USL LEAGUE TWO PLAYOFFS SOUTHERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
- Dan Stickradt
- Jul 18
- 7 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
USL LEAGUE TWO PLAYOFFS SOUTHERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
The 35-team 2025 USL League Two Playoffs got underway on July 15 with three play-in games – all in the Eastern Conference – with the Round of 32 and Round of 16 taking place July 18-20 at eight different sites across the U.S. in the Eastern Conference, Central Conference, Southern Conference and Western Conference
Below is a breakdown of each team and contest in the Southern Conference, which are held in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, and Dalton, Alabama.
LAKEWOOD RANCH FLORIDA POD
(At Lakewood Ranch Premier Sports Campus)
LAREDO HEAT SC VS. FORT LAUDERDALE UNITED FC – JULY 18, 4:00 P.M.
Team: Laredo Heat SC
Division: Lone Star Division champion
Record: 11-1-0, .917 win pct., 33 points, 2.75 PPM
Stats: Four shutouts, 3.00 goals-per-game, 1.00 GAA, 36-12 scoring edge (+24)
Players to Watch: Sergio Eduardo Meza Carrillo, F (five goals); Kai Losviere, F (five goals, two assists); Ismael Mane, M (four goals, two assists); Volkan Celikkol, M (three goals, one assist);
Elie William Bokota, M/D (three goals); Sergio Meza Carrillo, M (two goals); Gael Gallegos, M (two goals, one assist) Ernesto Rafael Contreras, M (two goals, one assist); Marc Bonnaire, G; Vurok Cho, D; Ivan Zamora Esquival, D; Edwin Orduy, D; Civdan De Jesus Ferreira, D; Henox Hatzel Roque-Pinzon, D/M (two goals, one assist); Adam Knutson, D/M (one goal, one assist); Ahinga Selemani, M (one goal, one assist); Vincent Montoya, M (one goal, one assist); Martin Piedeleu, M/D (two assists)
Notables: The 2006 national runner-up and 2007 national champion returned to the USL League Two in 2025 after a few-year hiatus and it’s been a grand campaign so far for the Heat. The side bounced around the Top 20 Power Rankings this season and captured the Lone Star Division with just one loss. The Heat’s only defeat came back on June 21 with a 4-1 setback to the divisional runner-up Corpus Cristi FC and has one of the better offenses in the league behind 36 goals, a 3.00 goals-per-game average and 11 wins. This team knows how to win and will be a very difficult out in the postseason.
Team: Fort Lauderdale United FC
Division: South Florida Division runner-up
Record: 8-2-2, .667 win pct., 26 points, 2.08 PPM
Stats: Six shutouts, 1.75 goals-per-game, 0.84 GAA, 21-10 scoring edge (+11)
Players to Watch: Carlos Zambrano, F (seven goals, one assist); Michael Appiah, M/F (three goals); Johan Arevalo, F (three goals); Ethan Subacioan, M/F (three goals, one assist); Andres Morral, M (two goals); Ivan Arenas, M (one assist); Idrissa Mberwaye Mane, M/D (one goal); Joackim, Betina, M/D (two assists); Lucas Costa, M (two assists); Fernando Sanchez, M (one assist); Alessandro Salvadego, M (one assist); Nigel Ekow Oheneba Van Haueren, G (25 saves); Tibo Gobet, D; Carlos Levy Ianado, D
Notables: Fort Lauderdale United FC played through several close games to grab the runner-up slot in their division and gain an at-large postseason berth. United has only conceded 10 goals in 12 games for a 0.84 goals-against-average and is difficult to score upon. The side has four one-goal victories and three more two-goal wins, so it has proven that it can win tight games. The side has only scored 21, one of the lower totals in the postseason, so it will likely rely on its stout defense and timely offensive production if it is to advance in this conference tournament.
SARASOTA PARADISE VS. SPORTING JAX – JULY 18, 7:30 P.M.
