(Cody Niccloy photo above by: Mark Gutman/TheDailyNewsOnline.com)
As FC Buffalo’s post-collegiate First Team players gather to learn Coach Brendan Murphy’s system ahead of May 1’s “all-in” date for collegiate players, the Coach Hector Vasquez’s FC Buffalo Reserves will have to learn on the fly.
The Reserves open their BDSL slate with a Tehel Cup match against The Beast on Thursday before their BDSL Championship Division opener on Sunday against Buffalo Celtic.
Several players are unavailable early due to NCAA reasons, giving valuable opportunities to some eager participants in the Reserve system.
“We have a wide variety of talent and experience on this team, but the BDSL schedule is a very difficult one for a college-based team to manage early in the season,” said FC Buffalo general manager Nick Mendola. “Some diamonds in the rough will get opportunities to shine while the rest of the roster takes shape. It’s exciting to see some Buffalo kids get an extra look.”
The roster features players from Division I down to junior college. Midfielder Josh Binfield is a Williamsville East product who spent a year at the hallowed IMG Academy before playing his freshman season at Manhattan College.
Eric Colon-Gonzalez played his high school ball at Grand Island before inking on with Division I St. Francis in Loretta, Pennsylvania. He’ll be a sophomore in 2013 after playing a handful of games as a first-year player.
Theo Stamatopolous and Cody Niccloy come from very different parts of the world but the same school; Genesee Community College ranked No. 5 amongst jucos in Division III.
Stamatopolous is an offensive force from Cromer, England, who scored six times in 9 games for GCC. Niccloy is a versatile player from LeRoy, N.Y. who played center back for the Cougars.
Alex Drainville was voted Upper 90 Juco Player of the Year for Western New York after a strong year at Erie Community College. The Orchard Park native and midfielder has transfered to SUNY Geneseo.
Hungarian forward Mate Tarr scored prolifically for D’Youville, notching 7 goals in a down season for the Spartans. Two current D’Youville players will be able to play for the reserves: defenders Sean Lauer and Matt Veronica are on the team.
Niagara County Community College will lend outside midfielder Franklin Pullano to the fray, while between the sticks will be University of Rochester goalkeeper Robert Weigand and SUNY Fredonia backstop AJ Grecco.
Ex-Buffalo State player Marikos Habtemichael is in the fold, along with Julian DeWindt (NCCC), Omar Sundi (ECC), Aaron Anaya (Medaille JV) and Anthony Bonnadonna (Medaille JV).
Email: wolf@fcbuffalo.org
