2018 First Playoff Appearance and First Playoff Win
The Jacksonville Armada FC were victorious against Miami United FC in the 2018 NPSL Sunshine Conference Semifinals for the team’s first playoff match in club history. Winning 4-1 against Miami United FC, the Armada FC have advanced on to the 2018 NPSL Sunshine Conference Finals with the opportunity to play for the NPSL South Region title as the competition continues. The Armada had great goals from Banks in the 9th minute and Micoli in the 25th to give them an early lead. An own goal from MUFC put the Armada up by 3. The fourth and last goal scored by Kilduff in the 49th was the final nail in the coffin, solidifying the Armadas position 4-1, advancing them to the finals.
Jacksonville Armada 2018 U.S. Open Cup Run
Game 1 (Qualifier):
The Jacksonville Armada FC conquered The Villages SC in the Play-In Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The 2-1 win allowed the Armada FC to advance on to the First Round. Ciaran Kilduff scored the first goal of the night just five minutes into the match with a header, becoming the first to score in the 105th U.S. Open Cup. After the half, The Villages SC tied the match in the 58th minute with a goal from Gabriel Torres. The winning goal for the Armada came in the 71st minute when they received a free kick taken by Mechack Jérôme. Wesley Charpie was able to score off the shot taken by Jerome’s free kick, where he placed it in for the win.
Game 2
Another win in the books for the Jacksonville Armada when they shutout the Sima Aguilas, allowing the Armada to advance on to the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The first goal came in the second half, when Castellanos stole the ball off of a deflection from a SIMA defender, scoring his first professional goal in the 53rd minute. With the Armada continuing to pressure in the second half, Doyle had a fantastic goal from 20 yards out in the 76th minute, solidifying the Armadas lead at 2-0. This triumph marks the first time the Armada have had a two-game winning streak in the U.S. Open Cup.
Game 3
The Jacksonville Armada win their third straight game in the U.S. Open Cup, advancing them to the third round after defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies 1-0. With unsuccessful attempts from both teams, the first half ended 0-0. The Armada came back on the field determined to score in the second half. Finally, in the 58th minute, with an assist from Castellanos, Banks was able to score the only goal of the night ensuring the Armada progressed to the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup.
Armada FC Store at St Johns Town Center
The Jacksonville Armada celebrated the beginning of their fourth season with the grand opening of the new Armada FC retail store in the St. Johns Town Center. Owner Robert Palmer decided to open a store specifically dedicated to all things Armada! Fans can now purchase their favorite Armada gear to show their support both on and off the field, with merchandise ranging from official Armada jerseys to Armada cups and coffee mugs. The Grand Opening Celebration brought fans together from all over the community to join in giveaways, refreshments, and a special meet and greets with the players and coaches. The Jacksonville Armada FC Store is located at 10281 Midtown Parkway, Suite #121. The store will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also shop online for all official Armada gear and merchandise at JacksonvilleArmada.com.