Soccer has deep roots in the Hill City, and this spring, those roots will bring forth new life when a local United Soccer League 2 (USL2) team debuts at City Stadium.
By: Carrie Dungan / Photos By: Ashlee Glen
Hill City FC, a semi-professional soccer team, is the culmination of one local player’s dream to give back.
Growing up in Lynchburg, Anthony Catalano first picked up soccer as a preschooler playing with the YMCA.
Those early days ignited a lifelong passion for the beautiful game. Catalano would go on to cultivate his skills on teams at Lynchburg United (now Central Virginia United), Holy Cross Catholic School, and E.C. Glass High School, before becoming a captain of the Division I soccer team at Elon University and a professional player with the Charleston Battery and Richmond United.
Once his playing career was over, Catalano wanted to find a way to pour back into the sport that changed his life. He knew personally the difference professional and semi-professional leagues could make in a young player’s career, from exposure to higher levels of play to establishing community.
So, in 2020, he founded the semi-pro team Apotheos FC in Atlanta, where he currently lives with his wife and three young children.
“I felt like this was just a great way for me to contribute to the passion that I have and the game that gave me so much,” Catalano said. “I think it just builds so many relationships and connections from the players that you play with to the coaches that you’re coached by, and it’s just a network that opens up so many opportunities for players.”
During that time, Catalano’s love and commitment to his hometown remained strong as he and his family continued to invest in Lynchburg’s revitalization.
“I think it has everything that you could want, from a great place to raise a family to the outdoor access, to living in Central Virginia and being so closely connected to pretty much anything that you need to get to and experience,” he said. “I think it’s just a great community.”
After finding success with Apotheos FC, and with soccer projected for its biggest growth period in U.S. history through the FIFA World Cup this summer, Catalano knew the time was right to introduce a USL2 team to his hometown.
As a young player, he didn’t have a high-level soccer team to root for in Lynchburg, and Catalano wanted to provide that opportunity for the next generation. He partnered with Michael Hitchcock, an experienced soccer executive and owner/co-owner of nearly two dozen soccer clubs, to establish a new Lynchburg team that would serve as a source of community pride and inspire young athletes by providing a pathway to a semi-professional team.
Like Catalano, Tyler Beck spent many of his days as a young player on Lynchburg soccer fields, including City Stadium. The current Liberty University goalkeeper always had dreams of playing professionally but never imagined it could start in his own town.
“I knew it had the potential, but I just didn’t know that anybody could see Lynchburg for what it could be,” Beck said. “I think that the fact that somebody spotted that Lynchburg’s a perfect place for a USL2—it’s awesome.
It makes me happy because this is a really cool city.”
Earlier this year, Beck became Hill City FC’s first signed player—a milestone he will never forget. He said the honor gives him additional motivation in the team’s inaugural season as he plays on the same field where he stopped shots as a high schooler.
“It’s exciting to know that this season has more of a weight on it in a sense that we’ve got something to prove,” Beck said. “We want to put ourselves on the map and let everybody know Lynchburg’s here and we’re not messing around.”
Beck is a cornerstone of Coach Lucas Paulini’s lineup, which consists of players from colleges and universities across the country. Paulini, who also serves as an assistant coach with Virginia Commonwealth University’s men’s team, echoed Catalano’s desire for Hill City FC players to serve as ambassadors. He said he is cultivating a team culture that focuses on commitment to the community and serving as a role model for younger players.
“Although winning is very important, I don’t think anybody’s going to remember 10 years down the road how the team did, how many games they won, but they’re going to remember the way the team made them feel,” Paulini said.
Paulini and Catalano said one of the biggest advantages of having a USL2 team in Lynchburg is the exposure to higher-level opportunities for both the city and the players. USL recently introduced promotion and relegation, meaning teams can move up to a higher division. Many USL2 players are also drafted into Major League Soccer.
Hill City FC can serve as the catalyst for those players to elevate their game.
Opportunities with Hill City FC aren’t restricted to just players and coaches. Catalano said a crucial piece of the club lies in the support team, ranging from social media to branding and game day production. The club will remain active throughout the year, engaging with the community at events and working with interns from local colleges and universities to create the best possible environment for the next season, giving these interns invaluable experience working with a professional sports organization.
Since its inception, the team has prioritized community engagement with locals voting to pick the team’s name, logo, mascot, and mascot’s name.
The club has also prioritized partnerships with local organizations and companies such as Collaborative Health Partners. Hill City FC creates a “shared experience” for locals from all ages and backgrounds to rally around, according to Lauren Bennett, vice president of culture and communications with Collaborative Health Partners.
“Whether it’s families attending matches, kids seeing local athletes compete at a high level, or community partners coming together to support a common goal, it builds a sense of pride and connection that extends beyond the field,” she said. “It gives Lynchburg something to celebrate together, and that kind of collective energy is incredibly powerful.”
Catalano said fans can expect an exciting game day environment, with pre-game tailgates and local vendors including Taco Jesus and Three Roads Brewing available inside the stadium. Some fans have already created a “12th man” supporter group called the River Watch to cheer on the city’s newest team.
Beck said when he steps back onto that familiar field in May, he is looking forward to playing for something
bigger than himself as the team works together to connect both players and locals to the club.
“I’m expecting it to be jumping,” he shared with a smile.
Catalano concurred, reflecting on the roots he established as a high school player at City Stadium and the “electric” atmosphere he’s anticipating for home games there this season.
What he’s looking forward to the most? That’s easy, he said.
“The first goal that we capture, and seeing the stadium just light up,” Catalano said. “I think that’s going to be the moment.”
