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The honors continue to roll into FC Buffalo camp from a strong 2015 NPSL season, as three Wolves received national honors on Tuesday morning.
Kendell McFayden (Williamsville, N.Y. // Rochester Rhinos) was named First Team All-NPSL as a defender, as FCB is one of only three teams to have place a player on the First XI in consecutive years after Russell Cicerone was tabbed for the honor in 2014.
McFayden, 26, also won Mitre NPSL Player of the Week honors in July. He becomes the fifth player in team history to receive such an honor. Until 2011, the All-NPSL team participated as a league All-Star team, with Daniel Stevens (2010), Dan Panaro (2010) and Corey Phillips (2011) making the team.
“Kendell’s award is a great example of a Buffalo native playing hard and using his gifts for our city,” said FCB co-owner Nick Mendola. “Kendell continues to impress and grow as a player, and we’re happy the league media noticed his strong performances from the back.”
First Team
Defender John Neeskens, New York Cosmos B
Defender Sean Rutter, Chattanooga FC
Defender Kevin Ten Eyck, FC Wichita
Defender Kendell McFayden, FC Buffalo
Midfielder Cyrus Saydee, Detroit City FC
Midfielder Ruben Bover, New York Cosmos B
Midfielder Matt Clare, FC Wichita
Forward William Mellors-Blair, Detroit City FC
Forward Ross Middlemiss, CD Aguiluchos USA
Forward Jon Ander Ibarrondo, Myrtle Beach Mutiny
Goalkeeper Gregory Hartley, Chattanooga FC
Second Team
Defender Taylor Varnadore, Sonoma County Sol
Defender Zach Schewee, Detroit City FC
Defender Prince Bere, San Francisco Stompers
Defender Pierre Elusma, Miami Fusion FC
Midfielder Admir Suljevic, AFC Cleveland
Midfielder Leo De Smedt, Chattanooga FC
Midfielder Chris Daly, Sonoma County Sol
Forward Mario Pinto, Joplin Demize
Forward Nago Mbengue, Indiana Fire
Forward Miguel Herlein, New York Cosmos B
Goalkeeper John Connolly, Sacramento Gold FC
Additionally, Matthew “Nanu” Ferguson and Andrew Coughlin were honored by the fans in the league’s “Supporters XI”, a first for the club. Ferguson was named to the first team as a defender, while FCB’s backstop was the second team goalkeeper.
Ferguson, 20, and Coughlin, 22, made the teams based on fan votes from around the league, a true honor that surely comes in large part from the backing of FC Buffalo fans.
Ferguson (Stoney Creek, Ontario // Niagara University) is one of just five Blitzers to appear in all 12 NPSL matches, paying 878 minutes and registered a pair of assists. He finished second to his brother Andrew in the club’s “Supporters’ Choice Award”.
It marks the second league award for Coughlin (Baldwinsville, N.Y. // Canisius College), who was honored by the coaches of the Midwest Conference as an All-Midwest second team selection. After a year away from the club in 2014, Coughlin came back to Buffalo to claim the top spot in our club’s all-time clean sheet and win columns.
Coughlin was also voted the team’s “Best Defensive Player” by his teammates.
“Here you have two men who grasped the concept of the team and gave their all to our playoff push,” Mendola said. “Congratulations to Andrew and Nanu, who have big futures in the game.”
First Team
Goalkeeper Gregory Hartley, Chattanooga FC
Defender Matt Ferguson, FC Buffalo
Defender Sean Rutter, Chattanooga FC
Defender Kevin Ten Eyck, FC Wichita
Defender Josh Rogers, Detroit City FC
Midfielder Cyrus Saydee, Detroit City FC
Midfielder Chris Daly, Sonoma County Sol
Midfielder Matt Clare, FC Wichita
Forward William Mellors-Blair, Detroit City FC
Forward Luke Winter, Chattanooga FC
Forward Omar Nuno, Sonoma County Sol
Second Team
Goalkeeper Andrew Coughlin, FC Buffalo
Defender Jimmy Fiscus, Lansing United
Defender Zach Schewee, Detroit City FC
Defender James Moore, Chattanooga FC
Defender Hayden Poell, Myrtle Beach Mutiny
Midfielder Phil Hagerty, Cincinnati Saints
Midfielder Leo De Smedt, Chattanooga FC
Midfielder Hany Helmy, CD Aguiluchos USA
Forward Matt Brown, Lansing United
Forward Shane Shelton, Deportivo Coras USA
Forward Jon Ander Ibarrondo, Myrtle Beach Mutiny
