UTICA CITY HOSTS FLORIDA TO KICK OFF 21-22 SEASON

UTICA CITY IS BACK:  Utica City FC has been a member of the Utica community since 2018, when Tommy Tanner brought the Syracuse Silver Knights to this City. Since then, UCFC has gone onto to play two seasons from 2018 to 2020, before missing the 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Utica City made the playoffs in its first year after going 17-7 in the regular season before being eliminated in the Eastern Division Finals. The next year UCFC was making a strong case for the playoffs, going 14-6 before the season had to be cancelled. 

THE LEADERS: UCFC returns two co-captains to lead them on the field. Serbian midfielder Bo Jelovac will dawn the captain’s band. He has been a fan favorite and a steady piece for UCFC since its inception. He will partner with Nate Bourdeau, who enters his 10th professional season. Bourdeau scored 11 goals and had 13 assists in 2019-20 with UCFC.

 STEADY ON THE BENCH: Utica City’s coaching staff will remain the same as 2019-20 entering the year. Ryan Hall will serve as Head Coach the 3rd consecutive season. He has amassed a record of 31-13 over his two seasons here. Hall played professionally for the Syracuse Salty Dogs (A League), Cleveland Force (MISL), Rochester Raging Rhinos (A League), New Jersey Ironmen (XSL), and Syracuse Silver Knights (MASL). He began coaching professionally in 2017 with the Syracuse Silver Knights, and currently lives in Liverpool, NY.

PHOTO FINISH TRADE: 3 days before the 2021-22 campaign began, Utica City General Manager Tommy Tanner completed a massive deal. UCFC acquired Slavisa “Slav” Ubiparipovic from the San Diego Sockers. Ubiparipovic, 33, was the MISL Rookie of the Year in 2011-12 playing with the Syracuse Silver Knights, and has played 11 professional seasons of indoor soccer with Syracuse, Utica and San Diego. He has scored 153 goals and recorded 132 assists in his 184-game career.

SCOUTING THE TROPICS:  The Florida Tropics opened their sixth season in the Major Arena Soccer League with a 6-4 road win over the Baltimore Blast Saturday. This will be the 2nd ever meeting between Utica City and Florida. Utica won their meeting in 2018 8-5. Florida is captained by Victor Parreriras. He is Florida’s franchise leader in goals (71), assists (61) and total points (132) in 96 career games with the Tropics.