2022 Flower City Union season

The 2022 Flower City Union season was the club's first season of existence, and their first in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), the third tier of American soccer. The Union's season began on March 26, 2022, and concluded on October 10, 2022.

Flower City Union
2022 season
OwnerJimmy Paola
Head coachZach Agliata
(until May 2)[1]
Colton Bly
(interim)
StadiumMarina Auto Stadium
NISA10th
NISA PlayoffsDid not qualify
U.S. Open CupThird round
Legends CupTo be determined
Independent CupNortheast Champions
Top goalscorerLeague: Canas-Jarquin (2)
All: Fernandes (3)
Average home league attendance880
Biggest win1–0
(vs. WMP (A), April 6, USOC)
Biggest defeat1–6
(vs. MBFC (A), April 2, NISA)

The Union finished at the bottom of the NISA table.

Background

The club's history begins in 2017, when the long-time professional soccer club in the Rochester metropolitan area, the Rochester Rhinos announced they were going on a hiatus beginning in 2018. The hiatus left the city without a professional soccer team for the first time since 19985, and left the city's soccer-specific stadium, Marina Auto Stadium, without a main tenant.

In 2020, a ownership group headed by David Weaver, the CEO and founder of Rochester-based Aphex BioCleanse Systems Inc. and a former Kodak optical engineer, submitted an application for a NISA team in Rochester.[2][3] Mark Washo, a former Chief Business Officer with the Rhinos was appointed as Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer and the group later announced a partnership with St. John Fisher College’s Sport Management Department.[4]

On December 17, 2020, NISA approved the group's expansion application, and the following day, it was revealed that the club's name would be the Flower City Union, a nod to Rochester's nickname as the Flower City.[5][6] On April 14, 2021, the team logo and colors were introduced, the primary color being Lilac purple in honor of Rochester's signature flower.[7]

Club

Team management

Position Name
Owner United States Jimmy Paola
Vice Chairman United States Mark Washo
Vice President of Business Operations United States Andrew Hoyt
Director of Marketing United States Nina Korn
Director of Corporate Partnerships United States Casey Catlin
Director of Fan Engagement United States Casey Catlin
Digital Coordinators United States Ben Conrow
United States Adam Drake
Operations Managers United States Logan Adams
United States Ryan Adams
Head coach United States Jordan Sullivan
Assistant coach United States Nelson Cupello
Goalkeeping coach Brazil Marcelo Moreira

Sources:[8][9]

Roster

As of April 29, 2022[10]
No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (Age) Apps Goals Assists Signed from
Goalkeepers
13Steven OrtizColombiaGK (1999-12-01)December 1, 1999 (aged 22)000Nicaragua Real Madriz
18Maykell OrtegaNicaraguaGK (1998-04-01)April 1, 1998 (aged 24)000United States Miami United
Defenders
2Ben WatsonUnited StatesRB (1997-08-22)August 22, 1997 (aged 25)000United States Syracuse Pulse
4Andriy DemydivUkraineDF (1998-12-06)December 6, 1998 (aged 23)000United States Rochester Lancers
5Nikkye De PointUnited StatesDF (1998-09-10)September 10, 1998 (aged 24)000United States Oregon State University
6Andrea PregoniItalyCB, RB (1999-01-04)January 4, 1999 (aged 23)000Portugal Académica
12Collin MullerUnited StatesDF (1998-03-18)March 18, 1998 (aged 24)000United States West Chester United
15Robert WilliamsonUnited StatesDF (1997-08-28)August 28, 1997 (aged 25)000United States Harrisburg Heat

Non-competitive

September 7 Flower City Union 0–6 Syracuse Pulse Rochester, NY
8:30 p.m. EDT Report Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium

