2026 Men’s & Women’s Roster Preview
Written By Chris Dailey
The best time of the year is nearly here as FC Monmouth prepares to return for the 2026 season.
Both the men’s and women’s rosters are officially set, with each side entering its second respective season in The League For Clubs (TLFC) and the women’s squad in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL).
Here’s a look at both rosters, with highlights on a few key pieces who are expected to play a major role in the Blue and Gold’s quest for National Championships.
FC Monmouth Men’s Team - 8th Season
Following a successful inaugural year in the The League for Clubs, the Blue and Gold return much of last season's core nucleus.
The heartbeat of the squad will be former Rowan midfielder Davide Caputo. In his fourth season with the club, the silky Italian-American has developed a reputation as one of the most elite players in the league. There is a certain elegance about Caputo’s play that has catapulted him into becoming FC Monmouth’s all-time assist leader.
Next to Caputo in the midfield is a returning Jake Homowitz. The fellow Rowan man is not the biggest player on any pitch he steps on but somehow seems to win every 50/50 challenge regardless. In his senior season with Rowan this past fall, he earned ALL-NJAC second team honors.
Among a host of other notable returners, Patrick Shaw and Lenny Aviles stand out. Shaw is a goal-scoring machine, notching 4 goals for the Blue and Gold last season, while Aviles lead the squad with 7. Shaw’s ability to find space in behind paired Aviles’ intense work-rate makes them both key assets to head coach Hugh MacDonald’s team.
Aviles, meanwhile, returns as the club’s captain. His playmaking ability on the wing and rocket for a right foot positions him as one of the northeast conference’s most dangerous attackers.
Leading the group of new arrivals to the club is Finn Moran. A Red Bull Academy and PDA youth product, Moran will be headed to Butler University in the fall. Moran possesses tricky feat and has experience with the US Youth National Team.
“We’re incredibly excited to see what our men’s team can accomplish this year. I don’t think many expected this young group to reach the heights that they did last year. Now that our successes are known, we’ll have a target on our backs from day one. With our largest group of men’s returners to date, complimented by a strong group of newcomers, I’m confident that that can transition from being underdogs to leaders of the pack.” Says general manager James Davis.
To view the men’s full roster, check it our here.
FC Monmouth Women’s Team - 3rd season
Like the men’s team, the women’s side have National Title aspirations. After a formative first year in the WPSL in 2025 which led to the team being dubbed expansion team of the year, the blue and gold now knows what it takes to turn that dream into a reality.
As they look to do this, all eyes will be on new Addison Halpern to make an instant impact.
Halpern arrives to FC Monmouth with an impressive catalog of accolades. At Rutgers Prep HS, Halpern was named the 2024-2025 Gatorade National Player of the Year and finished as the second leading goalscorer in New Jersey high school soccer state history with 180 goals.
As a freshman at the University of Virginia in the fall, Halpern started 21 matches and tallied 4 goals and 3 assists. The latter half of those goals came in the NCAA Tournament against High Point and Washington.
The scary part? Halpern isn’t the only superstar forward on this 2026 team. Allie Serlenga of Miami starred for the Blue and Gold’s front line last season. Her screamer against Fever SC was one of the most impressive goals in club history.
The midfield is no less talented. Returners Alexis Garcia of LaSalle and West Cheter’s Kianna Barber headline the impressive group. In the fall, Garcia tallied 5 goals for the Explorers, including a hat-trick against George Washington in 5 minutes. Barber, meanwhile, scored a hat-trick in the NCAA tournament and was named United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American.
Defensively, the club’s returning goalkeeper trio of Saige Santa Cruz, Nelly Bianchi-Nagle and Lauren Swafford all return for year two. The stout backline in front of them features the likes of returners Leah Howe, Grace Crowley, and Ava Gialanella.
“To be honest, we were not sure what to expect with our 2025 roster as we headed into our first WPSL season. However, whatever expectations there were, last year’s group smashed out of the park. Similar to the men’s side, their successes are now known, and they’ve got a tough test ahead of them with a very talented and competitive division. We have strong aspirations for this group in 2026 to say the least.” General Manager James Davis explained.
To view the women’s roster, click here.
To keep up with all FC Monmouth action, follow the club across all socials @WeAreMonmouth, and join us for home openers on May 9th (men’s) and May 28th (women’s)
