(Photo by staff photographer Nate Benson)
Did you pick up your 2013 season ticket scarf? Just over 50 remain!
The tryouts continue to prove fruitful to first-year FC Buffalo head coach Brendan Murphy, who added four more players to his premiere crop Friday.
St. Bonaventure’s Kolby Banker, Buffalo State’s CJ Scirto and Alfred’s Jeff Thomas all committed to the club for the 2013 season as did former Charlotte Eagles and FC New York professional Josiah Snelgrove. Snelgrove and Scirto suited up for the Blitzers in 2012.
After a decorated career at Houghton College, Snelgrove played professionally in the USL Second Division and USL Pro before committing to FC Buffalo in 2012. He was an assistant coach at Houghton this Fall. This will be his second year with the club for the Canadian who played squirt hockey against Sidney Crosby growing up.
“Josiah will bring veteran leadership, a professional approach to the game and a tenacity to win the ball at all costs,” Murphy said. “An incredibly skillful player with poise and confidence on the ball, Josiah will be a definite asset to the team.”
Scirto (above) played for FC Buffalo in 2012 after transferring to Buff State in 2011. His first season for the Bengals was remarkable, as he unloaded 57 shots on the way to 4 goals and 3 assists to lead the team in scoring.
“CJ is a speedy winger who brings a fiery attitude to the pitch,” Murphy said. “I could see him causing problems for opposing back lines with his darting runs.”
Thomas struck six times and added two assists for the Saxons in 2012 on the way to being named an Empire 8 Conference All-Star.
“Jeff could play out wide, in the middle or in the back,” Murphy said. “He’s another one of those versatile players that I like so much. He is smooth on the ball and very crafty with his movements. He will add solid depth to our team.”
Banker completed his junior year in Olean this season and started 16 games. He’s played in nearly every contest for Coach Mel Mahler since arriving on campus from Grand Island in 2010 and teamed with 2012 FC Buffalo defender Steven Carcaterro to form a good combination on the back line.
“Kolby Banker is a very strong defender,” Murphy said. “He will organize the guys around him and communicates very well, has great positional sense and will go hard for the ball. Kolby could be a dominant force in the back for us if he comes in fit from his spring season at St. Bonaventure.”
“Coach Murphy’s signings have us very excited for this season and the work we’re doing to bring in several other significant talents has our motivation levels higher than ever before,” said general manger Nick Mendola. “On behalf of the owners of this club, we’re thrilled with the response in season ticket sales and hope we continue on our pace to shatter our previous records. Soccer culture is alive in Buffalo.”
