearances for the U15, U17, and U19 squads.
Pariano would play in 24 (17 starts) games during the regular season for Union II. His games played would see him playing positions all throughout the midfield, whether that be as a ten, an eight on either side of the diamond, or playing as a six. He would go on and score two goals, and register one assist in 1420 minutes. In games started for Union II, the club had a record of 8-5-4.
In the playoffs, Pariano has started all three games at the six, logging 294 minutes and providing one assist. He has been instrumental in Union II’s two clean sheets in three playoff matches, with a standout performance against Columbus Crew 2 in the Eastern Conference Final, where he led the team with 10 ball recoveries, created three chances, and assisted Cavan Sullivan’s goal. Reflecting on his role, Pariano expressed satisfaction with both his individual and team performance.
“It’s been good, I feel comfortable there. I’m happy the team is winning games 4-0 in the conference final, that’s pretty awesome. As long as the teams doing well and putting together good performances— which we have been. Good performances can be good for a lot of different reasons but we’ve been putting together good performances throughout the playoffs and the end of the season and we just want to keep that going.”
Talking to head coach Marlon LeBlanc and players throughout the Union II team, everyone credits the team’s success to the strength of the locker room. Pariano believes a big part of that success is due to LeBlanc and his staff, who have fostered a strong culture and prepared players to perform at their best.
“Yeah, it’s been great. The strength of us is the locker room, and you need a coaching staff that helps build a culture where that’s the case and helps you execute on the field. It’s been a complete effort from Marlon [LeBlanc], the rest of the coaching staff, and support staff—it takes a village. We’re trying to reward that effort.”
Markus Anderson, 20, has had a different journey. Anderson, born in Brooklyn, New York, played soccer in Spain before joining the Union from CF Rayo Majadahonda, a fourth-division club. Anderson recalled being surprised when a Union scout showed interest, as he hadn’t anticipated playing in MLS.
“I remember it was in January. One of the scouts came to my game and talked to me afterwards,” said Markus Anderson. “And when I heard that news; I didn’t have any words for it because you never know if you’re going to play in MLS or not.”
Anderson has appeared in four MLS games (two starts) for the Union this season, logging 98 minutes. He’s also played 12 games (10 starts) for Union II, scoring four goals and recording three assists in 768 minutes. Injuries, including hamstring issues and concussions, have limited the 20-year-old’s playtime, and he admits the season hasn’t gone as he envisioned.
“No, not really. I feel like I came here with an idea of something different. Sometimes it doesn’t always happen. Injuries have been rough for me this season—not training, not playing games—but at the end of the day, I just have to keep working on myself and be fit.”
Anderson admitted that dealing with injuries can be isolating, but he’s found support in Marlon LeBlanc and assistant coaches Bradford Jamieson and Anthony Flores, who have helped him adjust with Union II.
“He’s [Marlon LeBlanc] been a very big part of it, helping me pick my head up. Throughout the season, I was struggling. My head was a little down, and I didn’t know where my mind was at, but being with the second team and having Marlon [LeBlanc], BJ [Bradford Jamieson], and Tony [Anthony Flores] to talk to has been amazing.”
In the playoffs, Anderson has started all three games, playing 214 minutes and scoring two goals. He left at halftime during the second playoff game due to tendonitis, according to LeBlanc, and exited the Columbus game in the 79th minute with Union II up 4-0. Anderson’s hold-up play, pressing, and tackling have been notable, and he hopes for a similar impact against North Texas in the final, regardless of their underdog status.
“Who cares if we’re the underdogs at this point? We showed what we can do; we beat Columbus. Everyone knew that Columbus were the favorites, and we showed them that’s not the case. We’re just going to go out to Texas, do our best, and compete—that’s all we can do.”
Both players are optimistic that their strong performances for Union II will open doors with the first team next season, but for now, they are focused on bringing home another trophy.
Credit: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV