2.Defenders

Williams comes to WSC following an impressive collegiate career that began with two seasons at the University of Cincinnati starting in 2019, where he appeared in 16 matches and earned American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team honors. He then spent two years at Seton Hall, helping lead the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament while being named the 2020-21 Big East Tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player and earning 2021 Big East All-Academic Team recognition. Williams closed out his career with two seasons at Notre Dame, completing his graduate studies and appearing in 30 matches while helping lead the Fighting Irish to the National Championship.

Joins the club after finishing a standout collegiate career in the BIG EAST, at Providence College, where he started every game and anchored the Friars’ backline with consistency, composure, and physicality. Prior to Providence, he was a second team All Missouri Valley Conference selection during his second of two seasons at Bradley University,  where he was also captain for both his years there after transferring from Jefferson College. 

One of the most accomplished soccer players at tradition rich Iona University, will make his pro debut with WSC. While at Iona, he was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and Junior and earned All-MAAC First Team honors both his junior and senior years. A product of Dynamo Moscow Academy he also developed at the youth level with the New York Red Bulls Academy.

Jennings joins Westchester SC after playing with Real Monarchs in MLS NEXT Pro, making 24 appearances with 12 starts and 2 goals in 2025. The defender played four seasons at Georgetown, anchoring their defense throughout his career.

Armas joins the club after competing at the Division I level at Hofstra University. Played in 37 games at Hofstra over two seasons with 19 starts, including 14 in his senior season when he drastically improved his playing time. The Florham Park, NY native was a member of the Hofstra Athletic Director Scholars and CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Rolls in each semester. He began his collegiate career at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, playing in in 31 games for the Panthers over two seasons and recorded a pair of assists in 2023. Was a Northeast 10 Academic Honor Roll selection in all three semesters. Aleksei’s dad Christopher had a storied soccer career

Noah Powder appeared in 22 matches with 17 starts and led the club with 4 assists in ’25. Began his youth career with the New York Red Bulls Academy, and his professional career kicked off in 2016 when he signed with New York Red Bulls II in the USL. In 2019, Powder transferred to Real Monarchs, the reserve team for Real Salt Lake FC, where he helped the club secure the 2019 USL Championship title. Powder has also played Indy Eleven, Tulsa FC, Orange County FC and most recently for USL League One side Northern Colorado Hailstorm. He has also represented Trinidad and Tobago at the international level since 2015.

Kurowskybob ‘Black Panther’ Fertil-Pierre appeared in 23 games as a lockdown defender for WSC, with 12 starts in ’25. Second on the team in blocks (11) and interceptions (23). Came to Westchester from Real Monarchs in MLS Next Pro where he played the in ’24 and ’23. Pierre made his professional debut in 2019, for Real Monarchs before spending two seasons in France with Strasbourg, before returning to Real Monarchs in 2022. He is eligible for the United States and Haiti and played eight total matches for Haiti U17 in the 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Payne started 21 of the 26 matches he appeared in for WSC last season, with the fifth most minutes played (1,732). Played five seasons professionally in Portugal before returning to the U.S. for the past three seasons, first with the Richmond Kickers and then in 2023 and 2024 with Forward Madison.