Kingston Stockade FC Tops Rhode Island Reds, 3-0, To Open 2018 NPSL Season

KINGSTON, N.Y. — Kingston Stockade FC rebounded nicely from a rough mid-week domestic cup result to open the 2018 league campaign in style.

After suffering a harsh 6-3 result away at Long Island Rough Riders on May 9 in the U.S. Open Cup, Stockade FC bounced back to top Rhode Island Reds, 3-0, at Dietz Stadium on Saturday in the Hudson Valley club's first match of the 2018 NPSL season.

Stockade opened the scoring in the 4th minute of the match, as midfielder Matt Koziol shrewdly poked a Juan Gatti corner kick home at the back post to give Kingston a lead they would never relinquish.

Shortly thereafter, Koziol doubled Stockade's lead in the 11th minute by converting a penalty kick, which was won by Mike Corbi on the left side of the box.

Corbi then did some well-crafted damage of his own in the 18th minute. After Owen Fingar and Michael Creswick combined for some nice interplay to free up the Stockade attacker, Corbi deftly flicked a header over the Reds' defenders before placing a lovely toe poke just inside the far post to give Stockade a 3-0 lead, which would ultimately prove to be the final result on the day.

From there, Stockade rode some solid defensive work and composed play up top to find their way to an impressive and relatively comfortable opening win of the 2018 campaign.

The official attendance on the day was tabulated at 372 fans. It's worth noting that this figure is people actually making their way through the turnstiles, not the number of tickets sold.

By Randy Kim

Kingston Stockade FC Releases New Kits, Announces New Sponsors for 2018 Season

Kingston Stockade FC's 2018 home and away kits.

By Randy Kim, Kingston Stockade FC GM

KINGSTON, N.Y. — When it comes to the sport of soccer, nothing stokes hope, optimism, and genuine excitement amongst a club's fanbase quite like the release of a new kit.

Well, Stockade supporters, it's time to get fired up for season number three.

Working closely with soccer apparel manufacturer Inaria, Kingston Stockade FC is proud to unveil brand new home and away kits for the 2018 campaign.

For starters, the Hudson Valley side will have an exciting, new look when they take the field for home matches at Dietz Stadium. Stockade will now be wearing bold orange kits rather than the white shirts they've worn for the past two seasons. The up-tempo orange doesn't just speak to the energy and buzz around the club; it is also pays homage to the city of Kingston's rich Dutch heritage.

Moreover, the jersey features a sartorial Easter egg of sorts, as it has a subliminated topographical map of the Kingston region, which was added to honor the region from which most of Stockade's fans hail.

A map of the area around Dietz Stadium has been added to the 2018 Stockade jerseys.

For road matches, Stockade will wear an elegant black strip with orange trim. The away kit also features the topographical shading as well. Overall, both kits were designed to successfully blend a classic footballing ethos with shades of the modern game, and club founder Dennis Crowley thinks the shirts successfully check both boxes.

"We're extremely pleased with the look and feel of our new kits," said Crowley. "We wanted to do something that really connected the club to the region — hence, the topographical map — but we also wanted to offer fans something that they'd like to wear away from the stadium as well, and maybe out to the pub or the farmer's market. I think we succeeded on both fronts with these great new Inaria uniforms."

As for the kit sponsors in season three, similar to the national growth of Stockade itself, no one has been left behind, but a newcomer has joined the party as well.

Local, trusted bus company Trailways of NY remains the key front-of-shirt sponsor on both home and away kits. Trailways of NY has been on the front of the shirt for every season the club has been in existence, and Stockade is extremely proud and extremely pleased to have them back on board for the 2018 campaign.

Another sponsorship mainstay, local broadcaster Radio Woodstock is on the shoulder of both jerseys once again as well. A presence at all home games, Radio Woodstock has been instrumental in spreading the word about Stockade in the Hudson Valley region.

As for the back of the shirt, a brand new addition should lift the perception of the club on a larger scale. Lyft, the fastest-growing rideshare company in the US, joins the Stockade sponsorship team for the 2018 season. Lyft shares many of the core values that Stockade does, making the company a natural fit for the shirts that Stockade will wear in the U.S. Open Cup next week. Lyft’s sterling reputation on a global scale also matches Stockade's ambitions of being a team that resonates through the Hudson Valley and beyond.

The home kits will be unveiled during on Saturday, May 5 at 6PM, at the home friendly against Newtown Pride FC. Both home and away kits will go on sale at Stockade's first regular season home match, on Saturday, May 12 at 6PM against Rhode Island Reds. (Click here for the 2018 Kingston Stockade FC schedule.)  Both kits will be for sale online mid-summer 2018.

