Match Preview Presented By Our Partners at Health First
WSC Completes USL Cup Play, Resumes League One Schedule: It was a case of same stuff, different day on the road for Westchester Soccer Club on Saturday night, as Barry Coffey beat returning keeper Andrew Hammersley 14 minutes into the match, and Augustine Williams followed with a goal in the 41st minute to give Hartford Athletic a 2-0 lead they would never surrender on their way to a 2-1 in the Prinx Tires USL League Cup. Max Jennings was able to get WSC on the board in first half stoppage time, but the visitors were never able to get the second half equalizer.
The game tight throughout the second 45, with WSC getting several chances to knot the score against keeper Enzo Carvallho, but they were never able to break through.
The loss ends WSC’s ’26 USL Cup record at 1-3 in group play, 0-2 on the road, after going 0-4 in their inaugural season last year. It also extends the long road losing streak for WSC as well as their winless record in one goal games this season.
The Long and Winding Road: WSC has gone winless in 16 consecutive USL League One matches on the road, going 0-13-3 (0-7 this season), with their last road win coming at Forward Madison, 2-1, last June 10, and have been outscored on the road 15-3 this season. WSC’s three draws in that streak were at Knoxville (1-1) last July 19, Naples (2-2) Aug. 30 and Portland (2-2) on Oct. 18. They have recorded one road win out of league play in 2026, a 4-3 win in penalties in US Open Cup play on April 1 at Vermont Green, a match which was scoreless after play was completed.
Saturday concludes a four match road streak in WSC’s past five matches.
Head to Head: Union Omaha holds a perfect 2-0-0 historical record against Westchester SC from their previous encounters during the 2025 season. Both matches ended in narrow 2-1 victories for Omaha.
Feast or Famine: WSC’s streaky season continued in their recent USL League One play. They have scored once in their past three games (and have been shutout in their last two), after going 2-0-1 and scoring ten goals in a three match stretch in just nine days June 10-19. That was preceded by three consecutive 1-0 League losses in May.
Tight Margins: The 1-0 loss to Boise on July 5 dropped WSC to 0-7 in one goal decisions this season, continuing a pattern for WSC from their inaugural season, when they went 2-14-7 when they entered the second 45 either tied or behind and were 2-11 in one goal w/l decisions.
Jiménez Accolades: Westchester SC forward Jonathan Jiménez is coming off a series of strong performances, and was voted Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after scoring two goals in Westchester’s 5-1 win against Portland Hearts of Pine on June 19. Jiménez was at the center of it, tallying six shots – the most of any Westchester player in a single game this season – and found the back of the net twice. The Mexican national’s accolades followed his first USL League One Team of the Week selection the previous week. Jimenez helped Westchester earn four points from two outings as he completed 34 of 41 passes and notched five chances created while winning 10 of 16 duels and 3 of 4 tackles in a draw against Fort Wayne FC and victory against Greenville Triumph SC.
Marinelli The Stopper: Keeper Luca Marinelli continues to impress in his brief time with the club, subbing for injured starter Andrew Hamersley. WSC had been shoutout 1-0 in his first three league starts on the road, but went 2-1-1 in his four home starts, allowing three goals in the four.
McGlynn, Guezen Steady Play: WSC’s growth has been fueled by its young players, as both midfielders Conor McGlynn (Middle Village, NY) and Guezen (Amsterdam, Netherlands) continue to emerge as the leaders on the young WSC squad. McGlynn, one of two WSC players to start every league game this season (Kyle Evans is the other) landed on the Team of the Week June 23 after scoring in three consecutive games to give him a team high (and career high) eight goals in league play, tied for second overall in the league in scoring. His pair at home vs Corpus Christi was his first two goal game, with his second brace coming June 19 vs. Portland.
Guezen is second on the team in scoring with four goals, and was voted Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording a pair of goals in his side’s victory against Sarasota Paradise on April 8. The Dutch midfielder recorded his first two-goal game for the club against Sarasota, striking twice in the second half to lead his side to a 2-0 win. Guezen’s goal vs Charlotte earlier in the season just 45 seconds into the match was the fastest in club history.
