USASA National Amateur Cup Preview: FC Arizona Looking to Bring Fans a Championship

By Dominic José Bisogno/NPSL.com

No team can reach the semifinals for a major cup without big performances, but for FC Arizona the performances have gone beyond clinching victories. Arizona’s path to the national semifinals has been anything but timid.  They faced the University of New Mexico’s club soccer team in a 4-0 victory in the quarterfinals, before beating Temecula FC and Azteca FC 2-1 and 4-2, the latter in added extra time. 

Goals certainly change games and Arizona have found plenty. They scored 31 goals during the 2024 NPSL regular season through an impressive count of 10 goalscorers. Justin Provenzano led the scoring with seven goals, while Marco Alonso contributed six for FC Arizona.  Isaiah Benjamin and Park Orr notably added three goals each in the regular season.

Defensively, the team has done well but could still have work to do, keeping three clean sheets in the regular season while conceding 12 goals for a goal difference of 19. Arizona finished the NPSL regular season second in the Southwest Conference with a 7-1-2 regular season record and took the conference’s ticket to the regional stage as well.

FC Arizona head coach Alejandro Aguilar told NPSL.com that the stage provided by the cup semifinal is one the club appreciates greatly.

“It’s a great honor for the club to reach this stage,” Aguilar said. “Being the first time we participate in this cup and reaching the national semifinals is a wonderful feeling for our fans, players, organization, and families.”

FC Arizona were founded in 2016 and have been a steady presence in the Southwest ever since.  The team won its sole conference title in 2017 but has remained competitive throughout, becoming home to two NPSL individual award winners in that time.  Andrew Weber won the NPSL Golden Glove in 2017 with 13 clean sheets and three goals allowed, while Cesar Mexia won the NPSL Golden Boot in 2019 with 18 goals.  The club changed ownership in 2020 and is now operated by Jamie Landreman.

Aguilar explained that the team’s success this season has been the result of hard work from all parts of the operation, from players to coaches and staff.

“It’s a little bit of everything and everyone,” he said. “The wonderful roster, coaches, and administration staff [have all helped make this happen].  Every single one had been working hard to contribute and help the team to get to this place.”

The National Amateur Cup is providing FC Arizona with the chance to put their name in front of new eyes that may not follow the Southwest Conference.  Aguilar wants people learning about the team to know that the club works hard for its fans.

“We have a very good approach with our fans, they know what we are playing for and we can feel their support,” Aguilar concluded. “We will work really hard to get the national trophy and bring it back to our Arizona fans and families.”

FC Arizona will face FC Milwaukee Torrent in the USASA National Amateur Cup semifinals on July 25.

Photo Credit: Kaylie Phillips/Jades Media