Kris Shakes, a fifth-year goalkeeper for the Nittany Lions men’s soccer team, credits the Philadelphia Union Youth Academy with his Penn State athletic success, writes Max Ralph for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The academy trains at Subaru Park in Chester, where the Philadelphia Union is headquartered and where it plays its home games. 

Shakes moved on his own from Florida to Philadelphia at 15 so he could continue his soccer career with the Union’s academy. 

It was at the academy that Shakes met Penn State coach Jeff Cook who had been coaching there since 2013.  That relationship led to Shakes and Cook mutually agreeing that he should come play for Penn State.  

Cook keeps his relationship with the Union Academy, using it somewhat as a Penn State pipeline.

“I joke [that] I have a timeshare down at the Union,” Cook said. “We recruit there actively. That’s where the relationships are important to have a conversation about [the] pathway.”

Many of its players played a key role in Penn State capturing the Big Ten regular season title this fall.

Since the youth academy system was established and supported by Major League Soccer, the path to the pro level has gotten easier.

Find out more about the Philadelphia Union Youth Academy in The Philadelphia Inquirer.