Utica City FC

Last updated

Utica City FC
Utica FC logo.png
The team's logo, as of the 2018-19 season
Full nameUtica City FC
NicknameUtica City
Short nameUCFC
Founded2010 (as the Syracuse Silver Knights)
Stadium Adirondack Bank Center
Capacity3,860
Owner Tommy Tanner & Robert Esche
Head CoachHewerton Moreira
League Major Arena Soccer League
2022–23 4th, Eastern Division
Playoffs: Quarterfinals
Website https://www.uticacityfc.com

Utica City FC is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Utica, New York, that competes in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL).

Contents

History

The team formed in 2011 as the Syracuse Silver Knights with the intention of playing in the new I-League (a United Soccer Leagues league set to begin play in 2011), but the team moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League when the two leagues merged. The team was rumored to be named the Syracuse Scorpions and revive the name of an old American Soccer League team. However, the name Silver Knights was announced at the team's inaugural press conference. [1]

The club is coached by former Silver Knights player, Ryan Hall, who replaced goalkeeper Bryan O'Quinn, who replaced club President, Team Owner and Syracuse native Tommy Tanner for the 2016–17 season. [2]

The club has signed former Syracuse Salty Dogs player Ryan Hall, among others. The team announced the signing of former Major League Soccer star Diego Serna on October 11, 2011. [3]

The Syracuse Silver Knights' first season of play began in 2011–12 when they joined the MISL as an expansion franchise. For their inaugural season, the Silver Knights played their home games at the Oncenter War Memorial Arena in downtown Syracuse.

The team finished third in the Eastern Division in 2012, having been eliminated from playoff contention when the Rochester Lancers beat the Wichita Wings on February 23, 2012. [4]

In 2013, the Silver Knight Foundation was launched to help benefit kids in tough economic and social situations. The foundation hosts events throughout the year which helps raise money for these children. Many Silver Knights players, including reserve and U19 players, volunteer their time to help partake in the events.

After the 2013–2014 season, the team announced that it was leaving the MISL along with five other teams joining the PASL, which was subsequently renamed the MASL. [5]

On June 13, 2018, the team announced that it had partnered with the Utica Comets of the AHL and would be moving to Utica as Utica City FC for the 2018-19 season. [6] The team did not play during the 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [7]

Players

Active roster

Updated February 11, 2025. [8] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayerNo.Pos.NationPlayer
1GKFlag of the United States.svg USA Andrew Taylor16DFFlag of Brazil.svg BRA Thayssan Santos
1GKFlag of The Gambia.svg GAM Babucarr Ceesay18FWFlag of the United States.svg USA Cole Stephens
2MFFlag of the Dominican Republic.svg DOM Emmanuel Belliard19MFFlag of the United States.svg USA Kyle Gehrnich
3FWFlag of the United States.svg USA Gordy Gurson20MFFlag of the United States.svg USA Willie Spurr
4FWFlag of the United States.svg USA Keaton Woods22GKFlag of the United States.svg USA Brian Wilkin
6MFFlag of the United States.svg USA Ricardo Orozco23DFFlag of the United States.svg USA Logan Roberts
7MFFlag of Cape Verde.svg CPV / Flag of the United States.svg USA Geo Alves28FWFlag of Brazil.svg BRA Kelvin Oliveira
8DFFlag of the United States.svg USA Jose Tavares30DFFlag of Ecuador.svg ECU Juan Alava
9FWFlag of Brazil.svg BRA Kelvin Oliveira33FWFlag of the United States.svg USA Sergio Pinal
10MFFlag of Cape Verde.svg CPV / Flag of the United States.svg USA Nilton de Andrade36FWFlag of Cape Verde.svg CPV Meny Silva
14GKFlag of the United States.svg USA Jaycee Berger49FWFlag of the Taliban.svg AFG Mehrshad Ahmadi
95DFFlag of France.svg FRA Wil Nyamsi
99DFFlag of Cuba.svg CUB Barbaro Shelier

References

  1. ↑ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". misl.uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  2. ↑ John Berry (August 5, 2011). "Tommy Tanner will be head coach of Syracuse Silver Knights soccer team | syracuse.com". Blog.syracuse.com. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Former MLS Superstar Signs with Silver Knights - OurSports Central - Independent and Minor League Sports News". www.oursportscentral.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  4. ↑ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". misl.uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  5. ↑ Glenn Graham (April 14, 2014). "Baltimore Blast joining with other teams to form new indoor soccer league". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  6. ↑ "The Masl is Coming to Utica". Major Arena Soccer League. June 13, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Utica City FC opts out of 2020-21 season". WKTV NewsChannel 2. February 5, 2021. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Utica City FC Roster" . Retrieved February 11, 2025.

Inactive roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
8 MF Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Cristhian Segura
21 DF Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  TRI Darren Toby
No.Pos.NationPlayer
94 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Rafa Godoi

Year-by-year

YearLeagueReg. seasonPlayoffsAttendance average
2011–12 MISL III 3rd Eastern Division, 9–15Did not qualify2,950/6,159
2012–13 MISL III 6th MISL, 8–18Did not qualify3,401/6,159
2013–14 MISL III 4th MISL, 12–8Lost semi-finals2,689/6,159
2014–15 MASL 2nd Eastern Division, 12–8Lost in Division Semi-Finals3,082/6,159
2015–16 MASL 2nd Eastern Division, 11–9Lost in Division Finals2,082/6,159
2016–17 MASL 4th Eastern Division, 8–12did not qualify2,300/6,159
2017–18 MASL 2nd Eastern Division, 13–9Lost Division Finals2,398/6,159
2018–19 MASL 1st Eastern Division, 17–7Lost Division Finals3,414/3,860
2019–20 MASL 3rd Eastern Conference, 14–6No playoffs3,596/3,860
2021 MASL DNPDNPN/A
2021–22 MASL 3rd East Conference, 10–14Did not qualify2,971/3,860
2022–23 MASL 4th East Conference, 13–11Lost Division Semifinals3,082/3,860
2023-24 MASL 2nd Eastern Conference, 16-8Lost Division Semifinals3,244
Total117–112
Win % = .511%		7–14
Win % = .333%		2,906

Club staff

[1]

Kits

PeriodSupplierHome shirt sponsorAway shirt sponsorThird shirt sponsor
2018–19OT SportsBank of UticaEmpire Recycling Corporation Merrill Lynch

Rivalries

Utica City FC/Baltimore Blast rivalry
LocationUnited States
TeamsUtica City FC
Baltimore Blast
First meetingUtica City FC 5–2 Baltimore Blast
MASL
December 2, 2018
Statistics
Most winsTied (6 games each)
Top scorer Slavisa Ubiparipovic (42 points)

Utica City FC's main rival is the Baltimore Blast. It existed in their days as the Syracuse Silver Knights and has extended to Utica City FC when the team relocated. Both teams have won five games in the series since their first meeting on December 2, 2018, a 4–2 win for Utica City. The Rochester Lancers are also considered a rival of Utica City FC. Rochester is two hours away from Utica and are Utica's closest opponent by proximity. The first matchup of this rivalry took place on November 29, 2019, with Utica City defeating Rochester by a 9–1 score.

References

  1. ↑ "Staff". Utica City FC. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ Davidson, Spencer (May 4, 2022). "Utica City FC names MASL veteran Moreira team's new head coach". WKTV NewsChannel 2.
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