Bull Moose Head Into Holiday Break on Top of League Table (July 1)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club’s 23U Men’s team is heading into the July 4 holiday break of its inaugural season in first place in its 11-team division of the New England Club Soccer League (NECSL).

First-year head coach Nick Viola (Gorham High School) attributes the Bull Moose’s early success to a balanced attack, a stingy defense, tactical versatility, and team camaraderie. “Our group has hit the ground running with tactical versatility,” said Viola, “but our constant strength has been defending across all thirds of the pitch.”

Captain Asa Farley (University of Southern Maine), Riley Dever (Plymouth State Universtity), and Connor LeClerc (University of Southern Maine) have anchored the team’s backline, while goalkeepers Ethan Homa (Southern Maine Community College) and Sean MacDonald (University of New England) have both contributed to a defensive team effort that has yielded only two goals in three games.

The Bull Moose have scored five goals in those three games with six different players contributing goals or assists. The team’s attack has been highlighted by Muntasir Ahmed (Saint Michael’s College), Grahame Bean (Kennebunk High School), Wyatt Flibbert (New England College), Josiah Irish, Martin Kelly (University of Southern Maine), and Owen Spera (University of Maine-Farmington).

The team’s roster features 22 players, with fourteen of those players being homegrown players who played at least three seasons with Rosevelt SC as youth players. According to Viola, that familiarity has been noticeable and helpful. “It feels like we’ve played together for years, rather than just one month.”

Fresh off a 3-game home stand to open the 6-game season with two wins and a tie, the Bull Moose will finish their schedule with away games in Bedford, NH on July 12; Durham, NH on July 19; and Scarborough, ME on July 26. “We’ve quickly learned this is a very competitive league,” said Viola. “So our focus will be on finishing the season as strong as we’ve started it.”

Rosevelt SC 23U Men Control Play, Earn Point in League Debut (June 15)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club’s 23U Men team earned a point in its league debut Sunday night at Hannaford Field in Gorham, tying Central Maine United 1-1 in Gorham.

Making its debut in the New England Club Soccer League (NECSL), the Bull Moose controlled possession and created more scoring opportunities but were unable to add to Muntasir Ahmed’s successful penalty kick in the 15th minute. Ahmed converted the penalty after Owen Spera earned a foul in the goal area on a clear scoring opportunity.

After taking its 1-0 lead into halftime, Rosevelt SC continued its control of possession and created multiple scoring chances. But it was a counterattack goal by Central Maine United’s Ethan Goodrich in the 55th minute that evened the game and proved to be the last goal scored by either team. Goalkeeper Ethan Homa made five saves, and his backline was highlighted by captain Asa Farley and fellow center back Connor LeClerc.

“Today was a positive result, and a good first experience in a regional-based format,” said Bull Moose head coach Nick Viola. “We defended well, limited chances for the opposition, and created plenty of our own opportunities in the attacking third. We just need to finish those chances next time out.” Earlier in the day, Viola coached his RSC 11U Boys team to a win in their Maine State Premier League final in Freeport, and eleven of his 11U team’s players joined his 23U starting lineup in the pregame walkout and introductions.

“Today was a milestone date in our club’s history,” club co-owner and chairman John Morgan said. “Our 11U Boys and 11U Girls teams both had positive experiences in their league finals, and our homegrown-heavy 23U team represented us well in our club’s league debut. We’ve taken another significant step forward in our club’s growth as a homegrown and multigenerational club.”

An estimated 112 spectators attended the game, and the Bull Moose will be hosting Apex (Keene, NH) at Hannaford Field in its next NECSL game on Sunday, June 21 at 6p. Admission is free, but spectators will need to pay a $3 parking fee charged by the University of Southern Maine.

Rosevelt SC 23U Men to Open 2026 Season with Fourteen Homegrown Players (June 10)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club’s 23U Men team will open its 2026 season Sunday night with a roster that consists of fourteen homegrown players, or players who played at least three years with the club as youth players.

The club will be making its first team league debut in the New England Club Soccer League (NECSL), a league that features 23U teams from all six New England states. The team’s 6-game schedule will be played within an 11-team division that includes teams from Maine and New Hampshire.

