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)
2023 →

The Union finished at the bottom of the NISA table.

Background edit

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 edit

Team management edit

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

Sources:[8][9]

Roster edit

As of April 29, 2022[10]
No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (Age) Apps Goals Assists Signed from
Goalkeepers
13 Steven Ortiz   GK (1999-12-01)December 1, 1999 (aged 22) 0 0 0   Real Madriz
18 Maykell Ortega   GK (1998-04-01)April 1, 1998 (aged 24) 0 0 0   Miami United
Defenders
2 Ben Watson   RB (1997-08-22)August 22, 1997 (aged 25) 0 0 0   Syracuse Pulse
4 Andriy Demydiv   DF (1998-12-06)December 6, 1998 (aged 23) 0 0 0   Rochester Lancers
5 Nikkye De Point   DF (1998-09-10)September 10, 1998 (aged 24) 0 0 0   Oregon State University
6 Andrea Pregoni   CB, RB (1999-01-04)January 4, 1999 (aged 23) 0 0 0   Académica
12 Collin Muller   DF (1998-03-18)March 18, 1998 (aged 24) 0 0 0   West Chester United
15 Robert Williamson   DF (1997-08-28)August 28, 1997 (aged 25) 0 0 0   Harrisburg Heat

Non-competitive edit

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

Competitions edit

NISA edit

Standings edit

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 edit

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
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 edit

March 26 1 Flower City Union 0–1 Syracuse Pulse Rochester, NY
12:00 p.m. EDT Saling   55'
Brickman   71'
Report Jackson   48'
DaSilva   58'
MacDonald   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   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   60' Report Firmino   32'
Mujan   37'
Constant   40'
Firmino   54'
Brickman   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   14'
Kranick   57'
Demydiv   78'
Report Mason   9'
Majano   19'
Clegg   22'
Espinal   29'
Alvarado   73'
González   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   57'
Robertson   66'
Stripling   76'
Report Deas   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   78'
Report Nuño   36'
Kadono   61'
Treinen   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   32'
Satrustegui   61'
MacDonald   71'
Report Ainscough   18'
Fernandes   30'
Kranick   42'
Watson   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   68'
Canas-Jarquin   78'
Ortega   89'
Demydiv   90+1'
Kranick   90+3'
Report Boone   49'
Gonzalez   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   74'
Ortega   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   75'
Report Veerakone   9'
Deas   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'   69'
Report Fernandes   45+2'   59'
Sierra   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   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   82' Report Rivas Jr.   7'   21'
McLaughlin   17'   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   34'
Saling   49'
Fernandes   90+1'
Report Diakhate   15'
Pelaez   41'
Hanson   69'
Malango   87'
Bazaes   90+6'
Stadium: Marina Auto Stadium
July 3 16 Michigan Stars 0–0 Flower City Union Romeo, MI
7:00 p.m. EDT McCloud   30' Report Lee   71'
Deas   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 edit

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

NISA Independent Cup edit

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

Statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

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

No. Pos Nat Player Total NISA NISA Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Legends Cup Independent Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   USA Russell Robles 3 0 3+0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 DF   USA Ben Watson 5 0 2+2 0 0 0 1+0 0 0 0 0 0
3 MF   USA Alex Ainscough 15 0 10+3 0 0 0 1+1 0 0 0 0 0
4 DF   UKR Andriy Demydiv 9 0 6+1 0 0 0 2+0 0 0 0 0 0
5 DF   USA Nikkye De Point 11 0 10+0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
6 DF   ITA Andrea Pregoni 3 0 1+1 0 0 0 1+0 0 0 0 0 0
7 MF   KOR Jay Yun Lee 10 1 4+5 1 0 0 1+0 0 0 0 0 0
8 FW   PUR Jordan Saling 14 0 9+3 0 0 0 1+1 0 0 0 0 0
9 FW   USA Arion Sobers-Assue 10 1 6+4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 MF   USA Giancarlo Canas-Jarquin 13 3 10+1 3 0 0 1+1 0 0 0 0 0
11 FW   COL Jose Sierra 6 0 4+2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 DF   USA Colin Muller 13 0 10+2 0 0 0 1+0 0 0 0 0 0
13 GK   COL Steven Ortiz 3 0 3+0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 MF   BAH Quinton Carey 6 0 0+5 0 0 0 1+0 0 0 0 0 0
15 DF   USA Robert Williamson 3 0 3+0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 FW   USA Hunter Kassel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 GK   NCA Maykell Ortega 10 0 8+0 0 0 0 2+0 0 0 0 0 0
19 MF   USA Suniel Veerakone 16 1 13+1 1 0 0 2+0 0 0 0 0 0
21 MF   USA Ozlo Rigby 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 DF   USA Mitchell Brickman 11 0 9+0 0 0 0 2+0 0 0 0 0 0
23 FW   USA Lukas Fernandes 15 4 12+1 3 0 0 2+0 1 0 0 0 0
24 DF   POR Marcus Micheletti 9 0 5+3 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
30 MF   ENG Jordan Sullivan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
42 FW   USA Dre Deas 15 0 10+3 0 0 0 1+1 0 0 0 0 0
82 FW   USA Ryan Curtis 5 0 1+2 0 0 0 0+2 0 0 0 0 0
88 FW   USA Auston Kranick 14 0 12+0 0 0 0 2+0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 16 10 7 4 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0
  • Last updated: July 3, 2022
  • Source: NISA

References edit

  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.

External links edit