FC Buffalo (women)

FC Buffalo
Full nameFC Buffalo
Founded2021 (2021)
StadiumCoyer Field
Buffalo, New York
OwnersNick Mendola
Head CoachGreg Margolis
LeagueUSL W League
Websitewww.fcbuffalo.org

FC Buffalo is an American women's soccer club based in Buffalo, New York, United States. Founded in 2021, the team plays in USL W League (USLW), a pro-am league at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the East Conference. FC Buffalo is the sister team of USL League Two club FC Buffalo.

The team plays its home games at Coyer Field in Buffalo. The team's colors are blue, gold and white.

History

In 2021, club owner Nicholas Mendola announced the launch of a women's soccer team, which started play in May. On March 5, the club announced Nikki Bartholomew as the first manager of FC Buffalo. In their first UWS season, FC Buffalo finished in first place in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 7–2–1.[1] FC Buffalo hosted the East Conference playoffs, winning their first match against Lancaster Inferno FC 3–2. In the Eastern Conference Final FC Buffalo lost 2–0 against CT Fusion.[2]

On May 9, 2022, the team announced that they would play their home games for the 2022 season at Dobson Field on the campus of D'Youville University while All-High Stadium is renovated.[3] The club again only lost once in the regular season, then winning a pair of playoff games to reach the National Championship weekend. FC Buffalo would fall against Calgary Foothills WFC in the semi-finals, ending their playoff run.[4] After the renovations at All High were completed, Buffalo Public Schools initially declined to have the team play its matches there for the 2023 season, which forced an emergency field location at Williamsville South High School.[5][6] Then in April 2024, the club were welcomed back to All-High ahead of the upcoming season.[7] The women won the 2024 Iron Division and the right to host the National Championship weekend.[8]

Players and staff

Current squad

As of 21 February 2025[9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  USA Shea Vanderbosch
2 DF  USA Anna Bean
3 DF  USA Ellie Simmons
4 DF  USA Erin Weir
5 FW  USA Kylie Miranto
7 FW  USA Skylar Cornell
8 FW  USA Carissima Cutrona
9 DF  USA Claire DeAngelis
10 FW  USA Sarah Woods
12 MF  ENG Lizzy Harkness
13 MF  USA Lindsey Lenhard
16 FW  USA Paige Szymanski
17 MF  USA Morgan Kulniszewski
18 MF  USA Grace Kulniszewski
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 DF  USA Charlie Pawli
20 MF  USA Gianna Tuzzolino
22 DF  USA Tess Ford
23 FW  USA Elina Kunik
25 DF  USA Kam Vanderbosch
28 MF  USA Izzy Schmidt
77 MF  USA Linda Ullmark
20 DF  USA Delta Barber
- MF  USA Kaylin Ricci
- MF  CAN Payton Robertson
- GK  USA Sydney Mulka
- GK  USA Bella Simoncelli
- MF  USA Eileen Solomon
- DF  USA Rory Schaeffer

Management and staff

As of February 21, 2025
Executive Staff
Position Staff
Owner Nick Mendola
Director of Women's Soccer Liz Mantel
Technical Staff
Position Staff
Head coach Greg Margolis
Assistant coach Victoria Caruso
Assistant coach Emily Kelly

All-time record

Year League W-L-D GF GA GD Regular Season Playoffs
2021 United Women's Soccer 7-2-1 23 14 +9 1st, East Division Lost East Conference Finals
2022 United Women's Soccer 7-1-2 23 7 +16 1st, Penn-NY Division Lost National Semi-Finals
2023 United Women's Soccer 8-0-0 43 5 +38 1st, East Division Lost Second Round
2024 United Women's Soccer 6-1-1 23 7 +16 1st, Iron Division Lost National Semi-finals
2025 USL W League 5-2-2 21 8 +13 2nd, Great Forest Division TBD
Total 5 Seasons 33-6-6 133 41 +92

Playoff results

Season Game Visiting Home
2021 East Conference Semi-Finals Lancaster Inferno 2 FC Buffalo 3
East Conference Finals CT Fusion 2 FC Buffalo 0
2022 East Conference Semi-Finals FC Buffalo 2 New England Mutiny 1
East Conference Finals FC Buffalo 3 Coppermine United 2
National Semi-Finals Calgary Foothills 4 FC Buffalo 1
2023 First Round (E1)FC Buffalo 1 (E8) Albany Rush 0
Second Round (E1)FC Buffalo 2 (E4)Lancaster Inferno 4

Honors

  • UWS Eastern Conference Regular Season Champions: 2021
  • UWS Penn-NY Division Champions: 2022
  • UWS Eastern Conference (Playoff) Champions: 2022
  • UWS Penn-NY Division Champions: 2023
  • UWS Iron Division Champions: 2024

Media

External videos
FC Buffalo home game broadcasts

All FC Buffalo home games are streamed live on the club's SportsEngine Play channel.

The club's broadcast team consists of Jeffrey Boyd on play-by-play, and Mike Babcock on color commentary.

References

  1. ^ "FC Buffalo Women win regular season conference title, will host regional playoffs". Buffalo News. July 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "Shorthanded FC Buffalo Women fall in conference final to end sparkling inaugural season". Buffalo News. July 19, 2021.
  3. ^ "FC Buffalo + CBW + Dobson Field = Winning Combo". fcbuffalo.org. May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  4. ^ Lozanovski, Nick (July 24, 2022). "FC Buffalo falls in UWS national semifinal". FC Buffalo. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Buffalo, F. C. (May 15, 2023). "Letter: Why FC Buffalo has a new home". FC Buffalo. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "FC Buffalo welcomes new and returning faces into the 716 for 2023 season". WKBW 7 News Buffalo. May 25, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Buffalo, F. C. (May 2, 2024). "FC Buffalo returns to All-High Stadium". FC Buffalo. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Gorski, Adam (July 18, 2024). "FC Buffalo Women embracing 'special' opportunity to compete for national title at home". WIVB.com. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  9. ^ "FC Buffalo Women roster".