Competitions

NISA

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 California United Strikers FC 21 14 4 3 35 12 +23 46 2.19 Qualification for the semi-finals
2 Chattanooga FC 24 14 7 3 44 21 +23 49 2.04
3 Michigan Stars FC 23 10 8 5 27 15 +12 38 1.65 Qualification for the play-offs
4 Albion San Diego 20 9 5 6 28 23 +5 32 1.60
5 Maryland Bobcats FC 23 8 6 9 32 28 +4 30 1.30
6 Syracuse Pulse 22 7 4 11 26 32 6 25 1.14
7 Los Angeles Force 20 2 8 10 14 31 17 14 0.70
8 Flower City Union 23 2 3 18 13 57 44 9 0.39
Source: nisasoccer.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal differential; 3) goals scored; 4) head-to-head

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
21 2 3 16 13 54  −41 9 1 1 8 6 23  −17 1 2 8 7 31  −24

Last updated: September 2, 2022.
Source: Flower City Union

Match results

March 26 1 Flower City Union 0–1 Syracuse Pulse Rochester, NY
12:00 p.m. EDT Saling Yellow card 55'
Brickman Yellow card 71'
Report Jackson 48'
DaSilva Red card 58'
MacDonald Yellow card 75'
Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
Attendance: 880[11]
April 2 2 Maryland Bobcats 6–1 Flower City Union Boyds, MD
4:00 p.m. EDT Amo 13'
Espinal 29'
Solomon 56', 63'
Amo 72'
Brickman 90+2' (o.g.)
Report Veerakone Yellow card 17'
Canas-Jarquin 58'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: UNK
Referee: Gary Gutierrez, Max Smith, Scarlet Agrawal, Steven Foster
April 9 3 Flower City Union 0–3 Michigan Stars Rochester, NY
12:00 p.m. EDT Brickman Yellow card 60' Report Firmino 32'
Mujan Yellow card 37'
Constant 40'
Firmino Yellow card 54'
Brickman Yellow card 60'
Zhongo 79'
Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
Attendance: UNK
April 23 4 Flower City Union 0–1 Maryland Bobcats Rochester, NY
3:00 p.m. EDT Williamson Yellow card 14'
Kranick Yellow card 57'
Demydiv Yellow card 78'
Report Mason Yellow card 9'
Majano Yellow card 19'
Clegg 22'
Espinal Yellow card 29'
Alvarado Yellow card 73'
González Yellow card 90'
Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
Attendance: 477
April 30 5 Chattanooga FC 0–1 Flower City Union Chattanooga, TN
7:30 p.m. EDT Gray Yellow card 57'
Robertson Yellow card 66'
Stripling Yellow card 76'
Report Deas Yellow card 32'
Fernandes 85'
Stadium: Finley Stadium
Attendance: 3,260[12]
May 4 6 Flower City Union 1–2 California United Strikers Batavia, NY
7:30 p.m. EDT Canas-Jarquin 32'
Lee Yellow card 78'
Report Nuño 36'
Kadono 61'
Treinen Yellow card 62'
Stadium: Vandetta Stadium
Attendance: 243
Note: Match played at Vandetta Stadium, Batavia instead of the club's normal stadium, Marina Auto Stadium, Rochester, due to venue conflicts.[13]
May 8 7 Syracuse Pulse 3–1 Flower City Union Syracuse, NY
7:00 p.m. EDT Jackson 7'
Kafari Yellow card 32'
Satrustegui 61'
MacDonald 71'
Report Ainscough Yellow card 18'
Fernandes 30'
Kranick Yellow card 42'
Watson Yellow card 64'
Stadium: Lazer Stadium
May 14 8 Flower City Union 2–1 Maryland Bobcats Rochester, NY
3:00 p.m. EDT Sobers-Assue 32'
Brickman Yellow card 68'
Canas-Jarquin 78'
Ortega Yellow card 89'
Demydiv Yellow card 90+1'
Kranick Yellow card 90+3'
Report Boone 49'
Gonzalez Yellow card 82'
Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
Attendance: 717
May 21 9 Flower City Union 1–5 Chattanooga FC Rochester, NY
6:00 p.m. EDT Veerakone 39'
Sobers-Assue Yellow card 74'
Ortega Yellow card 85'
