After two successful seasons on the pitch, which included a trip to the finals and semifinals, Albion San Diego announced that it will not take part in the upcoming National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) season.
With an expected return for 2025, which is the same season that San Diego FC will make its debut competing in Major League Soccer, Albion hopes to be just as competitive as it was in 2022 and 2023 playing at the professional level.
The team was led by head coach Ziggy Korytoski during its rookie NISA season that came after the merger of San Diego 1904 FC and ASC San Diego, which competed in the National Premier Soccer League at the time, in December of 2021.
Albion San Diego finished its first two regular seasons as the fourth-seed falling in the championship match to the Michigan Stars in 2022 after defeating the top-seeded Cal United Strikers FC in the semifinals.
Diego Gomez took over as head coach the following year helping lead the team to a dramatic quarterfinal victory over the Maryland Bobcats in penalty kicks before falling once again to the Stars this time in the semifinal round.
“It was a very memorable season full of passion from the players and the fans that will never be forgotten,” he said. “It also gave me valuable knowledge and experience as a head coach in this league that I intend to put to good use in my current position.”
Many Albion San Diego players have already found homes with new teams including midfielders Daniel Bedoya and Corey Lundeen both of whom were acquired by the Savannah Clovers along with defender Anthony Patti who was recently signed by Lexington SC of USL League One.
For San Diego area soccer fans who can’t wait until 2025 and still want to enjoy NISA soccer games in person, the closest team will now be Capo FC, which will play its games in San Juan Capistrano, and Zeta FC, which will play its games at Championship Stadium in Irvine.
Albion will still have a team competing in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) for the spring 2024 season just as it did during the fall of 2023 when it was led in scoring by midfielder Dylan Mafong along with forwards Cody Longwell and Gabriel Haddad.
Foto de David Frerker
