Metuchen, NJ — UWS League Two (UWS2) is excited to launch the Lake Erie Conference, set to kick off in 2022. FC Buffalo (Buffalo, NY), who fields a team in the first division of UWS will be adding a second team to compete in UWS League Two. Erie Commodores FC (Erie, PA) will be expanding to the women’s game to field a team in the Central Conference. Additional teams to the conference will be announced in the coming weeks.
After a successful inaugural season in UWS, FC Buffalo is ready to take the next step for their women’s program. The 2021 East Conference regular-season Champions is adding a second women’s team to compete in UWS League Two.
FC Buffalo is a soccer club in the Queen City of the Great Lakes: Buffalo, New York. Founded in 2009, the club aims to be a home for the diverse, industrious, and community-first people of Western New York, with a special spotlight on fostering growth in the underserved population of youth soccer players in Buffalo. Holding its motto “for our city” close to its heart for more than a decade, FCB strives to be a progressive force in American soccer.
“UWS League Two is one of the best-designed, club-conscious, and player-beneficial ideas we’ve seen in our 13 years as a club, and we’re very excited to give our talent-rich city an even bigger showcase while helping in the development of future UWS stars and coaches,” said FC Buffalo co-owner Nick Mendola. “Our offseason has seen the blossoming of some terrific relationships which will undoubtedly aid the landscape of Western New York soccer, and that’s without even mentioning the addition of a women’s side for our long-time rival in Erie, who has a respected owner in John Melody. This is all really excellent for United Women’s Soccer.”
FC Buffalo plays their home matches at Robert E. Rich All-High Stadium (2885 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214). For more information on FC Buffalo, visit their official website at FCBuffalo.org. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Erie Commodores FC has a strong history of running senior elite teams having managed a Men’s team in the NPSL (National Premier Soccer League) since 2009. During that time The Commodores have had much success winning six Conference Championships, three Division Titles, three National Semi-final appearances and played in The National Final in its inaugural year. They look forward to the opportunity to bring the same success to their new women’s program.
“We have operated a Men’s team at this level for 13 years with good success,” said Director John Melody. “We have recently added an underage component to the Club (Junior Commodores) and now with the addition of a Women’s team, we will be able to give young girls in Erie and surrounding areas every opportunity to grow, develop and aspire to play for the top teams. This is a very exciting time for The Commodores and our community as we look forward to continuingly growing the game here in Western Pennsylvania.”
John Melody who has owned and coached ( 2009-’13 & ’16 &17) the Commodores has recently entered into a partnership with Troy Bingham and Sheldon Van Deventer of the newly acquired Erie Sports Center to grow and promote the games of soccer to all skill levels. The Erie Sports Center owners commented, “We invested with John and into the Commodores and the facility with the aim of growing soccer at all levels of the game in the area for boys and girls. With the recently launched Commodores Outreach program and community leagues we felt it was important to take this step now so that young girls can have a pathway to the top of the women’s game.”
Home venue information will be announced soon. For more information on the Erie Commodores, visit their official website. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
