News

Former College Rivals Charlie Ledula, Joey Sanchez Forming A Strong Connection With The Cosmos

The duo faced off several time in college but are enjoying their time together with the Cosmos
Published Apr 17, 2019
When they starred for their respective schools at Adelphi University and LIU Post, Charlie Ledula and Joey Sanchez were fierce rivals.
 
Now, not only are they showcasing their skills for the New York Cosmos during preseason, they have teamed up to form a lethal combination.
 
Just ask Fordham University. During the recent friendly, the Cosmos teammates combined to score the second goal of a 2-0 win over the Rams at Murphy Field in the Bronx.
 
"That's my guy," Ledula said with a big smile. "Even though we were rivals before as soon as we played together we made a connection. I see him as a friend as well. I don't know what it is. It's just an understanding of each other. As soon as he gets it, I know where to be. And when I get it, he knows where he should be as well. It's weird, it's cliché, but there's a connection."
 
Added Sanchez: "Yeah, absolutely. In the offseason, we trained a couple of times [together]. So I know his tendencies here and there and training every day, you get to know someone really well. He's a good player. Glad he's on the team."
 
Outside of Cosmos head coach Carlos Mendes, perhaps no one was prouder of the performance of Sanchez and the 6-1, 185-lb. Ledula than Fordham University head coach Carlo Acquista, who mentored the former player at the Long Island school.
 
"It's really good to see guys coming out of the D-2 programs like LIU Post and Adelphi, get to the next level, and working hard to keep going," Acquista said. "We knew about Joey. We knew he was going to be technical. He's fit. He's got a great engine. We knew he had this passing ability. We talked about that before the game.
 
"We knew about Charlie, an athletic specimen, but at the same time, he's got an eye for the goal. He's very dangerous all the time. It's great to see them on this field, coaching against them again. I wish them the best of luck."
 
Sanchez, who was given a tour of the Fordham athletic facilities by Acquista prior to the match, and Ledula did their damage in the 69th minute. That's when his cross found the one-time LIU Post standout at the near post to double the Cosmos' advantage.
 
"Charlie dummied the ball," Sanchez said. "I called out on him. Then I looked up and he made a good run to the near post and I just tried to chip it right now into the air into his path to score. Luckily, that's what happened. It was a good goal, a good team play."
 
Mendes liked what he saw as well.
 
"I thought they were excellent," he said. "The two of them gave us a lot. Charlie and Sanchez brought something to the game and opened it up for us, combined well. A lot of guys in the second half did a great job for sure. You can see that the understanding is coming around in the system and they're working well together. So. they'll be important pieces."
 
Adelphi and LIU Post have the biggest NCAA Division II soccer rivalry on Long Island, so they usually knocked heads during regular-season play and in the postseason.
 
"Usually the last two years, we were always on the opposite end of each other," Sanchez said. "I would hate it when he scored against us. We're lucky enough playing with each other. He's a great player. Offensive threat. He's a nightmare for the defense."
 
Both players still tease each other during practice.
 
Ledula said: "100 percent. 100 percent. Sometimes when we're in training we laugh about it. We're playing Adelphi and he'll look at me and 'Oh yeah, I remember we beat you.' And I'm like, 'Oh yeah, we beat you more times.' It's all fun and games. But when it comes to the field and we're on the same team, it s such a great connection."
 
 
 
The club kicks off their National Premier Soccer League season against the New York Athletic Club at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. on Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m.