HEALTHIER, EXPERIENCED N.J. ALLIANCE FC PRIMED FOR IMPROVED SEASON

Written By:  Charlie Corr
             ​East Region Contributor

New Jersey Alliance FC head coach Danny Mendoza was brought in by his friend and former Alliance FC coach Claudio Fontalvo while the 2021 WPSL season was in progress. Mendoza’s task was to provide his opinion and critique on a squad that endured a bevy of injuries within the roster and shortcomings on the scoreboard.

One recent match is difficult to tell an entire story, but Alliance FC’s 2022 campaign is already off to an improved start. The team opened the Metro Conference schedule with a strong 5-2 victory over New York Dutch Lions FC on June 6, and Mendoza senses things are headed in the right direction, across the board.

“I feel like the chemistry is better, the atmosphere is better, and everybody is driven to try and change from last year,” Mendoza said. “There are a lot of positive vibes and determination to do what we initially wanted to do last year.”

Mendoza estimated that 10 players last year were dropped from the roster because of various injuries – a major setback, to say the least, for any club. Therefore, Alliance FC’s training regimen was a top priority for 2022.

“The goal this year was to make sure to improve our fitness, and in the offseason, we focused on getting into the gym and building a strong foundation,” Mendoza said. “The ladies took this to heart, to improve the areas that they can be better in and focus on pushing their game.”

This year’s Alliance FC roster has a slew of top-level collegiate experience. Forward Maya Pitts, formerly of Syracuse, has played professionally overseas in Sweden and serves as team captain. Pitts provided Alliance FC’s opening goal against the New York Dutch Lions.

Angelika Barris, who played for Rutgers-Newark, is Alliance FC’s second captain and will be in the defense; she also has plenty of midfield experience, and Mendoza says she “brings grit to the game that you really can’t teach.” Then there is newcomer and forward Julia Stirpe, who played at Seton Hall several years ago and according to Mendoza, “brings creativity that we need up top to challenge defenders and keep them on their toes."

Alliance FC looked at more than 50 potential WPSL players this offseason, and Mendoza hopes the balance and depth of this year’s team can make some noise in the challenging Metro field.

“We’re one of the teams that has an older group – graduates who have come back to play, current collegiate athletes, and even younger players that we’re looking to who can play at this level,” Mendoza said. “They’re still learning a lot, and I’m excited for them. This year is definitely a start to something much bigger.”

Up next:

NJAFC will go on the road for its next two matches against Downtown United Soccer Club on June 12 (3 p.m. ET) and STA on June 16 (7:30 p.m. ET). Alliance FC’s next home match is against SUSA FC on June 18 (7 p.m. ET) at Cochrane Stadium in Jersey City, N.J.