THE SEASON AHEAD: NEW LEAGUE, NEW LOOK, SAME GRIND

Evan Sardo

5/18/2024

After last season’s playoff loss ended Roc City Boom’s impressive run of consecutive championships, they will look to get back into the habit of winning championships away from the familiar UPSL WNY division that has been their home for the past four years.  This coming season, the Boom will be joining familiar foes Sahara Gunners FC, FC Dutchmen Independence, United Elite Krajisnik FC, and Binghamton FC along with new adversary Gaffer City FC in the brand new NISA Nation WNY division.

The league format will see Roc City play each team home and away, having ten matches to earn their way into the playoffs.  The trips to Buffalo to face the Gunners on 5/26, Utica to take on UEK on 6/22, Binghamton on 7/14, and Albany on 7/27 for the contest against the Dutchmen are paths the team has previously trod, with the last trek of the season to Corning on 8/3 for their first contest with Gaffer City a new experience for the team.

Home league dates will all be on Sundays in June and July at 3:00 or 4:00 pm:  6/2 vs the Dutchmen, 6/9 vs Binghamton, 6/30 vs Sahara Gunners, 7/7 vs Gaffer City, and 7/21 vs UEK.  Two friendly matches will also be on the home slate and open to season ticket holders, the first before the season begins on 5/19 and another on 6/16.  As always, home matches will be called by legendary “Voice of the Boom” Jason Nauerth with color commentary from Evan “Rigatoni” Sardo and will be streamed live on the Roc City Boom YouTube channel, filmed and produced by MVB Productions with special thanks also to longtime streaming sponsor Scotty’s Automotive. Individual and season tickets for the team’s seven home matches (and a Boom scarf!) can be purchased here.  See below for the full schedule and kick off times.

The move to NISA Nation places the team in a system with a pro division, something that coach Marc Mandell finds especially appealing.  The club’s ethos has always been to build a pathway to professional soccer for local players, a sentiment that is echoed by NISA Nation, which states that it is a “league for independent clubs with aspirations of becoming a pro NISA club.”  Boom leadership is hopeful that with support from the new league and their ever growing grassroots connection to the community, they can continue to push forward with their objective to develop local talent in the Rochester area as well as attract additional investment to grow the club to new heights as well.

In addition to the new league, Roc City Boom will now be playing in a new home.  Having previously played their home matches at Erna Frank Field at East Ridge Senior High School in Irondequoit, the team will now be hosting opponents at Don Quinn Stadium at East Rochester High School.  The new stadium will create an intimate atmosphere for home matches with a supporters section to bring the noise, a Fun Zone for kids and families, and concessions for all to enjoy on gameday.

Keeping with the spirit of new things, the team not only has a new logo (which, if you’ve made it here, you have surely seen) but will be donning fresh jerseys for the inaugural NISA Nation campaign.

The Boom roster will be a mix of new and familiar faces.  Returning from last season’s roster on defensive end will be goalkeeper Connor Halsted along with stalwart defenders Daniel Reger, Wilson Wong, and Alex Harling.  Further forward, team captain, midfielder, and left-sided everything, Konrad Zydowicz returns along with versatile midfielder/defender Ryan Leask, midfield engines Joe Balls and Taner Bay, as well as veteran utility player Josiah Fragnito. The frontline sees bruising forward Chuck Domm, the speedy Matt Stefaniw and the team’s leading scorer from last year, Tamás Nagy all returning to the fold.  The team is also excited to have tenacious defender Mitch Brickman rejoin the squad after two years in the NISA professional division with Flower City Union where he helped them win last year’s championship.  

As always, keep an eye on Boom socials for more team news, player announcements, and to catch the new jersey when it drops!