After hosting its first three games at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham at 6p on June 14, June 21, and June 28, the team closes its season with three games on the road in Bedford, New Hampshire; Scarborough, Maine; and a location to be determined by New Hampshire-based Maximum Velocity FC.

“To make our club’s first team league debut with so many homegrown players the same week that we’re wrapping up our U9-U18 youth season is a yet another milestone as a multigenerational club, and it’s a testament to the time and work of so many of our members over the last decade,” said club chairman and technical director John Morgan.

Along with featuring fourteen homegrown players, the team’s roster also features a coaching staff that includes coaches with deep ties to the club. Head coach Nick Viola and goalkeeper coach Dave Homa have each been coaching RSC youth teams and RSC youth players for about a decade, and Andy Lefebvre is returning to the Bull Moose bench after previously coaching RSC youth teams with Viola.

The club will not be charging an admission fee for the 23U Men’s home games this summer, but attendees will need to pay a $3 parking fee charged by the University of Southern Maine for each vehicle parked on one of its campuses.

2026 Roster

2026 Official Schedule

Rosevelt SC to Open New Indoor Training Center (June 3)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club this summer will be opening the RSC Lab, a 7,000 sq. ft. indoor training center that will complement the club’s field use at the Gorham Sports Center.

“We have a great working relationship with the Gorham Sports Center going back to our club’s founding in 2014,” said club chairman and technical director John Morgan. “So the RSC Lab will enable us to provide additional small group and individualized developmental opportunities for our members that will complement our teams’ training sessions at the GSC. We plan on maintaining all of our current time at the GSC, and the RSC Lab should allow our teams to maximize that great field space even more.”

The RSC Lab will be located on the Gorham-Westbrook border on Route 25, and the club will be retrofitting the new facility with indoor turf and netting over the summer with an eye toward opening the facility by early August. “Our goal is to have the facility open in time to offer our club’s high school-aged players the opportunity to prepare for their upcoming high school pre-season programming,” said Morgan.

According to Morgan, the project is the first of two infrastructure investments the club is planning over the next couple years, and both projects are part of the RSC Fields of Dreams initiative identified by the RSC Facilities Committee that was formed earlier this year. Chaired by club member Gary Jordan and featuring club members Amarildo Hodo, Dave Homa, Dawn Homa, and Orlando Melado, the committee’s focus has been on getting the RSC Lab up and running, while the second project is still in development with other key community partners. Both projects are focused on building on the club’s current infrastructure to provide value-added opportunities for the club’s members. “We’ve been gradually and deliberately building multigenerational rosters including U9-U23 teams over the last dozen years, and the RSC Lab is one of two projects we’re hoping will help us build more capacity on and off the field to continue develop as many homegrown players for our men’s and women’s teams as possible going forward,” said Morgan. “Gary, Amarildo, Dave, Dawn, and Orlando are doing great work, and they deserve all the credit for making this happen so quickly.”

Along with hosting Rosevelt SC programming, the RSC Lab will be available for rent to third-party organizations and programs looking for small-group recreational space available year-round.

Rosevelt SC Announces 23U Men Home Game Schedule (May 27)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club has released the 2026 home schedule for its 23U Men’s team’s maiden season in the New England Club Soccer League (NECSL).

The Bull Moose will host Central Maine United (ME) on Sunday, June 14; Apex FC (NH) on Sunday, June 21; and Seacoast United (NH) on Sunday, June 28. Each game will be played at 6p at Hannaford Field in Gorham, and the remainder of the team’s 6-game schedule will be played on the road against Seacoast United (NH) on July 12, Maximum Velocity FC (NH) on July 19, and Seacoast United (ME) on July 26. The times and locations for these three road games have not have been finalized by the host club.

(Rosevelt SC 2026 NECSL U23 Showcase Schedule: https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/52040/schedules?team=4000069)

Rosevelt SC won’t be charging an admission fee for their home games this season, but attendees will be required to pay the $3 parking fee per vehicle that the University of Southern Maine charges for on-campus parking.

“Our club’s focus starting this summer is to expand its capacity on and off the field,” club chairman John Morgan said, “and building off our 23U program’s 3-year experience as a charter member of a state-based competition is the first step we’re taking toward expanding our club’s capacity heading into our next youth season in 2026-2027.”

