Late Goal Forces 1-1 Draw: Viggo Ortiz scored seven minutes into extra time of the second half with a right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner to complete a very late rally and give Charlotte Independence a 1-1 come from behind draw with WSC Saturday night in Mt. Vernon. WSC had the lead for literally more than 90 minutes of play, as Dean Guezen’s left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner off a pass from Daniel Burko beat Charlotte keeper Matt Levy just 45 seconds into the match to give WSC a 1-0 lead, the fastest score in the clubs two seasons in USL League One play. The match was tight throughout, and WSC has a chance to go up 2-0 in the 71st minute, but Levy stopped Koen Blommestijn with a left footed shot from the centre of the box in the bottom right corner to keep the score at 1-0. It looked like WSC second year keeper Andrew Hammersley was going to earn his first career clean sheet as the clubs entered extra time, especially after turning back several Charlotte volleys in the last few minutes, but Ortiz was able to find the back of the net to salvage the tie. WSC outshot Charlotte 20-8, the second straight game they had more attempts than their opponent, but still ended up with the draw.
Powder Power: Noah Powder (Edison, NJ) was selected to USL League One Team of the Week for his performance on Saturday. The Trinidad and Tobago international had a solid two-way performance, completing 20 of 25 passes and winning 5 of 6 duels and 2 of 3 tackles while making seven recoveries, four interceptions and four clearances against Charlotte.
US Open Cup. Year One: WSC went 2-1 in the ’25 US Open Cup, posting their first-ever club win, 1-0 over FC Motown in Montclair, NJ on March 18 and following that up by beating the New York Pancyprian Freedoms 3-2 at The Stadium at Memorial Field, before a crowd of 2,026 in the cold and drizzle on April 2. In the third match, Jeciel Cedeño converted the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner in the eighty-fifth minute, breaking a 1-1 second half tie and giving Detroit City FC a 2-1 lead that they never relinquished, on their way to an eventual 3-1 win April 19th in the third round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in Hamtramck, Michigan. The loss ends WSC’s US Open Cup run in their inaugural season, after taking their first two matches.
Close Shaves Still Cut Deep: The one goal loss in the opener continued 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. Six of their least eight home matches have now been decided by one goal. WSC was 2-14-7 when they entered the second 45 either tied or behind with Saturday’s draw. They were 2-11 in one goal w/l decisions, and were blanked five times, three times time at home. WSC’s longest winless streak (excluding their 3-0 forfeit win over Spokane on July 16) was a 12 match streak which started after a 2-1 win at Forward Madison on June 18 and ended with a 2-1 win over Texoma on Sept. 21. That stretch included six one goal losses and three ties.
Home stretch to open: WSC will play the third of three straight matches (2 USL League One, 1 US Open Cup) at The Stadium at Memorial Field in Mt. Vernon. WSC ended their inaugural home campaign at 3-8-4 (including their 3-0 forfeit win over Spokane) winning two of their last three home matches on the schedule, 2-1 over Texoma on September 21 and 2-0 over Naples on Oct. 12.
Road Work: WSC finished the season 2-8-5 on the road, and 3-13-3 against clubs holding a playoff spot. That includes wins at Madison and Texoma and a 4-4 tie at Richmond, which is the club’s high mark for goals scored.
New Faces Make Debuts. Westchester Soccer Club will have a decidedly young and local look as the 2026 season comes closer, as new Head Coach and General Manager George Gjokaj will have at least 14 athletes with local roots on the potential opening day roster. Westchester Soccer Club will look to build on their 5-16-9 record in their initial season in USL League One. In last week’s opener eight of the 11 starters were making their WSC debut.
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 takes to the road to close out the month at Greenville on March 29 in USL League One play.
