Stretch-Run Slop

 

We've spent the last few weeks lurking quietly in your metadata, preparing to take your jobs and gathering prescient insights into Buffalo amateur soccer. 

 

But we saved our energies (and stole some from a local data center) for this behemoth of a post that examines where the Buffalo & District Soccer League stands at the two-thirds point of an unpredictable season.

 

PREMIER

 

Favorites: Even with their defeat on Sunday, Bees have to remain the favorite. It was a talented group that advanced to last year's semis, and they've gotten stronger by adding Sean Burke, Kyle Kleckner and Alex Cancilla. Attendance and injuries will always loom as concerns, but Colin Archibald and Ralph Grizanti have done a nice job of assembling a roster with strong balance.

 

Disappointments: The easy answer is BSC Raiders (2-3-2), the defending champs who've trudged through a rocky campaign due to injuries and low attendance. Adding former Major League Soccer draft pick Abdi Salim and dynamic winger Peter Massaquoi can certainly help Raiders snatch a playoff spot.

 

NMB has been an in-season disappointment, too, after a scorching 4-0 start. Losers of three straight - including a 7-3 loss to just-promoted Buffalo Celtic - NMB has two of its last three against BUSS and Bees.

 

Dark horse: Don't count out Queenston, which lacks the firepower of previous seasons but has quietly rattled off five league games without a loss. Perhaps the 4-0 opening day defeat to NMB caused some to write off the Parliament, but drawing BUSS and handing Bees their first defeat has seen John Netter's side sizzle in June.

 

Slopper of the month: Noah Rougeux, Queenston; Adam Enders, Olean.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Favorites: Buffalo Italia is cruising along. 29 goals for, four against, but it's been a balanced effort in front of keeper Nate Hunt. Dom Marino's quartet of goals against Williamsville Willies vaulted him atop the team's list of producers, but Evan Smith, Antonio Pellegrino and Emmanuel Enock all have four goals or more. The pseudo-merger with Polonia Legacy could not have gone better. Ukraine have fought to keep pace, and it would be quite the final.

 

Disappointments: Medina, the early favorite for this category, has righted the ship with four matches without suffering defeat. The designation probably falls to Willies, 1-6, who've been anemic offensively, scoring just over one goal per game. We figured losing Kevin Sugg and Sam Hepworth would sting, but maybe not this much.

 

Dark horse: Medina, but it's not easy to pick one here. This probably should have been Rance, but their up-and-down results lately bring into question whether they can make a sustained run. Gunners have struggled mightily. Sporting Cavs have made some wise recent additions - maybe Kapela Sulemani sparks the offense and Nate DiGaudio adds size and skill - but will it be enough to rise above the favorites? 

 

Slopper of the month: Peter Martillotta, Medina; Cam Murdie, Revs.

 

FIRST DIVISION

 

Favorites: Yes, there's not much separating Honey Badgers, Mandem and Buffalo Night. Mandem seized the head-to-head with Honey Badgers, a sign they're clearly at the top when their roster is near full strength. Patrick Krough, Dylan Stellrecht and the whole Webster family are a pain to contain. Buffalo Night has enough individual talent to take down either on a good day, but a lot would have to go right.

 

Disappointments: This division has shaken out how we anticipated from the early going. There's no obvious disappointment, per se, as it's hard to call Kunz disappointing as a newcomer to the division, even if they might have more collective talent than their record would suggest.

 

Dark horse: Clarence? Steve Pufpaff is among the top goalkeepers in the entire BDSL and could steal a game, but their offensive threats are limited. Brigade showed signs of life, then got pummeled by Stallions, who nearly doubled their league goal total in one match thanks in part to a Jon Pardi eruption. It would be a shock if a mid-table team took down any of the Big 3.

 

Slopper of the month: Evan Frontuto, Southern Tier; Pufpaff, Clarence.