Team: Sarasota Paradise
Division: South Florida Division champion
Record: 9-1-2 ..750 win pct., 29 points, 2.42 PPM
Stats: Seven shutouts, 3.09 goals-per-game, 0.67 GAA, 37-8 scoring edge (+29)
Players to Watch: Jack Kilstrom, G (26 saves); Andres Feire, F (five goals); Romeo Dahlen, F/M (two goals); Owen Barnett, M (two goals, two assists); Lukas Kamrath, M (two goals, two assists); Kai Tamashiro, M (two goals); Enzo Panozzo, F/M (two goals); Robert White, M (one goal, one assist); George Waites, M (one goal, one assist); Elias Khodri, M (one goal); Juan Rojas, D (two assists); Christian Leon, CB; Andrew Hollenbach, D; Fabrizio Bernal, D; Jiovan Rodriguez, D
Notables: Only allowing eight goals in 12 games showcases that the Paradise are difficult to score upon and have one of the lower goals-against-average (0.67) of the 32 teams in the tournament. It’s a bonus that the side can be explosive with 37 goals, although one of those games was a 16-0 blowout of Miami AC. Outside of the match, the team still scored 21 so Sarasota can win tight games as well. Three of the four teams in this pod call Florida home and Laredo is in west Texas, so all four teams are used to playing in the heat and humidity which could be a factor for all four of these sides.
Team: Sporting JAX
Division: Southeast Division champion
Record: 8-3-1 .667 win pct., 25 points, 2.08 PPM
Stats: Five shutouts, 1.92 goals-per-game, 0.92 GAA, 23-11 scoring edge (+12)
Players to Watch: William Ampofo, F (six goals); Ethan Newsome, F/M (four goals); Tyler Prebenda, M (one goal, one assist); Keegan Lynch, M (one assist); Osei Gyambi, M (six goals, one assist); Cale Saunders, M (one assist); Luciano Natoli, G; Segan Afolabi, F (three goals); Joey Mueller, /F (two goals); Tristan Adams, M (one goal); Manuel Flores, M (one goal); Guiseppe Croce, M (one goal); Jared Smid, D; Christopher Mckenna, CB;
Notables: Another team that does not score a ton, Sporting JAX hasn’t had to as it owns five clean sheets and boasts a 0.92 goals-against-average. That recipe helped the side win the Southeast Division title, although Sporting JAX did suffer three losses on the year. It may need some offensive players to be very opportunistic to advance in this pod.
DALTON ALABAMA POD
(At Rip Hewes Stadium)
ASHEVILLE CITY SC VS. LOUISIANA KREWE FC – JULY 18, 4:00 P.M.
Team: Asheville City SC
Division: South Central Division champion
Record: 10-0-2, .834 win pct., 32 points, 2.50 PPM
Stats: Nine shutouts, 3.59 goals-per-game, 0.25 GAA, 43-3 scoring edge (+40)
Players to Watch: Donghyeon Kim, F (seven goals, two assists); Edourd Nys, M/F (five goals, four assists); Sven Rempel, M (three goals, three assists); Simon Carlson, M (three goals); Pietro Fontana, M/F (three goals); Kimito Fritz, M/F (two goals, one assist); Issah Iruna, M (two goals, one assist); David Perez, F (two goals); Daniel Samways, M (two goals, one assist); Augustyn Resch, M/F (two goals, one assist); Joafo Silva, M (one goal, three assists); Jack Casey, M (one goal, three assists); Dylan Cropp, M (one goal); Ernest Mensah, M (one goal, one assist); Dante Huckaby, M (one goal, two assists); Izaiah Vignali, M (two assists); Callum Frogson, D; Charles Strine, D; Brennan Creek, M/D; Jonathan Mennell, G (23 saves); Nathan Rodrigues, D; Ayman Maadir, D/M (two assists); Iago Rodriguez, D; David Cordes, D; Alexander Blanche, D (one goal)
Notables: This team has spent all season in the Top 20 Power Rankings and even some time at No. 1. ?First, the team defense leads the entire USL League Two with only three goals conceded, nine clean sheets and a stellar 0.25 goals-against-average. The offense is not too shabby, either, as the 43 goals and 3.59 goals-per-game are top 10 in the nation. Asheville City SC has all of the tools to make it to the Final Four and perhaps maybe take home the coveted crown.
