Sporting Arizona FC

Last updated
Sporting Arizona FC
Sporting Crest.jpg
Full nameSporting Arizona Football Club
Founded1989
Stadium Gateway Park
El Mirage, Arizona
Capacity2,000
OwnerMaitland Primrose Investments
ManagerRoberto Biell and Eric Junis Aguilar
League UPSL|SWPL
Website Club website

Sporting Arizona FC is an American soccer team based in Arizona. Founded in 1989, Sporting Arizona FC is Arizona's professional development club.

Contents

The foundation of Sporting's development model is to bring international talent to play in Arizona, and to showcase our deserving local players internationally.

History

The club originally started in 1989 as the Phoenix Hearts in the original indoor SISL league. They made an immediate impact on the league when they went to the 1989–1990 SISL indoor championship before falling to the Addison Arrows. Hearts coach Peter Baralić was named Coach of the Year. [1]

They changed their name to the Arizona Cotton in 1992 and played both indoor and outdoor for one more year in the USISL, before joining the amateur USISL Premier League in 1995. In 1992, they again went to the final of the USISL Indoor season, losing to the Atlanta Magic. The Arizona coach, Zelimar Antonievic, was named Coach of the Year. [2]

In 1996, the team became the Arizona Phoenix. In 1997, they changed their name again, this time to Arizona Sahuaros, and moved up to the USISL D-3 Pro League. In 1998, the Sahuaros front office named 3 player coaches to take over the Sahuaros Professional franchise, Mate Kozul (Head Coach), Edson Rico and Roger Salazar (Assistant coaches). With their connections in the Valley they assembled a strong team of former HS Gatorade Players of the Year, College All Americans and National JUCO Champions from Yavapai College. That year the Sahuaros were crowned the Western Division Champions and coach Matt Kozul was named USISL Coach of the Year. [3]

After the 2002 season, the Sahuaros left the USL D-3 Pro League and helped form the new Men's Premier Soccer League, finishing the season as champions in the first year. The Sahuaros competed in the NPSL until 2004, after which the club chose to play in USASA affiliated leagues. They re-joined the NPSL in 2008. In 2003–2009, the Sahuaros hired Petar Draksin as their head coach, he made a significant contribution to the Sahuaros franchise by bringing in many talented players and winning many significant games in the different leagues.

In 2016, the Sahuaros were renamed Sporting AZ FC.They joined the UPSL on January 8, 2017, and were placed in the Arizona Conference along with the Arizona Scorpions FC, El Salto United FC & Super Inter AZ. [4] Sporting AZ FC won the Arizona Conference in their 1st season in the UPSL, moving on to the UPSL National Quarterfinals. The team was led by head coach Tim Marchisotto and standout goalkeeper Jake Rybicki. 2018 saw the team raise the bar again, with Marchisotto moving into the general manager role and the addition of Aidan Davison as head coach. The duo achieved success with the team. Sporting AZ won the new Southwest Conference of the UPSL and went to the UPSL Championship game.

In January 2020, "Sporting AZ FC" was renamed Sporting Arizona FC and with the new name came a new ownership. The club continues the same original traditions as a development pathway for players and coaches to reach the professional ranks. In seasons 2021 and 2022, the Club fielded two teams in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) - Sporting Arizona FC and SAFC Sahuaros. Sporting Arizona FC coached by Eric Junis Aguilar won the UPSL Division 1 title. In season 2023, the Club has fielded the two teams in the inaugural Southwest Premier League - Arizona Premier. Sporting Arizona coached by Omar Ledesma has won the league with SAFC Sahuaros coached by Eric Junis Aguilar taking second place. Since 2021, Sporting Arizona FC has been the exclusive 'path-to-pro' partner of State 48 FC, Arizona's fastest growing youth and community soccer development club.

