USL2 and League for Clubs Expand, U.S. Open Cup Teams Finalized, and More Semi-Pro Soccer News

Here’s a mix and match of the latest news in the Southeast semi-professional game.

Credit League for Clubs (X/Twitter)

Rapid Southern Expansion for League for Clubs, USL2

Yesterday, the League for Clubs, a breakaway league from the NPSL with a heavy new presence in Northern California, Texas, and the Northeast, added both Valdosta FC and AFC Mobile to their Gulf Coast Conference, joining Sowegans SC (Albany, GA). In partnership with the Gulf Coast Premier League, the six-to-twelve team conference will act as a top division in a promotion-relegation style table with the existing league taking a spot in the second tier. This regional to national & pro-rel structure is almost one-of-a-kind, only replicated partially by the UPSL, and it is nice to see the amateur game grow with strong backing along the gulf coast at the national level rather than just regionally.

Meanwhile, in USL League Two, it was announced on January 23 that NPSL standout Apotheos FC, named after a coffee shop and playing out of Silverbacks Park in Atlanta, would move to the league. This is following a move by Montgomery United FC to the league on December 5, making the South Central division very strong. Apotheos and Montgomery will regularly face off against Dothan United, East Atlanta FC, Athens United, Asheville City, and others.

Credit USL2, Apotheos FC (Instagram)

The move by Apotheos subsequently brings the Southeast Conference of the NPSL down to seven teams.

6 Amateur U.S. Open Cup Participants in the Southeast

The NPSL might be losing teams, but they, USL2, and the UPSL all are providing the same amount of teams in the Southeast to this year’s edition of the U.S. Open Cup. The NPSL is represented by Appalachian FC in Boone, North Carolina and Naples United FC in Florida. USL2 is represented by Asheville City in North Carolina and Sarasota Paradise in Florida. Finally, the UPSL is represented by Miami United FC in Florida and Harbor City FC in Melbourne, Florida. All six teams will face off against a professional club in Round 1 of the tournament.

Credit Dalton United (Instagram)

SoccerTown USA Gains Another Team

Dalton United announced on January 26 that the club will be launching Dalton United II to compete in the UPSL Division 1. That is the second tier of the Georgia Conference, with the first tier, the Premier Division, being home to Dalton’s first team. Tryouts for both the first and second team are on February 15, and more details can be found on Dalton United’s Instagram (daltonunitedga).

Credit FISA Elite (Instagram)

New Look, New Players for FISA Elite

FISA Elite, based out of Merritt Island, Florida, have a completely new look. Leaving their red, white, and blue, state outline and soccer ball logo in the past, they have chosen a much more modern look. Black, blue, and white polish a very clean logo finished off by two white palm trees in the center. Completing the rebrand for the club is a brand new kit deal with Avec Sport.

FISA Elite has also made a multitude of new signings over the last few weeks. They have brought in defender Nathan Welman, wingers Bryson Gregg, Henrique Dos Santos, Akash Sharma, and Pedro Morales-Diaz, and finally Daniel Hernandez (position not announced by club). The have resigned inaugural captain and all-time minutes leader John Anasa, fullbacks Jaxon Cope and Paulo Cornejo, attacking midfielder Gage Canarelli, midfielders Nick Vassar and Avian Wares, and goalkeeper Conner Unterreiner. The club now has players from Brazil, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, and a multitude of U.S. states.

Credit CASA (Instagram)

New U-23 Amateur League Launches in Raleigh

The Capital Area Soccer Association (CASA) is a new six club, U-23 amateur developmental league based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The league is ran by Zac Hines, a local amateur soccer podcaster and photographer. All matches will be played at the Jose Cornejo Satellite Athletic Complex at St Davids School just north of downtown Raleigh, and all matches will be videoed as that (and much more) is covered by league fees. CASA also offers impressive financial and NIL incentives. Once the six teams play 10 matches in the regular season, the top 4 qualify for a playoff with a $2,000 cash pool prize. The league’s top scorer will receive $200, the Golden Glove $200, and the Weekly Moment of the Matchday $50.

Three clubs have already decided to join the U-23 project, those being Guerreros FC, AC Raleigh, and Johnson County.

Soda City FC Advance to UPSL National Championship

Yesterday, Soda City FC of Columbia, South Carolina beat FUT Ohio SC of Columbus, Ohio in the UPSL National Semifinal in Irvine, California. After going down 1-0 and 2-1 and pulling it back even twice, Soda City went on to win 4-2 after extra time.

Soda City were the lone remaining team from the Southeast in the playoffs. The club won the Mid-Atlantic Conference Final and Southeast Regional Final to reach this point, and they are the UPSL’s defending national champions from the 2024 spring/summer season. Even with all this success, they were at risk of existing the playoffs until a crucial header by Gabriel Hugo-Guadagno in the 107th minute gave the club a 3-2 lead. Troy Paul would see out the game in the 120th minute with a great finish into the bottom right corner from outside the box. As of the time of writing, Soda City is likely to play FC Folsom of Folsom, California in the championship match, as they are up 4-1 in the second semifinal over El Paso Rush ACM3.