Rosevelt SC to Host 2026-2027 Youth Player Evaluations (May 20)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club will be hosting their 13th annual youth player evaluations for their 2026-2027 season from May 28-June 9 at the Gorham Sports Center.

Each age group from U9-U18 will have 90-minute sessions that will utilize half the field at the Gorham Sports Center, and the club anticipates it will grow from 18 to 20 teams with one team in each age group on both the Boys’ and Girls’ sides of its program.

(Free pre-registration for 2026-2027 player evaluations is here: https://bit.ly/49n7JSf)

“We’re excited to build off the solid foundation we’ve built over the last twelve seasons,” club chairman John Morgan says, “and our focus for the 2026-2027 will be to expand our club’s capacity on and off the field.”

One example of on-field growth for the upcoming season will be immediate, when the club’s 23U Men’s team competes in a formal league for the first time this summer after competing in a Maine-based showcase event the last three summers. According to Morgan, 14 of club’s 22 rostered players on the 23U Men’s team are homegrown players, or players who played at least three seasons with the club as youth players. “Rostering a men’s team that is almost two-thirds homegrown players is a testament to the time and effort of our core communities’ stakeholders, including our own youth coaches.”

The club is also planning to expand its on-field and off-field capacities by appointing its first-ever full-time administrator; developing and retrofitting a 7,000 sq. ft. indoor space to host small group and individualized programming that will complement their teams’ training sessions at the Gorham Sports Center; developing and providing 7 v. 7, 9 v. 9, and 11 v. 11 curricula for its coaches; registering its U11-U18 teams in the New England Club Soccer League (NECSL); restructuring its RSC Academy program to provide select groups of U15-U18 players with additional training sessions and college showcase events; and organizing its next Iceland Capstone trip for its oldest youth players.

“A lot of hard work by many different people has helped us build a solid foundation for our club’s future,” said Morgan, “and we feel like our club’s future has never been more clear or brighter.”

Rosevelt SC Opens 2026-2027 Coach Application (May 6)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club has opened its coach application for the 2026-2027 season, and the deadline for applications is May 20.

The application can be found at this link: https://forms.gle/Y14yHVB7LTCr7kzP9

Rosevelt SC 23U Men’s Team to Compete in NECSL Summer League (April 29)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club’s 23U Men’s team will compete in the New England Club Soccer League’s (NECSL) summer league this year, after competing in a Maine-based competition the last three years.

In the NECSL league the team will likely play six games from June 13-August 2 and will likely compete against other clubs based in Maine and New Hampshire. The team’s roster currently features 20 players, with fourteen of those players being homegrown players—or players who played for the club as youth players for at least three seasons.

“Competing in the NECSL is the next big step forward for our men’s programming,” said the club’s 23U Men’s coach Nick Viola. “We’re excited for the challenge that comes with regional-based competition.”

The club will provide more information about the 2026 league schedule when it becomes available.

Rosevelt SC 14U Girls Appear in ‘207’ Segment on New USL-W Team in Maine (April 2)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club’s 14U Girls team appeared on the News Center Maine show “207” last night in a segment on a new women’s team in Maine looking to play in the USL-W league by 2027.

Coaches Brian Penley and Nate Bowie hosted reporter David Guildford at a recent team training session at the Gorham Sports Center, where Guildford recorded footage of the training session and interviewed numerous players about their perspectives of higher-level women’s soccer coming to Maine in the next few years.

Rosevelt SC Eyes Infrastructure Investments (March 25)

A Facilities Committee approved by the Rosevelt Soccer Club’s directors presented the outlines for two potential infrastructure investments at the club’s most recent directors’ meeting earlier this month.

“We’re still in the early stages of our due diligence on these potential projects,” said club chairman and technical director John Morgan, “but the projects would allow our club to expands its capacity and aspirations, while also making us more efficient on and off the field.”

The initiative—called RSC Fields of Dreams—will likely primarily feature private investment, but will also likely include contributions from the club’s co-owners and members. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but the time and effort committee members Amarildo Hodo, Dave Homa, Dawn Homa, Gary Jordan, and Orlando Melado have put in over the last couple months have sped up our timeline and we’re optimistic about our next steps,” said Morgan.

