Every year FC Buffalo watches players go back to college and deliver highlights and big performances, but it’s not every year the club sees a player defending a national championship.
That’s what Linda Ullmark is doing at the University of North Carolina for her sophomore year after helping the Tar Heels to the College Cup as a freshman.
Here’s a look into some of the incredible fall seasons for our talented crew, plus a list of all of our active players in the NCAA and NAIA ranks.
University at Buffalo women flying
The UB Bulls have become a powerhouse locally, and it’s rare that a year goes by without one of their players starring for our women’s team. Carissima Cutrona, Tess Ford, and Marcy Barberic are among the many UB players to deliver the good in blue and gold.
This season, the Bulls remain alive for a MAC regular season title with a week to go in the season. 2025 FCB player Ellie Simmons leads all UB field players in minutes, while longtime FCB player Sarah Woods has a goal and four assists and goalkeeper Bella Simoncelli has made a few appearances as part of the program’s decorated goalkeeping room.
Niagara University men surging
FCB co-captain Landon Hungerford and his Niagara Purple Eagles are pushing for a return to the MAAC tournament, and ‘Lando’ is leading the team in minutes through 13 games — the defender’s chipped in a goal and two assists in addition to his defensive exploits.
FCB veteran Thomas Brooks is also on the score sheet through 12 appearances, while local heroes Luca Buscaglia and Robert Woods have also delivered their best college seasons yet. as a bonus, FCB alum Matt Lopoyda is one of the assistant coaches on staff.
Linda Ullmark
After making a cameo with FCB before her freshman year, scoring a hat trick (?!?), Linda returned to the blue and gold last season when she wasn’t suiting up for the United States women’s U-20 national team and getting named to the Best Xi for the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship.
Linda has five goals and a team-best seven assists in 16 games — all starts — for UNC this season, and the Tar Heels are a strong 10-6 with a few weeks to go in the regular season.
We know we’re the outlier here, but we love it better in a blue and gold shirt.
Full list of FCB players, coaches active in the college season
Niagara women: Delta Barber, Izzy Schmidt, Morgan Kulniszewski, Baillie Colling, Grace Janish
Canisius women: Skylar Cornell, Lizzy Harkness, Lina Panella
UB women: Sarah Woods, Ellie Simmons, Bella Simoncelli
North Carolina women: Linda Ullmark
Arkansas women: Paige Szymanski
Charleston Southern women: Claire DeAngelis, Elina Kunik
Daemen women: Kylie Miranto
Quinnipiac women: Anna Bean
Pitt women: Sophie Rourke
Buffalo State women: Victoria Caruso (coach)
UNC Wilmington women: Lindsay Lenhard
Albany women: Charlie Pawli
Syracuse women: Shea Vanderbosch, Emma Klein
Murray State women: Emily Kelly (coach)
Siena women: Kam Vanderbosch
Iowa women: Eileen Solomon
Wellesley women: Greg Margolis (coach)
Kentucky women: Gianna Tuzzolino, Ava Plezia
Trine women: Julia Benham
Texas Tech women: Chloe Japic
Williams Baptist women: Danny Carney (coach)
VCU men: Pedro Salmon
Niagara men: Landon Hungerford, Robert Woods, Luca Buscaglia, Thomas Brooks
Binghamton men: Jack Root, Zach Bonuito
Gardner Webb men: Matheus Spina
Canisius men: AJ Zarcone, (coach) Carl Kennedy
Chowan men: Brad Binns, Jamie Moore
Duquesne men: Ashton Jell, Bendix Bennetzen
Williams Baptist men: Carlos Vial Aedo
D’Youville men: Jonas Driesch, Max Trushell
Buffalo State men: Diego Rivera, Aney Djadou, Salvador Gomes
Cortland men: Ian Burgos
Evansville men: Kobe Grant
Rollins men: Michel Hoelscher
Nazareth men: Liam Brandt
RPI men: Gavin Jell
