Kingston Stockade FC Manages Impressive Road Draw Against Greater Lowell United FC in First-Ever Match

The full squad before taking the pitch on Sunday.

By Randy Kim, Kingston Stockade FC General Manager

WESTFORD, Mass. -- In the first match in club history, Kingston Stockade FC quickly set an extremely high bar for effort and mettle for the coming weeks, months and seasons ahead.

Despite going a man down in the 35th minute -- Joe Bogart suffered a questionable red card on a 50-50 ball in the middle of the pitch -- Stockade wound up taking the lead over Greater Lowell United FC in the 49th minute, only to give up an extra-time equalizer off of a free kick. The match ultimately finished 1-1, giving Stockade an impressive road draw in its first ever official game in the NPSL.

After Bogart was sent off, Stockade found a new focus and immediately picked up both the intensity and execution. Passes were crisper, tackles became purposeful, and players began driving at the Lowell defense, turning the home side on its heels.

This culminated in a lovely goal by Michael Creswick off of a one-on-one with the Lowell goalkeeper. Eric Fortier found Creswick with an insightful through ball, and the English forward muscled a defender off the ball before finishing with a precise chip that slowly trickled over the line before any of the Lowell defenders could reach it.

Play continued in the same vein for much of the rest of the match, as Stockade continued to push forward and apply a high line of defense despite being a man down. The midfield of Matt Koziol, Aldo Tropeano, Patrick Alvarez, Nick VonEgypt and Fortier were impressive on both sides of the ball, with Koziol doing a great job distributing the ball with perfectly weighted passes from a deep-lying role, while Alvarez and VonEgypt were relentless both going forward and tracking back.

On the day, the Stockade defense was as skilled as it was stingy, with Jeff Paine and Matel Anasta making threatening runs down the sidelines deep into the match. Jamal Lis-Simmons (captain) and Corey Phillips anchored the center of defense on the day, while goalkeeper Stephen Skonieczny showed steady hands and perfect judgment for the entirety of the match.

The Lowell equalizer came on what was effectively the final play of the match, the goal scored off of a free-kick cross. Skonieczny and Simmons were adamant with the referee that Skonieczny had been obstructed by a player that was well offsides, and there's every chance that that was the case.

But ultimately, Stockade might have earned a single point that could wind up being so much more than the customary three points that come with a standard victory. As this, to be sure, was no standard draw. It's the type of result that a team can build on in the weeks, months and years to come.

Kingston Stockade FC Starting XI: Skonieczny; Anasta, Phillips, Lis-Simmons, Paine; Koziol, Bogart; Alvarez (Cortez), VonEgypt (Steigerwald), Tropeano (Fortier); Creswick

Kingston Stockade FC Announce Jersey Sponsors for Inaugural 2016 NPSL Season

Local companies Trailways, Dragon Search and Radio Woodstock all to feature prominently on team uniform

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- Kingston Stockade FC announced three sponsors -- TrailwaysNY, DragonSearch and Radio Woodstock -- that will feature prominently on the home and away uniforms for the club's inaugural National Premier Soccer League ("NPSL") 2016 season.

Uniform sponsors have long been a part of soccer culture in the U.S. and abroad, creating a direct connection between local businesses, the fans and the action on the pitch. With that in mind, Kingston Stockade FC will proudly wear local sponsor logos on the front of the jersey, the back of the jersey and the sleeve.  The club selected Inaria as the uniform and apparel provider for its inaugural season.

The club is also planning to unveil the design of the first kits in club history at a fan event held at the Senate Garage in Kingston, NY on Wednesday May 4 at 6pm -- just a few days ahead of the club's first match of its inaugural season (Saturday May 8th, away vs. Greater Lowell United FC).

The logo on the front of the uniform will belong to TrailwaysNY, New York's largest provider of public transportation and the exclusive transportation provider for Stockade FC.  TrailwaysNY was quick to cite Stockade's ties to local fans as the reason for sponsoring the team.

"TrailwaysNY is incredibly proud to be the official transportation sponsor of the Kingston Stockade FC and excited for the high-level of soccer they will bring to the Hudson Valley," said Anne Noonan, Trailways Vice President of Marketing. "Their presence will draw thousands of fresh new faces to visit our vibrant area and small businesses while giving kids a team to aspire to."