Rosevelt SC Sets Club Record with Presidents Cup Registrations (March 18)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club has registered five of its youth teams for the U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS) Presidents Cup this season, which is a record number of registrations in a regional competition for the club. “Registering a record number of teams is probably a combination of our club’s continued trend of higher aspirations, and a couple tweaks to the competition that have made it more accessible for more of our teams,” says club chairman and technical director John Morgan.

Besides pushing back the start date about a week later to help avoid conflicts with school-related schedules, USYS also reformatted the competition by doubling the number of regions from four to eight. Maine teams will now compete in the smaller Northeast Region of the competition, which has replaced the sprawling Eastern Region of the competition. This season’s regional competition will be played in Simsbury, CT from June 18-21, but each of Rosevelt SC’s five teams may need to play at least one “win-and-you’re in” game in Maine in May to qualify for the regional competition.

“We’re grateful for USYS making these changes and hosting this competition in Connecticut instead of in Virginia or West Virginia in previous years. The reduced travel burden of competing in New England makes a big difference for our teams,” said Morgan, “and we’re really looking forward to more of our players experiencing this merit-based competition.”

Rosevelt SC Names Viola as 23U Men’s Coach (March 11)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club has named Nick Viola as its new 23U Men’s coach.

Viola—who is also the boys’ varsity coach at Gorham High School—has been coaching youth teams with Rosevelt SC over the last decade and recently earned his U.S. Soccer C License. Viola also played collegiate soccer at Elmira College and played high school soccer at Deering High School.

"We can’t think of a better fit for a head coach to lead our 23U Men’s program into its next challenge of competing in a New England-based league this summer,” said club chairman and technical director John Morgan. “Nick is a diligent and hard-working coach on and off the field who builds great relationships with his players—including many players in this season’s player pool—and develops successful teams at every level he’s coaches.”

As head coach, Viola will primarily be responsible for rostering the club’s 23U Men’s team and leading it in the New England Club Soccer League (NECSL) competition this summer. “I am excited to lead our club’s highest level of programming, and I’m looking forward to giving more college-age players the opportunity to prepare for their collegiate seasons,” Viola said. “These opportunities didn’t exist for players like me in the early 2000s, and I’m looking forward to continuing to help build our club’s developmental pathway.”

According to Morgan, most of the team’s roster has been finalized and at least half of the roster will consist of homegrown players who played with Rosevelt SC as youth players before playing collegiate soccer. “Competing in the NECSL this summer is the next step we’re taking as a multigenerational club, and we’re thrilled to be doing it with one of our longtime coaches and so many of our homegrown players on our roster,” said Morgan.

Viola succeeds Rob Krouskup, who coached the club’s 23U Men’s team in Maine-based showcases the last three years before resigning from the club earlier this year.

Rosevelt SC Appoints Morgan as Technical Director (March 4)

The Rosevelt SC board of directors appointed John Morgan as the club’s new Technical Director at its most recent directors’ meeting.

“We’ve identified five specific goals for providing more on-field supports for our coaches this season,” Morgan said, “and we’ve been very busy the last couple weeks building a good foundation for accomplishing those goals.”

As the club’s technical director, Morgan will be responsible for attending the the club’s youth teams’ games and training sessions, developing club-wide curricula and guidelines, organizing formal and informal developmental opportunities for coaches, and managing coaches. Morgan, who also serves as the club’s chairman, succeeds Rob Krouskup, who had served as a coach and director since the club’s founding in 2014 before resigning this year.

“Rob was a great mentor for his players, and we’re grateful for his numerous contributions to our program over the last decade,” said Morgan.

Rosevelt SC to Co-Host Viewing Parties with Junction Bowl (January 14)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club will be co-hosting with apparel sponsor Junction Bowl five viewing parties in 2026.

The first two events in January and February will feature EPL games at 12:30p, and the three viewing parties in June will feature the U.S. Men’s National Team’s group stage games in the FIFA World Cup against Paraguay, Australia, and an opponent to be determined in a playoff final on March 31.

“Ben Smith and his team at Junction Bowl have always been great hosts,” said club chairman John Morgan, “and we’re looking forward to giving our members opportunities to hang out together off the field.”

Along with booking bowling lanes and providing bowling shoes for attending players, the club will organize prize giveaways for each event.

