Rochester Lancers (MASL)
The Rochester Lancers are an indoor soccer team in the Major Indoor Soccer League and the Major Arena Soccer League. The team is named in honor of the Rochester Lancers of the North American Soccer League. The team was active from November 2011 through March 2015. In July 2015, the team cited a sharp increase in the cost of insurance to more than double the team's payroll costs and announced the end of the franchise.[1] A new version of the team contested the 2018–19 Major Arena Soccer League 2 season; for 2019–20 the team moved back up to the MASL.
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| Founded | 2010 | ||
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| Ground | The Dome Center | ||
| Capacity | 2,500 | ||
| Owner | Salvatore "Soccer Sam" Fantauzzo | ||
| Head Coach | Doug Miller | ||
| League | Major Arena Soccer League | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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History
In 1995, Soccer Sam purchased the Rochester Lancers name and logo as part of his soccer memorabilia collection. In 2010, Soccer Sam started negotiating with the Chris Economides of the USL to be part of the new indoor I-League. The USL struggled to attract teams to the newly formed I-League. At the 2010-2011 MISL Championship game in Baltimore, SoccerSam convinced MISL commissioner David Grimaldi to meet with the USL and bring current teams. 2011-2012 the new MISL under the USL banner was launched with the four existing MISL teams and the three new I-League teams. Soccer Sam decided to use his beloved Rochester Lancers name and logo for this new indoor MISL team.
Following a merger of the I-League and the third Major Indoor Soccer League, the Lancers played their first game in Syracuse on November 4, 2011, against the Syracuse Silver Knights. Led by team captain and former Rochester Rhinos forward Doug Miller, the first game in the team's history ended in a 16–15 loss and the top scorer was Lubo Kocic who scored 4 goals for the Lancers. The Lancers finished 2nd in the Eastern Division in 2011, qualifying for the playoffs.[2] During the 2011–12 season they, offered a surprise contract to former 76ers player Allen Iverson.[3]
In 2012 assistant coach, Jim Hesch replaced Billy Andracki and became the head coach. Former Cuban International, Rochester Rhino and Rochester Lancers player, Rey 'Boom Boom' Martinez became the assistant coach. The team finished in 5th place in the MISL with a 10-16 record and did not make the playoffs.
The Lancers announced new head coach Josh Rife on September 13, 2013.[4][5] Josh Rife's assistant coach was Billy Ginther. The team finished in 5th place in the league with a 6-14 record and did not make the playoffs.
After the 2013–2014 season, the team announced that it was leaving the MISL along with five other teams and join the PASL, later renamed the MASL.[6] Soccer Sam with Tommy Tanner negotiated hard to keep multi-point scoring in the game of indoor soccer. The MASL continued the single point goal system it used as the PASL without 2 & 3 point goals.
On August 2, 2014, team founder and CEO Salvatore Fantauzzo announced that the Lancers would not be playing in the 2014–15 season.[7] Team captain (and Rochester Rhinos legend) Doug Miller intervened and offered to take over management of the team in order to permit the team to preserve its season. Miller later was named coach of the team, though he would continue to play. The team finished in 3rd place in the Eastern Division with a record of 10–10. The team made the playoffs but lost in the division finals to the Baltimore Blast. After the 2014/15 season the team went on a hiatus to hopefully resolve the NYS insurance issues.
In 2017, Soccer Sam licensed his Lancers name & logo to the Rochester River Dogz of the (NPSL). The new Rochester Lancers ownership group included head coach Doug Miller, GM Marc Mandell, Asst GM Nick Mojsovski and CEO Salvatore 'Soccer Sam' Fantauzzo. Weeks later Soccer Sam joined the United Women's Soccer (UWS) and the Lady Lancers were born. Sal Galvano and Loren Inglese handled the team side. Ashley Maria King from the original Lancers handled the business side year one. In 2018, Kayla Klark Kent also from the original Lancers returned to help with the business side. Sal Galvano continued with the team in 2018 as the head coach with Brooke Barbuto as his player/assistant coach.
The Lancers relaunched the indoor team for the 2018–19 season, playing in the Eastern Division of the M2 development league with home games in The Dome Center. The Lancers returned to Division 1 play as they re-joined the MASL for the 2019-20 season, winning only 1 game before competition was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plans to join the late-starting 2021 MASL season were cancelled in February, partly due to the Dome Center's use as a New York state COVID vaccination site.[8]
Year-by-year results
| Year | League | Logo | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Avg. attendance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | MISL | 2nd Eastern Division, 11–13 | Lost Division Finals | 5,675 | ||||
| 2012–13 | MISL | 5th MISL, 10–16 | Did Not Qualify | 5,975 | ||||
| 2013–14 | MISL | 5th MISL, 6–14 | Did Not Qualify | 7,347 | ||||
| 2014–15 | MASL | 3rd Eastern Division, 10–10 | Lost Division Finals | 6,539 | ||||
| 2015–18 | on Hiatus | |||||||
| 2018–19 | MASL2 | 2nd Eastern Division, 8-4 | Won Division Finals 3rd in League |
2,500 | ||||
| 2019-20 | MASL | 9th Eastern Conference, 1-21 | Did Not Qualify | 3,010 | ||||
| Total | 46–78 | 4-5 | 6,359 | |||||
Head coaches
Bill Andracki (2011–12)- Jim Hesch (2012–13)
- Josh Rife (2013–14)
- Doug Miller (2014–15; 2018–present)
2019/20 Roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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2011/12 Roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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2012/13 Roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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2013/14 Roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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2014/15 Roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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References
- Sharp, Brian (July 6, 2015). "Citing insurance cost, Lancers call it quits". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, NY: Gannett. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
- "Lancers Clinch Final Playoff Berth". United Soccer Leagues. February 23, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- "Former NBA star Allen Iverson gets pro soccer contract offer". The Globe and Mail. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- "Rife Named Coach Of Lancers". MISL. September 13, 2013. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
- "LANCERS ANNOUNCE NEW HEAD COACH". Rochester Lancers. September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
- http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-04-14/sports/bal-baltimore-blast-joining-with-other-teams-to-form-new-indoor-soccer-league-20140414_1_new-league-misl-baltimore-blast
- "To My Rochester Lancers Family". Rochester Lancers. 2 August 2014.
- "Lancers Will Not Play the 2021 Indoor Season". Rochester Lancers. 5 February 2021.