Team: Louisiana Krewe
Division: Mid South Division champion
Record: 8-2-2, .667 win pct., 27 points, 2.17 PPM
Stats: Four shutouts, 2.17 goals-per-game, 1.17 GAA, 26-14 scoring edge (+12)
Players To Watch: Pol Mur, M/F (three goals, two assists); Alcibiades Duran Jr., F (five goals); Matteus Barrozo, M/F (two goals); Ty Nero, X (one goal); Simao Coelho, M (one goal, two assists); Max Hinke, G (20 saves); Guillermo Garcia, M/D (one goal, two assists); Guiherme Santos, M (one goal, one assist); Kacy Parish, D; Aristed Kamdjin, M (one goal, three assists); Axel Agurcia, D (one goal); Gonzalo Carrasio, M/D (one goal, one assist); Guiherme Santos, D (one goal, one assist)
Notables: Another divisional champion which has scored 26 goals but allowed 14 and its reward is to play perhaps the best team in the nation on paper. The defense is going to have to tighten the reins severely and whatever few chances that Asheville City SC gives, the Krewe FC will have to take advantage of those limited opportunities.
DOTHAN UNITED VS. LITTLE ROCK RANGERS – JULY 18, 8:30 P.M.
Team: Dothan United
Division: South Central Division runner-up
Record: 10-2-0, .834 win pct., 30 points, 2.50 PPM
Stats: Six shutouts, 2.75 goals-per-game, 0.50 GAA, 33-6 scoring edge (+27)
Players to Watch: Lawrence Goddard, F (eight goals, one assist); Santiago Hoyos, F (four goals); Ryan Holmes, F (three goals); Jadan Strumeier, M (two goals); Stefano Campisi, F (one goal, four assists); William Noecker, D/M (three assists); Joshua Bellenberger, D/M (two assists); Giampaolo Nardi, M; Yago Darub, G; Ezra White, M; Alexander Pama, M; Ivan Jolivet, D; Kevin Pierre, M; Mohammed Sumalia, D; Matthew Everitt, F; Devonte Richards, D
Notables: Glancing at the numbers and this team not only passes the eye test, but has perhaps the entire tournament best overall numbers for a team that didn’t win its division.
Team: Little Rock Rangers
Division: Mid South Division champion
Record: 8-1-3, .667 win pct., 27 points, 2.25 PPM
Stats: Seven shutouts, 2.09 goals-per-game, 0.50 GAA, 25-6 scoring edge (+19)
Players to Watch: Ethan Blake, F/D (five goals, three assists); Drew Hardin, M/F (five goals); Ghislain Amos Roger-Baum, M (three goals, one assist); Raphael Kistmann, M (two goals, one assist); Scott Gray, M (one goal, three assists); Miguel Arilla, M (one goal, one assist); Carlos Beltran, D; Luca Clavero Marcus, G; Aljeandro Padilla, CB/M (one goal); Daniel Burko, D; Jon Koka, F/D; Fabrizio Cubeddu, D; Caoimhin McConnell, D/M
Notables: Defense is the name of the game for Little Rock Rangers, who ranked in the top 10 in the country for fewest goals allowed (six), goals-against-average (0.50) and shutouts (seven). With a 25-6 scoring edge (+19) this side scores enough this team knows how to win and win in a wide variety of ways. The Rangers are 4-1 in one goal games, 1-0 in two-goal games and had three ties. It doesn't have to be pretty at this stage, but enough to survive and advance. Defense really helped carry this side to the Mid South Division title and if defense truly wins championships, then the Rangers could have enough to make a run.
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