NY Empire FC Opens 2025 Season with Dominant 4-1 Win Over Future Soccer Academy
- NY Empire FC
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
The 2025 UPSL season kicked off in style for NY Empire FC, as they cruised to a 4-1 victory over Future Soccer Academy (NJ) in their home opener at the Susa Sports Complex on Saturday.
A vibrant home crowd witnessed newly signed forward Naeem Charles open the scoring in the 25th minute, calmly converting from the penalty spot for Empire's first goal of the season. The visitors responded in the 37th minute with an equalizer, but NY Empire quickly regained control. Just six minutes later, defender Stephen Hollis powered home a header off a corner kick, restoring the lead just before halftime.
Head Coach Max Ferro made a few tactical adjustments at the break, and his bench delivered. Hollis found the back of the net again in the 85th minute—once more off a corner—to extend the lead to 3-1. Super-sub Lenny Lopez then sealed the deal in the 89th with a composed finish after a strong build-up.
Steven Rojas came off the bench and made an immediate impact with two assists, while Lopez added a spark in the final third. Goalkeeper Jonathan Villaces was solid between the posts, making four saves to preserve the win.
The backline, anchored by Trevor Henderson, George Yuseff, Andrade Wright, and substitute Matthais Adamek, stood tall throughout the match. Keirol Aaron delivered 75 energetic minutes at wingback, while the midfield trio of Danny Moya, Wilber Gomez, Nico Reinoso, and Sebastian Monroy controlled the tempo from start to finish.
Up top, Charles and Tim De Meij showed promising chemistry, creating multiple scoring opportunities. Emgi Gousse and Ryan Meyhari also injected energy late in the game to help close things out.
Coach Ferro praised the team’s all-around performance, highlighting the depth and impact of his substitutes: “The guys who came off the bench really made a difference tonight. That’s the kind of depth and mentality we’re going to need this season.”
Up Next: NY Empire FC hits the road for a Friday night clash against Academias Barcelona SC at the Aviator Sports Center (4/11, 8:30 PM). They return home on Saturday, April 26th for a matchup against Red Hook FC at 7:30 PM.
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