Strong start-to-finish effort lifts Tropics to 4-1 win over visiting PSE Conquistadores

AUBURNDALE, Fla. –  The Florida Tropics SC Presented by Bond Clinic rallied from an early 1-0 deficit with two goals in each half to roll past the PSE Conquistadores, 4-1, in United Premier Soccer League Florida West division play Sunday night at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.

With the win, the Tropics moved back into second place in the division, just a point back of Dragon City FC out of Sarasota, who snapped Florida’s 20-game win steak on Oct. 11, 2-0. 

Just like in the season opener between the two sides in Bradenton on Sept. 27, the Conquistadores scored first, but the Tropics took a 2-1 lead to intermission on goals by Corey Mills and Alexandre Teixeira.

In the final 10 minutes, Florida got insurance markers from Wendell Albuquerque and Melvin Boetang. For Albuquerque it was his second of the season, while all the others were their first of the year. 

“This was our best effort of the year so far. We played the kind of style we are capable of playing finally, and came out with a good result against a very good team,” Head Coach Lucas Teixeira said.

The Tropics got tied their biggest offensive output of the year despite Victor Parreiras, the UPSL’s national MVP in the Spring of 2019, missing his second straight game with a hamstring injury. 

Florida will remain home to host Sporting Bay Tampa Bay SC at 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 1 at Lake Myrtle, concluding a five-game homestand. Admission to the game is free. There is a $10 parking fee for single occupant vehicles and $20 for multi-occupant vehicles.

The Tropics will play a 12-game fall season and are the defending 2019 Spring UPSL national champions. Because of the ongoing pandemic, the UPSL did not play a spring season this year. Florida will also start its fifth season playing indoors in the Major Arena Soccer League this winter as the defending Eastern Conference champions. Games are played at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

Following is a game recap, remaining schedule and up-to-date division standings.

Sept. 19    Florida Tropics 2, PSE Conquistadores 1

                  Scorers: Parreiras, Duque 

Sept. 27     Huracan FC, postponed due to weather

Oct. 3     Florida Tropics 4, Winter Haven United FC 1

               Scorers: Duque 2, Parreiras, Albuquerque

Oct. 11    Dragon City FC 2, Florida Tropics 0

Oct 18    Florida Tropicw 4, PSE Conquistadors 1

               Scorers: Mills, Teixeira, Albuquerque Boetang 

Sunday, November 1 vs. Sporting Tampa Bay FC, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7 at St. Petersburg Aztecs FC, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 14 at Huracan FC, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 21 @ Winter Haven United FC, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 28 @ Dragon City FC, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 5 vs. St. Petersburg Aztecs, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 19 at Sporting Tampa Bay FC, 6 p.m.                     

                                                     GP    W    L    D    GF    GA    PTS

Dragon City FC                             4     3    0    1       12    2     10

Florida Tropics                            4    3    1    0        10    5    9

Winter Haven United FC            5    2    2    1        13    8    7

PSE Conquistadores                 4    2    2    0          15   10    6

St. Petersburg FC Aztecs         4    2    2    0          9    9    6

Sporting Tampa Bay FC           5    1    4    0           6    25    3

Huracan FC                                2    0    2    0           1     7    0

ABOUT THE FLORIDA TROPICS SC: Founded in 2016, the Florida Tropics SC Presented by Bond Clinic fields teams in both the United Premier Soccer League (outdoor at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale) and Major Arena Soccer League (indoor at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, the highest level of professional arena soccer in the world). The Tropics are starting their second season of UPSL play, and will start their fifth season in the MASL as defending Eastern Conference champions this winter.

ABOUT THE UPSL: The UPSL was founded in 2011 and currently includes more than 300 teams nationally. The UPSL is the fastest growing Pro Development League in the USA, with 400-plus teams targeted for 2021/22 Season. Each UPSL team is individually owned and operated, and is responsible for maintaining UPSL minimum standards at all tier levels. UPSL teams are all eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds through the leagues affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).

ABOUT THE MAJOR ARENA SOCCER LEAGUE:  With teams from Baltimore to San Diego, Milwaukee to Dallas, Kansas City to St. Louis and many cities in between, The Major Arena Soccer League represents the highest level of professional arena soccer in the world. The MASL features teams across North America, with teams playing coast-to-coast in the United States. and Mexico.

ABOUT BOND CLINIC: Founded in 1948 by Dr. Benjamin, Bond Clinic, P.A. is proud to be one of the first businesses established in downtown Winter Haven.  They are a multi-specialty medical group, currently offering 28 specialties and over 90 providers.  Bond Clinic has 10 campuses which are located in the heart of Central Florida and our mission is to provide quality health care in a compassionate, ethical and efficient manner to this region.  In addition, we are committed to our community and driven to increase access to medical care while reducing the cost to our patients.