Mission and History
Stars United Soccer Club was founded in 2004 to offer players from Western Pennsylvania first-rate coaching and instruction and an opportunity to play at a higher level of youth soccer. The mission of the Club is to improve the technical, tactical and physical abilities of our players, through positive, constructive coaching methods, while participating at the highest level of youth competition available.
Under the direction of then-President Bob MacZura, the Seneca Valley Soccer Association embarked on a program in 2002 to offer additional skills training to the in-house program players from qualified coaches. The in-house age groups were also split into a Division 1 and Division 2 format so that players would have the opportunity to play with and compete against similarly skilled players. In 2004, SVSA entered a boys select U13 team in the PA West Classic Division as part of the comprehensive plan to maximize player development. As the training of younger players began to show results, plans were set in motion to create an independent club, Stars United, to provide a place for the advanced players to play at the highest level in the area. Stars United applied to PA West and were accepted as a "Classic Club" July of 2006.
Stars United is based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, just 20 miles north of Pittsburgh, but is open to all talented players, regardless of where they live. See the roster of schools and districts below.
Why Choose Stars United?
Results & the Level of Competition:
- In just seven years as a club, Stars United has already won 5 State Cup Championships, placed 6 Finalists, won two Bronze medals, and placed 12 Semi-Finalists. See the "State Cup" tab on our main page for more information.
- All of our teams participate in either the PA West Classic League or Region I leagues. The club also encourages players to go beyond cup soccer by getting involved in the Olympic Development Program (ODP), excelling in high school soccer and/or preparing themselves to compete at the collegiate level. Our teams have had the opportunity to participate in the Region I Colonial League and the Region I Premier League (the highest level of youth soccer in the region).
Experienced Director & Coaching Staff:
- One of the major strengths of Stars United is the involvement of a Director and a Coaching Staff that possesses extensive soccer knowledge, coaching and playing experience, and they employ proven coaching methods and techniques. There are three principles you can count on from Stars United Soccer Club: 1) decisions will be made by soccer-knowledgable people, the Director and Coaching Staff; 2) you can expect that your player will be trained using proven coaching techniques and will compete in a league chosen to stretch his or her abilities; and 3) our Governing Board and the organization as a whole will be run efficiently and effectively.
- Stars United is led by Director of Coaching & Player Development, Mark Perry, who holds a USSF National "C" license and brings over 25 years of coaching experience. Coach Perry is currently the Head Girls Soccer Coach at Central Valley High School. He has 24 seasons of experience as a Boys Head Coach and 2 seasons as a Girls Head Coach. Over his coaching career his teams have made the WPIAL playoffs in all but two seasons. His combined record of teams at Hampton, Fox Chapel, Center and Central Valley High Schools is 428-106-22 which includes 19 Section Championships, 3 WPIAL Titles, 4 WPIAL Runner-ups, and a PIAA State Championship. He is a former PA West Olympic Development Program (ODP) Staff Coach.
- The Stars United Coaching Staff includes a former U.S. National Team, MISL, MLS and NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Head Coach, 2 WPIAL High School Soccer Coaches with over 400 career victories, 2 Coaches who have been inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, 3 Coaches who are in the Fox Chapel Sports Hall of Fame, several top current and former WPIAL Varsity and Junior Varsity coaches, PA West ODP Staff Coaches, former professional players, and NCAA Division I players from several local and national universities.
Highest Emphasis Placed on Player Development:
- The Stars United Director and Coaching Staff place the highest emphasis on player development. Our focus is on developing quality players and teams rather than increasing the quantity of players or teams. The experienced coaching staff is dedicated to ensuring that Stars United players develop individual skills and a thorough understanding of the team game, in an enjoyable format. Players are positively encouraged to participate in the game in a fair and competitive manner
Interested players should contact the Director of Coaching & Player Development, Mark Perry, at director@starsunited.org or contact the respective team coaches.
Schools/Districts
Although the club is based in Cranberry Twp, PA, the following schools and districts are represented in the roster of Stars United players:
Ambridge Mercer Shadyside Academy
Beaver Montour Shaler
Blackhawk Moon Slippery Rock HS
Canon McMillan North Allegheny Springdale
Central Catholic North Hills St. Alphonsus
Central Valley Norwin St. Edmund’s Academy
Chartiers Valley Oakland Catholic St. Gregory
Eden Christian Peters Twp. St. Kilian
Fox Chapel Pine Richland St. Sebastian
Freedom Plum Trinity Middle School
Hampton Quaker Valley Upper St. Clair
Holy Trinity Seneca Valley
Hopewell Seton-La Salle
Mars Sewickley Academy
