Do You Feel It?

Do You Feel It?

If you have been around Soccer County the last couple of weeks, you know exactly what I am talking about.

That hum in the air. The quiet buzz that turns into noise when you least expect it. The feeling that something is coming whether you are ready or not.

Do you feel it?

Last year, around this time, we were all squinting into the distance trying to figure out what this thing was going to look like. New badge. New club. New supporters group. New everything. We were building the plane while it was already taxiing down the runway. Some days it felt exciting. Other days it felt like controlled chaos.

But we showed up anyway.

This year feels different.

This year the season is approaching like a Metro-North express, no stops, no hesitation, and everyone on the platform knows it is coming. And this time, Westchester SC and the 914th Infantry are locked in.

Last year we were rushing to put together a squad. This year the cupboard is stacked.

Start at the back.

Matías Molina gives this club a foundation. A goalkeeper who does not just react, but organizes. Calm hands. Calm presence. The kind of keeper who makes everyone in front of him better simply by being there.

In front of him, the back line suddenly looks like a unit instead of a question mark. Charlie Dickerson brings experience, composure, and an edge forged in real environments, not just highlight reels. Maximus Jennings adds athleticism and modern defending instincts. Tim Timchenko brings leadership and maturity, the kind that shows up in positioning and decision-making long before it shows up on a stat sheet.

Move into midfield and it starts to feel intentional. Kyle Evans gives you engine and intelligence. Aidan Borra gives you bite, balance, and presence. Aleksei Armas gives you movement and ambition. These are players who want responsibility in the middle of the park, not passengers hoping the game passes them by.

And going forward, there is no shortage of ideas. Daniel Burko brings directness and confidence. Miguel Diaz brings flair, fearlessness, and a willingness to take defenders on when moments matter. Different profiles, same mentality.

This is not hopeful roster building. This is intentional.

And it is not just about who is new.

It is about who is back.

Andrew Hammersley returns as a constant. Someone who understands the badge, the environment, and the expectations. Along the back line, Bobby Pierre and Rashid Tetteh bring continuity and edge. Joshua Drack and Stephen Payne bring reliability and understanding. Noah Powder brings versatility and familiarity with what this league demands.

In midfield, the spine remains strong. Conor McGlynn sets tempo. Daniel Bouman brings balance. Dean Guezen brings creativity and edge. Bryan Vasquez brings work rate and bite.

These are players who have already lived this thing and want more of it.

Up top, there is no mystery about intent. Samory Powder brings energy and directness. Ermin Mackic brings experience and confidence. They know what the shirt means now, and that changes everything.

You can feel it in the way announcements land now. Calm. Confident. No scrambling. No explaining. Just business getting handled.

And you can feel it on our side too.

Last year, a lot of us were still introducing ourselves. Figuring out chants. Figuring out routines. Figuring out how loud was too loud and then immediately deciding there was no such thing. We were learning each other in real time.

Now?

Now the scarves are ready. The voices are warmed up. The Infantry knows who we are and what we are there to do. There is no curiosity left. There is commitment.

Westchester is not trying to prove it belongs anymore. We know.

This club feels like it has weight now. Like something that can lean back when the hit comes and lean forward when it is time to press. Like something that understands the grind of a season rather than just the excitement of a launch.

And that weight starts at the top.

George Gjokaj is not walking into chaos. He is walking into a group that is ready to be coached. Ready to be shaped. Ready to be pushed. A new boss with a clear football identity and a roster that actually allows that identity to show up on the field.

That matters.

Because seasons are not built on announcements or hype. They are built on depth, belief, and people being ready when their number is called. From the squad to the stands.

This year, it feels like everyone is ready.

So yeah, if you feel like the days are moving faster. If you feel like matchday is creeping into your thoughts a little more often. If you catch yourself checking the calendar without realizing why.

That is not an accident.

That is a season coming.

We are Westchester.

We are ready.

Do you feel it?