2026 Sarasota Paradise season

Sarasota Paradise
2026
OwnerMarco Assis and Marcus Walfridson
Head CoachMika Elovaara
StadiumPremier Sports Campus Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Highest home attendance2,791 vs Athletic Club Boise March 7
Lowest home attendance1,806 vs Fort Wayne FC
Average home league attendance2,299

The 2026 Sarasota Paradise season is the fourth season in the club's existence. It is their inaugural season in USL League One, the third-tier of American soccer. Despite playing in last year's US Open Cup, due to rule changes, Sarasota cannot compete in the U.S. Open Cup because expansion teams are not allowed to compete.[1]

Players and staff

Current roster

As of March 13, 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  USA Alex Sutton
2 DF  USA Roberto Burlew
3 DF  USA Reid Valentine
4 DF  IRL Declan Watters
6 DF  PUR Callum Stretch
7 FW  USA Ethan Bryant
8 MF  USA Aaron Walker
10 FW  USA Matt Cence
11 FW  USA Sean Karani
13 GK  BLR Stanislav Lapkes (on loan from Columbus Crew)
14 MF  NOR Jørgen Pettersen
16 MF  USA Andres Rodriguez
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW  USA Jonathan Bolanos
18 MF  USA Brendan Krueger
19 FW  USA Garrett McLaughlin
20 MF  FIN Maximus Tainio
23 GK  GHA Rockson Amedeka
27 MF  ENG Chandler O'Dwyer
36 DF  BRA Anderson Rosa
46 MF  NOR Sander Røed
50 FW  USA Dominik Brulinski ([A])
51 DF  USA Adam Kend ([A])
52 MF  USA Kevin Sanchez ([A])
  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract

Technical staff

Position Name
Head Coach & Technical Director Mika Elovaara
Assistant Coach Trevor Sinclair[2]
Assistant Coach Mark Ward[2]
Assistant Coach Glodi Konga[2]
Goalkeeping Coach Mark MacPhee[2]

Transfers

In

Date Position Number Name Previous club Type Fee Ref.
November 12, 2025 FW 19 Garrett McLaughlin Forward Madison FC Signing NA [3]
November 19, 2025 MF 20 Maximus Tainio Jippo Signing NA [4]
November 26, 2025 DF 3 Roberto Burlew Sarasota Paradise Re-signing NA [5]
December 3, 2025 MF 14 Jørgen Pettersen ÍBV Signing NA [6]
December 10, 2025 MF 46 Sander Roed Hønefoss Signing NA [7]
December 15, 2025 MF 27 Chandler O'Dwyer Richmond Kickers Signing NA [8]
December 18, 2025 DF 36 Anderson Rosa Colorado Rapids 2 Signing NA [9]
December 23, 2025 MF 16 Andres Rodriguez VCU Rams Signing NA [10]
December 29, 2025 DF 6 Callum Stretch South Georgia Tormenta FC Signing NA [11]
January 9, 2026 DF 4 Declan Watters Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Signing NA [12]
January 16, 2026 GK 1 Alex Sutton Carolina Core FC Signing NA [13]
January 20, 2026 DF 2 Reid Valentine Texoma FC Signing NA [14]
January 23, 2026 MF 18 Brendan Krueger High Point Panthers Signing NA [15]
January 28, 2026 MF 17 Jonathan Bolanos Westchester SC Signing NA [16]
February 4, 2026 FW 11 Sean Karani LA Galaxy Signing NA [17]
February 10, 2026 MF 8 Aaron Walker South Georgia Tormenta FC Signing NA [18]
February 12, 2026 MF 10 Matt Cence UMass Minutemen Signing NA [19]
February 27, 2026 MF 7 Ethan Bryant Monterey Bay FC Signing NA [20]
March 13, 2026 GK 23 Rockson Amedeka Right to Dream Academy Signing NA [21]
March 24, 2026 DF 51 Adam Kend SD Huesca Academy Contract NA [22]
March 24, 2026 FW 50 Dominik Brulinski Two Bridges FC Academy Contract NA [23]
March 24, 2026 MF 52 Kevin Sanchez Richmond Kickers U20s Academy Contract NA [24]

Loan in

Date Position Number Name Previous club From To Ref.
March 4, 2026 GK 13 Stanislav Lapkes Columbus Crew 2 March 4, 2026 December 31, 2026 [25]


Non-competitive fixtures

Pre-Season

January 17 Sarasota Paradise 0–6 New England Revolution Bradenton, Florida
12:00 PM ET
  • Beason 16'
  • Campana 35'
  • Yueill 39'
  • Turgeman 65'
  • Oliveira 87'
  • Klein 90'
 Stadium: IMG Academy
January 21 Sarasota Paradise 3–1 New York Red Bulls Bradenton, Florida
  • Watters 13'
  • 31'
  • 69'
 Report
Stadium: IMG Academy
January 25 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 0–0 Sarasota Paradise Fort Myers, Florida
Stadium: FGCU Soccer Complex
February 7 Sarasota Paradise 1–2 Rhode Island FC Bradenton, Florida
Stadium: IMG Academy
February 13 Sarasota Paradise 2–1 New York City FC II Lakewood Ranch, Florida
11:am ET
  • 85'
 Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
February 21 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–0 Sarasota Paradise St. Petersburg, Florida
 Report Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
February 28 Miami FC v Sarasota Paradise Miami, Florida
Stadium: FIU Stadium

