Sporting Arizona FC is an American developmental soccer team based in Arizona that was founded in 1989.
History
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2009)
The club originally started in 1989 as the Phoenix Hearts in the original indoor SISL league. They made an immediate impact on the league when they went to the 1989–1990 SISL indoor championship before falling to the Addison Arrows. Hearts coach Peter Baralić was named Coach of the Year.[1]
They changed their name to the Arizona Cotton in 1992 and played both indoor and outdoor for one more year in the USISL, before joining the amateur USISL Premier League in 1995. In 1992, they again went to the final of the USISL Indoor season, losing to the Atlanta Magic. The Arizona coach, Zelimar Antonievic, was named Coach of the Year.[2]
In 1996, the team became the Arizona Phoenix. In 1997, they changed their name again, this time to Arizona Sahuaros, and moved up to the USISL D-3 Pro League. In 1998, the Sahuaros front office named 3 player coaches to take over the Sahuaros Professional franchise, Mate Kozul (Head Coach), Edson Rico and Roger Salazar (Assistant coaches). With their connections in the Valley they assembled a strong team of former HS Gatorade Players of the Year, College All Americans and National JUCO Champions from Yavapai College. That year the Sahuaros were crowned the Western Division Champions and coach Matt Kozul was named USISL Coach of the Year.[3]
After the 2002 season, the Sahuaros left the USL D-3 Pro League and helped form the new Men's Premier Soccer League, finishing the season as champions in the first year. The Sahuaros competed in the NPSL until 2004, after which the club chose to play in USASA affiliated leagues. They re-joined the NPSL in 2008. In 2003–2009, the Sahuaros hired Petar Draksin as their head coach, he made a significant contribution to the Sahuaros franchise by bringing in many talented players and winning many significant games in the different leagues.
In 2016, the Sahuaros were renamed Sporting AZ FC. They joined the UPSL on January 8, 2017, and were placed in the Arizona Conference along with the Arizona Scorpions FC, El Salto United FC & Super Inter AZ.[4] Sporting AZ FC won the Arizona Conference in their 1st season in the UPSL, moving on to the UPSL National Quarterfinals. The team was led by head coach Tim Marchisotto and standout goalkeeper Jake Rybicki. 2018 saw the team raise the bar again, with Marchisotto moving into the general manager role and the addition of Aidan Davison as head coach. The duo achieved success with the team. Sporting AZ won the new Southwest Conference of the UPSL and went to the UPSL Championship game.
In January 2020, "Sporting AZ FC" was renamed Sporting Arizona FC and with the new name came a new ownership. The club continues the same original traditions as a development pathway for players and coaches to reach the professional ranks. In seasons 2021 and 2022, the Club fielded two teams in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) – Sporting Arizona FC and SAFC Sahuaros. Sporting Arizona FC coached by Eric Junis Aguilar won the UPSL Division 1 title. In season 2023, the Club has fielded the two teams in the inaugural Southwest Premier League – Arizona Premier. Sporting Arizona coached by Omar Ledesma has won the league with SAFC Sahuaros coached by Eric Junis Aguilar taking second place. Since 2021, Sporting Arizona FC has been the exclusive 'path-to-pro' partner of State 48 FC, Arizona's fastest growing youth and community soccer development club.
