Rochester Lancers Preps For 2017 NPSL & UWS Season
The Rochester Lancers will be returning in 2017 with an extended brand that features a men’s and women’s team. The announcement comes ahead of the summer season for UWS as well as the club’s inaugural season in the NPSL with kickoff scheduled in the coming weeks.
Soccer News: River Dogz FC has announced a rebranding initiative that will return the Rochester Lancers for the 2017 National Premier Soccer league (NPSL) and United Women’s Soccer (UWS) season.
The team will be led by Owner/General Manager Marc Mandell, Owner/Business Director Nick Mojsovski, Owner/Head Coach Doug Miller, and Owner/Head of Marketing Salvatore “SoccerSam” Fantauzzo.
“We are looking to be competitive on the field and provide an unforgettable game day experience for our fans,” Mandell added. “We will make Rochester a place fans and away teams look forward to visiting.”
The Lady Lancers will compete in the East Conference of UWS during the summer 2017 season.
“We are so excited to have the Rochester Lancers join United Women’s Soccer,” said UWS League Director Joe Ferrara, Jr. “SoccerSam and the entire Lancers organization have shown a passionate commitment to the sport of soccer and the city of Rochester. Historically, soccer in Rochester is on par with any city in the United States.
Monroe Community College assistant women’s coach Loren Inglese will serve as the Lady Lancers’ General Manager and head coach. MCC head women’s soccer coach Sal Galvano will also join the club as associate head coach. Inglese is a Rochester native and Spencerport graduate who helped lead the MCC Tribunes to a Region III Championship, District E Championship and a 3rd place finish at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in 2016.
“I’m very excited to be part of bringing elite level women’s soccer back to Rochester,” said Inglese. “We have great talent here in Rochester and I look forward to seeing local players competing against some of the best players from across the country.”
The original Lancers joined the American Soccer League (ASL) in 1967 and helped form the original North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1970, winning the championship that same year.
Fantauzzo purchased the Lancers name and logo in the early 90’s as part of his soccer collection. In 2011, he introduced the indoor MISL Lancers and the team led the league with attendance and sponsorship over its four seasons.
“The Lancers brand and logo hits home with generations of fans that fell in love with our game,” Mandell concluded. “The original Lancers fans brought their children and grandchildren to the indoor Lancers games and the story continues this May with the NPSL Lancers. As the original Lancers in 1967, kids under 10 are always free to fall in love with our sport!”
The Lancers will play home matches at the Wegmans Sports Complex, which is located the Aquinas Institute in Rochester.
More information about the club can be found here.