2012 FC Buffalo season
The 2012 FC Buffalo Season was the third season for the National Premier Soccer League franchise in the fourth tier of the American soccer. It was the first season for the newly created NPSL Midwest Division Great Lakes Conference.
FC Buffalo did not compete for a bid in the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With the inaugural seasons of Detroit City FC and AFC Cleveland supporters of the teams formed the 'Rust Belt Derby' modeled after the Cascadia Cup. The winner of the Derby is based on the head to head record of the midwestern clubs during regular season NPSL matches. AFC Cleveland would win the inaugural competition.
Offseason
On December 10, 2011 the team's mascot Wolf Blitzer was unveiled at the Winter Wolves fund raiser. 2012 season tickets were sold at the event. The unique feature of the 2012 season ticket is that it consisted of a special season ticket holder's scarf that functioned as admission to the season's home matches. The season ticket scarf would be sold for future seasons as well.
2012 Preseason Roster
Source:
Staff
Daniel Krzyzanowicz - Head Coach
Division Standings
Midwest-Great Lakes Conference
Place |
Team |
Pld. |
W |
T |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Erie Admirals |
12 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
28 |
17 |
+11 |
23 |
2 |
Detroit City FC |
12 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
26 |
10 |
+16 |
20 |
3 |
AFC Cleveland |
12 |
4 |
7 |
1 |
22 |
15 |
+7 |
19 |
4 |
Greater Binghamton FC |
12 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
14 |
29 |
-15 |
9 |
5 |
FC Buffalo |
12 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
11 |
30 |
-19 |
7 |
Schedule and Results
Preseason
Regular Season
After a mediocre 1-2-1 start to the season the Blitzers suffered a 1-4 home defeat to Erie. In the game's first half Josiah Snelgrove was taken down near the Erie net. He then retaliated against an Erie player and was ejected with a straight red card. It was later learned that Snelgrove suffered a broken jaw on the play. Buffalo coach Krzyzanowicz was also ejected from the game for dissent. Later the NPSL suspended Krzyzanowicz for three games for the actions. The Erie game was the start of a three game losing streak that would see Buffalo outscored 10-2. The streak would see Buffalo fall from third in the division to a last place tie with Greater Binghamton FC. Following the season FC Buffalo announced that they had parted ways with Krzyzanowicz.