2022 Flower City Union season

Flower City Union
2022 season
Owner	Jimmy Paola
Head coach	Zach Agliata; (until May 2); Colton Bly; (interim)
Stadium	Marina Auto Stadium
NISA	10th
NISA Playoffs	Did not qualify
U.S. Open Cup	Third round
Legends Cup	To be determined
Independent Cup	Northeast Champions
Top goalscorer	League: Canas-Jarquin (2); All: Fernandes (3)
Average home league attendance	880
Biggest win	1–0; (vs. WMP (A), April 6, USOC)
Biggest defeat	1–6; (vs. MBFC (A), April 2, NISA)
Home colors	Away colors
	2023 →

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.

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	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

As of April 29, 2022^[10]

No.	Name	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

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 v t e	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	Qualification for the semi-finals
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


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

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

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

June 25 First round	Flower City Union (NISA)	2–0	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	Total		NISA		NISA Playoffs		U.S. Open Cup		Legends Cup		Independent Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	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	16	0	10+3	0	0	0	1+1	0	0	0	1	0
4	DF	UKR	Andriy Demydiv	10	0	6+1	0	0	0	2+0	0	0	0	1	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	11	1	4+5	1	0	0	1+0	0	0	0	1	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	11	1	6+4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
10	MF	USA	Giancarlo Canas-Jarquin	14	3	10+1	3	0	0	1+1	0	0	0	1	0
11	FW	COL	Jose Sierra	6	0	4+2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	DF	USA	Colin Muller	14	0	10+2	0	0	0	1+0	0	0	0	1	0
13	GK	COL	Steven Ortiz	4	0	3+0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
14	MF	BAH	Quinton Carey	7	0	0+5	0	0	0	1+0	0	0	0	1	0
15	DF	USA	Robert Williamson	3	0	3+0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	FW	USA	Hunter Kassel	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	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	17	3	13+1	1	0	0	2+0	0	0	0	1	2
21	MF	USA	Ozlo Rigby	2	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
22	DF	USA	Mitchell Brickman	12	0	9+0	0	0	0	2+0	0	0	0	1	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	10	0	5+3	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0	1	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
71	MF	USA	Noah Cavanaugh	8	0	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
82	FW	USA	Ryan Curtis	6	0	1+2	0	0	0	0+2	0	0	0	1	0
88	FW	USA	Auston Kranick	15	0	12+0	0	0	0	2+0	0	0	0	1	0
Total				16	10	7	4	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0

Last updated: July 3, 2022
Source: NISA

References

^ "Agliata Resigns, Bly as Interim". flowercityunion.com. May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
^ Lewis, Michael (November 11, 2020). "MORE NISA EXPANSION?: Sources: Rochester group submits application to join league". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
^ "#118 - From Kodak Layoff - To Creating 50 New Millionaires - David Weaver". www.audacy.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
^ "Rochester group bringing pro soccer back to the Flower City". Rochester First. November 25, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
^ "NISA Rochester is now Flower City Union". Protagonist Soccer. December 18, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
^ "They're In: NISA approves Rochester's application". frontrowsoccer.com. December 17, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
^ "New logo revealed for Rochester's next pro soccer team". WROC-TV. Nexstar Media. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
^ "Front Office". Flower City Union. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
^ "Technical Staff | Coaches". Flower City Union. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
^ "Roster | Flower City Union". flowercityunion.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
^ @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.
^ Henderson, Jed (April 30, 2022). "Match Recap: Chattanooga FC vs Flower City Union". chattanoogafc.com. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
^ 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.
^ "Player Stats". nisasoccer.com. Retrieved April 30, 2022.

External links

Flower City Union

[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.

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