Sarasota Paradise

Last updated
Sarasota Paradise
Sarasota Paradise Primary Logo.svg
FoundedOctober 26, 2022
StadiumCharlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field
Sarasota, Florida
OwnersAudigr Group Inc.
Head coachJamie Hutchinson
League USL League Two
2023 4th, South Florida Division
Playoffs: DNQ
Website Club website

Sarasota Paradise is an American soccer club based in Sarasota, Florida, competing in the South Florida Division of USL League Two. They began play in the 2023 season.

Contents

The club is owned by Audigr Group Inc., a joint venture between entrepreneurs Marcus Walfridson and Kenneth Bethune. [1] It plays at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field, on the campus of Sarasota High School. The club currently has no established supporters' group, but plans to form one ahead of the 2024 season. [2]

History

It was first announced on October 27, 2022, that a team in Sarasota would be joining USL League Two for the upcoming 2023 season, simply known at the time as Sarasota USL. Owned by operated by Sarasota Professional Soccer LLC with support from Audigr Group Inc., the clubs' branding and identity was to be decided through a Name the Team contest, with the results announced January 2023. [3]

Club branding was announced by owner Marcus Wilfridson on January 14, 2023. [4]

Sarasota Paradise made their league debut on May 20, 2023, a 1–0 loss away at Miami AC. [5] They made their home debut on June 3, 2023, defeating FC Miami City 2–1 in front of a crowd of nearly 500 spectators. [6] The team finished 4th in the South Florida Division, 6 points behind division winners Weston FC. Defender Hosei Kojima was selected to the 2023 USL League Two Team of the Year. [7] [8]

On July 13, 2023, Walfridson announced his hopes for the club to turn professional and join USL League One in either 2025 or 2026. [9]

Stadium

Sarasota Paradise play their home matches at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field, located on the campus of Sarasota High School, just south of downtown Sarasota.

Players and staff

Technical staff

PositionName
Head coachJamie Hutchinson
Assistant coachEd Stroop
Assistant coachPaul Jennison
Team adminMandi VanKueren

Roster

PositionNameNumber
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Kai Tamashiro2
Defender Flag of the United States.svg Jaden Berman3
Defender Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg Karson Kendall 5
Midfielder Flag of the United States.svg Peekay Stoffle7
Midfielder Flag of the United States.svg Rocky Perez8
Midfielder Flag of the United States.svg Valerio Tatafiore10
Defender Flag of the United States.svg Adam Senna12
Defender Flag of the United States.svg Michael Carboni13
Midfielder Flag of the United States.svg Victor Van den Broek14
Defender Flag of Japan.svg Hosei Kijima16
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Fabrizio Bernal 18
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Caleb Powell19
Midfielder Flag of the United States.svg Carson Tighe20
Flag of the United States.svg Zarek Urrutia21
Midfielder Flag of the United States.svg Ben Goldberg22
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Sims26
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Felipe Rojas29
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Isaiah Easley30
MidfielderNico Villalobos32
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Oliver Dahlen35
Goalkeeper Flag of the United States.svg Josh Caron37
Goalkeeper Flag of England.svg Charlie Farrar38
Nash Gibson39
Defender Flag of the United States.svg Roman Holt47

Year-by-year

YearDivisionLeagueRegular SeasonPlayoffsOpen CupAverage Attendance
2023 4USL League Two4th, South FloridaDid not qualifyDid not qualify426

Honors

Player

YearPlayerCountryPosHonor
2023Hosei KijimaFlag of Japan.svg JAPDTeam of the Year

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References

  1. "Audigr Starts USL Team". audigr.com. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  2. "Paradise to Create a Fan Club for 2024". USL Digital. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  3. "Amateur soccer league expanding to Sarasota". ABC7 WWSB. October 27, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  4. "Sarasota Paradise pre-professional soccer team set to begin play in May at SHS". Herald-Tribune. January 14, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  5. "STANDINGS". USL League Two. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  6. Kohn, Ryan (June 7, 2023). "Sarasota Paradise soccer team scores on and off field in first home game". Observer. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  7. "Hosei Kijima Selected in THE BEST 11 of The Nation". Sarasota Paradise. August 15, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  8. "Presenting the 2023 USL League Two Team of the Year". USL League Two. August 11, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  9. Kohn, Ryan (July 13, 2023). "Sarasota Paradise feeds local hunger for soccer". Observer. Retrieved November 4, 2023.