DragonSearch, a leading digital marketing agency with offices in New York City and Kingston, will have its logo on the back of the home and away uniforms.

"Stockade FC embodies so much of what DragonSearch believes in," said Abe Uchitelle, DragonSearch President. "Kingston is a beautiful city with amazing culture and the talent to compete on a national stage. Sponsoring Stockade FC was a natural fit for DragonSearch, and we're so excited to be involved."

Radio Woodstock, one of the few remaining independently owned and operated radio stations in the country, will see its logo on the sleeve of both kits.

“Radio Woodstock is excited to support Kingston Stockade FC," said Richard Fusco, Radio Woodstock 100.1 General Manager. "It is not only a great sports entertainment addition to our area that helps the local economy but is inspiring to our local youth as well.”

Kingston Stockade FC chairman Dennis Crowley felt it was important to have local companies featured on the home and away uniforms.

"As Stockade represents all of the Hudson Valley, we really wanted to have kit sponsors that were directly tied to the region," said Crowley. "With that in mind, we believe that Trailways, DragonSearch and Radio Woodstock are the perfect sponsors for the first kit in club history."

More about the sponsors:

  • TrailwaysNY is New York State's largest provider of public transportation employing nearly 500 people around the state and here in the Hudson Valley, home to this family-owned company for more than 90 years. Both travelers and charter customers alike have trusted Trailways for nearly a century to deliver them safely, reliably, and comfortably to their destinations When Getting There Matters. TrailwaysNY is proud to hold Department of Defense certification for its entire 120+ bus fleet; the highest possible safety certification attainable in the United States.  http://trailwaysny.com/
     
  • Founded in 2007, DragonSearch is a leading digital marketing agency with offices in New York City and Kingston, New York. DragonSearch provides SEO, Digital Advertising, Content Marketing, and Social Media services to clients throughout the United States.  https://www.dragonsearch.com/
     
  • Radio Woodstock 100.1 / WDST  is proud to be one of the few remaining independently owned and operated radio stations in the country. Radio Woodstock’s format includes a mix of great classic rock and great new music along with a strong local sense of community. Radio Woodstock offers unique programming to its listeners and cost-effective broadcast and digital marketing options to businesses throughout the Hudson Valley.  http://radiowoodstock.com/

Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, NY. The club’s first ever match is on Sunday May 8 vs. Greater Lowell United FC in Worcester MA.  The club’s first home match will Saturday May 21 vs. the Rhode Island Reds at Dietz Stadium in Kingston, N.Y.  Stockade FC will be representing the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid.

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For more information on Kingston Stockade FC, visit http://stockadefc.com. You can also follow the club on both Twitter and Instagram at @StockadeFC and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stockadefc

Kingston Stockade FC Fall to Albany FC, 2-1, in First Friendly in Club's History

By Randy Kim

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- Kingston Stockade FC took the pitch against Albany FC for the club's first-ever friendly on Wednesday night, but fell to the visitors, 2-1.

Despite the cold weather at Dietz Stadium, an impressive number of spirited Stockade supporters showed up for the match, and were treated to a first-half goal by Michael Creswick, the first goal scored in Stockade history (watch here). The goal was scored on a fine header off a curling free kick from the left side in the 38th minute.

Utilizing a solid 4-4-2 formation, Stockade went into the half with a well-deserved 1-0 lead. Kingston head coach George Vizvary substituted his entire 11 in the second half, and Albany FC promptly went on to score two goals in the 56th and 60th minutes, courtesy of Kyle Clancy and Tom Allen.

Stockade then forced the action for the last 15 minutes of the match, and nearly leveled on a header that just skimmed over the crossbar in the 93rd minute. But ultimately the visitors prevailed.

After the match, Vizvary talked about what he saw on the night.

"We played good enough to win the ball game in the first half," said Vizvary. "But I'm not the type of person who would praise mediocrity. They still need training, they need coaching, and they have to have the system to be embedded in their minds. Obviously some of the negatives came out."