Rosevelt SC to Co-Host Frozen 4 v. 4 with Gorham Sports Center (January 7)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club will be co-hosting the Frozen 4 v. 4 with the Gorham Sports Center for youth players ages U9-U16 and a co-ed division for U17 and older players on Tuesday, February 17 and Tuesday, February 18.

“We co-hosted this event for a few years until it was interrupted by COVID-19,” said club chairman John Morgan, “and we’re excited to work with the Gorham Sports Center to revitalize the event next month.”

Each of the five divisions will feature up to six teams made up of 5-6 players each, each team will play at least four, 25-minute games, and the registration fee for each team is $150—or $25-$30/player. “These are fast-paced games that give players the opportunity to have a lot of fun and good touches over February vacation,” said Morgan. The club’s portions of the proceeds will go toward offsetting costs of its Iceland Capstone experience.

Interested teams can register at the link below, and the Gorham Sports Center’s general manager Tyler Maroon is available for questions and/or concerns at (207) 544-3319 and/or info@gorhamsportscenter.com.

Frozen 4 v. 4 Registration: https://forms.gle/QyksnFGGwnRc8kMz6

Rosevelt SC to Host Free 23U Drop-In Sessions (December 17)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club is expanding its programming for 23U players by hosting free drop-in sessions from January-March for male and female players with birth years 2003-2008.

The sessions will be at the Gorham Sports Center on Mondays from 4p-5:30p on the following dates:

23U Men: January 5, January 19, February 2, February 23, and March 9

23U Women: January 12, January 26, February 9, March 2, and March 16

These free drop-in sessions are an expansion of 23U programming to complement the summer program the club has offered since 2023, and free registration for interested players can be completed at this link: https://bit.ly/4rXo3Rv

Rosevelt SC to Host 13th Annual Kick-Off Event (November 13)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club will be hosting its 12th annual kick-off event Sunday (11/16) morning at the Westbrook Middle School.

The event will feature three different sessions with 9U-13U players (2017-2013) birth years attending a session from 9a-9:45a, all 9U-18U players (2017-2008 birth years) attending the second session from 9:55a-10:25a, and 14U-18U players (2012-2008) attending a third session from 10:30a-11:10a.

The following activities will be featured at the 2025-2026 edition of this annual event, which traces back to the club’s founding in 2014:

• Apparel Sizing

• Club Forum

• Pop-Up Club Shop

• Team Meetings

The club forum will consist of introductions, a recap of the 2024-2025 season, an update on the club’s RSC 2030 plan adopted last season, and a Q + A session related to 2026-2027 competitions and 2026-2027 age groups.

A more specific schedule for the event will be shared with the club’s members.

Rosevelt SC to Host Second Round of Player Evaluations for Youth Teams (October 8)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club will be hosting a second round of player evaluations for its youth teams on from 4:30p-6p on Sunday, November 9 at the Gorham Sports Center for the following age groups:

2013 Girls, 2014 Boys, 2015 Girls, 2016 Girls, 2017 Boys, and 2017 Girls

Players interested in participating in this second round of player evaluations can be pre-register for free at the link below:

https://bit.ly/4hdXv9x

“Most of our rosters are full after our initial round of evaluations in June,” explained club chairman John Morgan, “but this second round of evals is primarily for our youngest teams and a few openings available on our older teams.”

Rosevelt SC Closes 2024-2025 Season (July 28)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club closed its 2024-2025 season yesterday, when the club’s 23U Men’s and 23U Women’s teams competed in a Maine 23U Showcase doubleheader at Thomas College in Waterville.

“We accomplished a few important milestones this season,” club chairman John Morgan said. “Most notably, we rostered a 23U Women’s team to complement the 23U Men’s teams we’ve been fielding the last couple seasons.” According to Morgan, fielding multigenerational teams on the boys’ and girls’ sides of the club was a goal years in the making, and he attributes the time and effort former club director Stephanie Harvie put into accomplishing that goal since the club’s inaugural 10U Girls team was rostered during the 2016-2017 season.

Other highlights for the season included eight appearances in the MSPL finals, the club’s second trip to Iceland, and three teams representing Maine well in the USYS Presidents Cup competition in Pennsylvania—including the club’s 16U Boys team making the club’s first appearance in the semifinals of a regional competition.

