Spindles are Headed to Second Consecutive League Final – First in the UPL
Spindles (#1) 2 - 0 USG (#4)
22’ - Rabadi (Faretta)
32’ - Locicero (Trestick)
Albany, NY — August 2, 2026
Rabadi, Locicero find the net as No. 1 seed Spindles shut out USG and punch their ticket to the championship.
Spindles United is heading back to a league final.
The top-seeded Spindles defeated No. 4 seed United Soccer Group, 2-0, in a hard-fought UPL semifinal Sunday, advancing to the league championship and keeping their hopes of another trophy alive.
USG controlled possession early, but Spindles gradually settled into the match and began finding opportunities.
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute.
After USG turned the ball over deep in Spindles territory, Anders Trestick quickly found Nico Faretta with a diagonal pass. Faretta drove at the defense before slipping the ball to Matt Rabadi, who took a touch and buried a shot into the bottom corner. 1-0, 22’.
Rabadi’s fourth goal of the season. 1-0, 22’.
Spindles wouldn’t have to wait long for another.
USG earned a dangerous set piece in the Spindles defensive third, but Captain Dan Crook rose to clear the ball out of the box. Matt Rabadi collected it and quickly moved the ball to Faretta.
Faretta then floated a beautiful ball over the USG backline to Trestick.
Trestick raced to the byline and cut the ball back to a trailing Captain John Locicero, who calmly finished into the corner.
Locicero’s 2nd on the season 2-0 Spindles. 2-0, 32’.
Both goals came on the counter, as Spindles repeatedly punished USG when opportunities opened up in transition.
Spindles carried the two-goal advantage into halftime, but the job was far from finished.
USG came out looking to find a way back into the match, creating chances and continuing to battle for possession. But the Spindles defense refused to crack.
Ryan Taylor came up with several acrobatic saves to preserve the clean sheet, while the backline consistently dealt with USG’s attempts to get in behind.
The final minutes belonged to Spindles, who remained disciplined and composed as the clock wound down.
Then came the final whistle.
Spindles United 2, United Soccer Group 0.
And Spindles are going to the UPL Final.
After the Spins match, Patroon United punched its ticket to the championship with a 2-1 victory over Mohawk City FC. Setting up a matchup between the league’s top two seeds.
THE FINAL
No. 1 Spindles United (6-2-3) vs. No. 2 Patroon United (5-4-2)
August 9, 2026 — 6:00 PM
Christian Pulmeri Sports Complex
For Spindles, the opportunity is familiar — but the league is new.
After winning the CDSL championship last season, Spindles have reached a league final in consecutive years, this time in the inaugural UPL season.
One more win would give the club its second straight league championship and its first UPL trophy.
MAN OF THE MATCH — LUCA GRESTINI
Grestini was a force defensively, playing with a relentless motor throughout the semifinal. He consistently stepped into challenges, disrupted USG’s attack and helped anchor a Spindles backline that finished the night with a clean sheet.
One final stands between Spindles and another trophy.
