Cleveland SC 2025 Season Preview

Cleveland SC
6 days ago
4 min read

Match Day 1 - Cleveland SC vs Buffalo Stallions

Written by Gianluca DiGiacomo

CLEVELAND, OH – With Springtime in the Sixth City flying by, the excitement of Cleveland summer soccer is here as Cleveland Soccer Club kicks off its 2025 NPSL season tonight against Buffalo Stallions in North Tonawanda, New York. This year’s team brings a mix of new faces, fresh talent, and an innovative coaching staff ready to make an impact.

The squad is eager to get things going, looking to get back to postseason success after finishing fifth in the conference last season, making it the first time the club did not advance to the NPSL postseason.

Schedule and Opponents

Cleveland SC remains in the Great Lakes Conference for this coming summer, with eight teams finding their way in for the season. Only three other clubs find themselves returning to the conference from last year in the Erie Commodores FC, Niagara 1812, and Flower City Union.

Meanwhile, a whopping four new opponents enter the battlefield in Ambassadors FC Ohio, the Buffalo Stallions, Rochester NY FC, and Syracuse FC.

Cleveland SC will get an early look at the new competition in their first three games, starting tonight with a trip to North Tonawanda, New York, where they’ll face the Buffalo Stallions at 7 p.m. at North Tonawanda High School. Stream the live match tonight [HERE].

A week later, the club makes their way back up to New York to play Rochester NY FC in West Henrietta, before having a week and a half off before traveling to Canton to take on Ambassadors FC Ohio.

The team’s home campaign will hit the ground running with three matches back in Cleveland in the span of a week, ending the month of May with a match against the Erie Commodores back in George Finnie Stadium in Berea, followed by a Wednesday night battle against Ambassadors, and the following Saturday against the Buffalo Stallions.

The next four Saturdays feature a road trip to Flower City, followed by two consecutive home matches against Syracuse FC and Niagara 1812, and a season finale against the Erie Commodores at Saxon Stadium on the campus of Mercyhurst University.

Tickets for matches can be found and purchased [HERE]. Don’t miss out on any of the action!

Joe Jovanovski Returns for a Second Season

Head Coach Joe Jovanovski is returning to the club for his second season at the helm of Cleveland SC. After leading the team to a 5-4-1 record last season, Jovanovski and his crew are ecstatic for another season. With experience at clubs such as North FC, Lutheran West High School, Tiffin University, and currently as an assistant at Baldwin Wallace University, his coaching pedigree is well-rounded.

Jovanovski’s camaraderie and leadership make him a perfect fit for the club, and his tactical acumen is equally impressive.

His personnel management last season was nothing short of incredible. He often played athletes in unfamiliar positions, molding the squad and maximizing each player's potential regardless of where they appeared on the team sheet.

Fresh Faces and Returning Excellence

What would a season preview about Cleveland SC be without highlighting the immense amount of talent that the team possesses? This upcoming season, the squad has pulled in some top quality talent from all around the globe, with representation from the countries of Australia, Liberia, Italy, Hungary, England, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Netherlands, Ukraine, Germany, Ireland, and Jamaica.

NPSL Golden Boot Contender and Ukraine-born Stanislav Koval will be returning to the Orange and Black this Summer. After playing professionally in Ukraine, Koval spent some time with St. Louis City SC’s MLS Next squad before finding his way to Cleveland. In just nine appearances last year, Koval bagged 11 goals and assisted four more, exhibiting great deals of grit, composure, and in-game IQ with runs behind the defense. One of Cleveland’s aces will be one to keep in your mind when watching the squad this season!

Returning for his fourth season, veteran midfielder Daniel Tregansin is welcomed back to the team, looking to continue his excellent track record in the center of the pitch. After successful runs with Notre Dame College and Cleveland State University, Tregansin is continuing his Cleveland soccer career past the college level, bringing his technical, smooth presence into his box-to-box role under Jovanovski. Tregansin will be a crucial addition to the team sheet week in and week out.

The club’s new additions bring even more excitement to the squad and provide even more reasons to stay up to date with the team. Long-time Clevelander and defensive midfield anchor Kyle Healy returns to The Land after club tenures with Kings Hammer FC in the USL2 and Michigan Stars in the NISA. After reaching All-American status at St. Ignatius High School, Healy played at elite DI programs in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and finished his career with IU Indy. A class player to have connecting your defensive and midfielder/attacking units, and a brilliant offseason pickup from the club.

Cleveland SC’s already phenomenal goalkeeping room was bolstered further in the offseason with the signing of Lakewood-native and Duquesne University graduate Zoltan Nagy. After a great season in between the sticks for Cleveland Force SC in the USL2, Nagy laces up the boots for the club after a phenomenal two years with the Dukes, starting in all 35 appearances after making the jump for Baldwin Wallace after a Third Team All-OAC honors in 2022. Nagy’s blend of athleticism, height, and leadership presents a brilliant foundation to any team and adds competition to an already loaded position group.

More Great Partners!

This season, Cleveland SC is proud to partner with a remarkable lineup of local businesses, including La Ruta del Cilantro Taqueria, Radigan Law, Churchill Counseling Services, Mania Club, Wicked Discounts, Tiffany’s Flowers, Ohio Basement Authority, and PWI Insurance. Explore our partners [HERE] to learn more!

Stay Connected

Keep up with all the latest news and updates from Cleveland SC on our website and social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.