Stockade is also proud to announce its sideline sponsors for the 2018 season.

SIDELINE BANNER SPONSORSHIPS:
(alphabetical)

Best Western Plus, Kingston, NY:  Best Western Plus is the closest hotel to Dietz Stadium in Kingston, and they'll be offering a 20 percent discount to Stockade fans.  Please call the hotel at (845) 338-0400 to ask for the discount, or book online via this link. For more information, visit bwpkingston.com.

Bread Alone:  A returning sponsor that provides the post-game sandwiches that fuel players on both the home and visiting teams. Bread Alone is a family-owned, values-driven bakery that's been baking using organic grains since 1983.  Go to breadalone.com for more information.

Cabinet Designers - The Kitchen and Bathroom Design Firm:  Cabinet Designers in Kingston returns as a second-year sponsor.  The firm aims to improve their clients' lives by improving their living spaces.  See cabinetdesigners.com for more information.

Ryan Roach & Ryan, LLP: Also a second-year sponsor, Ryan, Roche & Ryan is a full service law firm with over 50 years of experience that was founded in Kingston in 1952. Go to ryanroachryan.com for more information.

Todd's Salsa: Another second-year sponsor of Stockade.  Founded by celebrity meteorologist Todd Simcox out of Bangor, Maine, Simcox started the company using ingredients right out of his own garden.  Todd's Salsa is passionate about supporting local communities and is excited to be returning as a Stockade sponsor for 2018.  Go to toddssalsa.com for more information.

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Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, N.Y. Stockade FC represents the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid.  The club was started in 2015, played its first season in 2016, won their Conference Championship in 2017, and qualified for the 2018 US Open Cup..   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 2018 Player Roster

Photo credit:  Ride the Tide Photography

KINGSTON, N.Y. — With the 2018 NPSL season close at hand, Kingston Stockade FC is proud to announce its roster for the upcoming campaign. After a series of tryouts over the winter, second-year coach David Lindholm has settled on the 39 players he will use for both the NPSL season, and the club's first-ever U.S. Open Cup appearance, which begins on May 9 at the Long Island Rough Riders.

The full roster can be seen below, but here are a few facts and figures about Stockade's 2018 roster:

• 22 players are returning from the 2017 squad  (56%)

• 17 players are new to Stockade FC   (44%)

• 19 players are active college players (ranging from D1 to D3 collegiate programs)  (49%)

• 7 of those 19 college players are graduating seniors, and eligible immediately

• 12 of those 19 college players have remaining eligibility and will join the squad in May

• 24 players are from the Hudson Valley or Greater Capital Region (Albany)  (62%)

• 4 players are from Brazil

• 3 players are from Vermont

• 3 players are from Pennsylvania

• 1 player each is from: Argentina, Bolivia, Connecticut, England, and Long Island

• 9 players are University of Albany products (active or alums)

• 6 players are Marist products (active or alums)

• 3 players are Siena products (active or alums)

