Expansion of the East Conference of United Women’s Soccer Continues
FC Buffalo Women join the East Conference of the United Women’s Soccer for the 2021 season.
The sixth team added to the East for the upcoming season will be joining New York teams newcomers Albany Rush and Brooklyn City FC and UWS veterans Long Island Rough Riders, Rochester Lancers & Syracuse DA.
FC Buffalo joined the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) as an expansion franchise in 2009, playing its first competitive season in 2010. FCB take inspiration for their colors, royal blue and yellow gold from the classic Buffalo Sabres uniforms.
“We are thrilled with the addition of FC Buffalo into United Women’s Soccer,” said UWS Commissioner Joe Ferrara Jr. “The incorporation of community and soccer is an embodiment of the philosophy of both organizations. Alongside Albany, Rochester and Syracuse, the expansion into Buffalo means that there will be a UWS team in the top 4 major markets of upstate New York. This will certainly create natural rivalries and excitement within each community.”
“We’re so excited to complete the FC Buffalo family with FC Buffalo Women joining UWS,” said FC Buffalo Director of Women’s Soccer Liz Mantel. “To be able to bring a higher level of women’s soccer back to Western New York only makes sense with the wealth of talent we have in the area. The passion our players and staff bring will only help our club to continue our initiative to foster an always-growing environment for community and soccer.”
“Wanting to begin a project like this and putting it into action requires something special, and the women who’ve taken hold of this idea and made it a reality have energized our club,” said FC Buffalo Co-Owner Nick Mendola. “We’ve kept a fairly-tight lid on this idea, but the enthusiasm in our community from anyone we’ve told about FC Buffalo Women has been nothing short of fantastic. I consider it an honor to help build this into something truly special and to create more of the memories I hold dearly from our first 11 years on the men’s side.”
Statement from FC Buffalo Women’s Advisory Board whose members include Courtney Mann Rinow, Gabrielle Wilson, Kathleen DiPasquale and Carissima Cutrona:
“We’ve grown up playing locally and were able to continue our playing careers into college, but for the most part that is where our progression in the women’s game came to an end. Whether it was in-between seasons or after graduation, there weren’t any options to play competitively or even see a high-level game unless we wanted to leave town. That is until now. We’re beyond excited to see this idea come to life and we look forward to creating a new space for both players and devoted fans of the game to pursue their passions. It’s been a long time coming, but this summer Buffalo is getting a new team to rally behind; Mama’s got a brand new bag.”
Before its first season, FC Buffalo had a contest for fans to submit a nickname and after thousands of votes were cast, “Blitzers” was chosen. The vote was aided by Buffalo native & CNN broadcaster Wolf Blitzer. The FC Buffalo’s supporters group is known as “The Situation Room” vis-à-vis his news program.
For more information on FC Buffalo and their new women’s side, visit their official website at FCBuffalo.org. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