"But the goal showed promise," continued Vizvary. "The service was good."

Here was the first half starting XI:

Skonieczny; Gatti, Phillips, Lis-Simmons, Paine; Alvarez, Koziol, Macklin, vonEgypt; Creswick, Barone

And here was the XI used in the second half:

Giddings; Bogart, Steigerwald, Nedwetzky, Iapoce; Tropeano, Rodriguez, Anasta, Vrydaghs; Daum, Fortier

Stockade next faces Albany FC in another friendly in Albany on Wednesday, April 13.

The club's first league match is on May 8 at Greater Lowell United.

The club's first home match is on Saturday, May 21 at 2 p.m. at Dietz Stadium against Rhode Island Reds.

Kingston Stockade FC Announces Preliminary 33-Player Roster for Inaugural 2016 NPSL Season

 

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- Kingston Stockade FC reached a historic milestone this week as the club has released the first player roster in team history.  Stockade FC has named 33 players to its preliminary & pre-season National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) roster.

The roster is comprised almost entirely of players who hail from the Hudson Valley, with nearly all of them having played collegiately in the area as well. This was part of the design when the club was conceived, according to club owner Dennis Crowley.

"When we first got the green light to put an NPSL team in Kingston, our hope was that we'd be able to rely almost entirely on local players," said Crowley. "Thanks to the hard work of head coach George Vizvary and his staff, we've been able to put together a squad that truly has its roots in local soccer, which we think should be a point of pride for all of the club's supporters."

When asked about selecting the first roster in club history, head coach George Vizvary said that the quality of the local talent will give Stockade plenty of options on the pitch.

"The Hudson Valley in general represents a good quality of soccer, and the 33 players that we've selected will give us a team that will be able to execute the style of play we'd like to exhibit," said Vizvary. "We will have the capability to play on the counter-attack, and a possession-based style as well. Overall, because of our speed and execution, we should be able to deny space and time against any opponent."

Vizvary also said that because the team is made up of local players, the connections to the local fan base will be strong.

"I have very high expectations, but so do the players," said Vizvary. "As they represent the Hudson Valley, they know that they are also representing the expectations of friends and supporters."

Ultimately, according to Vizvary, the team is just excited to start the season.

"The team is very anxious to start the season," said Vizvary. "Anxious to go out on the field and produce results."

A number of players on Stockade FC’s inaugural roster have played at the semi-pro and professional levels.  Members of the club have been key contributors to sides such as the Brooklyn Italians, Queen City FC, Buffalo FC, Philadelphia Fury and Pontevedra FC as well as prestigious youth academies such as New York Cosmos, Newcastle United, Sunderland AFC, Boca Juniors and the Olympic Development Program.

In addition, a majority of Stockade FC's players played collegiately at local schools. SUNY Ulster tops the list with four players on the Stockade FC roster, while Marist College, SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Oneonta all have three players on the team.

As for the players' hometowns, five Stockade FC players come from Highland, while Newburgh and Poughkeepsie have contributed three players each.

The average age of the roster is 24 years and 11 months.

Below is the entire 33-player pre-season roster (photos can be found here),  although the expectation is that the team will cut the roster to 26 players for the first official match.

Patrick Alvarez
Age:  24
Hometown:  East Fishkill, NY
College: SUNY Dutchess
Academy & Post-College: Pontevedra FC

Matel Anasta
Age:  22
Hometown:  Catskill, NY
College:  Marist College
Academy & Post-College:  New York Cosmos Youth Development Program

Anthony Barone
Age: 26
Hometown: Highland, NY
College:  Manhattan College

Joseph Bogart
Age:  28
Hometown:  Hyde Park, NY
College: Plattsburgh State

Daniel Cortez
Age:  19
Hometown:  Newburgh, NY
Academy & Post-College: Olympic Development Program (ODP)

Michael Creswick
Age:  27
Hometown:  Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
College:  York St. John Univ. (England)
Academy & Post-College:  Newcastle United Academy, Sunderland AFC Academy, Copmanthorpe AFC

Matthew Daum
Age:  32
Hometown:  New Paltz, NY
College: SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Cortland
Academy & Post-College:  Queen City FC

