May 18, 2022 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – Rochester Lancers News Release
SoccerSam Fantauzzo is hanging up his microphone and stepping away from soccer.
Calling it “one of the hardest decisions of his life,” Fantauzzo revealed Wednesday that he has decided to sell the Rochester Lancers indoor soccer team.
The Lancers brand, however, won’t go away. Kayla Kent-Moreira will run the Lady Lancers. There are plans of bringing the Lancers men back in the National Premier Soccer League next year with new owners and long-time Lancers player and coach Doug Miller will continue to operate the Lancers Academy team in the United Premier Soccer League.
A flamboyant soccer owner on the field and a down-to-earth businessman off of it, Fantauzzo owns Salvatore’s Old Fashioned Pizzeria, which has 33 locations in the greater Rochester area. He revived the Lancers as an indoor team in 2011, continuing his persona as a cheerleader for his team, introducing and urging his players on and interviewing them at halftime and after the final whistle.
Several factors went into Fantauzzo’s decision.
“This is honestly one of the hardest decisions of my life!” Fantauzzo said. “I always thought someday I would retire from pizza and make Indoor Soccer my retirement hobby. COVID changed all that. My main business was affected with staff and supply issues that I thought was temporary but continues today. I’m forced to help my son and staff plus our franchisees and over 1,500 employees navigated through this nightmare! I’m overwhelmed at work, and I need to spend non-work hours with my beautiful wife Linda and our 15 amazing grandkids!”
Fantauzzo has indicated he will support the game, advertising Salvatore’s on soccer-related events and media.
The Lancers were forced to sit out the 2021 and 2021-22 Major Arena Soccer League season due to COVID-19 related reasons. The Dome Arena in Henrietta, N.Y. was used a vaccination center.
Fantauzzo owns franchise rights for the Lancers, who have competed…