Players from near and far lead Pensacola FC to unbeaten regular season

Pensacola, FL (July 10th, 2023) – Soccer has risen to the sporting forefront in this country this summer and Pensacola’s women’s club has exhibited excellent play on the pitch.

Pensacola FC has ripped through the 2023 Gulf Coast Premier League season with an unbeaten mark of five wins, no losses and three ties. The Pelicans’ latest victory came in the form of a 5-0 shutout in their regular-season finale against Union 10 FC on Saturday night from Shoreline Field in Gulf Breeze.

“We played awesome. I think with the girls, we connected really well,” Pelicans forward and current University of West Florida player Mya Swinton said. “We played with a lot of heart and passion. I’m really proud of the girls and how we played.”

Five different players scored for Pensacola, who sealed second place in the Eastern Conference with 18 points. Hattiesburg FC topped the table after collecting 20 points with a 6-0-2 mark.

The host’s first goal came in the 25th minute. Swinton, a Gulf Breeze High School graduate, delivered a cross into the box after the team played a corner kick short. The ball found Dalani Stephens, who despite not making firm contact, kicked a slow chopper past goalkeeper Julianne Wilson.

Pensacola added a second first-half tally in the 31st minute. This time Swinton was on the finishing end of a cross as she headed in a delivery from Julieta Limardo.

Ava Kiss added to the cushion with an easy tap-in goal in the 56th minute. The home team continued to pile on two minutes later when a cross deflected off Wilson’s hand, leaving a wide-open net for Larissa Ozorio to head the ball into the back of the net.

Rin Sato ended the onslaught with the match’s final goal in the 76th minute for an Pelicans side that was largely unchallenged throughout the night.

“The fast play, the passing and us working together as a unit was the key to victory tonight,” Pensacola FC midfielder and Pensacola Catholic graduate Jordan Bartlinski said.

The Pelicans are one of four teams to earn a spot into the postseason. They are scheduled to hit the road Saturday and face Mississippi Blues SC, the winners of the Western Conference, in a GCPL semifinal matchup.

‘Defense has been here all year’

Pensacola notched four goals in a match for the third time this season. In its latest occurrence, the team controlled possession and seemingly was on the attack through the duration of the night.

However, according to assistant coach Rob Simon, the Pelicans, with players coming various parts of the country and globe, were slow to get sync offensively this season.

“Even though the games were dominant in terms of possession, to get into the offensive third and goals scored didn’t come as much as at ease just because they weren’t used to each other,” Simon said. “But as the season progressed, you could see the way they grew on top of each other. Our training sessions are more competitive than the games. The girls really go at it, so the intensity and fire are what they bring to the game, along with their exceptional talent.”

The one item that’s been a constant for the team has been its defense, which has allowed just five goals this season.

Pensacola has recorded shutouts in three of its last five matches and have not relinquished more than seven shots on goal. In Saturday’s match, Union 10 did not post a shot on goal as Pelicans goalkeeper Maciah Lipsey, who played this past season for UWF, earned a clean sheet.

“The defense has been here all year,” Simon said. “We have limited opposing teams to less than five shots on all goal all season. The defense has been outstanding, and that’s not just the back line. That’s the midfielders and the forwards being in the high press, winning the ball and keeping the ball out of our defensive third.”

Talent galore

As evident by the five different goal scorers on Saturday, Pensacola FC features loads of depth. And that depth comes from a variety of places.

Led by Swinton, Bartlinski and Lipsey, 16 of the players listed on the Pelicans roster have local ties, either having spent their prep careers players at an area high school, are playing currently at UWF, or both.

Seven others on the roster last year competed collegiately at the NCAA Division I level.

For Bartlinski, who will play next year at Division II Lees-McRae College, the midfielder is grateful to share the pitch with elite players that were once rivals and the opportunity to play alongside college veterans.

“For me personally, it’s been so fantastic because of the speed of play,” she remarked. “People always talk about how the speed of play increases at the college level. And I never really got to see that before, but now that I’ve in this environment, the speed is so much faster and it’s going to prepare for college.”

Lastly, the Pelicans are loaded with international flare, with eight players from Brazil, Japan, Australia and England. That includes England’s Tiggi Gent, who is a member of the Manchester City U23 squad.

The international players have brought different approaches and skills to the club while the collection of talent across the board has improved everyone’s game.

“I’m gotten better 100 percent,” Swinton said. “Just my technicality, my attitude, my effort has risen because of the girls that I’m playing with. I’m more prepared for the season because of the girls I’ve played with this summer.”

Bartlinski added, “The creativity is outstanding. For some of the players that aren’t from here, they’ll bring the ball down in traffic and dribble around people. So it’s really incredible to see what they bring to the table.”

Up in the air

The only question remaining for Pensacola FC is will the team be able to field a roster for the postseason.

With many of the players soon headed off to their respective colleges, the Pelicans may not have enough bodies.

The status for Saturday’s semifinal is unclear according to head coach Jason Providence. And if they were to participate and win that match, competing in the GCPL Cup Final on July 29 in Foley, Alabama, is likely out of the question.

Nonetheless, it’s been a season and summer to remember for the girls in navy blue.

“The key to this season is that we’ve had a lot of fun,” Swinton said. “We came together and every single practice, we were laughing. All we want to do is work hard and have fun.

“I love this team, it’s been a great season. “Provy (Providence) is awesome and I’ve grown so much over the years, being in this club that I’ve been a part of since I was 16.”

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (772) 985-9692, on Twitter @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.