Joseph Dolan
Age:  18
Hometown:  Highland, NY
College: Mount St. Mary's College

Eric Fortier
Age:  24
Hometown:  Pleasant Valley, NY
College: SUNY Oneonta
** 2011 SUNYAC Player of the Year

Juan Gatti
Age:  25
Hometown:  Buenos Aires, Argentina
College: Mercy College

David Giddings
Age:  22
Hometown:  Newburgh, NY
College: Saint Peter’s University
Academy & Post-College:  Vermont Voltage

Darren Gomez
Age:  22
Hometown:  Hopewell Junction, NY
College: SUNY Oneonta

John Iapoce
Age:  26
Hometown:  Boiceville, NY
College: Wells College

Mateusz (Matt) Koziol
Age:  22
Hometown:  Poughkeepsie, NY
College: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
** 2014 Liberty League Player of the Year

Jamal Lis-Simmons
Age:  34
Hometown:  Highland, NY
College: SUNY Albany, SUNY New Paltz

Ross Macklin
Age:  25
Hometown:  Henniker, NH
College: Vassar College

Hayden Morris
Age:  26
Hometown:  Armonk, NY
College: Seton Hall University

Michael Nastu
Age:  20
Hometown:  Manhattan, NY
College: Stony Brook University, Dominican College
Academy & Post-College:  Metropolitan Oval Academy

Charles Naula
Age:  22
Hometown:  Wappingers Falls, NY
College: Wells College
** D3 National Team Member

Chris Nedwetzky
Age:  29
Hometown:  Wallkill, NY
College: SUNY Ulster

Jeff Paine
Age:  30
Hometown:  Highland, NY
College: SUNY New Paltz

Corey Phillips
Age:  27
Hometown:  Poughkeepsie, NY
College: Medaille College
Academy & Post-College: Houston Leones, Kitsap Pumas, FC Buffalo
** 2010 AMCC Defensive Player of the Year

Manuel Rodriguez
Age:  24
Hometown:  Newburgh, NY
College: SUNY Dutchess

Norberto Sanchez
Age:  20
Hometown:  Kingston, NY
College: SUNY Ulster
Academy & Post-College:  Boca Juniors US Academy

Stephen Skonieczny
Age:  26
Hometown:  LaGrangeville, NY
College: Siena College, Marist College

Tom Steigerwald
Age:  22
Hometown:  Salt Point, NY
College: SUNY Dutchess

Aldo Tropeano
Age:  24
Hometown:  Beacon, NY
Academy & Post-College:  Brooklyn Italians

Pedro Velazquez
Age:  28
Hometown:  Wallkill, NY
College: SUNY Ulster, Mercy College

Nick vonEgypt
Age:  23
Hometown:  Hopewell Junction, NY
College: Misericordia University
Academy & Post-College:  Philadelphia Fury
** 2013 First Team All-Freedom
** D3 National Team Member

Tyler Vona
Age:  21
Hometown:  Highland, NY
College: Mass. College of Liberal Arts

Jarrad Vrydaghs
Age:  35
Hometown:  Campbell Hall, NY
College: SUNY Ulster

Dylan Williams
Age:  22
Hometown:  Monroe, NY
College: SUNY Oneonta
** 2015 SUNYAC Player of the Year

Scott Zobre
Age:  26
Hometown:  Poughkeepsie, NY
College: Binghamton University

 

Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, NY. Kingston Stockade will play its first season at Dietz Stadium in Kingston, N.Y. starting in the spring of 2016. The club will be representing the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid.

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For more information on Kingston Stockade FC, visit http://stockadefc.com. You can also follow the club on both Twitter and Instagram at @StockadeFC and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stockadefc

 

Kingston Stockade FC Releases Schedule for Inaugural 2016 NPSL Season

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- First-year National Premier Soccer League ("NPSL") franchise Kingston Stockade FC released its full schedule for the club's inaugural 2016 season, as well as the dates for three pre-season friendlies.

Kingston Stockade FC will play its first-ever match on Sunday, May 8 (8:05 p.m. ET) at Greater Lowell United FC in Lowell, Mass. This road opener will be followed by a trip to Brooklyn later that week to face Brooklyn Italians on Friday, May 13 (8 p.m. ET).

