Sarasota Paradise

Last updated
Sarasota Paradise
Sarasota Paradise Logo.webp
FoundedOctober 26, 2022
StadiumPremier Sports Campus
Lakewood Ranch, Florida
OwnersAudigr Group Inc.
Head coachMirko Dakovic
League USL League Two
2024 1st, South Florida Division
Playoffs: Conference Quarter Finals
Website https://www.sarasotaparadise.us/

Sarasota Paradise is an American soccer club based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, competing in the South Florida Division of USL League Two. The club began play in 2023 and plays their home matches at Premier Sports Campus.

Contents

The club is partly owned by Audigr Group Inc., a joint venture between entrepreneurs Marcus Walfridson and Kenneth Bethune. [1]

Sarasota Paradise will join the professional league USL League One in the 2026 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 Walfridson 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. Their final home game of the season garnered 1086 fans in attendance. Defender Hosei Kojima was selected to the 2023 USL League Two Team of the Year, drafted number 17 in the MLS Superdraft, and is now playing for MLS side St. Louis City SC. [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]

In their second season, Sarasota Paradise secured their first South Florida Division Championship in club history with a 1-0 victory away against St. Petersburg FC. Sarasota Paradise remained undefeated at home throughout the season. Key results included a commanding 4-0 win over Miami AC, a thrilling 4-4 draw with Tampa Bay United, and a decisive 3-0 victory against Weston FC. This success earned the team a spot in the playoffs, where they faced Brave SC. [10]

On February 19, 2025, Sarasota Paradise was announced as an expansion team in USL League One of the third division of the United States soccer league system to start play in the 2026 season. [11]

Stadium

Sarasota Paradise played their 2023 and 2024 home matches at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field, located on the campus of Sarasota High School, just south of downtown Sarasota.

The club will begin play at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch for their 2025 season. [12]

Players and staff

Technical staff

PositionName
Head coachMirko Dakovic
Assistant coachJamie Hutchison
Assistant coachGlodi Konga
Assistant coachMark Macphee

Roster

PositionNameNumber
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Kai Tamashiro7
Defender Flag of the United States.svg Jaden Berman3
Defender Flag of the United States.svg Mikey Burke2
Defender Flag of the United States.svg Roman Holt47
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Seth Mahlmeister9
Midfielder Flag of the United States.svg JP Jordan6
Midfielder Flag of the United States.svg Valerio Tatafiore10
Defender Flag of the United States.svg Enzo Panozzo14
Defender Flag of the United States.svg Michael Carboni13
Defender Flag of the United States.svg Felipe Rojas12
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 William Pierce18
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Caleb Powell19
Midfielder Flag of the United States.svg Christian Leon15
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 Isaiah Easley30
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Oliver Dahlen35
Forward Flag of the United States.svg Andres Friere21
Goalkeeper Flag of England.svg Charlie Farrar38
GoalkeeperBrendan Reilly29

Year-by-year

YearDivisionLeagueRegular SeasonPlayoffsOpen CupAverage Attendance
2023 4USL League Two4th, South FloridaDid not qualifyDid not qualify426
2024 4USL League Two1st, South FloridaConference Quarter FinalsDid not qualifyN/A

Honors

League

Player

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

References

  1. ↑ "Audigr Starts USL Team". audigr.com. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Sarasota Paradise to join USL League One". USLLeagueOne.com. USL League One. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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. ↑ "Miami AC vs. Sarasota Paradise - Final Score - May 20, 2023". Fox Sports . Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  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.
  10. ↑ "Paradise Playoff and Season Recap". Sarasota Paradise. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  11. ↑ "Sarasota Paradise to join USL League One". USLLeagueOne.com. USL League One. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ "New Home Field for Paradise". SarasotaParadise.us. Sarasota Paradise. December 19, 2024. Archived from the original on February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
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