Photo: Earl Gardner

The Philadelphia Union announced on Monday the signing of forward Cristhian Hernandez. The 18-year-old Hernandez becomes the Union’s third Homegrown Player signing.

Born in Mexico, Hernandez will take an international spot on the Union roster and will be eligible to appear for the club in the season opener in Portland

Union fans will best remember Hernandez for scoring the late goal in the 1–0 victory over Everton in last summer’s friendly at PPL Park. Hernandez has also appeared for the Union in the Reserve League.

Hernandez was the 2011 US Soccer U-17/U-18 Development Academy Player of the Year and also earned U-17/U-18 Development Academy Starting XI and Eastern Conference Starting XI honors.. He scored 16 goals in 26 appearances for Union Youth Development Affiliate Players Development Academy.

While a student at St. Benedict’s Prep in 2011, he helped to lead the squad to a 24-0 record, a number one ranking and the school’s seventh national championship.  Hernandez was named to the NJ Star Ledger’s All-Prep First Team and was also honored as an ESPN High School All-New Jersey State selection and as one of ESPN’s Top 10 soccer recruits in the country.