Armada FC Releases U-23 Roster

Jacksonville Armada FC U-23 Head Coach Aaron Pitchkolan released the roster Friday ahead of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) season opener on May 4. 

The roster features six players that have Armada FC Youth Academy experience and nine current Youth Academy players. There is potential for more players to be added before and during the season. 

“We have developed some great players right here in northeast Florida, and we are excited to continue to give them structure and formative playing time on the pitch this summer. This reaffirms our commitment to the Armada FC development structure and producing quality products that might one day make an appearance for the first team, and if we are vigilant – our country,” said Pitchkolan. 

Twenty college players will spend the summer in Jacksonville, including four upcoming freshmen.  

Forward Kieran Roberts, from Bournemouth, England, was selected to the 2018 All-Big South First Team in his redshirt senior year. He claimed 7th in program for all-time career goals: 31 goals in 68 games total. Roberts notched 15 goals in 2017 alone, earning him Big South Attacking Player of the Year. 

Ed Chappe is a native of Reading, England, and a student at the University of West Florida. The midfileder was selected to the 2018 All-South Region First Team as a sophomore with 10 goals and was first in his conference in points. He also had an All-GSC First Team selection. 

Goalkeeper Steven Tekesky just finished his sophomore season at West Virginia University with a 14W-7L-0D record. He registered 86 saves and 5 shutouts in 1,891 minutes on the field. His teammate Josh Di Matteo also had three goals and one assist in his freshman season for West Virginia University. 

Eastern Florida State freshman Aedan Kyra netted nine goals and four assists in 2018. 

Defender Alex Salvador was a two-time team captain for The Bolles School before his freshman season at Jacksonville University. He started nine games and notched two assists in 895 total minutes. 

Midfielder Taylor Martin just completed his 2018 season as a redshirt senior at Radford University. He tallied three goals total, and also collected two goals as a redshirt freshman.

Dylan Morris is a defender from Tauranga, New Zealand. He had one goal and two assists in 14 games last season for Georgia State University. 

Ethan Dudley played his freshman season at Florida Gulf Coast University in 2018. The midfielder totaled 532 minutes on the pitch. 

Midfielder Lucas Canineu started six games and recorded 16 shots in 2018 for St. Francis University. He was featured on ESPN Top Ten for his game winning goal against LIU Brooklyn. 

Defender Neico Regent is a product of the University of Central Florida. He played 55 matches total and completed his senior year in 2017. 

“The players have been enthusiastic about playing in Jacksonville and we will do our best to play an entertaining and enjoyable style for everyone involved,” said Pitchkolan. “We are ready for the season to begin and be back in front of our fans in May.” 

The Jacksonville Armada FC U-23 squad will open the NPSL season on the road with Miami United FC on May 4 at Milander Park. The team will then play five-straight home matches at Patton Park, with the home opener on May 11 at 7 p.m. All home matches will be free and open to the public. The full schedule is available at JacksonvilleArmada.com/U23-Schedule.