Competitive fixtures

Regular Season

March 7 1 Sarasota Paradise 0–1 Athletic Club Boise Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
Attendance: 2,791
Referee: Matthew Thompson
March 14 2 Sarasota Paradise 2–2 Fort Wayne FC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
Attendance: 1,806
Referee: Calin Radosav
March 21 3 South Georgia Tormenta FC v Sarasota Paradise Statesboro, Georgia
Stadium: Tormenta Stadium
Note: Game cancelled following South Georgia Tormenta FC's withdrawal from USL League One.[26]
March 28 4 Sarasota Paradise v Portland Hearts of Pine Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
April 4 5 Sarasota Paradise v One Knoxville SC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
April 8 6 Westchester SC v Sarasota Paradise Mount Vernon, New York
Stadium: Stadium at Memorial Field
April 11 7 FC Naples v Sarasota Paradise Naples, Florida
Stadium: Paradise Coast Sports Complex
April 22 8 Sarasota Paradise v Corpus Christi FC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
6:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
May 2 9 Sarasota Paradise v Forward Madison FC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
May 9 10 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC v Sarasota Paradise East Ridge, Tennessee
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium
May 16 11 Sarasota Paradise v AV Alta FC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
6:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
May 24 12 Spokane Velocity v Sarasota Paradise Spokane, Washington
Stadium: One Spokane Stadium
May 27 13 Athletic Club Boise v Sarasota Paradise Garden City, Idaho
Stadium: Stadium at Expo Idaho
May 30 14 Sarasota Paradise v New York Cosmos Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
June 10 15 AV Alta FC v Sarasota Paradise Lancaster, California
Stadium: Lancaster Municipal Stadium
June 13 16 Sarasota Paradise v Union Omaha Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
June 20 17 Corpus Christi FC v Sarasota Paradise Corpus Christi, Texas
Stadium: Cabaniss Athletic Complex
July 3 18 Richmond Kickers v Sarasota Paradise Richmond, Virginia
Stadium: City Stadium
July 8 19 Greenville Triumph SC v Sarasota Paradise Mauldin, South Carolina
Stadium: GE Vernova Park
July 26 20 Portland Hearts of Pine v Sarasota Paradise Portland, Maine
Stadium: Fitzpatrick Stadium
August 1 21 Sarasota Paradise v FC Naples Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
August 8 22 One Knoxville SC v Sarasota Paradise Knoxville, Tennessee
Stadium: Covenant Health Park
August 15 23 Charlotte Independence v Sarasota Paradise Charlotte, North Carolina
Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium
August 19 24 Sarasota Paradise v Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
August 22 25 Union Omaha v Sarasota Paradise Omaha, Nebraska
Stadium: Morrison Stadium
August 29 26 Sarasota Paradise v South Georgia Tormenta FC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
Note: Game cancelled following South Georgia Tormenta FC's withdrawal from USL League One.[26]
September 2 27 New York Cosmos v Sarasota Paradise Paterson, New Jersey
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Hinchliffe Stadium
September 5 28 Sarasota Paradise v Spokane Velocity Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
September 12 29 Forward Madison FC v Sarasota Paradise Madison, Wisconsin
Stadium: Breese Stevens Field
September 19 30 Sarasota Paradise v Greenville Triumph SC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
October 3 31 Sarasota Paradise v Charlotte Independence Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
October 10 32 Sarasota Paradise v Richmond Kickers Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
October 17 33 Fort Wayne FC v Sarasota Paradise Fort Wayne, Indiana
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Fort Wayne FC Park
October 24 34 Sarasota Paradise v Westchester SC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus

USL Cup

April 25 Group Stage Tampa Bay Rowdies v Sarasota Paradise St. Petersburg, Florida
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
May 16 Group Stage Sarasota Paradise v South Georgia Tormenta FC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
Note: Game cancelled following South Georgia Tormenta FC's withdrawal from USL League One.[26]
June 6 Group Stage FC Naples v Sarasota Paradise Naples, Florida
Stadium: Paradise Coast Sports Complex
July 11 Group Stage Sarasota Paradise v Miami FC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Premier Sports Campus

