NASL Jacksonville Armada FC

Armada FC Weekly: Armada FC Set to Drop Anchor in Charleston on Wednesday

Published on February 17, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Jacksonville Armada FC News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (February 17, 2015) - On the heels of a memorable inaugural match on Saturday, Feb. 7, the Jacksonville Armada FC will look to continue its winning ways at 4 p.m. on Wednesday when it travels to Charleston, S.C., to take on USL side Charleston Battery.

It will be the first open preseason match on the road for the Armada FC. The club took down the New York Red Bulls 4-1 in a three-quarter, 25-minute closed scrimmage that took place at the Omni Championsgate Sports Complex on Feb. 5.

The Armada FC is 1-0 in preseason friendlies this season.

LAST TIME OUT

In front of a raucous and North American Soccer League preseason record crowd of nearly 14,000, the Armada FC took down Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union, 3-1, in their inaugural match at EverBank Field in Jacksonville. The Armada FC dominated possession from the opening kickoff and stayed true to its aggressive attacking style until fulltime.

Defender Fabricio Ortiz netted the Armada FC's first-ever goal after taking a deflection off midfielder Bochy Hoyos in the box and blasting it into the back of the net.

Alhassane Keita and Lucas Trejo also scored goals in the win, while midfielder and captain Jaime Castrillon was named the Man of the Match. Goalkeeper MIguel Gallardo recorded eight saves.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

The Charleston Battery finished with an 11-8-10 record in 2014-15, good for fifth-place in the USL and a spot in the playoffs. The team was led by Dane Kelly, who was named to the USL All-League first team last September after finishing with 10 goals in the regular season. The Battery dropped its 2-1 playoff match against Richmond on an extra time goal.

The Battery will return the favor to the Armada FC at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 8 in Jacksonville at Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

BAHNER, GALLARDO AND TOBY RETURN TO FAMILIAR TERRITORY

A trio of Armada FC players - defender Matt Bahner, Gallardo and defender Joseph Toby - return to familiar territory in Charleston as former USL players.

Bahner, who started in the club's inaugural win, spent two seasons in the USL with the Harrisburg City Islanders in 2013 and 2014 and was a second-team USL All-League selection in 2014. He is 1-4 all-time against the Battery, including 0-2 in Charleston.

Gallardo, who tended goal for four years for Orlando City SC, went 2-1 against the Battery in 2014.

Toby made an appearance as a substitute with Arizona United SC against Charleston in a 2-0 road loss on July 26.

UP NEXT

The Armada FC will make their debut at their full-time home, Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 against NASL foe Fort Lauderdale Strikers in a preseason friendly. Tickets are available by calling 1.844.2ARMADA or going to ArmadaFC.com.

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North American Soccer League Stories from February 17, 2015


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