• 34 players are field players

• 5 players are goalkeepers
   

KINGSTON STOCKADE FC 2018 ROSTER

Name (last, first)	#	POS	Hometown	College (* = current)	Age**
Anasta, Matel	24	D	Catskill, NY	Marist (alum)	24
Barrett, Phil	20	D	Clifton Park, NY	Siena (senior)*	22
Bogart, Joe	14	D	Hyde Park, NY	Plattsburgh (alum)	30
Conde, Reid	33	M	Manchester, VT	Albany*	20
Corbi, Mike	7	F	Hopewell Junction, NY	STAC (alum)	24
Creswick, Michael	9	F	Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK	York St. John U (alum)	29
da Fonte, Steve	15	D	Ossining, NY		21
Davis, Kevin	31	D	Beacon, NY	Wheaton (alum)	22
Espindola, Pedro	10	F	Sao Paulo, Brazil	Albany (alum)	25
Fingar, Owen	35	F	Scotia, NY	Albany*	20
Fortier, Eric	11	F	Pleasant Valley, NY	Oneonta (alum)	26
Gatti, Juan	25	D	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Mercy (alum)	27
Guerra, Hugo	34	M	Brewster, NY	Albany*	18
Guirma, Victor	19	M	New Paltz, NY	Howard*	21
Henry, Christian	13	D/M	Milford, PA	UMass (grad)	22
Jaime, Justin	16	M/F	Albrightsville, PA	Marist*	18
Jeter, Bruce	23	F	Monroe, NY	Marist*	20
Khanat, Moosah	5	D	Dix Hills, NY	Albany (senior)*	21
Kloster, Marco	2	M	Curitiba, Brazil	Siena (senior)*	23
Kmiec, AJ	30	D	Pine Bush, NY		21
Kozak, Svyatoslav	12	GK	Norwalk, CT	Monroe College*	21
Koziol, Matt	8	M	Poughkeepsie, NY	RPI (alum)	24
Lanzetta, Mikey	18	M	Hartsdale, NY	Cortland*	20
Lis-Simmons, Jamal	17	D	Highland, NY	Albany/NP (alum)	36
Macklin, Ross	4	M	Henniker, VT	Vassar (alum)	27
Maley, Josh	26	M	Poughkeepsie, NY	LIU-Brooklyn (alum)	27
Mattos, Bernardo	27	D	Sao Paulo, Brazil	Albany (alum)	23
Nkansah-Siriboe, David	3	F	Poughkeepsie, NY	Marist*	20
Ormsby, Sean	32	D	Warwick, NY	Oswego* (senior)	20
Parada, Juan	6	M	Santa Cruz, Bolivia	Marist*	21
Queen, Andreas	99	GK	Stone Ridge, NY	Buffalo State*	20
Rossi, Gino	29	D/M	Schenectady, NY	Albany* (transfer from VTech)	21
Sass, Jed	36	M	White River Junction, VT	Middlebury* (senior)	22
Shenberger, Nick	26	M	Hummelstown, PA	Bard* (senior)	21
Skonieczny, Steve	1	GK	Lagrangeville, NY	Marist/Siena (alum)	28
Steigerwald, Tom	21	D	Salt Point, NY		24
Valillo, Lucas	0	GK	Sao Paulo, Brazil	Albany* (senior)	23
Zehner, TJ	0	GK	Beacon, NY	Sage (alum)	23
Zobre, Scott	22	D/M	Poughkeepsie, NY	Binghamton (alum)	28

*  Denotes player is an active college player
**  Roster age is as of April 23, 2018.)

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Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, N.Y. Stockade FC represents the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid.  The club was started in 2015, played its first season in 2016, won their Conference Championship in 2017, and qualified for the 2018 US Open Cup..   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 to Face Long Island Rough Riders in 2018 U.S. Open Cup First Round

KINGSTON, N.Y. — If Kingston Stockade FC's inaugural cup campaign is going to have any depth to it, the initial challenge will be to get the better of a squad from Long Island.

Kingston Stockade FC found out on Wednesday that they will face the Long Island Rough Riders of the PDL in the first round of the 2018 U.S. Open Cup. The match will take place on Wednesday May 9, in Massapequa, N.Y.

While the Rough Riders could be a tough test for the first-timers from the Hudson Valley, Stockade founder Dennis Crowley thinks the club will be ready for the occasion.

"Traveling to Long Island will be a tough test for us in our first ever US Open Cup appearance, but our coaches and players have already been hard at work getting ready for the new season," said Crowley. "Between our on-the-field preparations, and what will hopefully be some solid traveling support, we think we will put forth an effort that will make the Hudson Valley proud on May 9."

Crowley also said the team will help ship fans out to "Strong Island" for the match.

"We are working on putting a fan bus together," said Crowley. "We saw such tremendous support on the road last year, especially in the playoffs, and we'd love to see folks make the trek to Long Island to cheer us on.  We hope to release more details soon."

The Rough Riders finished 2nd in the Northeast Region of the PDL in 2017. They had an 8-4-2 (wins-draws-losses) record during the regular season, and fell to the Charlotte Eagles in the Eastern Conference Finals in the postseason.

The match on May 9 will be played at John J. Burns Park in Massapequa Park, NY. (Google Maps)

Kingston Stockade FC and Long Island Rough Riders are both in the Northeast Region of the 2018 U.S. Open Cup, which also includes the 2017 NPSL champs, Elm City Express, as well as Midwestern powerhouse Detroit City FC.

The match will mark the first U.S. Open Cup appearance in Kingston's history.

By Randy Kim, Kingston Stockade FC General Manager

Kingston Stockade FC Earns Spot in 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

KINGSTON, N.Y. — Heading in to the 2017 NPSL season, Kingston Stockade FC had three clear, yet lofty, goals.

Number one? Win the conference. (Check.)

Number two? Make the playoffs. (Check.)

Number three? Qualify for the 2018 U.S. Open Cup.

Stockade had to wait a few months after the season finished to find out whether they'd delivered on the third goal. But the club received some pretty massive news on Wednesday.