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player Total USL League One USL Cup USL League One Playoffs
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK  USA Alex Sutton 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
2 DF  USA Reid Valentine 2 0 0+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
3 DF  USA Roberto Burlew 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
4 DF  IRL Declan Watters 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
6 DF  PUR Callum Stretch 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
7 MF  USA Ethan Bryant 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
8 MF  USA Aaron Walker 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
9 MF  USA Jordan Bender 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
10 MF  USA Matt Cence 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
11 FW  USA Sean Karani 2 0 0+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
13 GK  BLR Stanislav Lapkes 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
14 MF  NOR Jørgen Pettersen 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
16 MF  USA Andres Rodriguez 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
17 MF  USA Jonathan Bolanos 2 1 2+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0
18 MF  USA Brendan Krueger 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
19 FW  USA Garrett McLaughlin 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
20 MF  FIN Maximus Tainio 2 0 0+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
23 GK  GHA Rockson Amedeka 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
27 MF  ENG Chandler O'Dwyer 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
36 DF  BRA Anderson Rosa 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
46 MF  NOR Sander Roed 2 1 1+1 1 0+0 0 0+0 0
50 FW  USA Dominik Brulinski 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
51 DF  USA Adam Kend 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
52 MF  USA Kevin Sanchez 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0

Top Goalscorers

Rank Position Name USL1 Season USL Cup USL League One Playoffs Total

Assist scorers

Rank Position Name USL1 Season USL Cup USL League One Playoffs Total

Clean sheets

Rank Name USL1 Season USL Cup Total

Disciplinary record

No. Pos. Player USL League One Regular Season USL Cup USL League One Playoffs Total
       
1 GK Alex Sutton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 DF Reid Valentine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 DF Roberto Burlew 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 DF Declan Watters 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
6 DF Callum Stretch 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
7 MF Ethan Bryant 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 MF Aaron Walker 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 MF Matt Cence 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 FW Sean Karani 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 GK Stanislav Lapkes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 MF Jørgen Pettersen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 MF Andres Rodriguez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 MF Jonathan Bolanos 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
18 MF Brendan Krueger 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 FW Garrett McLaughlin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 MF Maximus Tainio 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 GK Rockson Amedeka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 MF Chandler O'Dwyer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
36 DF Anderson Rosa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
46 MF Sander Roed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
50 FW Dominik Brulinski 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
51 DF Adam Kend 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
52 MF Kevin Sanchez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0

Honors and awards

USL League One Team of the Week

Week Player Opponent Position Ref
2 Sander Røed Fort Wayne FC MF [27]
2 Jonathan Bolanos Fort Wayne FC Bench [27]

References

Notes

Citations

  1. ^ "Format, Schedule and Participating Teams Finalized for 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup" (Press release). U.S. Soccer. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Sarasota Paradise Announces Technical Staff Appointments Ahead of New Season". Sarasota Paradise. January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  3. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs Garrett McLaughlin as First Player in Club History". Sarasota Paradise. November 12, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  4. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs Finnish Midfielder Maximus Tainio as Club's First International Player". Sarasota Paradise. November 19, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  5. ^ "Sarasota Paradise announces return of Roberto Burlew from League Two squad". USL League One. November 26, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  6. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs Norwegian Midfielder Jørgen Pettersen". Sarasota Paradise. December 3, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  7. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs Midfielder Sander Roed". Sarasota Paradise. December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  8. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Announces the Signing of Midfielder Chandler O'Dwyer". Sarasota Paradise. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  9. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Announces the Signing of Defender Anderson Rosa". Sarasota Paradise. December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  10. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs Midfielder Andres Rodriguez". Sarasota Paradise. December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  11. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs Defender Callum Stretch". Sarasota Paradise. December 29, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  12. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs All-League Team Player Declan Watters". Sarasota Paradise. January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  13. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs Alex Sutton as Club's First Professional Goalkeeper". Sarasota Paradise. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  14. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs Rising Star Reid Valentine". Sarasota Paradise. January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  15. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs Local Midfielder Brendan Krueger". Sarasota Paradise. January 23, 2026. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  16. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs USL League One Assist Record Holder Jonathan Bolanos". Sarasota Paradise. January 28, 2026. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  17. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs MLS Forward Sean Karani". Sarasota Paradise. February 4, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  18. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs USL League One Legend Aaron Walker". Sarasota Paradise. February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  19. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs College Standout Matt Cence". Sarasota Paradise. February 12, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  20. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs USL League One 2022 Young Player of the Year Ethan Bryant". Sarasota Paradise. February 27, 2026. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  21. ^ "SARASOTA PARADISE SIGNS GHANANIAN GOALKEEPER ROCKSON AMEDEKA". Sarasota Paradise. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  22. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Sign Academy Trio: Sanchez, Brulinski & Kend". Sarasota Paradise. March 24, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  23. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Sign Academy Trio: Sanchez, Brulinski & Kend". Sarasota Paradise. March 24, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  24. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Sign Academy Trio: Sanchez, Brulinski & Kend". Sarasota Paradise. March 24, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  25. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Announces Loan of Goalkeeper Stanislav Lapkes". sarasotaparadise.us. Sarasota Paradise. March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  26. ^ a b c O'Donnell, Bernadette (February 23, 2026). "Statement from Tormenta FC on the 2026 Season". TormentaFC.com. South Georgia Tormenta FC. Archived from the original on February 23, 2026. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  27. ^ a b "USL League One Team of the Week – Week 2". USL League One. 2026-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.