Rosevelt SC to Host 23U Player Evaluations (April 30)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club will be hosting player evaluations for its 23U Men’s and 23U Women’s teams on Thursday, May 15.

Evaluations for the 23U Men’s team will be from 5:30p-7p, and evaluations for the 23U Women’s team will be from 7p-8:30p. Both sessions will be at the Gorham Sports Center, and players can complete the free pre-registration process at the link below:

https://bit.ly/3PXNP6P

RSC Boys Academy to Tour Iceland (April 17)

The RSC Boys Academy team is scheduled to participate in a 5-day, 2-game tour in Iceland next week, which marks the club’s second Iceland tour in the last three years.

“We’re really excited to give our members this international opportunity, so that they can experience a different culture on and off the field,” club director Elisha Morgan said. “Our first trip in 2023 with our 19U Boys and 16U Girls was a milestone experience for our members, and we’re looking forward to this group having a similar experience.”

The Rosevelt Soccer Club’s ties to Icelandic soccer clubs date back to 2019, when three clubs—Breidablik, Grindavik, and Vikingur Reykjavik—hosted the Rosevelt SC chairman for a 3-day visit. Those three clubs hosted a couple club directors again in 2022, and then hosted two RSC teams for a series of friendlies in April 2023.

“We’re looking into making an Iceland trip a regular capstone for our club’s oldest teams,” club chairman John Morgan said. “And our directors Elisha Morgan and Stephanie Harvie have been putting a ton of time and effort behind the scenes to make sure we’re able to offer a first-rate trip that is still relatively affordable.”

Along with an off-field itinerary that will include sightseeing and attending a men’s professional soccer game, the 5-day tour will feature friendlies against Breidablik and Vikingur, a couple of the top clubs in Iceland

Rosevelt SC to Kick Off 10th Season in the Maine State Premier League (March 26)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club will kick off its decennial season in the Maine State Premier League (MSPL) this weekend, when three of its teams host their season-openers.

The state-based league is administered by Soccer Maine and affiliated with U.S. Youth Soccer, and it’s the league Rosevelt SC teams have competed in every season since the club’s founding in 2015—except in 2020 when it was canceled due to COVID-19.

“When we attended our first league meeting in 2014, there were serious conversations about whether the MSPL had a future due to a couple franchise programs opting to register their teams in a New England-based league,” said Rosevelt SC chairman John Morgan. “But the MSPL has consistently grown in both quality and quantity over the last decade, and we’re proud of the work our club and our fellow MSPL clubs around Maine have put into improving the league.”

The league’s 12U-19U teams will play a 6-game schedule between March 30 and May 18, and bracket playoffs and finals will be played the weekend of May 31-June 1.

“Our league has improved quite a bit over the last ten years, but we still have room for improvement and growth on and off the field.”

Rosevelt SC Establishes Goal of Qualifying for the U.S. Open Cup by 2030 (March 19)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club has established a goal of qualifying for the U.S. Open Cup by 2030.

The competition, which was started in 1914, is a unique competition in the United States in that it features both professional and amateur clubs playing against each other. The first round of the 2025 edition of the U.S. Open Cup kicked off yesterday, and thirty-two games between professional and amateur teams are being played all across the United States this week—including in Lewiston, when the Portland Hearts of Pine make its U.S. Open Cup debut against the Massachusetts-based amateur club CD Faialense on Thursday.

“Ever since the Hearts of Pine ownership announced their intentions of bringing professional soccer to Maine, they’ve been expanding the aspirations and capacity for homegrown soccer in Maine,” said Rosevelt SC chairman John Morgan. “It’s taken our state’s soccer stakeholders longer than it should have to start building the infrastructure for amateur men’s and women’s clubs in Maine, but we’re now in the position where the U.S. Open Cup can be the lodestar for our club and other multigenerational amateur clubs in Maine.”

Working with the newly-sanctioned Maine Soccer Association and other Maine-based clubs, Rosevelt SC is continuing its work developing 23U Men’s and 23U Women’s programming this summer, while working with other state associations in New Hampshire and Vermont to gradually develop U.S. Open Cup qualifying league in northern New England by 2028.

