Men's soccer at Saint Joseph's University is establishing a local recruitment strategy with an emphasis on players from the Philadelphia Union Academy. Under coach Tim Mulqueen, the program aims to attract top talent from nearby states鈥擯ennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland鈥攖o enhance their chances for success. Key recruits, such as the Sullivan twins and Conor Clair, have strong ties to the Union, whose coaching staff supports this neighborhood-focused approach for cultivating athlete connections to their roots and the community.

By the Numbers
  • Saint Joseph's men's soccer team has seen a focus on local players from its surrounding states for over a year.
  • Declan and Ronan Sullivan, both recruits, are among multiple players from the Union Academy signed for the 2026 class.
State of Play
  • Tim Mulqueen has made local recruiting a priority since taking over the program in December 2024.
  • The team is incorporating a high-energy style of play鈥攔eferred to as "energy drink soccer"鈥攖hat mirrors the Union鈥檚 successful tactics.
What's Next

The program plans to continue building its pipeline of Union Academy players, fostering long-term success through local recruitment, and maintaining a steady influx of talent familiar with the Philly mindset and competitive spirit.

Bottom Line

Saint Joseph's men's soccer is positioning itself as a vital pathway from the Philadelphia Union Academy to collegiate soccer, leveraging local talent to enhance competitiveness while fostering a strong community connection among players.