This summer, Northwood’s partner soccer club, Black Rock FC, looks to build upon a successful season in the USL2 league. For context, USL2 is the highest division of semiprofessional soccer in the United States, and Black Rock competes in the Northeast Division. This division is widely regarded as the toughest conference in the league, as it has been home to the past two national champions, Seacoast United and Vermont Green FC. Despite the stiff competition, Black Rock finished third out of eight teams, losing only three matches—two of which came against eventual champion Vermont Green.
Throughout its existence, the USL2 program has served as a bridge between Northwood players and the college levels they aspire to reach. Last year, the team was led by Sachiel Ming ’24, who recently completed his second season at Syracuse, and Leo Doyle ’25, who is headed to UPenn this fall. Other notable alumni include recent Stanford graduate and professional player Liam Doyle ’22, as well as fellow professionals Alvaro Garcia Pascual ’21 and Calem Tommy ’22. All of these players honed their skills in USL2 before heading off to college—and often between college seasons—before reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
Black Rocks home stadium at Rivier College. Photo: Rivier College.
This year, the division is only becoming more competitive with the addition of Connecticut Rush. Every team features rosters stacked with top talent from all divisions of college soccer, along with a handful of elite high school players. As a result, each game feels like a coin flip, with both sides competing at an exceptionally high level.
One distinguishing factor among USL2 teams is their approach to player housing. Some teams, like Black Rock, operate on a college campus, where players live and cook together, forming a close-knit summer community. Others consist primarily of local commuters who travel in for training sessions and matches. Both models have proven effective, but last year Black Rock felt it had found something special.
Players on Black Rock’s USL2 side prepare for the clash against Vermont Green. Photo: Brady King.
With the team living together and building strong bonds, players felt they were truly competing for one another. “We have guys from every corner of the globe teaching each other to cook, sharing music—it’s just like one big family,” said star Leo Doyle when asked what made Black Rock’s USL2 experience so unique. “I think that’s what allowed us to play so well together. Our lineup may not have boasted as many big-name players as other programs, but at the end of the day, we played for each other, and that showed in our results.”
This season, the team hopes to build upon last year’s culture and make a push for the conference championship. It won’t be easy—the season stretches across three months and includes roughly 15 matches—but if any team can do it, it’s Black Rock. With several Huskies expected to feature prominently once again, all eyes will be on Nashua, NH, eager to see how this Husky-led squad performs.
