NEW SMYRNA BEACH — For Shark Coast FC founder and co-owner Terry Lippens, its 3-2 victory over Nona FC in its last home game of the season on June 27 was “a long time coming.”
Shark Coast FC hadn’t won since May 23 in its third-ever match in USL League Two, a pre-professional soccer league. The New Smyrna Beach-based club hadn’t lost many either, though, as six of its 10 matches entering Saturday night ended in draws.
It looked like a seventh draw was in order as Shark Coast and Nona, second in the Southeast Division, were knotted at two as stoppage time began. If anything, it favored a Nona victory as Shark Coast was down a man after seeing a red card minutes prior.
But that didn’t stop substitute striker Hector Moreno from playing hero in the first minute of stoppage time.
Moreno collected a rebound that ricocheted off Nona goalkeeper Tom Mabon and calmly chipped the ball into the open net with Mabon off his line. And despite playing with 10 men, Shark Coast held on for the victory.
“This second win was a long time coming,” said head coach Jonathon Lopez, sharing Lippens’ sentiment. “We’ve had some results that we haven’t been on the right side of. We’ve either tied or fallen just short, but today, every single learning block that we’ve had throughout the season has led to a win here at home.”
Aidan Melville scored the opener in the fifth minute after a long throw fell to his feet, which he slotted to the bottom right corner. Giuseppe Croce made it 2-0 in the 12th minute after scoring a penalty following a Nona handball.
Nona stifled Shark Coast’s attack until Moreno’s winner and converted on chances of its own with goals from Andrey Gentil in the 18th minute and Basit Umar in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.
With the sound of bass drums, the “Jaws” theme song and the sound of 400-500 supporters coming from the bleachers and sound systems at New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex, Shark Coast was able to secure the victory after previous 5-1 and 2-1 losses to the Lake Nona-based club.
“Nona is a top program. They’ve been in the league five years,” Lippens said. “… It’s a statement win to the league to show everyone. Last week, we tied Brave. They’re both head to head battling it out for first place. We go to Brave next week, hopefully with that same energy, and it’s a good statement win to tell everyone, ‘That’s what we deserved all season.’”
New Smyrna Beach rallies behind Shark Coast FC
Shark Coast’s match against Brave SC on July 12 will close the inaugural season in USL2 after rebranding from the previously-known semi-professional side, Current FC.
Lippens, fellow co-owners Josh Daniels and Nate Monsanto, and Lopez had to field a team, find a place to play, purchase jerseys and house the players that needed it, to name a few of their responsibilities to make the step up to pre-professional soccer possible.
Shark Coast also has a women’s team that won its conference in the semi-professional United Premier Soccer League, as well as a youth academy.
“I’m really proud that we can walk away from it and say that’s about as professional as it can get without, I guess, technically claiming it,” Lippens said. “So just a lot of pride in the product and what we’re seeing on the field now.”
Food vendors, merchandise booths from local sponsors and a kids play area curated a family-friendly environment that kept a consistent attendance that neared the top of Shark Coast’s division despite their rookie status.
“I think the community really showed out, and my goal is for it to just continue to grow,” Lippens said. “Like, hopefully all those people here today walk away and say, ‘Man, that was electric, I felt that,’ and they want to come back to the next one.”
Unfortunately, the amount of draws Shark Coast had eliminated it from playoff contention with Brave and Lake Nona’s success, but the future is bright for soccer in New Smyrna Beach. A team of players harvested primarily from Volusia County was able to keep up with established clubs as league debutants, and the experience Lippens, Daniels and Monsanto gained on the business end will make Shark Coast’s second season more efficient.
After all, the goal is for Shark Coast to become a professional team one day.
“I think we’re going to be able to sustain where we’re at, and hopefully next season even grow,” Lippens said. “Where I think we’ve learned is how to use money the right way. I think, this year, we used money in certain parts where maybe it didn’t need to go to, and now we know how we can use that a little bit better.
“Like I said, our goal is still to go pro, so we’re constantly trying to figure out what’s the right route to get there.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Season in review: Shark Coast FC wins last home game in stoppage time
Reporting by Zach Allen, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Allen, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
