OLEAN, N.Y. — Using Mike Martel’s analogy, Sunday would have been Christmas Eve.
Five days ago, Olean 1854 FC, the area’s first-year outfit in the Buffalo and District Soccer League (BDSL), in its Manchester United-style kits, played its initial game in a scrimmage at Bolivar.
“It was the first time we were able to put a whole 11 on the field and actually play in a competitive environment,” Martel, the team’s founder and manager said. “We could see a difference from start to finish.”
Two days from now comes the real thing.
This Sunday, Olean will open its inaugural season in the BDSL 2nd Division against West Seneca FC at Tri Town United Fields 1 in Elma at 4 p.m. Its first home game in an 11-contest schedule comes May 20 at Olean Intermediate Middle School against 11 Stars FC.
Martel’s team has done plenty of growing since the Times Herald’s initial announcement of the team in late March. It’s solidified a roster that includes a handful of former Big 30 all-stars and procured a Division II goaltender – Randolph’s Jarrett Lecceadone, now at Daemen – by word of mouth. It has a logo, colors – navy and light blue – and uniforms. And now, it’s ready to prove itself against some of the best amateur competition in Western New York.
With a first-year team in a Buffalo-driven league, Martel admits he doesn’t quite know what to expect in this inaugural campaign. Early on, Olean 1854 FC will look to its “four or five” guys that have BDL experience for guidance.
“We’re kind of relying on their knowledge, comparing where we’re at and what division we’re placed in,” Martel said. “We have a couple of guys that played in the 3rd Division last year, we have a couple that have played in the 1st Division. We’ve been talking among ourselves, comparing notes with them.
“We feel right now we can be very competitive with every team we walk on the field with in the 2nd Division.”
Among the players that Olean will be counting on for both direction and production are: Ryan Arvin, a men’s assistant at St. Bonaventure and a former starting goaltender at both Canisius and Mercyhurst and a high school standout in Jupiter, Fla.; Olean High products T.J. and J.T. Magro, Big 30 all-stars in 2017 who played in the 3rd Division out of high school; midfielder Chris Waclawski, who’s played in the upper divisions of the BDSL; and player/coach Justin Gilfert, another Bona assistant who starred at Hinsdale and played at both Hilbert College and Chivas USA Academy, the No. 1 ranked soccer academy in Florida.
“They understand what it takes to play in a game in this league,” Martel said. “All of those guys, I would say just with their experience in the league before, we’re definitely going to look to them in guiding us on the field.”
Other former Big 30 and local league all-stars on the roster include: Lecceadone, Brandon Morrow (Portville), Jordan Mullen (Fillmore), player/coach Pete Coate (Allegany-Limestone), Derek Mancuso (Fillmore), Rob Wight (Cuba-Rushford) and the team’s elder statesman, Jess Anderson (Olean).
Olean 1854 FC is one of 10 teams in the Odenbach grouping and one of 20 in the 2nd Division. Its goal is to make the playoffs in its first year – as one of the top two in its grouping or one of four wildcards in the division (8 total teams from the division advance). Beyond that, it’s hoping to play well enough to be promoted.
In a practice primarily associated with soccer, the two teams that make it to the 2nd Division championship will be promoted to the 1st Division the following year. Conversely, the last-place teams in each grouping will be demoted to the 3rd Division.
“Of course, the goal is we want to be promoted for next year,” said Martel, a longtime area soccer coach and the assistant principal at Olean High School. “We want to do well enough this year … we think we can make the playoffs and maybe be promoted up to the 1st Division for next year. That’s the ultimate goal.”
As the league’s only team based in the Southern Tier, and one that is untested, Olean understands that its presence in the BDSL may be viewed skeptically by some. But that’s just another reason it’s so excited to get underway.
And if last Sunday was Christmas Eve …
“It’s like waiting for Christmas to come,” Martel said. “That’s what these guys just love to do; they just love to be out on the field playing. We’re excited. We’re excited almost to prove ourselves that we belong in this league.
“Because we’re the oddity. The other teams are up in the Buffalo area. We had some convincing to do for them to allow us into the league. It’s almost like we have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder.”
(J.P. Butler, Bradford Publishing Company group sports editor, can be reached at othbutler@gmail.com)
OLEAN 1854 FC 2018 SCHEDULE
(All games on Sundays at 4 p.m.)
May 6, at West Seneca FC
May 13, at Kingsmen FC
May 20, vs. 11 Stars FC*
June 3, vs. WNY United Reds*
June 10, vs. Great White Buffalo*
June 17, at Delco Academy
June 24, vs. Clarence Rebels*
July 1, at FK Bosna
July 8, at West Seneca Panthers
July 15, at Future Stars
July 22, vs. Lykan United*
* Indicates home game at Olean Intermediate Middle School
