San Diego Zest FC
| Full name | San Diego Zest FC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | ||
| Stadium | RIMAC, Madison High School | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 | ||
| Owners | San Diego Sports Authority | ||
| Head Coach | Cem Tont | ||
| League | Premier Development League | ||
| 2017 |
7th, Southwest Division Playoffs: DNQ | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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San Diego Zest FC is an American soccer team in San Diego, California, United States. The club is founded in 2016 owned and operated by the San Diego Sports Authority, a sports management company. They will compete in the Southwest Division of the Premier Development League. San Diego Zest FC is set to play at University of California, San Diego's RIMAC as one of its locations in its inaugural season. The team colors are Orange, Navy, and White.
History
The San Diego Zest FC was established in 2016 by a sports management company called San Diego Sports Authority, hereafter SDSA, located at San Diego, CA. The project was started in 2014 with aim of developing the local community soccer level and providing Japanese soccer players the path to pro in the U.S. On January 21, 2016, the Premier Development League announced that it had awarded the franchise to San Diego Zest FC, starting with the 2016 season. [1] "San Diego has for a long time been a target city for the PDL, we are very excited the outstanding leadership of the San Diego Sports Authority will be the group that brings the league to a great soccer city, and are looking forward to working with the club for many years to come.” said league director Todd Eason. The club hosted its first ever open tryout on Saturday February 6th, 2016 at James Madison High School, and two weeks later gave an announcement that approximately 30 prospective players participated. The second open tryout was held a week later, February 13th at the same field and the number of participants increased to 60. On July 6th 2016, San Diego Zest FC announced its first affiliation agreement, partnering with Japanese club Avispa Fukuoka, which competes in Japan's first division. SD Zest FC became the first PDL team to partner with a J1 League club, signing a renewable one-year agreement. The SD Zest FC defeated PDL 2016 season's only unbeaten club at the time FC Tucson, which had went on to win the Western Conference Southwest Division Title by a score of 2-1 on July 9th at Kino Sports Complex. The Zest will be holding open tryouts for the 2017 season on Saturday, February 25th at Alliant University and another on Sunday March 12th with location to be announced. The Zest will begin the 2017 regular season on May 6th by visiting the Southern California Surf and then follow up with a three-game homestand with the first being against last year’s division winner FC Tucson on Saturday, May 13th at Madison High School.
On February 22nd, 2017 The San Diego Zest FC officially qualified for the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Zest will be one of 21 teams who will be participating in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as they try to overthrow the current defending champion FC Dallas who defeated the New England Revolution 4-2 in last year’s championship. The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. and the world’s third-longest-running open soccer tournament. Last Year’s tournament was contested by 91 clubs from the three professional leagues sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation: Major League Soccer (MLS), the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the United Soccer League (USL), and also amateur clubs in the earlier rounds of the tournament after qualifying through their leagues. The overall champion earns a quarter million dollars in prize money while the runner-up receives $60,000, and the furthest-advancing team from each lower division league receives $15,000.In addition, the tournament winner qualifies for the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. The 2017 SD Zest will be competing in both the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the USL PDL season with a revamped squad made up of almost exclusive new players.
The SD Zest finished the 2016 regular season with 8 wins 5 draws and 1 loss. They finished with a 4 wins 2 draws and 1 loss at home and a record of 4 wins 3 draws on 0 losses on the road. The team scored a total of 27 goals and gave up 12 goals during the 2016 regular season with a +15 goal differential.
Playoffs: July 19, 2016 Divisional Playoffs San Diego Zest 2 – 3 OT FC Golden State Force @James Madison High School Stadium
The San Diego Zest competed against the Los Angeles Wolves FC in the opening round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday May 10th, 2017 at Azusa Pacific University Soccer Field. San Diego lost 4-2 to the Wolves squad coached by U.S. National Soccer Hall of Famer Eric Wynalda. Chuck Pitts scored the first goal of the game in the 37th minute to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. The Wolves squad extended their lead in the 60th minute after Miguel Sanchez after scoring thanks to a well-placed corner kick from teammate Pablo Cruz. A deflected ball in the San Diego Zest defensive backfield found the back of the next in the 63rd minute giving the Wolves a comanding 3-0 lead (Pablo Cruz was given credit for the goal). The Zest would score their first goal of the match in the 72nd minute on the right foot of defender Joseph Fortini. The Wolves' Paolo Cardozo, who recorded an assist on his team's previous goal, would score his team's fourth and final goal in 75th minute. San Diego forward Patrick McGrath would finish the scoring by converting on a penalty kick in the 88th minute of play making the final 4-2 in favor of the home team L.A. Wolves. This was the Zest's first ever participation int the U.S. Open Cup having joined the USLPDL just a year earlier (2016). The official announcement was made on February 22nd, 2017. The Zest was one of 21 USLPDL teams who were selected to participate in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open. There were a total of 99 participating clubs, hailing from 30 different states, which made 2017’s the largest field in modern-era U.S. Open Cup history. Among the sides in the 104th installment of the competition which included champions FC Dallas and 18 other Major League Soccer outfits. There are also six participants from the North American Soccer League (NASL) and 18 teams from the United Soccer League (USL), including Charleston Battery, who, in 2008, became the last non-MLS team to reach the final. On June 5th, 2017 The San Diego Zest announced that team had been included as a member of the United Premier Soccer League(UPSL) starting in the Fall of 2017.The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is excited to announce San Diego Zest FC as a member team starting with the 2017 Fall Season. The San Diego Zest FC will be competing in the UPSL's Pro Premier Division’s Western Conference. United Premier Soccer League Commissioner Yan Skwara said, “San Diego Zest FC is an exciting, dynamic soccer club and we’re pleased to welcome the Zest to the UPSL. Zest FC has an arm into Japan soccer that is unmatched among Pro Development clubs in the United States, and will no doubt compliment their already competitive squad of players. The UPSL also is expanded its reach in Southern California into the San Diego market. The UPSL was formed in 2011 and currently includes more than 60 teams in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Utah. UPSL is the fastest growing Pro Development League in the USA, with 80-plus teams targeted for 2018 Spring Season. Each UPSL team is individually owned and operated, and is responsible for maintaining either UPSL Pro Premier Division or Championship Division minimum standards.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Southwest | Divisional Playoff | Did not enter |
| 2017 | 4 | USL PDL | 7th, Southwest | Did not qualify | First Round |
Head Coaches
-
Cem Tont (2016-present) [2]
Current roster
As of February 21, 2015[3][4][5][6]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Last updated: February 24, 2017. Source: http://www.uslpdl.com/page/show/2353311-san-diego-zest-fc
Notable Former Players
This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.
Average Attendance
- 2016: 365
References
- ↑ "PDL Awards Franchise to San Diego". Premier Development League (PDL). January 21, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ↑ San Diego Zest Coaching Staff
- ↑ http://fctucson.com/team/players-staff/players/
- ↑ FC Tucson Completes Preseason Singings
- ↑ FC Tucson Signs Six More Players
- ↑ Preseason Invitees Signed to Roster
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