‘This is home.’ Sarasota Paradise makes professional league debut in Lakewood Ranch
Sarasota Paradise fell short in its professional debut at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, but the team’s “togetherness” set a foundation for future games, the head coach said.
The club’s first game in the USL League One against the newly formed team from Idaho, Athletic Club Boise, was full of energy and fast-paced play in a stadium that broke record attendance for the club. Just under 3,000 fans packed the stands in Lakewood Ranch, waiting through nearly two hours of lightning delays to watch the hard-fought game.
According to Jonathan Bolanos, midfielder with the Sarasota Paradise, the team “really felt the home atmosphere.”
Sarasota Paradise competed last year in USL League Two, a semi-professional soccer league, but the team made a jump to a professional league in 2026 — and found a new home at Premier Sports Campus.
The Sarasota crowd was electric throughout the game, doing the wave and cheering loudly for each Paradise breakaway.
“Not only is it great to have them here, but we’re playing for them. We’re playing to represent the community, represent Sarasota,” Bolanos said. “Really (we’re) just trying to make an impact in the community and show them that this is home, and we really felt that tonight.”
Sarasota Paradise makes pro debut
“It’s a win for us if we actually integrate ourselves with the community. When we were killing time, patiently waiting for the lightning to pass, I would step outside of the locker room, and I would see people lining up to get through the gates,” Paradise head coach Mika Elovaara said. “That doesn’t happen everywhere. Most places, people are like ‘Yeah, I’m out of here.’”
After an offside goal, headed in by Paradise’s Jørgen Pettersen off a free kick near the corner flag, was called back by the referee 31 minutes into the match, Sarasota’s play only intensified.
With the majority of on-goal opportunities in the second half, Paradise was pressing high when the opportunity allowed, but still maintained a strong defensive line. Elovaara said the cohesive style of play came from a pure sense of unity instilled in the players.
“Their identity is just so togetherness oriented, and I think it’s really important. We’re together… we sacrifice together, we suffer together, like tonight,” Elovaara said. “And when we win, we celebrate together. That’s the building glue for this team, for the years to come. Not just this season, but for the years to come.”
The Sarasota players showed quick feet and a high level of endurance throughout the game, with multiple powerful shots on goal, which were saved by strong dives and jumps by the AC Boise goalkeeper Joseph Andema.
With two yellow cards given out during the game, one to AC Boise and one to Paradise’s Bolanos in the 21 minute, both teams played with a determination to win their first-ever USL League One match.
AC Boise, a newly created team playing its inaugural game, scored its goal, and the only legitimate match point, in the 74 minute. The goal was scored by Denys Kostyshyn, Boise’s attacking midfielder, with a one-touch finish off a cross from the outside winger, Luan Figueirôa Brito.
“They were a good team. Honestly, Boise is a very good team. They play good football, moved the ball well,” Paradise’s Jørgen Pettersen said.
“It’s good for us to play against good teams early on,” he continued. “That’s how we get better.”
“Obviously not the best start today, but I think the fans really saw how many chances we created, just unlucky in the end,” Bolanos said. “But we’re going to take that same energy into next week, get a win.”
The next Sarasota Paradise game is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, against Fort Wayne FC. Kickoff will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $13. For more information about Sarasota Paradise, visit www.SarasotaParadise.us.