Then on Saturday, May 21 at 2 p.m. ET, Stockade FC will play its historic first home match in club history against Rhode Island Reds at Dietz Stadium in Kingston, N.Y. This is followed by another home match the following day (Sunday, May 22, 4 p.m. ET) against Greater Lowell United FC.  

Club founder Dennis Crowley weighed in on the excitement behind the schedule release.

"It's certainly exciting for the coaches, players and fans to all have the schedule locked in for the summer," said Crowley. "Hitting the road for our first two matches will allow the club to find its footing before our opening-weekend double-header on May 21 and May 22"

"It'll be a historic day for the club, the fans and the Hudson Valley region," said Crowley."

Stockade FC is currently selling Season Tickets which are good for all 8 home games in it's online store for $40.  Individual tickets will also be available for sale starting in late April.

The team also announced dates for three pre-season friendlies on April 6, 13, and 16. The matches on April 6 and April 16 will be played at home in Kingston (at Dietz Stadium), giving the local fans a chance to get a sneak peek at what the club will bring to the pitch this season.

Full schedule below (also available at:  http://www.stockadefc.com/schedule/)

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
Wed  Apr 6         8pm         vs. Albany FC
Wed  Apr 13        7pm         @ Albany FC                                    (Schenectady, NY)
Sat    Apr 16        7pm          vs. Kew Forest FC

SEASON SCHEDULE
Sun   May 8         8:05pm    @ Greater Lowell United FC          (Lowell, MA)
Fri     May 13        8pm         @ Brooklyn Italians                         (Brooklyn, NY)
Sat    May 21        2pm         vs. Rhode Island Reds
Sun   May 22       4pm         vs. Greater Lowell United FC
Sun    May 29      2pm         vs. New York Athletic Club
Fri     June 3        7pm         @ Rhode Island Reds                       (Providence, RI)
Sun    June 5       3pm         vs. Boston City FC
Sat     June 11       1pm         @ Seacoast United Mariners          (Gorham, ME)
Sun    June 12      4pm         @ Seacoast United Phantoms        (Amesbury, NH)
Sat     June 18      2pm         vs New York Cosmos B
Wed   June 22     8pm         @ Boston City FC                            (Malden, MA)
Sat    June 25      2pm         vs. Seacoast United Phantoms
Sun    June 26     4pm         vs. Brooklyn Italians
Sun    July 3        4pm         vs. Seacoast United Mariners
Sat     July 9        4pm         @ New York Athletic Club             (Pelham, NY)
Sun    July 10       11am        @ New York Cosmos B                  (Hempstead, NY)

Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, NY. Kingston Stockade will play its first season at Dietz Stadium in Kingston, N.Y. starting in the spring of 2016. The club will be representing the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid.

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For more information on Kingston Stockade FC, visit http://stockadefc.com. You can also follow the club on both Twitter and Instagram at @StockadeFC and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stockadefc

Kingston Stockade FC Open Tryout to Feature Over 60 Players From 20 Nationalities; First Open-to-the-Public Event Expected to Draw Fans from Throughout Hudson Valley

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- First-year National Premier Soccer League ("NPSL") team Kingston Stockade FC had to close off registration for its open tryout within a matter of days after more than 60 players -- representing more than 20 nationalities -- reached out to the club for a chance at a roster slot.   

The open tryouts, to be held at Dietz Stadium in Kingston on Saturday March 19 (12pm to 2pm) and Sunday March 20 (10am to 12p), will serve as more than just a chance for local players to strut their stuff, as local soccer fans are invited to come and watch the club's first official outdoor, open-to-the-public soccer event.

Club chairman Dennis Crowley saw this as a sign that the region is brimming with both talent and excitement as the club prepares for its inaugural season.

"I'm absolutely blown away by the response to our call for an open tryout," said Crowley. "Sixty players representing 20 nationalities is an amazing response from the local soccer community. We were hoping to find one, two or maybe three diamonds in the rough via the tryout. Given the response, I think we'll achieve that goal."

