Brave SC or Brave Sporting Club, (formerly The Villages SC) is an American soccer club from Summerfield, Florida that plays in USL League Two.
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| Full name | Brave SC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Buffalo | ||
| Short name | BSC | ||
| Founded | 2008[1] | ||
| Stadium | HG Morse Range, The Villages Charter – Buffalo Ridge Campus, The Villages, FL | ||
| Capacity | 1,000[2] | ||
| Coach | Anderson DaSilva | ||
| League | USL League Two | ||
| 2023 | 1st, National Playoffs: Semifinals | ||
| Website | https://www.thevillagessc.com/ | ||
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Brave SC began in 2008 as The Villages SC, a youth team serving The Villages and surrounding areas.
In 2016, the team acquired the USL League 2 operating license from Ocala Stampede and began operations of their pre-professional first team.
In 2019, the team broke ground on Brave Sporting Complex, its permanent club headquarters and training facilities.
In December 2023, the club dropped The Villages branding from its identity to adopt the name and branding of Brave Sporting Club (Brave SC). Brave was selected as the name for the team because of the organization’s brave approach to each game and how the organization operates as a whole.
Brave SC is the most successful USL League 2 team in the state of Florida, winning 4 Southeast Division Championships (2016, 2019, 2021, 2023) and 2 Southern Conference championships. (2018, 2023)
Year-by-year
edit| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, Southeast | Conference Semifinals | 2nd Round |
| 2017 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Southeast | Did not qualify | 1st Round |
| 2018 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Southeast | National Semifinals | Play-In Round |
| 2019 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Southeast | Conference Semifinals | 2nd Round |
| 2020 | 4 | USL League Two | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Southeast | Conference Semifinals | Cancelled |
| 2022 | 4 | USL League Two | 2nd, Southeast | Conference Quarterfinals | Did not qualify |
| 2023 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Southeast | National Semifinals | 1st Round |
| 2024 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Southeast | TBD | TBD |
Current squad
edit- As of 27th July 2023
NOT CURRENT
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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The Villages SC
editIn 2016, the Ocala Stampede USL League 2 (Formerly Premier Development League, PDL) operating license was acquired by an ownership group in The Villages, Florida, and the team branded themselves as The Villages SC Buffalo.
The club’s first ever win would come against Kraze United in the first round of the 2016 US Open Cup, where the team won 1–0. In the second round, the infant club defeated USL Professional club Charleston Battery in a penalty shootout, winning (4)2–2(2) Following the match, the Batte try made a protest to US Soccer and the match was forfeited by The Villages SC due to an ineligible player on their roster. Despite numerous attempts to appeal the ruling, the result was turned into a 3–0 win for Charleston Battery.
The team would win the PDL Southeast Division title in their first ever season, going into the semifinals of the South conference playoffs losing 2–1 to Midland/Odessa Sockers.
The 2017 season would see the club return to the US Open Cup following their disqualification the previous year, losing 2–1 to Jacksonville Armada U-23 2–1. The Buffalo would also fail to reach the PDL playoffs which to this day remains the only season the club did not qualify for the PDL/USL2 postseason.
The Villages SC 2018 season was the clubs most successful season at the time, winning with the 3 year old club defeating Tormenta 2 1–0 in the conference semi-final and SIMA Aguilas 2–1 in the conference final, crowning the club South Conference Champions for the first time, before losing to Reading United 1–0 in the national semi-final.
In 2019, following their national semifinal appearance, they would appear in the US open cup for the 3rd time, defeating Lakeland Tropics in a penalty shootout, winning (8)1–1(7) and advancing to the 2nd round, where they would face USL Pro side Tampa Bay Rowdies, losing 4–1. The club would, however, secure their 2nd Southeast Division Title, advancing to the South Conference Semi-finals where they would lose to Tormenta 2 3–1.
The 2020 PDL and US Open Cup would be cancelled to COVID-19.
The Villages SC would return to action in 2021, winning the USL 2 Southeast Division Title, defeating East Atlanta FC in the conference quarterfinal 2–1 before losing to Tormenta 2 4–2 in the semifinal.
In 2022, the club would return again to the US Open Cup, winning their first round match 6–0 against Orlando Wolves before losing to USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies 6–0. The club would finish 2nd in the southeast Division, and would be selected to host 3 other teams for one of the south conference “pods” for the playoffs. They would lose in the quarterfinal to Carolina Dynamo in a penalty shootout, (5)1–1(4).
The 2023 season would see the Buffalo return to the top of the Southeast Division, winning the title and qualifying for the southern conference playoffs. They would beat South Carolina Bantams 2–1 in the quarterfinal, Asheville City 1–0 in the semi-final, and Little Rock Rangers (5)1–1(3) in the final to become South Conference Champions for the 2nd time in club history. They would lose in a penalty shootout to Lionsbridge FC, (4)1–1(3).
In December 2023, the club announced it would be dropping The Villages from its name and adopted the name Brave SC. The name comes from the brave nature and playing style shown by the club.
Brave SC
editFollowing the club’s rebrand, they earned qualification to the US Open Cup where they drew NISA side Savannah Clovers in the first round, losing 2–0.
Brave SC II
editIn 2023, the club announced its intentions to field a United Premier Soccer League team in the Florida division starting in 2024. The team was branded as Brave Sporting Club II, and serves as a pathway for players to showcase their talent and work their way to play for the first team.
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | UPSL Division 1 | 7th | TBD |
Brave SC Niterói
editIn 2023, the club announced a partnership with Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil based youth club Brave SC Niterói. The club rosters 80 futsal players and is competing in its first outdoor soccer season. The partnership allows for coaching materials and tactics as well as players to be shared between the two sides.
Honors
edit- USL League 2 Southern Conference
- Champions: 2018, 2023
- USL League 2 Southeast Division
- Champions: 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023
References
edit- ^ "PDL soccer franchise to be awarded to The Villages". Daily Commercial. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "US Open Cup – The Villages vs Kraze United – Soccer – Soccerway mobi – Results, fixtures, tables and statistics". www.soccerway.mobi.