FC Buffalo’s men and women are playing deep into the college postseason, with several of our USL W League players clinching berths in the NCAA Division-I Tournament and several more USL League Two players within a win (or two) of advancing to national competitions.
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Men’s players nearing NCAA tournaments
DI: Our old buddy Matheus Spina moved from Niagara to Gardner Webb, and his men can reach the NCAA D-I tourney with a win over High Point in the Big South final on Saturday.
We have two men two games from the tourney: Kobe Grant’s Evansville meet UIC in the MVC semifinal on Wednesday, while Aitor Jorde (2024) matches wits with Siena in the MAAC semifinal on Thursday.
DII: We’ve got three players from two schools within a win of the final.
Bradley Binns and Jamie Moore lead Chowan against Young Harris on Thursday in the Conference Carolinas Championship, while Michel Hoelscher’s Rollins face Palm Beach Atlantic in the Southern States Championship on Thursday.
D-III: Goalkeeper Ian Burgos’ SUNY Cortland side has already sealed a spot in the Big Dance and will host SUNY Delhi on Saturday in NCAA D-III first round.
FCB women’s players & alums in the Big Dance
No fewer than eight FC Buffalo players or alumni including five who played in our 2026 USL W League season are a part of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament.
- Eileen Solomon and Iowa are a #3 seed and will face South Dakota State in the first round on Friday.
- Paige Szymanski’s Arkansas are a #5 seed after winning the SEC regular season title and will tangle with Dartmouth at 7pm Friday.
- Both Gianna Tuzzolino and Ava Plezia are part of Kentucky’s derby date with Louisville at 2pm Saturday.
- Reigning NCAA champion Linda Ullmark and North Carolina, who meet Tennessee at 6pm on Friday.
- Also in the tournament are FCB alum Gabby Gambino, who is finishing her senior season with Clemson, and Ohio State leader and FCB 2024 roster member Mirann Gacioch.
- Longtime FCB men’s player and former head coach Casey Derkacz is an assistant with #1 seeded Vanderbilt.
