USL LEAGUE ONE: New Faces, Local Ties Highlight Westchester SC Preseason Roster Ahead of 2026 Campaign
- Jonathan Turner
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Fourteen Players with Area Roots Feature on Georg Gjokaj’s Squad as Club Opens March 7 at Memorial Field
Mount Vernon, NY (February 19, 2026) — Westchester Soccer Club will showcase a youthful, locally connected roster as it prepares for the 2026 USL League One season under first-year Head Coach and General Manager Georg Gjokaj.
At least 14 players with local ties are expected to feature on the potential opening day roster as WSC looks to build on its inaugural 5-16-9 campaign. The club opens the season March 7 at 7:00 PM against One Knoxville at The Stadium at Memorial Field in Mount Vernon. The match kicks off a three-game homestand, including two USL League One fixtures and one US Open Cup matchup.
Among the key additions are several standouts from Division I programs and professional developmental leagues.
Goalkeeper
Mattias Molina (Rosario, Argentina/Seton Hall)Molina arrives after a stellar career at Seton Hall, where he posted a school-record 0.80 goals-against average, a .752 save percentage, and 13 clean sheets. He helped guide the Pirates to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and brings strong shot-stopping credentials to the WSC back line.
Defenders
Aleksei Armas (Florham Park, NY/Hofstra & Adelphi)Armas played 37 matches over two seasons at Hofstra, making 19 starts, including 14 during his senior year. He earned recognition on both the Hofstra Athletic Director Scholars and CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Rolls. Prior to Hofstra, he competed in 31 matches at Adelphi University, recording two assists.
Maximus Jennings (Montclair, NJ/Georgetown)Jennings joins Westchester after making 24 appearances with Real Monarchs in MLS NEXT Pro in 2025, tallying two goals. A four-year contributor at Georgetown, he anchored the Hoyas’ defense throughout his collegiate career.
Tim Timchenko (Kyiv, Ukraine/Iona)One of Iona University’s most decorated players, Timchenko earned MAAC Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior and was a two-time All-MAAC First Team selection. Developed at Dynamo Moscow Academy and the New York Red Bulls Academy, he now makes his professional debut with WSC.
Midfielders
Aiden Borra (Syosset, NY/Sacred Heart & St. John’s)Borra most recently competed in USL League Two with RKC Third Coast following collegiate stops at Sacred Heart and St. John’s. At Sacred Heart, he appeared in 34 matches over two seasons, contributing two goals and three assists while earning NEC All-Tournament Team honors. He also played 27 matches across two seasons with the Red Storm.
Kyle Evans (Rock Hill, NY/Marist)Evans enjoyed a standout career at Marist, leading the Red Foxes with seven goals and four assists while earning All-MAAC First Team honors. A former New York Red Bulls Academy product, Evans has local ties beyond the pitch — his father, Ed Evans, serves as head men’s coach at Pace University.
Forwards
Daniel Burko (Løvenstad, Norway/Hofstra)Burko arrives after an impressive season at Hofstra, starting all 20 matches and recording 13 goals and five assists. His 31 points ranked second in the CAA and among the top in the nation. A First Team All-Atlantic Region and First Team All-CAA selection, Burko previously competed at Syracuse, Lincoln Memorial (where he scored 20 goals in 19 matches and was named South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year), and Waldorf University.
Miguel Diaz (Brooklyn, NY/St. John’s)The Brooklyn native and Peruvian national team forward joins WSC after time with the Westchester Flames in USL League Two. At St. John’s, Diaz made 34 starts in 43 appearances, totaling 25 career points and earning BIG EAST Honor Roll recognition twice.
Charlie Dickerson (Norwich, England/Providence)Dickerson concluded a strong collegiate career at Providence College, where he started every match and anchored the Friars’ back line. Before Providence, he captained Bradley University for two seasons and earned Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors after transferring from Jefferson College.
The nine newcomers join 14 returnees on Westchester’s preseason roster. Among those back for 2026 with local connections are goalkeeper Andrew Hammersley (Garden City, NY/Sacred Heart), defender Noah Powder (Edison, NJ), midfielder Conor McGlynn (Middle Village, NY/Siena College), and forwards Ermin Mackic (Yonkers, NY/SUNY Purchase) and Samory Powder (Edison, NJ).
With a blend of homegrown talent and accomplished collegiate standouts, Westchester SC enters 2026 aiming to take a significant step forward in its second USL League One season. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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