Match Notes Are Presented by Our Partners at Health First
Own Goal Ends WSC Home Streak: For the second straight match an own goal proved critical, and this time it was the only goal of the match, as Bobby Pierre’s misdirection past Luca Marinelli was the only score of the match as AC Boise edged Westchester 1-0 on Sunday night, ending WSC’s unbeaten string at home at six matches, dropping them to 4-2-2 at home while suffering their third straight USL League one loss overall, and their second straight clean sheet (sixth of the season).
WSC actually outshot Boise in the match 18-12 but was not able to find the net against keeper Jonathan Kliewer, who blanked WSC for the second time this season and give them the season series.
In USL League Cup: WSC enters tonight 1-2 in Prinx Tires USL League Cup play this season, with a 5-4 win in penalties against Portland on April 24 (tied 2-2 after play concluded), a last second 3-2 loss to NY Cosmos at home on May 15 and a 3-0 loss at Rhode Island on June 6. WSC went 0-4 in USL Cup play last season, which included a 3-2 loss to Hartford at home in their only other meeting before tonight.
The Long and Winding Road: WSC has dropped 16 consecutive matches on the road, going 0-13-3, with their last road win coming at Forward Madison, 2-1, last June 10, and have been outscored on the road 18-3 this season. 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.
Last Sunday was their only home match during a current five match stretch.
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 loss Sunday 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 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 is tied for 10th in shots with 21. Guezen 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).
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. 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), has started all eight matches thus far, while 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. He earned All-CAA Second Team honors as a junior at Elon and helped lead The Phoenix to the NCAA Tournament in ’25. Prior to Elon, he was a member of the St. John’s men’s soccer program (2022-23), appearing in 23 career games for St. John’s with two assists
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.
