Saucon Source Sports Spotlight: Zach Reichard

Saucon Valley senior soccer stud Zach Reichard has no shortage of accolades in his high school career. This past season Zach, a high-scoring forward, won a PIAA District XI championship with his high school teammates and was named 1st Team All Colonial League. In addition, Zach was named 1st Team All-Area and 2014 Boys Soccer Player of the Year by LehighValleyLive.com. Zach also added “All-State” to his resume when he was recently named to the state team by the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.

Starting soccer with the SVSL (Saucon Valley Soccer League) when he was nine years old, Zach said it was the speed of the game that hooked him.

“I tried baseball but that was too slow for my liking,” he recalled. “I liked how fast soccer was and how you are always doing something.”

Zach certainly made the most of his time on the field where, according to LehighValleyLive, he recorded 38 goals and eight assists this past season to become Saucon’s all-time points leader (149). It is interesting to note that Zach’s fellow senior teammate, Joe Schuyler, is number two on that list with 146 career points.

Mel Moyer III, Zach’s high school coach, said it’s Zach’s speed that stands out among his best attributes as a soccer player.

“He has raw, daunting speed and he couples that with great technique on the ball,” Moyer said. “He can move the ball at angles when attacking at full speed in a way that unbalances defenders and enables him to get free.”

Superior physical skills are not the only things Zach has going for him. Coach Moyer points to Zach’s leadership and his unselfish play as other characteristics that make him so special.

“As one of our captains, his demeanor, attitude, determination and passion for achievement translated directly to his teammates,” Moyer said. “He wanted to win for his teammates, their parents, his parents (Kevin and Tina), his coaches, his school and his hometown. Zach is the best teammate a player could ever want.”

Asked if he had any advice for youth soccer players looking to possibly follow in his footsteps, Zach recommended that they “practice hard–it is going to pay off in the long run.”

Zach’s efforts are looking like they will continue to pay off. He is hoping to further his run at either DeSales or Shippensburg University after graduation from Saucon Valley in June.

No matter where the future takes him, it is fair to say that the Saucon Valley soccer community, Zach’s school, and his hometown are behind him and wish him all the best.

About the Author: Keith Riefenstahl is a deeply rooted sports fan, former coach and freelance writer. A Penn State grad and veteran educator, he resides in Saucon Valley with his wife Jill and four children: Brooke, Kiele, Travis and Tanner.