The tryouts, initially open to all via an open registration online, come on the heels of two invite-only tryouts held by the club. Head coach George Vizvary has whittled those tryouts down to a strong core of 15-20 players, meaning there are still a handful of roster slots open. The tryout was originally scheduled to be held as a one day event, but given the overwhelming response, it has been extended to cover two days.

The club is expecting many excited supporters and curious spectators at the tryouts and will have t-shirts, hats, and scarves for sale in support of the club. The team also plans to have its 2016 Season Tickets on sale for the very first time.  All proceeds from merchandise go towards funding the club’s operations for the 2016 season.

Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, NY. Kingston Stockade will play its first season at Dietz Stadium in Kingston, N.Y. starting in the spring of 2016. The club will be representing the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid.

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For more information on Kingston Stockade FC, visit http://stockadefc.com. You can also follow the club on both Twitter and Instagram at @StockadeFC and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stockadefc

 

 

Quick recap of Kingston Stockade FC's first tryout

Coach Vizvary talks to the trialists on Saturday night.

GM Randy Kim gives his take on Stockade FC's first tryout.

So we held our first tryout on Saturday night., "we" being Kingston Stockade FC.

But it was more than a tryout. It was the first actual boots-on-the-pitch soccer event in the history of the club. The first tangible footballing moment for the coaching staff, the front office, the scouts, etc. 

Naturally, there were some concerns heading into it. From the mundane (How many balls will we need? You think the players will want blue or red Gatorade?) to the more impactful (What if nobody shows up?)

Then couple that with the fact that most of us have never run anything resembling a soccer team before, and, well, it'd be safe to say there were some nerves in play as we were driving over to The Net in Poughkeepsie.

But if we were nervous heading into the tryout, then we were left positively buzzing coming out of it.

The tryout itself was invite-only, with the players being called in by head coach George Vizvary with the help of scouts Dan and Nick Hoffay. Coach Viz then wisely opted for a pretty straightforward format, breaking the players into three teams where they'd each play two 40-minute 8v8 matches. (The only wrinkle being Coach Viz opting to use two goals on each end rather than one.)

Our chief concern, attendance, was addressed pretty quickly, as dozens of players filed into the arena well in advance of the 8:30 go time. In fact, once we rolled the balls out onto the pitch there might've been only a handful of no-shows. Coach Viz has quite a bit of local pull, apparently.

The play on the pitch admittedly started out a bit frenetic, if not nervy. Balls were sprayed about, players were struggling to find roles, and everyone seemed to be struggling to get their feet beneath them. But about 15 or 20 minutes in, after the players broke a sweat and started trusting their natural instincts, we started to get glimpses of the talent level that Coach Viz and his assistants (Rory Becker and Chuck Wilder) had assembled.

And that's when this whole Stockade thing really started to feel real. And cool.

At this point we should be honest about the challenges that we have ahead of us. We know thatStockade will be playing against some pretty tough competition in season one. Some good, seasoned teams that have pedigrees that are known in global footballing circles (looking at you, New York Cosmos). So no, this isn't me saying that we found the next Jozy Altidore on Saturday night in Poughkeepsie and we think we have a shot at running the table from the off. Wins could be a tall order this summer. We're all aware of that.

But what we did see out there in no small amounts were the following: skill, commitment, fitness and camraderie.

I'll address each of those in order. Skill: there's some decent ball being played in these parts. Headed bounce passes, chested back passes, sleek outside-of-the-foot crosses were all in abundance on Saturday night. And it made for some fun viewing from the sidelines.

Commitment: More than a few times I was personally a bit worried that somebody was going to get hurt. From guys flying into the curtains lining the pitch to some fearless tackles, the players out there meant business from the first whistle. And that level of drive and focus is always key to any success you have in this game.

Fitness: Pretty self-explanatory, but even though pretty much everyone in the group was at least a year or two out of college, you would've been hard pressed to find anyone heavy-legged or dragging by the end of the night. That's a big positive considering the season is still a few months away.

