Sarasota Paradise

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.

Sarasota Paradise
FoundedOctober 26, 2022
StadiumCharlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field
Sarasota, Florida
OwnersAudigr Group Inc.
Head coachJamie Hutchinson
LeagueUSL League Two
20234th, South Florida Division
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

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
Position Name
Head coach Jamie Hutchinson
Assistant coach Ed Stroop
Assistant coach Paul Jennison
Team admin Mandi VanKueren

Roster
Position Name Number
Forward Kai Tamashiro 2
Defender Jaden Berman 3
Defender Karson Kendall 5
Midfielder Peekay Stoffle 7
Midfielder Rocky Perez 8
Midfielder Valerio Tatafiore 10
Defender Adam Senna 12
Defender Michael Carboni 13
Midfielder Victor Van den Broek 14
Defender Hosei Kijima 16
Forward Fabrizio Bernal 18
Forward Caleb Powell 19
Midfielder Carson Tighe 20
Zarek Urrutia 21
Midfielder Ben Goldberg 22
Forward Ryan Sims 26
Forward Felipe Rojas 29
Forward Isaiah Easley 30
Midfielder Nico Villalobos 32
Forward Oliver Dahlen 35
Goalkeeper Josh Caron 37
Goalkeeper Charlie Farrar 38
Nash Gibson 39
Defender Roman Holt 47

Year-by-year
Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs Open Cup Average Attendance
2023 4 USL League Two 4th, South Florida Did not qualify Did not qualify 426

Honors

Player
Year Player Country Pos Honor
2023 Hosei Kijima  JPN D Team of the Year

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.
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