NEW SMYRNA BEACH — The Caribbean sounds of a steel drum swept across New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex as an estimated 750 fans piled in to watch Shark Coast FC make its franchise and USL League Two debut on May 16.
Spectators were treated to a 1-1 draw as the New Smyrna Beach-based club tied Sporting Jax to begin its record books. Forward Dom Topolsky scored for Shark Coast on a 20-yard deflected shot in the final minutes for the team’s historic first goal and to salvage a point in the USL League Two standings.
Founder and co-owner Terry Lippens, as well as the rest of the staff and players on Shark Coast FC, would’ve liked three points in their inaugural match, but the first official matchday was a logistical victory for Volusia County’s newest soccer program.
“We actually all talked to the guys, and we kind of said, ‘Win or lose, we’re just happy we’re here.’ We made it to the show. We’re at the party,” Lippens said. “Obviously, you want to win as an owner, as a founder. I had to take a step back, and I had to be grateful. There’s a lot of people that came out here to support us, and it was a great turnout.”
Amenities included food vendors, such as a Kona Ice truck and a taco stand that frequently had a line at the register. There was also a kids zone, which included miniature soccer goals, cornhole and other activities for local children to enjoy.
The kids zone, whether out of child interest or parental investment in nighttime energy levels, seemed to be the fan favorite throughout the match.
“It’s been awesome,” spectator Danielle Miller said. “The whole setup they have over here for the kids is really nice, and it allows them to be entertained while we can still watch the game. That makes a big difference, and those tacos smell amazing.”
Shark Coast FC, formerly known as Current FC in the semi-pro United Premier Soccer League, rebranded and joined USL League Two, a pre-professional league under the USL umbrella, on Jan. 6 without a coach or much of its roster.
Under its leadership triad of Lippens, former Current head coach Nate Monsanto and Josh Daniels, Shark Coast FC filled the vacancies and other behind-the-scenes needs to make Saturday evening’s match possible.
“I think it was a very high-level game. I think it was very emotional,” head coach Jonathan Lopez said. “It was the first USL Two game for Shark Coast, but also the first opening home game as well.”
And the resulting atmosphere was palpable on the field as the Lippens-estimated crowd of 750 people cleared Current FC’s record by approximately 200 spectators.
Topolsky, a Stetson University midfielder, provided the loudest crowd pop of the night when he knotted the game at 1 with only a couple minutes remaining, which he called his “time to shine,” to be the first goal scorer in Shark Coast history.
“Of course, we felt the atmosphere,” Topolsky said. “Nate (Monsanto) was hyping it up for us, and then they came. We had the drums, it was nice. I could feel it, and it makes you happy when you’re on the field and hear some noise from the fans.”
His goal not only saved Shark Coast FC from debut disappointment, it served as the culmination of years of work beginning when Current FC was founded in 2024.
“That goal right there was two and a half years of work,” Lippens said. “… Starting from the UPSL and now working our way into the USL, it’s been about two and a half years, we’re coming up on three, and it’s awesome. There were a lot of fans. We had vendors. Everything about today I was really proud of.”
Now all Shark Coast FC needs is its first victory, and it’ll look to do that in a road contest against Nona FC in Lake Nona on May 20. Shark Coast returns to New Smyrna Beach on May 23 against Inter Gainesville KF.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Shark Coast FC draws in USL2 debut in front of record crowd
Reporting by Zach Allen, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
