California United Strikers FC

Last updated

California United FC
Cal United.svg
Full nameCalifornia United Strikers Football Club
FoundedMay 10, 2017;8 years ago (2017-05-10)
Stadium Championship Soccer Stadium
Irvine, California
Capacity5,000
OwnerBronwyn & Pete Capriotti
President Michael Collins
Head coach Don Ebert
League National Independent Soccer Association

California United Strikers FC is an American professional soccer club based in Orange County, California.

Contents

History

The club was founded by Bronwyn & Pete Capriotti and Michael Collins, who have had connections to the adult amateur United Premier Soccer League.

California United FC intended to join the North American Soccer League (NASL) as an expansion franchise for the 2018 season. However, due to the instability of the league, California United withdrew its franchise agreement from NASL in early 2018 and announced that it was exploring all professional league options for the 2019 season. On November 15, 2018, the club was announced as a participant in the 2019 NPSL Founders Cup and as a founding member of a new league to being in 2020. [1]

On March 2, 2019, the team tweeted out their intention to withdraw from the NPSL and NPSL Founders Cup. [2] Three months later, on June 10, 2019, the team was accepted into the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) as a member for the league's inaugural season. [3]

The club participated in the Western Conference NISA championship in Fall 2019. On November 10, 2019, the team won the 2019 NISA Western Conference championship. [4]

There was no US Open Cup competition during 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [5] The club played in NISA's 2021 Fall Season with a 9-6-3 record, finishing second to Detroit City FC. [6]

In 2022, California United FC made it to the Round of 32 against LA Galaxy in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup. They won against San Fernando Valley FC (5-0) in the second round and beat USL League 1 FC Tucson (2-1) in the third round. [7] They lost 3-2 to LA Galaxy, with Shinya Kadono and Kevin Garcia-Lopez making the two goals for California United FC. [8]

After the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, the club was unable to find a new primary owner and was dissolved. [9] However, on June 9, 2023, NISA announced the club would be revived as Strikers FC with Michael Collins as the leader. [10]

Year-by-year

SeasonLeagueDiv.Pos.Pl.WDLGSGAPts.Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Top goalscorerManager
NameLeague
2019–20 NISA Fall – West Coast [a] 2nd62311399 Champions Second Round Flag of the United States.svg Christian Thierjung 6 Flag of the United States.svg Don Ebert
Spring [b] 2nd2110104Cancelled
  1. ↑ The Fall 2019 NISA season had eight teams split into two separate conferences, East Coast and West Coast
  2. ↑ Spring season cancelled before completion [11]

California United FC II

California United maintains a second Team which participates in the Pro Premier division of the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). The team played as the L.A. Wolves FC in the 2017 UPSL Spring Season, then as OC Invicta in the 2017 UPSL Fall Season. Both teams were coached by Eric Wynalda and both were crowned UPSL National Champions in each season. In the Fall 2018 season, under the California United FC II name, the team went undefeated(13–0–0) and won a third UPSL National Championship. [12] [13]

Additionally, as L.A. Wolves FC the team placed third in the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) 2017 National Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The club also maintains an academy team in Irvine, called the Irvine Strikers.

References

  1. ↑ "Eleven Founding Members To Launch A New League In Association With The National Premier Soccer League". npsl.com. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Out of Their League: California United Strikers drop out of NPSL, Founders Cup". frontrowsoccer.com. March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  3. ↑ Kivlehan, Chris (June 11, 2019). "Miami FC, Cal United Accepted Into NISA, Pro Soccer For Baton Rouge & Other News From NISA Board of Governors Meeting". Midfield Press. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  4. ↑ "California United Strikers Defeat LA Force in PKs". November 11, 2019.
  5. ↑ Hakala, Josh (July 21, 2021). "2021 US Open Cup officially canceled, largest Modern Era field possible for 2022" . Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Scrapes, Dents & One-time Wolves: Cal United Strikers Born Anew from Amateur Roots". ussoccer.com. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  7. ↑ Rodriguez, Alicia (May 11, 2022). "How to Watch California United Strikers FC vs. LA Galaxy, 2022 U.S. Open Cup". LAG Confidential. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  8. ↑ lagalaxy. "U.S. Open Cup Match Report: California United Strikers FC 2, LA Galaxy 3 | LA Galaxy". lagalaxy. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Irvine Zeta's Shinya Kadono: The Pride of NISA". ussoccer.com. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Former Cal United Strikers Exec Leads Way for Club\'s Return to NISA as Strikers FC". www.nisasoccer.com. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  11. ↑ Kennedy, Paul (April 28, 2020). "NISA cancels spring season, sets sights on August start to fall championship". www.socceramerica.com. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  12. ↑ "California United FC II Wraps Up Unbeaten UPSL Fall Season with Championship". fontanainter.com. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  13. ↑ "CALIFORNIA UNITED FC II CROWNED UPSL FALL CHAMPIONS  • SoccerToday". SoccerToday. February 14, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.


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