With spring transitioning into summer in Northeast Ohio, it can only mean one thing: the return of summertime soccer is near, as Cleveland Soccer Club will kick off its season on May 16 at home against the Buffalo Stallions. 

Following a solid 2025 campaign that saw the team narrowly miss the postseason after putting together a 5-3-2 record, the squad is looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time in the last two seasons. 

Schedule and Opponents

Cleveland SC is back in the Great Lakes Conference this season, and it will be joined by plenty of familiar teams from last season, as Syracuse FC is the only squad that will not be returning to the conference this season. 

All six of the other squads in the conference competed last year, and Cleveland SC’s opening day opponent remains the same as well, with the club starting the season against the Buffalo Stallions. Cleveland went 2-0-0 against Buffalo last season, earning wins in both matchups.

Following the opening match, the team will head on the road for the next two competitions, as it will travel to Rochester, New York, to face Rochester NY FC, and then to Tonawanda, New York, to face off against the Buffalo Stallions once more. 

After the road trip, the team will return home to George Finnie Stadium for a two-game home stand against Niagara 1812 and then Ambassadors FC Ohio on May 30 and June 3, respectively. The team will then play Flower City Union on the road in Rochester, before returning home to play Erie Commodores FC on June 10. 

Another two-game road trip is on the docket after that, with the squad heading back to New York to face off against Niagara 1812 on June 13 before staying in-state to play Ambassadors FC on June 17.

The final home stand of the year will come in late June as the team faces Flower City Union on June 20 and Rochester NY FC on June 24 before ending the year on the road against Erie Commodores FC on June 27. Erie is Cleveland SC’s longest-running rival, with the matchup dating back to the club’s inaugural season in 2018.

Roster and Coaches Outlook

Joe Jovanski is back as the head coach of Cleveland SC, as he enters his third season with the club. Jovanski has produced multiple years with winning records in his time with the club, in addition to currently being an assistant coach for Baldwin Wallace Men’s Soccer. 

Reid Ayers is also back as the technical director of the club. He brings a litany of soccer experience as well, as he has served as the technical director for Cleveland SC since 2020 and the head coach of Baldwin Wallace men’s soccer since 2000. He is a two-time OAC Coach of the Year and has won more than 300 matches with the Yellow Jackets. 

A familiar face is on the staff this year, as former Cleveland SC player Uleto Fuentes is joining the coaching staff this season. He has started 18 matches for the club and contributed four assists.

Also on the staff are Tony Catanzarite and Michael Smith as assistant coaches and Paul Viscomi as the goalkeeper coach. 

Taking a look at the roster, the squad is loaded with talent from a multitude of countries. Outside of the United States, Cleveland SC boasts nationalities from 13 other countries. 

The countries of Portugal, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Australia, Macedonia, Brazil, the Gambia, Japan, England, Argentina, Uganda, Uruguay, and Canada are all represented on the 2026 roster. 

In goal for Cleveland SC is a pair of talented keepers, with Cleveland native Colin Monroe returning to the squad for the 2026 season and Wright State’s Alex Normandeau joining the squad for the upcoming season. 

The defense will see a slew of new faces, as seven defenders will be making their debuts for the club in the backline. The only returner is Noah Sandahl, another Cleveland native who started two games for the club last year. 

There is still plenty of talent in the defense, with Jamaicans Joshua Bell and Oneil Mitchell joining the squad after previously playing together in high school in Jamaica before continuing their college careers in the United States.

Similar to the defense, the midfield is seeing a bunch of new faces, as all six midfielders on the roster will be making their Cleveland SC debuts this season. 

The most experienced of the bunch is Brent Nanchoff, who has played collegiately and at the club level, getting experience with clubs in Greece, Canada, and Sweden. 

Up top, the attackers from Cleveland SC are also new to the club and will bring exciting, front-footed play to George Finnie Stadium.

Hakim Musabbah and Ren Nishida both join the team from the University of Rio Grande, while Luca Piazza and Nico Romero join by way of the University of Cumberlands. Romero was named to the MSC second team all-conference after scoring four goals in 2025. 

With two-college teammate duos in the attack, the chemistry should be on display all season for the club. 

Tickets for the 2026 season are available now, including season ticket packages and single-match tickets for every home match at George Finnie Stadium. Fans can secure their seats for the May 16 home opener against the Buffalo Stallions and all six home matches this summer at clevelandsc.com/tickets

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