Camraderie: I spent a few minutes chatting with one of the local trialists, Nick Von Egypt, and when I asked him how many players there he knew, he quickly replied that it probably would've been easier for him to list the guys there that he didn't know. In short, when the ball was in play, both teams went after each other fiercely, but when the whistle blew at the end, there were jokes and handshakes aplenty. And seeing chemistry like that in a tryout, when guys are going after the same roster spots, has to be seen as a positive. Normally, team unity is something that develops over the course of the season, but with this group of local lads it already seems like they'd have each others' backs as soon as they set foot between the white lines.

At the end of the night, when players were starting to leave the pitch one of the trialists, Jamal Lis-Simmons, brought everyone in for a final group chant. "This is the beginning of something special," he told the players. "Let's keep this working. Whoever's out here, just keep busting your ass and working hard. Let's put Kingston on the map, alright? Stockade on three. 1-2-3 ... Stockade!"

It was a moment that gave us all chills. We were Tweeting with the Hoffays about it afterwards during the drive home.

Let's put Kingston on the map, indeed.

Kingston Stockade FC Appoint George Vizvary First Coach in Club History; Stockade Also Name Rory Becker Assistant Coach, Chuck Wilder as Goalkeeper Coach

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- Kingston Stockade FC, a semi-professional soccer team based in the Hudson Valley that will play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) for the 2016 season, is delighted to announce the appointment of local coaching legend George Vizvary as the club’s new head coach. With the appointment, Vizvary becomes the first coach in club history.

Vizvary is probably best known for his successful run as head men's soccer coach at Ulster County Community College from 1968 to 2010. Vizvary amassed an extremely impressive 534-28-159 (Wins-Draws-Losses) record at SUNY Ulster, which is the most wins by a coach in Junior College history. Vizvary won two National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championships and led his team to 17 appearances in the national tournament.

Vizvary is also well known in the soccer community for being named the 20th recipient of the prestigious Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award, an award presented annually to the most accomplished soccer coaches in the U.S. Past winners of the award include former USMNT coach Bob Gansler, current Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, and current Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid.

Kingston Stockade FC chairman and founder Dennis Crowley praised Vizvary’s success on the pitch and connection to the local community.

“George is beloved by both the local soccer community and the Hudson Valley community at large, which made him the perfect first coach in club history,” said Crowley. “It’s hard to envision someone who has such deep local roots who has also accomplished as much on the pitch.”

Joining Vizvary on the Stockade bench will be newly hired Assistant Coach Rory Becker. Becker, who has his USSF A Coaching License, previously spent six years as an assistant coach at SUNY New Paltz and five years as an Olympic Development Program coach. After playing soccer at Ithaca College, Becker went on to play German Hungarian Metros in Queens. Becker, a two-time New York state soccer champion at Highland High School, is currently the assistant state boys soccer coordinator and Section 9 boys soccer coordinator.

“Rory’s the type of coach that players will respect based on what he’s previously accomplished as a player, but he also takes the coaching profession very seriously, as proven by the coaching licenses he’s amassed over the years,” said Crowley.

The third coaching hire announced by the club is Goalkeeper Coach Chuck Wilder. Wilder is highly regarded in the Hudson Valley for both his playing and coaching career. Wilder coached at the professional level for the Rockland Glaciers of the PDL, as well as the storied New York Fever of the A-League. Wilder also played professionally for the Tucson Amigos, Albany Alleycats and the New York Fever. 

Wilder is the first goalkeeper coach in the history of Kingston Stockade FC, and his ties to the local community made him a natural for the club, according to General Manager Randy Kim.

“Wilder’s experience both on the pitch and off immediately made him a top candidate, but his connections to storied local sides like the Fever make him a tremendous fit for the club’s inaugural season,” said Kim.

“Between George, Rory and Chuck, we think Kingston Stockade FC is well positioned to make the greater Hudson Valley region proud this season, both on and off the pitch,” said Kingston Stockade FC’s Lead Scouts, Dan Hoffay and Nick Hoffay, who have been instrumental in scouting local talent.

Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, NY. Kingston Stockade will play its first season at Dietz Stadium in Kingston, N.Y. starting in the spring of 2016. The club will be representing the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid.

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For more information on Kingston Stockade FC, visit http://stockadefc.com. You can also follow the club on both Twitter and Instagram at @StockadeFC and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stockadefc

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