By: Ryan Flynn
Sarasota Paradise wrapped up their inaugural season Saturday night, playing Westchester SC to a 2-2 draw in front of the home crowd at Premier Sports Campus.
Paradise started on the front foot, earning a corner kick inside the first two minutes that, while blocked, continued their pattern of attacking early in games.
For much of the opening half, Sarasota controlled possession, working their way into the opposing third on numerous occasions. An opportunity came in the 29th minute, after Ethan Bryant was fouled in Westchester territory. Lining up for a free kick, Bryant’s shot was on target, though Westchester keeper Andrew Hammersley was able to corral the ball and avoid a costly rebound.
Paradise goalkeeper Rockson Amedeka showed his reflexes in the 32nd minute, leaping up to get his fingertips on a shot by Connor McGlynn and deny Westchester the first goal of the game.
The two teams would go into the locker room deadlocked at zero, each one looking for the breakthrough in the second half.
Paradise would open the scoring in the 60th minute, courtesy of a perfectly played counterattack. After winning back possession on a duel with a Westchester player, Kevin Sanchez lobbed a short pass to Ethan Bryant just past the halfway line. Spotting an opening and an onside Garrett McLaughlin, Bryant floated a ball towards goal that McLaughlin caught up to. With one touch, he squared the ball to Jonathan Bolanos who hit the ball first time on the ground, beating the Westchester keeper and giving Sarasota a 1-0 lead.
Immediately after this goal, head coach Mika Elovaara would make several on-field changes, bringing in Matthew Cence for Bolanos and Emiliano Terzaghi for Dominik Brulinski to increase their attacking presence.
The changes paid dividends just three minutes later in the 65th minute, when Sarasota would double their lead. Winning a duel in his own half, Cence would take the ball down the left flank and send a pass towards the center of the pitch for Ethan Bryant. Swarmed by defenders, Bryant worked with McLaughlin on an interchange to set up a one-timer for Chandler O’Dwyer. Following O’Dwyer’s initial shot, Terzaghi came up from the left side anticipating the rebound, taking a quick shot and putting it past the keeper to give the home side a 2-0 lead.
The Paradise lead would hold into the 83rd minute, when Westchester’s Jonathan Jiménez collected a rebound in front of goal and put it past Amedeka to cut the lead in half at 2-1.
Westchester would grab a late equalizer in the 96th, a pass from the left side finding Daniel Burko, who sent a left-footed shot into goal, tying the game and giving each team a point when the final whistle blew.
As the final whistle blew, Paradise players applauded the home fans for their support throughout the inaugural season.
YOUNG PLAYERS SHINE FOR PARADISE
Several young players made their professional debuts for Paradise on Saturday, earning them their first professional minutes. Midfielder Kevin Sanchez played his first full 90 in a professional game, while Michael McGurk and Eeli Elovaara made their professional debuts in the second half.
STATS TO KNOW
- Ethan Bryant: 1.0 challenge success, 3 interceptions, 4 shot assists, key in linking defense to attack.
- Jonathan Bolanos: Highest xG (0.40), contributed goal threat and pressing.
- Garrett McLaughlin: Balanced offensive and defensive work with 0.21 xG and 5 interceptions.
QUOTES
“Expecation for next year is making playoffs, having a home playoff game. It’s going to be the same core group so I’m looking forward to the chemistry we have built” – Garrett McLaughlin
“I was nervous from the start but I had my teammates pick me up and once I connected the first pass, first tackle I felt like I was meant to be there.” -Kevin Sanchez
“I’ve had a lot of support from the guys and the fans, they’ve been very very kind to me they have been helpful through the whole process and to come out today and have a good game. It means a lot to me and it means a lot to the guys”- Matthew Cence
“We wanted to build a team that people enjoy watching and I feel we accomplished that. We are extremely grateful for the support we’ve felt from the community all season. We have a bulk of the team coming back next season and we are very very excited to continue to build and grow together with our community.” Head Coach Mika Elovaara