Players

Notable former players

Year-by-year

Outdoor team

YearDivisionLeagueReg. SeasonPlayoffsOpen Cup
Phoenix Hearts
1990SISL3rd, WesternQuarter-finalsDid not enter
1991SISL5th, SouthwestDid not qualifyDid not enter
Arizona Cotton
1992USISL4th, SouthwestDid not qualifyDid not enter
1993USISL7th, SouthwestDid not qualifyDid not enter
19943USISL5th, SouthwestDid not qualifyDid not enter
19954USISL Premier League6th, WesternDid not qualifyDid not qualify
Arizona Phoenix
19964USISL Premier League3rd, Western SouthernDivision Semi-finalsDid not qualify
Arizona Sahuaros
19973USISL D-3 Pro League6th, WestDid not qualifyDid not qualify
19983USISL D-3 Pro League1st, Western DivisionQuarter-finals2nd round
19993USL D-3 Pro League3rd, WesternConference Semi-finals2nd round
20003USL D-3 Pro League6th, WesternDid not qualifyDid not qualify
20013USL D-3 Pro League4th, WesternConference Semi-finalsDid not qualify
20023USL D-3 Pro League3rd, Western1st roundDid not qualify
20034MPSL3rdChampionsDid not qualify
20044MPSL3rdRunner-upDid not qualify
2005On Hiatus
2006USASAn/an/a1st round – Sahuaros (USASA) vs BYU Cougars (USL-PDL) 5–1 [10]
2nd Round – Sahuaros (USASA) vs Virginia Beach Mariners (USL-D1) 0–1 [11]
2007USASAn/an/aDid not qualify
20084NPSL2nd, SouthwestDid not qualify1st round
2009USASAn/an/a1st round – El Paso Patriots (USL-PDL) vs Sahuaros (USASA) 2–1 [12]
2010USASAn/an/a1st round – Sahuaros (NPSL) vs Ventura County Fusion (USL-PDL) 1–1 regulation 4–2 PKs [13]
2nd Round – Austin Aztex (USSF-D2) vs Sahuaros (NPSL) 3–1 [14]
2011On Hiatus
2012USASAn/an/aDid not qualify
2013USASAn/an/aDid not qualify
2014USASAn/an/aDid not qualify
2015USASAn/an/aDid not qualify
2016USASAn/an/aDid not qualify
Sporting AZ FC
2017 (Spring)UPSL1st, Arizona ConferenceQuarter-finalsDid not qualify
2018 (Spring)UPSL1st, Southwest ConferenceChampionship Final1st round – Sporting AZ FC (UPSL) vs FC Arizona (NPSL) 1–0 [15]
2nd Round – Sporting AZ FC (UPSL) vs Phoenix Rising FC (USL) 1–1 regulation 5–4 PKs [16]
3rd Round – Fresno FC (USL) vs Sporting AZ FC (UPSL) 2–1 in overtime.
2021 (Spring)UPSL1st, Arizona 1st Division Conference
2022-23 (Spring)SWPL1st, Arizona Premier
2022-23 (Fall)UPSL2nd, Arizona 1st Division Conference

Indoor team

YearLeagueReg. SeasonPlayoffs
Phoenix Hearts
1989/90SISL Indoor1st, CactusChampionship Final
1990/91SISL Indoor4th, SouthwestQuarter-finals
1991/92USISL Indoor4th, SouthwestDid not qualify
Arizona Cotton
1992/93USISL Indoor2nd, SouthwestChampionship Final

Honors

Hall of Fame

Head coaches/Assistant coaches

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References

  1. ↑ The Year in American Soccer – 1990
  2. ↑ The Year in American Soccer – 1993
  3. ↑ The Year in American Soccer – 1998
  4. ↑ "United Premier Soccer League Welcomes Sporting AZ Football Club as Expansion Team for 2017". prlog.org. January 8, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Wigan Athletic FC".
  6. ↑ "Roger Espinoza | MLSsoccer.com".
  7. ↑ "Allen Chapman | SoccerStats.us".
  8. ↑ "Nick DeLeon | MLSsoccer.com".
  9. ↑ "Meet the Arizona Sahuaros, Professional Soccer Team Members".
  10. ↑ "2006 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup bracket". November 2006.
  11. ↑ "2006 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup bracket". November 2006.
  12. ↑ "2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup bracket". September 2009.
  13. ↑ "2010 US Open Cup First Round: Sahuaros knock out defending PDL champions in PK shootout". 18 June 2010.
  14. ↑ "2010 US Open Cup Second Round: Marosevic sparks Aztex past Sahuaros (Video)". 23 June 2010.
  15. ↑ "2018 US Open Cup round 1: Sporting AZ edges FC Arizona in budding rivalry in the desert". 16 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "2018 US Open Cup round 2: Sporting AZ lone UPSL team left after PK upset of Phoenix Rising". 21 May 2018.
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