 

SECOND DIVISION

 

Favorites: It's as hard to choose a favorite in D2 as it was to pick a dark horse in D1. Three points separate the top five teams, although there's variability in games played. But Infinity clocks in as the favorites: Chris Griffiths' 10 league goals and Luke Lennox's six assists lead the way, and the defense hasn't really shown cracks. Jacob Endich might not have the stats to show for it, but he's been dynamic. 

 

Disappointments: There's no easy answer here, but Crimson Fire probably see themselves as a division favorite -  yet they're 4-3-1 with an even goal differential. The early signing of Jonah Diebold was brilliant and is already paying dividends, and a potential semifinal against WNY Phoenix would be a compelling clash.

 

Dark horse: Hard to say. There are a lot of grind-it-out teams in the mid-table with decent back lines: Bangarang, Cosmos, Dutch and GWB. They're all tough to beat, but ultimately shouldn't worry the contenders.

 

Slopper of the month: Chris Robertello, Dutch, who allegedly completed a triathlon the morning of a match, then played the match. That is all-time Slopperness.

 

THIRD DIVISION

 

Favorites: Clearly Rust Belt. They've beaten contenders Nanner, Lake Shore and Midnimo, and have the continuity (and potentially abrasiveness) to win several ways. While Josh Gabalski leads the line, all sorts of different players have chipped in: recently it's been Eli North, Kai Hays and Ben Roesser. 

 

Disappointments: Buffalo Evening were a close to .500 team last year, but the wheels have fallen off in 2026 (0-5-2). A bright spot? The game reports they submit to the league are insightful and highlight the performances of players who may not appear on the score sheet.

 

Dark horse: If you think Nanner, nWo and Midnimo join Rust Belt as potential favorites, then Lake Shore is the obvious choice for dark horse. They played Rust Belt close and, other than knocked off Nanner, 3-0. Their results haven't been consistent, but if they reach the postseason, they won't be an easy out.

 

Slopper of the month: Kai Hays, Rust Belt; Brady Hillman, nWo.

 

FOURTH DIVISION

 

Favorites: Queen City AFC is not going to lose if they don't concede, and they've conceded just one goal in league play all year (and they beat Brighten Stars, a D3 club, in cup play). But they haven't been scoring lately, which raises concern at their perch atop the table. Flamingo rebounded well from their 2-0 upset loss to WNY United Reds, winning their last three in league - but were blasted midweek by Tonawanda United. Edge still goes to QCAFC.

 

Disappointments: Maybe Celtic Classic? They have too much individual talent to be mid-table, and their three remaining games are against top 4 sides, and they forfeited a cup game earlier this month. 

 

Dark horse: There's a debate whether North Collins are a favorite or a dark horse, but they're one or the other. Flamingo may have been proud how they defended Roland Wenk in their 1-0 shutout, but the forward is still a game-breaker. Losing only 5-3 to Rust Belt in Matthews Cup is a decent result, too.

 

Slopper of the month: Not the Erie Kats, who used an ineligible player and were forced to forfeit the rest of their games. 

 

OVER 35

 

Favorites: Oranje's 2-1 win over Blue Stars - after Blue Stars took down Enigma - suggests it's a three-way race at the top, although Lykan Next's comfortable 6-2 win over Oranje gives off "any given Friday" vibes. The schedule shifts more heavily toward teams within each of the three tiers, which should give a better sense of the pecking order in the next few weeks.

 

Disappointments: Defending lower-tier champs Devils are a much better side than their 1-3-2 record, but a smattering of injuries and discipline problems have them toward the bottom of the lowest division. They still have time to turn things around, including their final two matches against International Friendlies.

 

Dark horse: Soho can be very good if they have four or five subs - but they haven't been able to count on that each week (and over the last few years). On a good day, they can hang with the top tier, but on a low turnout day, they can lose 4-0 to Azzurri.

 

Slopper of the month: Ali Jawad, Oranje; Mariusz Radwanski, Soho.