Orlando City U-23 was an American soccer team based in Lake Mary, Florida, United States. Founded in 1998, the team played in the Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference. The team was part of the Orlando City SC youth development system,[1] and played the majority of their home games at Seminole Soccer Complex in nearby Lake Mary, Florida.

Orlando City U-23
Full nameOrlando City Under-23s
Founded1998 (as Central Florida Lionhearts)
Dissolved2016
StadiumSeminole Soccer Complex
Lake Mary, Florida
Capacity3,666

The team's colors as the Kraze were blue, white and red, while they also occasionally wore forest green.

History

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The team was known as the Central Florida Lionhearts during their first year of existence. From 1999 to 2011, it was known as the Central Florida Kraze.

On November 30, 2011, Orlando City Soccer Club announced that it has purchased controlling interest in the Kraze, and would rename the club Orlando City U-23.[2] The team also acquired a different youth club, Florida Soccer Alliance, and integrated them as Orlando City Youth Soccer to create a European-style development system.[3]

Players

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Current roster

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As of August 10, 2015[4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
0 GK   USA Braeden Luna
0 GK   USA Mason Stajduhar
1 GK   AUS Mitch Thorn
3 FW   USA Ramzey Hassen
4 MF   HON Christian Funes
5 MF   USA Noah Franke
6 DF   ENG Michael O'Sullivan
9 DF   BRA Bernardo Carabelli
9 MF   COL Nicholas Melo
10 DF   ENG Jonathan Coleby
11 MF   USA Andrew Brody
12 FW   USA Freddy Ruiz
13 MF   USA Alexis Martinez
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 MF   USA Eli Lockaby
15 DF   USA Jeffery George
16 FW   BRA Lucas Diniz
17 MF   USA John Nartowicz
19 DF   USA Nicholas O'Callaghan
20 DF   USA Kyle Carr
21 FW   BRA Joao Romalho
22 MF   USA Dennis Zapata
23 MF   BRA Pedro Codo
25 DF   USA Ian Svantesson
26 MF   JAM Jordan Thorpe
27 FW   USA Alexander Norris
28 MF   USA Eli Beates

Notable former players

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This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.

Year-by-year

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Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs Open Cup
1998 4 USISL PDSL 6th, Southeast did not qualify did not qualify
1999 4 USL PDL 3rd, Southeast did not qualify did not qualify
2000 4 USL PDL 4th, Southeast did not qualify 1st round
2001 4 USL PDL 4th, Southeast did not qualify did not qualify
2002 4 USL PDL 3rd, Southeast did not qualify did not qualify
2003 4 USL PDL 2nd, Southeast Conference Semi-finals did not qualify
2004 4 USL PDL 1st, Southeast PDL Champions did not qualify
2005 4 USL PDL 2nd, Southeast Conference Semi-finals did not qualify
2006 4 USL PDL 2nd, Southeast did not qualify did not qualify
2007 4 USL PDL 2nd, Southeast Conference Semi-finals 1st round
2008 4 USL PDL 1st, Southeast Conference Semi-finals did not qualify
2009 4 USL PDL 6th, Southeast did not qualify did not qualify
2010 4 USL PDL 4th, Southeast did not qualify 1st round
2011 4 USL PDL 2nd, Southeast Conference Semi-finals 1st round
2012 4 USL PDL 2nd, Southeast Semi-finals 1st round
2013 4 USL PDL 3rd, Southeast did not qualify 1st round
2014 4 USL PDL 5th, Southeast did not qualify did not qualify
2015 4 USL PDL 7th, Southeast did not qualify did not qualify

Honors

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  • USL PDL Southern Conference Champions 2012
  • USL PDL Southeast Division Champions 2008
  • USL PDL Champions 2004
  • USL PDL Southern Conference Champions 2004
  • USL PDL Southeast Division Champions 2004

Head coaches

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Stadium

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Average attendance

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Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at [2]

  • 2005: 308
  • 2006: 271
  • 2007: 451 (8th in PDL)
  • 2008: 358
  • 2009: 261
  • 2010: 333

References

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  1. ^ Fla. youth giants merge as Central Florida Kraze/Krush joins with Orlando City Archived July 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (March 1, 2012). nationalsoccerwire.com.
  2. ^ Orlando City acquires Central Florida Kraze Archived February 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (November 30, 2011). News release from OrlandoCitySoccer.com.
  3. ^ Orlando City acquires controlling interest in Seminole Soccer Complex & FSA youth club Archived February 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (December 12, 2011). News release from OrlandoCitySoccer.com.
  4. ^ [1] Archived July 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine (August 10, 2015).
  5. ^ Orlando City names Paul Shaw as U23 Head Coach
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