Paradise Fall in First Away Game
USL1 Sarasota Paradise

Paradise Fall in First Away Game

Published on April 8, 2026 under United Soccer League One (USL1)
Sarasota Paradise News Release


Sarasota Paradise's early-season woes continued on Wednesday night as they were shutout by Westchester SC, 2-0.

The Paradise were on the back foot early, as Westchester's Dean Guezen took a shot inside two minutes that ricocheted off Alex Sutton. They would get another chance in the 8th minute when Bobby Pierre slotted a ball to Klye Evans who put the ball wide of the goal, denying the Golden Apple their best chance of the half. The New York side would continue to target the Sarasota defense, getting six shots on goal to Paradise's one throughout the first half.

Sarasota would start the second half with a Maximus Tainio corner in the 45th minute that saw the midfielder float a ball into the box that was headed over goal in a missed opportunity. The first goal of the game would come in the 53rd minute when Guezen received a cross from Jonathan Jiménez and slotted it past Sarasota keeper Alex Sutton for his third goal of the season, giving Westchester a 1-0 lead. Sarasota would get another chance just a minute later when Mathew Cence weaved his way through defenders and fired with his left foot, just missing the goal by mere inches.

Westchester would go a man down in the 61st minute when right back Max Jennings committed his second foul within thirty seconds, earning him a red card and leaving the Golden Apple with ten men. Guezen continued past the Sarasota defense, slotting home a ball ricocheted off Sutton in the 65th minute to give Westchester a 2-0 lad.

From there, the Paradise were unable to convert their chances, with Westchester keeper Andrew Hammersley making three saves throughout the half to keep the Paradise off the scoreboard through the final whistle.

UP NEXT

The Paradise make the journey back south to face in-state rival FC Naples in the "Battle for Paradise" on Saturday, April 11 in Naples.




United Soccer League One Stories from April 8, 2026


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central