Full name | Brave SC | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Buffalo | ||
Short name | BSC | ||
Founded | 2008[1] | ||
Stadium | HG Morse Range, The Villages Charter - Buffalo Ridge Campus, The Villages, FL | ||
Capacity | 1,000 [2] | ||
Coach | Anderson DaSilva | ||
League | USL League Two | ||
2023 | 1st, National Playoffs: Semifinals | ||
Website | Club website | ||
|
Brave SC, or Brave Sporting Club, (formerly The Villages SC) is an American soccer club from Summerfield, Florida that plays in USL League Two.
Brave SC began in 2008 as The Villages SC, a youth team serving The Villages and surrounding areas.
In 2016, the team acquired the USL League 2 operating license from Ocala Stampede and began operations of their pre-professional first team.
In 2019, the team broke ground on Brave Sporting Complex, its permanent club headquarters and training facilities.
In December 2023, the club dropped The Villages branding from its identity to adopt the name and branding of Brave Sporting Club (Brave SC). Brave was selected as the name for the team because of the organization’s brave approach to each game and how the organization operates as a whole.
Brave SC is the most successful USL League 2 team in the state of Florida, winning 4 Southeast Division Championships (2016, 2019, 2021, 2023) and 2 Southern Conference championships. (2018, 2023)
Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, Southeast | Conference Semifinals | 2nd Round |
2017 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Southeast | Did not qualify | 1st Round |
2018 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Southeast | National Semifinals | Play-In Round |
2019 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Southeast | Conference Semifinals | 2nd Round |
2020 | 4 | USL League Two | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
2021 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Southeast | Conference Semifinals | Cancelled |
2022 | 4 | USL League Two | 2nd, Southeast | Conference Quarterfinals | Did not qualify |
2023 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Southeast | National Semifinals | 1st Round |
2024 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Southeast | TBD | TBD |
NOT CURRENT
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
In 2016, the Ocala Stampede USL League 2 (Formerly Premier Development League, PDL) operating license was acquired by an ownership group in The Villages, Florida, and the team branded themselves as The Villages SC Buffalo.
The club’s first ever win would come against Kraze United in the first round of the 2016 US Open Cup, where the team won 1-0. In the second round, the infant club defeated USL Professional club Charleston Battery in a penalty shootout, winning (4)2-2(2) Following the match, the Batte try made a protest to US Soccer and the match was forfeited by The Villages SC due to an ineligible player on their roster. Despite numerous attempts to appeal the ruling, the result was turned into a 3-0 win for Charleston Battery.
The team would win the PDL Southeast Division title in their first ever season, going into the semifinals of the South conference playoffs losing 2-1 to Midland/Odessa Sockers.
The 2017 season would see the club return to the US Open Cup following their disqualification the previous year, losing 2-1 to Jacksonville Armada U-23 2-1. The Buffalo would also fail to reach the PDL playoffs which to this day remains the only season the club did not qualify for the PDL/USL2 postseason.
The Villages SC 2018 season was the clubs most successful season at the time, winning with the 3 year old club defeating Tormenta 2 1-0 in the conference semi-final and SIMA Aguilas 2-1 in the conference final, crowning the club South Conference Champions for the first time, before losing to Reading United 1-0 in the national semi-final.
In 2019, following their national semifinal appearance, they would appear in the US open cup for the 3rd time, defeating Lakeland Tropics in a penalty shootout, winning (8)1-1(7) and advancing to the 2nd round, where they would face USL Pro side Tampa Bay Rowdies, losing 4-1. The club would, however, secure their 2nd Southeast Division Title, advancing to the South Conference Semi-finals where they would lose to Tormenta 2 3-1.
The 2020 PDL and US Open Cup would be cancelled to COVID-19.
The Villages SC would return to action in 2021, winning the USL 2 Southeast Division Title, defeating East Atlanta FC in the conference quarterfinal 2-1 before losing to Tormenta 2 4-2 in the semifinal.
In 2022, the club would return again to the US Open Cup, winning their first round match 6-0 against Orlando Wolves before losing to USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies 6-0. The club would finish 2nd in the southeast Division, and would be selected to host 3 other teams for one of the south conference “pods” for the playoffs. They would lose in the quarterfinal to Carolina Dynamo in a penalty shootout, (5)1-1(4).
The 2023 season would see the Buffalo return to the top of the Southeast Division, winning the title and qualifying for the southern conference playoffs. They would beat South Carolina Bantams 2-1 in the quarterfinal, Asheville City 1-0 in the semi-final, and Little Rock Rangers (5)1-1(3) in the final to become South Conference Champions for the 2nd time in club history. They would lose in a penalty shootout to Lionsbridge FC, (4)1-1(3).
In December of 2023, the club announced it would be dropping The Villages from its name and adopted the name Brave SC. The name comes from the brave nature and playing style shown by the club.
Following the club’s rebrand, they earned qualification to the US Open Cup where they drew NISA side Savannah Clovers in the first round, losing 2-0.
In 2023, the club announced its intentions to field a United Premier Soccer League team in the Florida division starting in 2024. The team was branded as Brave Sporting Club II, and serves as a pathway for players to showcase their talent and work their way to play for the first team.
Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | 5 | UPSL Division 1 | 7th | TBD |
In 2023, the club announced a partnership with Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil based youth club Brave SC Niterói. The club rosters 80 futsal players and is competing in its first outdoor soccer season. The partnership allows for coaching materials and tactics as well as players to be shared between the two sides.
USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a amateur/ semi-professional soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league featured 122 teams for 2023, split into eighteen regional divisions across four conferences. USL League Two is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
Flint City Bucks is an American soccer team based in Flint, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in USL League Two.
Laredo Heat is an American soccer team based in Laredo, Texas, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. They were members of the USL Premier Development League from 2004 to 2015. The club was on hiatus for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Ocean City Nor'easters is an American soccer team based in Ocean City, New Jersey. Founded in 1996, the team currently plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the United States soccer league system. The Menace have had sustained success in USL League Two during their tenure, claiming the USL League Two championship in the 2021 campaign. The Menace also hold three regular season championships, coming in the 2018, 2019, and 2021 campaigns respectively.
Orlando City U-23 was an American soccer team based in Lake Mary, Florida, United States. Founded in 1998, the team played in the Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference. The team was part of the Orlando City SC youth development system, and played the majority of their home games at Seminole Soccer Complex in nearby Lake Mary, Florida.
San Francisco Glens Soccer Club, commonly known as SF Glens, is an American soccer club based in San Francisco that was founded in 1961. Their men's first team currently competes in USL League Two and their women's first team in the USL W League, both in the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid.
Kitsap SC Pumas was an American soccer team based in Bremerton, Washington, United States. The team played in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. From its foundation in 2009 to 2016, the club played in the Premier Development League (PDL), as a professional club. As part of the agreement upon leaving PDL after the 2016 season, the club was unable to use the "Kitsap Pumas" name during the 2017 season while playing in NPSL. The club was officially renamed Kitsap SC until September 1, 2017 when the Pumas name was restored. The club announced on July 20, 2018 that it would cease operations due to declining attendance.
The 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 98th edition of the USSF's annual national soccer championship, running from June through early October. Seattle Sounders FC, who entered the competition as the two-time defending champions, successfully defended their title again. They became the third team in U.S. Open Cup history to win three straight U.S. Open Cups. As winner of the Open Cup, the Sounders earned a place in the 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League Group stage. The farthest advancing USL Pro team was the Richmond Kickers.
Georgia Revolution FC is an American soccer club based in McDonough, Georgia, United States. The team competes in the Southeast Conference of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth tier of the United States soccer league system. The NPSL is officially affiliated to the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and qualifies for the U.S. Open Cup. It is generally considered to be the level of competition behind Major League Soccer (MLS), the USL Championship, USL League One, and roughly equal with USL League Two.
Ocala Stampede was an American soccer club based in Ocala, Florida that played in the Premier Development League, the fourth division of the American soccer pyramid.
The 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 102nd edition of the oldest ongoing competition in American soccer.
South Georgia Tormenta FC, or simply Tormenta FC, is an American soccer organization based in Statesboro, Georgia, United States. Founded in 2015, the club fields a professional team in USL League One, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, as well as a pre-professional team in USL League Two called Tormenta FC 2 and a pre-professional team in USL W League. The team colors are midnight navy, sky blue, silver, and magenta. The team's crest shows an ibis. Tormenta FC's USL League One team and the W-League team both emerged victorious in 2022, becoming national champions in their respective leagues.
The 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 103rd edition of the oldest ongoing competition in American soccer.
Peachtree City MOBA is an American soccer team based in Peachtree City, Georgia. Founded as a soccer academy in 2013, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the United States soccer league system.
USL League One (USL1) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that had its inaugural season in 2019. The Division III league is operated by United Soccer League, the same group that operates the Division II USL Championship and other leagues. As of 2024, the league has 12 teams who play 22 regular season games, followed by playoffs. All teams also participate in the USL Cup, adding an additional eight games, followed by knockout rounds.
The 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 105th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, a knockout cup competition in American soccer. It is the oldest ongoing competition in the United States and was contested by 97 teams from leagues in the U.S. system.
Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club is an American professional soccer club based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They are a founding member of USL League One, the third division of American men's soccer. The club was announced as a member of League One on August 1, 2018. The Red Wolves play their homes games at CHI Memorial Stadium, Tennessee's first professional soccer-specific stadium. The club is also a founding member of the USL W League, which the Chattanooga Lady Red Wolves participate in. The club also fields two semi-professional teams called the Dalton Red Wolves and Park City Red Wolves in USL League Two.
Lansing Ignite FC was a professional soccer team based in Lansing, Michigan, United States. The club began play in the newly-formed USL League One in 2019 and ceased operations following their inaugural season.
South Georgia Tormenta FC 2, officially known as Tormenta FC 2, is an American soccer team based in Statesboro, Georgia, United States. Founded in 2019, the club fields a pre-professional team in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. They are the reserve club of USL League One team South Georgia Tormenta FC. Tormenta FC 2 is known by the nickname Twomenta, a play off of Tormenta and the number 2. The team went on a one-year hiatus for the 2023 USL League Two season.