Report Naglestad 12', 34', 37', 86' (pen.)
Cerro 14'
Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
May 28 10 California United Strikers 1–0 Flower City Union Irvine, CA
10:00 p.m. EDT Thierjung 62'
Kadono Yellow card 75'
Report Veerakone Yellow card 9'
Deas Yellow card 23'
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
June 1 11 Bay Cities FC 3–1 Flower City Union Redwood City, CA
10:00 p.m. EDT Paoli 9'
Romero 38' (pen.)
Penner 54' Yellow card 69'
Report Fernandes 45+2' Yellow card 59'
Sierra Yellow card 78'
Stadium: Cañada College Soccer Field
June 4 12 Flower City Union 2–1 Valley United Rochester, NY
7:00 p.m. EDT Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
Note: Result null and void after Valley United was expelled by the league.
June 11 13 Michigan Stars 3–0 Flower City Union Romeo, MI
7:00 p.m. EDT Mkuruva Yellow card 14'
Juncaj 22', 47'
Marić 66'
Report Stadium: Romeo Stadium
June 15 14 Flower City Union 0–3 LA Force Rochester, NY
7:30 p.m. EDT De Point Yellow card 82' Report Rivas Jr. 7' Yellow card 21'
McLaughlin 17' Yellow card 90'
Goñi 59'
Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
June 18 15 Flower City Union 2–2 Albion San Diego Rochester, NY
7:00 p.m. EDT Lee 16'
Ainscough Yellow card 34'
Saling Yellow card 49'
Fernandes 90+1'
Report Diakhate 15'
Pelaez Yellow card 41'
Hanson 69'
Malango Yellow card 87'
Bazaes Yellow card 90+6'
Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
July 3 16 Michigan Stars 0–0 Flower City Union Romeo, MI
7:00 p.m. EDT McCloud Yellow card 30' Report Lee Yellow card 71'
Deas Yellow card 77'
Stadium: Romeo Stadium
July 8 17 Syracuse Pulse 4–0 Flower City Union Syracuse, NY
7:00 p.m. EDT Stadium: Lazer Stadium
July 16 18 Flower City Union 0–5 Chattanooga FC Rochester, NY
EDT Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
August 13 19 Maryland Bobcats 5–0 Flower City Union Boyds, ND
7:00 p.m. EDT Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
August 20 20 Flower City Union 0–2 Syracuse Pulse Rochester, NY
6:00 p.m. EDT Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
August 27 21 Albion San Diego 2–1 Flower City Union San Diego, CA
9:00 p.m. EDT Stadium: Canyon Crest Stadium
August 31 22 LA Force 2–2 Flower City Union Wilmington, CA
10:00 p.m. EDT Stadium: Casey Field
September 7 23 Flower City Union Bay Cities FC Rochester, NY
8:30 p.m. EDT Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
Note: Match canceled after Bay Cities FC withdrew from the league.
September 24 24 Chattanooga FC v Flower City Union Chattanooga, TN
7:30 p.m. EDT Stadium: Finley Stadium
October 10 25 Flower City Union v Michigan Stars Rochester, NY
3:00 p.m. EDT Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium

U.S. Open Cup

April 6 Second round Western Mass Pioneers (USL2) Massachusetts 0–1 (a.e.t.) New York (state) Flower City Union (NISA) Ludlow, MA
4:30 p.m. EDT Gutiérrez Yellow card 23'
Matera Yellow card 81'
Freitas Yellow card 114'
Report Veerakone Yellow card 81'
Fernandes 94'
Micheletti Red card 110'
Stadium: Lusitano Stadium
Attendance: 363
Referee: Jeremy Scheer
April 19 Third round Flower City Union (NISA) New York (state) 0–3 Washington, D.C. D.C. United (MLS) Rochester, NY
7:30 p.m. EDT Ortega Yellow card 85' Report Kamara 73', 86' (pen.)
Robertha 81'
Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
Attendance: 556
Referee: Luis Arroyo