In a huge achievement for the ambitious Hudson Valley club, US Soccer announced today that Stockade FC would be taking part in the vaunted 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Stockade qualified for the highly regarded knockout tournament by virtue of winning the Atlantic White conference and finishing as one of the top 19 teams (the number of cup spots granted to the league this year) in the entire NPSL for the 2017 season.

As to be expected, club founder Dennis Crowley was extremely pleased to find out the news.

"When we started Stockade three years ago, we set a goal for ourselves to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup by 2020," said Crowley. "To have qualified after just two seasons is an incredible accomplishment, and a huge statement about the level of soccer talent in the Hudson Valley.  We can't be any more proud of our players, coaches, fans, and volunteers for all helping to get us here."

Stockade coach David Lindholm shared Crowley's pride in the achievement, and is aiming to have his side ready for the task ahead.

"We're thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the Open Cup, which is an honor shared by our players, staff, fans, and the community," said Lindholm. "We're excited to test ourselves against new competition, and I hope we can make a bit of a run, win some games and shock some teams."

Stockade's first U.S. Open Cup match will take place on Wednesday, May 9. It hasn't been determined who the opponent is yet, or whether the match will be at Dietz Stadium or on the road. Stockade finds out the opponent and the location of the opening match on April 4.

Officially titled the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (read more about the competition here), the U.S. Open Cup first took place in 1913, and is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. The knockout cup competition is an all-inclusive tournament that allows amateur clubs to earn the right to compete with professional teams, including all 20 MLS franchises based in the U.S.

Moreover, the winner of the U.S. Open Cup automatically receives a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League, which is a competition that features the top clubs from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Central America. The winner of the CONCACAF Champions League then goes on to play in the FIFA Club World Cup, against the top sides from Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Spanish giants Real Madrid are the current holders of the FIFA Club World Cup.

For this year's U.S. Open Cup, the NPSL had 19 teams qualify. Those teams are: AFC Ann Arbor, Brooklyn Italians, CD Aguiluchos USA, FC Motown, Dakota Fusion FC, Detroit City FC, Duluth FC, Elm City Express, Erie Commodores, FC Arizona, FC Wichita, Fort Worth Vaqueros, Inter Nashville FC, Kingston Stockade FC, Kitsap Soccer Club, Miami United FC, Midland-Odessa FC, New Orleans Jesters, Orange County FC.

By Randy Kim

Kingston Stockade FC's Brandon Curtis Reflects on Playing In Front of MLS Scouts at 2018 NPSL Player Showcase

Brandon Curtis at the 2018 NPSL Showcase.

By Randy Kim

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — It's an annual offseason event that helps top soccer prospects strut their stuff in front of MLS, USL and NASL scouts and representatives, with the aim being to have said hopefuls potentially find their way to a professional contract. And it's one that Kingston Stockade FC is proud to participate in every winter.

This year was no different, as Stockade sent talented defender/midfielder Brandon Curtis, a senior at Marist, to the 4th annual NPSL Player Showcase from January 13-15 at Austin-Tindall Park in Kissimmee, Fla.

NPSL.COM: Details for 2018 Player Showcase

Curtis, who was instrumental in leading Stockade FC to the Atlantic White conference championship in 2017 — as well as an appearance in the 2017 NPSL Playoffs — was upbeat about the showcase experience overall.

"I thought the showcase went well for me," said the Stony Point, N.Y. native upon returning from Florida. "The level of play was definitely high and challenged me both physically and mentally on the field."

A group shot of the Northeast Region prospects at the showcase. Curtis is in the front row, fourth player from the right.

The Stockade defender also said that it was helpful to get a better understanding of how to navigate the professional soccer landscape in general.

"It was definitely rewarding going and learning about the next steps in advancing my soccer career at the next level," said Curtis. "Especially in terms of signing with agents, and what not to do when contacted by one."

The NPSL Showcase looks to help fill in the talent-evaluation gaps that might exist within a soccer landscape as vast as that found in the United States. Coming on the heels of the MLS Combine, the NPSL holds this annual winter player event with the belief that it's extremely difficult for the combine to include all worthy players, meaning there's a chance that many NPSL players may be overlooked. So the NPSL puts its top players back on display to help give them increased visibility and exposure to talent evaluators.

This notion seems to bear out, as past showcase participants that have signed professional contracts include: Tyler Pasher, Brian Cunningham, Waleed Cassis, Brenden Alfery, Sachem Wilson, Salvatore Barone, and Jackson Eskay.