“It’s a really exciting time to be involved in Maine soccer, and our future has never been brighter!”

Rosevelt SC Announces Yosaku Scholarship (March 12)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club is collaborating with Yosaku restaurant to provide annual scholarships to the club’s oldest players.

The idea was proposed by Ram Tray, the chef and owner of the Portland restaurant, and the Rosevelt SC’s board of directors approved the scholarship offer a few weeks ago. “We’re really grateful for Ram’s generosity,” said club chairman John Morgan. “He’s one of our charter coaches, and we’re really proud that he’s still interested in contributing to our club.”

Tray’s motivation for providing the scholarship is to recognize the commitment and loyalty of players who play with the club all four years of their high school career, so all players who play with the club as 15U, 16U, 17U, and 18U/19U players will be eligible for the scholarship at the end of their senior year. The total scholarship fund will be distributed among the players who qualify each year, so the player-by-player total will likely be a partial refund of registration fees that varies depending on the number of eligible applicants on a year-to-year basis.

“We’ve always appreciated the Tray family’s support and contributions to our club since our founding, and the Yosaku Scholarship is the perfect embodiment of that support and those contributions,” Morgan said.

Maine Soccer Association Approved as a Member of U.S. Soccer (March 5)

The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) approved the Maine Soccer Association (MSA) as a Member at the USSF’s 2025 Annual General Meeting in Atlanta this past weekend, and the MSA is now a member of both the USSF and the U.S. Adult Soccer Association (USASA).

“This is a big deal for our club, because we’re a founding member of the MSA and have played an integral role in the association’s progress,” said Rosevelt SC chairman John Morgan, who is also the chairman of the Maine Soccer Association. “Our club’s short-term goal is to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup by 2030, and the MSA’s ability to develop a sanctioned qualifying league for Maine clubs dovetails with that goal.”

The Maine Soccer Association’s primary goal is to develop more men’s and women’s club programming in Maine, and it has organized and administered 23U Men’s and 23U Women’s programming featuring five Maine clubs the last couple summers to build the foundation for a U.S. Open Cup qualifying league.

According to Morgan, there are efforts underway to develop such a league for clubs in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont by 2028.

Rosevelt SC Announces ‘Positive Developmental Experiences’ Goals for 2024-2025 Season (February 26)

Following up on its inaugural goals for “Positive Developmental Experiences” (PDE) last season, the Rosevelt Soccer Club has announced its teams’ PDE goals for the 2024-2025 season.

The goals are for Rosevelt SC 12U-19U teams to earn a positive result (i.e., a win or a tie) in at least 50% of their Maine State Premier League games, earn a positive result in at least 33% of their showcase or tournament games, and play in competitive games (i.e., results +/-3 goals) at least 70% of the time. “We track the results of all of our 12U-19U teams in official competitions,” explained club chairman John Morgan, “and that data helps us strike the balance between our youth players’ long-term development and their teams’ positive results in competitive games.”

Rosevelt SC to Host Member Feedback Sessions (January 30)

The Rosevelt Soccer will be hosting member feedback sessions as part of its RSC 2030 Committee work next Thursday (2/7) at Westbrook High School.

“We celebrated our club’s tenth season last year,” explained Rosevelt SC chairman John Morgan, “and we want to give our members opportunities to be involved in our process of re-evaluating every aspect of our club as we prepare for our next decade of achievements and milestones.”

The initial feedback session next week will be focused primarily on club governance and other off-field topics, while the second member feedback session on March 6 will focus on programming and other on-field topics.

Rosevelt SC Brings Back Club Mentor Program (January 22)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club has restored its Club Mentor program this season, after first launching the program during the 2020-2021 season.

The program, which pairs up some of the the club’s oldest players with its youngest teams, is intended to provide public service opportunities for its older players and mentors to its younger players.

“The program strengthens our community and the game by empowering our club’s older players to grow as leaders and role models,” said one of the club’s directors Stephanie Harvie, “and it provides our younger players with the support and encouragement they need to find joy in the game and succeed on and off the field.”

So far this season, four of the club’s RSC Academy (19U) players are alternating in pairs to work with RSC Futures (9U) players every other Sunday morning, and there are still opportunities available for more Club Mentors to work with the club’s 10U and 11U teams every other week.