NISA Independent Cup

June 25 First round Flower City Union (NISA) New York (state) 2–0 New Jersey NJ Alliance (NISAN) Rochester, NY
TBD EDT Report Stadium: Mariana Auto Stadium

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Numbers after plus-sign(+) denote appearances as a substitute.[14]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalNISANISA PlayoffsU.S. Open CupLegends CupIndependent Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK United States USA Russell Robles 303+0000000000
2 DF United States USA Ben Watson 502+20001+000000
3 MF United States USA Alex Ainscough 15010+30001+100000
4 DF Ukraine UKR Andriy Demydiv 906+10002+000000
5 DF United States USA Nikkye De Point 11010+00000+100000
6 DF Italy ITA Andrea Pregoni 301+10001+000000
7 MF South Korea KOR Jay Yun Lee 1014+51001+000000
8 FW Puerto Rico PUR Jordan Saling 1409+30001+100000
9 FW United States USA Arion Sobers-Assue 1016+4100000000
10 MF United States USA Giancarlo Canas-Jarquin 13310+13001+100000
11 FW Colombia COL Jose Sierra 604+2000000000
12 DF United States USA Colin Muller 13010+20001+000000
13 GK Colombia COL Steven Ortiz 303+0000000000
14 MF The Bahamas BAH Quinton Carey 600+50001+000000
15 DF United States USA Robert Williamson 303+0000000000
17 FW United States USA Hunter Kassel 000000000000
18 GK Nicaragua NCA Maykell Ortega 1008+00002+000000
19 MF United States USA Suniel Veerakone 16113+11002+000000
21 MF United States USA Ozlo Rigby 100+1000000000
22 DF United States USA Mitchell Brickman 1109+00002+000000
23 FW United States USA Lukas Fernandes 15412+13002+010000
24 DF Portugal POR Marcus Micheletti 905+30000+100000
30 MF England ENG Jordan Sullivan 000000000000
42 FW United States USA Dre Deas 15010+30001+100000
82 FW United States USA Ryan Curtis 501+20000+200000
88 FW United States USA Auston Kranick 14012+00002+000000
Total 16107400210000
  • Last updated: July 3, 2022
  • Source: NISA

References

  1. "Agliata Resigns, Bly as Interim". flowercityunion.com. May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  2. Lewis, Michael (November 11, 2020). "MORE NISA EXPANSION?: Sources: Rochester group submits application to join league". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  3. "#118 - From Kodak Layoff - To Creating 50 New Millionaires - David Weaver". www.audacy.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  4. "Rochester group bringing pro soccer back to the Flower City". Rochester First. November 25, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  5. "NISA Rochester is now Flower City Union". Protagonist Soccer. December 18, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  6. "They're In: NISA approves Rochester's application". frontrowsoccer.com. December 17, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  7. "New logo revealed for Rochester's next pro soccer team". WROC-TV. Nexstar Media. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  8. "Front Office". Flower City Union. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  9. "Technical Staff | Coaches". Flower City Union. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  10. "Roster | Flower City Union". flowercityunion.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  11. @FlowerCityUnion (March 29, 2022). "🏟 Attendance of our first ever match. Unbelievable. Y'all rock, even in the cold! 🥶 Hopefully warmer weather lies ahead! 😎" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  12. Henderson, Jed (April 30, 2022). "Match Recap: Chattanooga FC vs Flower City Union". chattanoogafc.com. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  13. Flower City Union [@FlowerCityUnion] (April 27, 2022). "🚨 MATCH UPDATE! Due to venue conflicts our next home match will be played at 📍Vandetta Stadium in Batavia, NY. Tickets will be General Admission for $10. Come out & watch us take on Cal United Strikers FC on May 4th at 7:30PM! 🎟 Tickets available on our website!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  14. "Player Stats". nisasoccer.com. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.