Maximus Effort: The club has also been buoyed by the improved play of Maximus Jennings. Jennings recorded a goal contribution in four of the last six League One games (1G, 3A) as well as scoring the club’s only goal last Saturday at Hartford.
WSC Becomes a MAAC home: The addition of the two keepers (Luca Marinelli- Sacred Heart and Giuliano Santucci-Iona) gives WSC seven players who called the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference home during their collegiate days, a pretty unique stat for a mid-major conference. That includes three players from Sacred Heart and two from Iona, as well as one from Siena and Marist.
Youngest, Fastest and First: The season has brought WSC some new milestones. Kyle Evans became the youngest goalscorer in club history with his stoppage-time finish against One Knoxville in the opener, notching his first professional goal aged 20 years, 146 days old, surpassing the mark of Ermin Mackic (20 years, 174 days). Andrew Hammersley also notched his first career clean sheet against NY Renegades in US Open Cup play and followed that up with his first in League play against Sarasota on April 8 and Matias Molina had his first career clean sheet at Vermont in Round Two. Hammersley’s 11 saves in a loss at Greenville on March 29 were the most in club history and one shy of the League record for saves in a game. Rookie Alexi Armas also added to the youth movement, nailing the winning penalty over Portland in USL Cup play.
New Faces Making Contributions: Westchester Soccer Club has a decidedly young and local look in 2026 as Head Coach and General Manager George Gjokaj has at least 16 athletes with local roots on the roster. Kyle Evans (Rock Hill, NY/Marist), Maximus Jennings (Montclair, NJ/Georgetown), Tim Timchenko (Kyiv, Ukraine/Iona), Daniel Burko (Løvenstad, Norway/Hofstra) , Charlie Dickerson (Norwich, England/Providence) and Aleksei Armas (Floral Park, NY/Hofstra and Adelphi) have had substantial playing time across the board. Colin Veltri joined in mid June WSC after a standout collegiate career at Elon and St. John’s. The others: Goalkeepers: Marinelli, Santucci, and Mattias Molina (Rosario, Argentina/Seton Hall), Mo Williams (West Orange, NJ/Notre Dame/Seton Hall), Midfielders: Aiden Borra (Syosset, NY/Sacred Heart and St. John’s), and Miguel Diaz (Brooklyn, NY/St. John’s).
The 12 newcomers join 14 returnees on the WSC preseason roster. Amongst the returning players, Goalkeeper Hammersley (Garden City, NY/Sacred Heart), Defender Noah Powder (Edison, NJ), Midfielder McGlynn (Middle Village, NY/Siena College), and Forwards Mackic (Yonkers NY/SUNY Purchase), and Samory Powder (Edison, NJ) also have ties to the New York area.
Partners for ’26: WSC’s list of partners for the season include: Northwell (Healthcare), Healthfirst (Health Insurance), Leros Transportation Group (Transportation), Meagher & Meagher, Attorneys at Law (Personal Injury Law), Breezemont Day Camp (Summer Camp), RXR (Real Estate Development), MSG Networks (Media & Broadcasting), The Taco Project (Restaurant & Food), Duck Donuts (Restaurant & Food), Score PT (Physical Therapy), Walter’s (Restaurant & Food), Keller Williams (Real Estate), ICE AIR (HVAC), Westchester Smoothie (Restaurant & Food), Saw Mill Stone & Masonry Supply (Masonry/Retail), Floor & Décor Flooring & Home Improvement (Home Improvement/Retail), The Gentleman’s Lab (Men’s Grooming / Barbershop), Agora (Social Group), CPR Foundation (Non-Profit/Foundation), Velvet Llama (Liquor), Rory Dolan’s Restaurant & Bar (Restaurant & Food), and Strategic Security Corp (Security Services).
Up Next: WSC visits Union Omaha on July 18.