Rosevelt SC Reintroduces Futsal in Youth Programming (January 8)

After going a couple seasons without futsal as part of its youth programming, Rosevelt SC has reintroduced futsal as part of all of its youth teams’ winter programming on a limited basis starting in January.

“Most of our youth teams’ training sessions this season will still be played on turf at the Gorham Sports Center or on grass at Gambo Fields,” explained Rosevelt SC chairman John Morgan, “but we’re excited to reincorporate indoor and outdoor futsal as part of of all our youth teams’ programming again this season. Our futsal sessions are energetic, fast-paced, and they help our players improve their technical skills, creativity, and quick decision-making.

The club is partnering with the Town of Gorham by using Shaw Gym for a couple sessions every Sunday through April, and will continue its partnership with the City of Westbrook by using the Cornelia Warren Four Season Rink on Wednesday evenings in the spring.

“Gorham and Westbrook are two of our club’s core communities, and we’re excited to continue to build those community-based relationships on and off the field by contributing to the growing futsal culture in southern Maine,” Morgan said.

Rosevelt SC to Collaborate with Junction Bowl to Co-Host EPL Viewing Parties (January 4)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club will be collaborating with Junction Bowl in Gorham to co-host monthly viewing parties of English Premier League games this season.

The first viewing party will be on Saturday, January 18 when Arsenal vs. Aston Villa will be broadcast on NBC at 12:30p, and the remaining dates will be the third Saturday of each month: February 15, March 15, April 19, and May 17. The times for those dates have not yet been finalized due to unpublished broadcast schedules.

“Junction Bowl has been our club’s apparel sponsor for four seasons now, and we’re excited to partner with Ben Smith and his team again on a series of viewing parties. It’s a great atmosphere, the food is delicious, and it’s a really good opportunity for our members and the general public to hang out and watch soccer together,” said Rosevelt SC chairman John Morgan.

Besides having TVs designated for the games, the club will also be organizing prize contests and pay for two hours of bowling on a couple bowling lanes for their players to use.

Rosevelt SC to Kick Off 11th Season (Friday, January 3)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club is officially kicking off its eleventh season this afternoon, when its 10U and 11U teams host their first training sessions of the season.

“Last season was all about celebrating our tenth anniversary and recognizing ten key milestones our club accomplished in our first decade,” said club chairman John Morgan. “The focus this season will be on maintaining that momentum, while also working on what our club’s next ten years should look like.”

Along with the club’s two youngest teams, all of its other youth teams will be hosting their first training sessions of the season over the weekend before all 10U-19U teams begin their regular programming next week. Those teams’ two weekly training sessions will take place at either the Gorham Sports Center or at Shaw Gym in Gorham.

“We’re so grateful for the positive working relationship we’ve developed with the Gorham Sports Center over the last 11 years,” Morgan explained, “and we’re really excited about developing a positive working relationship with the Town of Gorham by reintroducing futsal as part of our programming on a limited basis.”

Rosevelt SC Chairman Interviewed for Maine Soccer Documentary (Monday, December 30)

The Rosevelt Soccer Club’s chairman John Morgan was interviewed Monday by a Knack Factory documentary crew at the Gorham Sports Center.

Knack Factory is a Maine-based production company, and the firm has been working on a documentary series about the development of the professional soccer club now known as the Portland Hearts of Pine since 2021.

“Today’s interview was a freshening of an interview we did in May 2021,” Morgan explained, “and the crew has been really busy documenting all of Hearts of Pine’s milestone developments over the last six months.”

The series, which will primarily be focused on the Hearts of Pines inaugural season as a professional club, will also feature other storylines about Maine soccer in general.

“Kurt Graser is the owner of Knack Factory and the lead producer of the series, but he’s also a soccer guy and really passionate about Maine soccer,” Morgan said. “The series will obviously focus on Hearts, but Kurt also understands and wants to depict how Maine’s soccer culture in general might both influence and be impacted by Maine’s first professional soccer club.”

As for the timeline of the documentary’s release and its broadcast or streaming platform, those details haven’t yet been finalized.

“It sounds like they have promising leads for getting it seen sooner than later, but they already have a great working title and the rough cut of the series trailer is really good,” Morgan hinted.