Whether or not Curtis will someday join that list remains to be seen, the Stockade player admitted.

"As far as follow-up tryouts from this, I am not sure if any will come from the showcase, but we'll see," said Curtis.

Stockade FC will be there to help the talented defender celebrate his success, should the day come.

Two Stockade Players Up for NPSL Goal of the Year — Vote Today!

One was a wonder-strike from distance. The other was a skillful turn-and-shoot match-winner.

Either way, both were huge moments for Kingston Stockade FC's successful 2017 campaign. And both are up for the NPSL Goal of the Year.

As seen via the tweets below, Stockade FC forwards Pedro Espindola and Michael Creswick have had golazos nominated for the Staples Make More Happen Goal of the Year.

Voting is measured by retweets and likes on Twitter, so please open the tweets below in your account and RT/❤️ the heck out of them to help us get our players some national recognition!    (Yes, you'll need to have a Twitter account in order to cast a vote.)

And while we encourage you to pick your fave, if you're having trouble deciding 🤔, then we advise you to just retweet and/or like both of them and see where things go from there! 

RT and/or like to vote for @StockadeFC Pedro Espindola
for @Staples Make More Happen Goal of the Year! https://t.co/RmQq0tnvmZ

— NPSL (@NPSLSoccer) August 15, 2017

RT and/or like to vote for @StockadeFC forward Michael Creswick for @Staples Make More Happen Goal of the Year! https://t.co/0FYxH8Ff8W

— NPSL (@NPSLSoccer) August 15, 2017

Dear Fans, Go Vote for Your Favorite Stockade Players for 2017 All-NPSL Team!

By Randy Kim, Kingston Stockade FC General Manager

Kingston Stockade FC might have lost in the playoffs, but that doesn't mean we're completely out of the running when it comes to end-of-season glory.

On Thursday, the NPSL announced via Twitter that fan voting will be used to determine the league's "National Best XI" (a.k.a. "All-NPSL Team"), which is pretty awesome. You can click here to vote in the awards. Please note that voting is now open and only goes until this coming Sunday, July 30!

Now, naturally, we at Stockade FC encourage you to vote for the best players in the league overall. But we'd also like to make it as easy as possible for you to vote for as many of your favorite Stockade FC players as well. So with that in mind, we have listed all of our players below in the format the league is asking fans to submit names in their ballot ("Player/Club"). All you have to do is copy the Stockade player you'd like to vote for (make sure to include back-slash and team in the field), paste it into the corresponding field on the voting page, and then submit when you've picked all 11 players (1 goalkeeper, 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards).

And again, please pick the best players in the league. But if you happen to be of a mindset that the top 11 players in NPSL this season were all Stockade players ... well, that's completely fine with us. ;-)

(Note: Players are listed below in rough order of appearances coupled with minutes played for the 2017 season.)

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR ALL-NPSL TEAM

GOALKEEPERS:
Steve Skonieczny/Kingston Stockade FC (#1)
David Giddings/Kingston Stockade FC (#12)
TJ Zehner/Kingston Stockade FC (#0)

DEFENDERS:
Jamal Lis-Simmons/Kingston Stockade FC (#17)
Juan Gatti/Kingston Stockade FC (#25)
Scott Zobre/Kingston Stockade FC (#22)
Matel Anasta/Kingston Stockade FC (#24)
Brandon Curtis/Kingston Stockade FC (#10)
Phil Barrett/Kingston Stockade FC (#20)
Tom Steigerwald/Kingston Stockade FC (#21)
Joe Bogart/Kingston Stockade FC (#14)
Kevin Kappock/Kingston Stockade FC (#2)

MIDFIELDERS:
Matt Koziol/Kingston Stockade FC (#8)
Marco Kloster/Kingston Stockade FC (#33)
Ross Macklin/Kingston Stockade FC (#4)
Mikey Lanzetta/Kingston Stockade FC (#18)
Ernest Mitchell/Kingston Stockade FC (#6)
Josh Maley/Kingston Stockade FC (#28)
Mike Konicoff/Kingston Stockade FC (#16)
Eamonn Conway/Kingston Stockade FC (#29)

FORWARDS:
Pedro Espindola/Kingston Stockade FC (#13)
Eric Fortier/Kingston Stockade FC (#11)
Michael Creswick/Kingston Stockade FC (#9)
David Nkansah-Siriboe/Kingston Stockade FC (#3)
Bruce Jeter/Kingston Stockade FC (#23)
Victor Guirma/Kingston Stockade FC (#19)
Mike Corbi/Kingston Stockade FC (#7)