Major Arena Soccer League’s brightest stars converged on Utica, NY for the 2025 MASL All-Star Game, bringing the league’s signature fast-paced action to the Adirondack Bank Center (home of Utica City). The midweek crowd was excited to see the league’s best players take to the distinctive blue turf to showcase their skills both in the game and in the skill challenges. Utica City star Kelvin Olivera and all-time assist leader Nick Perera of the Tacoma Stars captained this year’s teams.
Skills Challenge
The evening began with an entertaining skills challenge that had the energetic midweek crowd on the edge of their seats. In the Goalkeeper Battles, Kansas City Comets’ Nicolau Neto claimed victory for Team Kelvin, demonstrating that MASL goalkeepers are as capable of scoring goals as they are preventing them.
The relay race provided perhaps the most entertaining moments of the skills portion, with players navigating obstacle courses and attempting precision chip shots. Team Perera emerged victorious in this segment, winning two of three races despite both sides struggling with the technical finishing element.
The competition concluded with the shootout and crossbar challenges, where Team Kelvin ultimately secured the overall skills challenge victory, building momentum for the main event.
All-Star Game
Team Kelvin was carrying all of the momentum going into the main event of the evening, to the delight of the Utica crowd. From the opening kick of the game, it was clear who the home crowd wanted to take the win. And Kelvin Olivera was happy to provide them with a reason to celebrate. The team captain took over the game with a hat trick and an assist on the way to a 7-3 win over Team Perera. Finishing the game off for Kelvin’s team was Milwaukee Wave’s Alex Sanchez scored on an open net at the end of the 4th quarter to secure his hat trick as well. On Team Perera’s side Nick Perera, Willy Eskay, and Rian Marques scored, but the team trailed early and were never able to get back into the game. When the final whistle was blown, the players looked a bit relieved that the game had wrapped up.
The night ended with all of the players sticking around to meet the fans in Utica. Many families were happy to get to see some of their favorite players up close and get their shirts and posters signed.
Community Connection
The evening concluded with players from both sides engaging with fans in an extended meet-and-greet session, signing autographs and taking photos with families who stayed well after the final whistle. This interaction highlighted the MASL’s commitment to community engagement and fan accessibility.
Arena Soccer’s Legacy Lives On
The successful showcase in Utica marks another milestone for a league that has evolved significantly since its 2008 founding as the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL-Pro). What began as a professional extension of an amateur league has grown into North America’s premier indoor soccer competition.
The MASL’s current prominence can be traced to a pivotal 2014 merger with the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), a move that unified the sport’s most historic franchises under one banner. This consolidation has allowed the league to preserve and build upon indoor soccer’s rich legacy while pushing the sport forward into a new era.
As the players and fans departed the Adirondack Bank Center, the evening served as both a celebration of the MASL’s present stars and a reminder of how far arena soccer has come since it was first played in the 1970s.
Team Lineups
Team Kelvin (Winners): Nicolau Neto (KC Comets), Gordy Gurson (Utica City FC), Kelvin Oliveira (Utica City FC), David Ortiz (Texas Outlaws), Mario Alvarez (Milwaukee Wave), Nilton de Andrade (Utica City FC), Leonardo Acosta (KC Comets), Andrew Coughlin (Utica City FC), Juan Pereira (Baltimore Blast), Vini Dantas (Utica City FC), Juan Alava (Utica City FC), Marco Fabiàn (Empire Strykers), Alex Sanchez (Milwaukee Wave), Patrick Thompson (Baltimore Blast), Stefan Mijatovic (Tacoma Stars)
Team Perera: Chad Vandegriffe (KC Comets), Dylan Hundelt (St. Louis Ambush), Zach Reget (KC Comets), Junior Kazeem (KC Comets), Justin Stinson (Empire Strykers), Nick Perera (Tacoma Stars), William Eskay (St. Louis Ambush), Dominic Francis (Harrisburg Heat), Kristian Quintana (Dallas Sidekicks), Ignacio Flores (KC Comets), Ignacio Flores (KC Comets), Jonatas Melo (Baltimore Blast), Mike Zierhoffer (Baltimore Blast), Ian Bennett (Milwaukee Wave), Rian Marques (KC Comets), Joey Tavernese (Harrisburg Heat), William Banahene (Milwaukee Wave)