Players
Notable former players
Roger Espinoza (2013 – Premier League – Wigan Athletic)[5] (2008 SuperDraft – MLS 11th pick in the 1st round – Kansas City Wizards) [6]
Allen Chapman (Professional referee working in MLS since 2012)[7]
Nick DeLeon (2012 Super Draft – MLS 7th pick in the 1st round – DC United)[8]
1st round – Sahuaros (USASA) vs BYU Cougars (USL-PDL) 5–1[10] 2nd Round – Sahuaros (USASA) vs Virginia Beach Mariners (USL-D1) 0–1 [11]
2007
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
2008
4
NPSL
2nd, Southwest
Did not qualify
1st round
2009
USASA
n/a
n/a
1st round – El Paso Patriots (USL-PDL) vs Sahuaros (USASA) 2–1[12]
2010
USASA
n/a
n/a
1st round – Sahuaros (NPSL) vs Ventura County Fusion (USL-PDL) 1–1 regulation 4–2 PKs[13] 2nd Round – Austin Aztex (USSF-D2) vs Sahuaros (NPSL) 3–1 [14]
2011
On Hiatus
2012
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
2013
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
2014
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
2015
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
2016
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
Sporting AZ FC
2017 (Spring)
UPSL
1st, Arizona Conference
Quarter-finals
Did not qualify
2018 (Spring)
UPSL
1st, Southwest Conference
Championship Final
1st round – Sporting AZ FC (UPSL) vs FC Arizona (NPSL) 1–0[15] 2nd Round – Sporting AZ FC (UPSL) vs Phoenix Rising FC (USL) 1–1 regulation 5–4 PKs [16] 3rd Round – Fresno FC (USL) vs Sporting AZ FC (UPSL) 2–1 in overtime.
2021 (Spring)
UPSL
1st, Arizona 1st Division Conference
2022–23 (Spring)
SWPL
1st, Arizona Premier
2022–23 (Fall)
UPSL
2nd, Arizona 1st Division Conference
Indoor team
Year
League
Reg. Season
Playoffs
Phoenix Hearts
1989/90
SISL Indoor
1st, Cactus
Championship Final
1990/91
SISL Indoor
4th, Southwest
Quarter-finals
1991/92
USISL Indoor
4th, Southwest
Did not qualify
Arizona Cotton
1992/93
USISL Indoor
2nd, Southwest
Championship Final
Honors
MPSL Champions 2003
USL D-3 Pro League West Division Champions 1998
SISL Cactus Division Champions 1989/90 (Indoor)
UPSL Arizona Conference Champions 2017 (Spring Season)
UPSL Southwest Conference Champions 2018 (Spring Season)
UPSL Southwest Conference Division 1 Champions 2022 (Spring Season)
SWPL Arizona Premier Champions 2023 (Spring Season)
Sporting Sporting CP Dick's Sporting Goods Sporting B.C. The Sporting News Sporting de Gijón Sporting San Miguelito BFA Sporting Sporting Atlético Sporting Fingal F.C. Sporting camp Sporting CP (cycling team) Sporting CP Esports Sporting Cristal Sporting Cyclist Sporting Life Sporting clays Sporting Clube da Praia Sporting CP (futsal) Sporting F.C. CF Sporting Mahonés FC Porto–Sporting CP rivalry 2010–11 Sporting CP season 2016–17 Sporting CP season 2003–04 Sporting CP season Sporting CP B Sporting CP (handball) Sporting CP Youth Academy Sporting CP (volleyball) Sporting Arizona FC …
Monte-Carlo Sporting Sporting Life (retailer) Sporting de Huelva Sporting Clube da Brava CS Sporting Roșiori 2009–10 Sporting CP season 2001–02 Sporting CP season FCD Sporting Bellinzago Saif Sporting Club Big 5 Sporting Goods ACS Sporting Turnu Măgurele Defensor Sporting 2018–19 Sporting CP season 2017–18 Sporting CP season 2013–14 Sporting CP season 2012–13 Sporting CP season Sporting Bengal United F.C. 2015–16 Sporting CP season Bromsgrove Sporting F.C. 2014–15 Sporting CP season 2004–05 Sporting CP season 2011–12 Sporting CP season 1978–79 Sporting de Gijón season 2015–16 Sporting de Gijón season Oshman's Sporting Goods Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association Sporting CP (roller hockey) Sporting (neighborhood) Alexandria Sporting Club Sporting CP (women's football) 1999–2000 Sporting CP season 2012–13 Sporting de Gijón season Sporting Club Jacksonville Sporting–Boavista rivalry of Praia Sporting Clube de São Tomé Sporting Kansas City Wilson Sporting Goods Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer Sporting Afrique FC 2014–15 Sporting de Gijón season 2013–14 Sporting de Gijón season 2011–12 Sporting de Gijón season Sporting Clube