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FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ opens its season by hosting Seleccion ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ XI, an all-star team of local players on Saturday night. Seleccion ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s roster includes former FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ stars Edgar Reyna and Donny Toia, who played for four MLS sides.

“It will be cool to see them on the field,â€� FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ head coach Sebastian Pineda said.

Saturday will also feature a co-ed tournament in tandem with ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Adult Soccer League in the afternoon. For FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s match, there will be drink specials, food trucks, a maracas giveaway and fireworks after.

“I think that the club did a good job partnering with the adult soccer leagues so that there is a tournament going on that that would be exciting to see, as well,â€� Pineda said. “Then by the end of the night, we got the main event with us playing Seleccion ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, which I always think is a cool game to start a season. For me, it’s a way to celebrate with the fans the Western title, as well.

Last season, FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ went 13-3-5, won the Western Conference championship and reached the USL League Two national semifinals.

Both Pineda and FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Technical Director and President Jon Pearlman said their playoff run last year helped with recruitment this season.

“Who doesn’t want to go to a team that is doing well?� Pineda said. “There are very competitive teams in the league that provide a great environment, as well, so it was an interesting recruiting period, but we were able to to reach out to high quality players that understand their responsibility of being there with Western Conference champs and they know what they have to do on the field and they know the expectations that they have with the club.�

FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has announced players from colleges like Cal, Marquette, Cal State Bakersfield, FIU, LMU and Duquesne and countries like Denmark, Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, Ireland and the UK. They will feature midfielder Brandon Sanchez, forward Ismael Ruiz, defender Diego Veliz, defender D’Andre Pickett and defender Mateo Soto from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.

An article on the USL League Two website listed FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Alexis Ledoux as one of the players to watch. The Frenchman attended the MLS College Showcase in December.

French forward Paul Caliari returns after scoring some important goals last year.

“It’s a mix, most of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ players are returning,â€� Pineda said. “I think they did a great job last year adjusting to the level and some of them like D’Andre have been a big part of the season, Brandon, as well, he was someone that came in and provided important minutes throughout the year. And we also have Paul, the French 9, coming in. He was injured last year until the playoffs and he was someone that changed the way that we played, the way that we attacked.

“So I’m excited to have him back and be a leader for the team and besides that, we have some new players that have the experience of the league, are playing at a very high level in college and they understand what we’re providing in terms of professionalism, just a place where we want to continue to go up, continue to get better and they want to be part of it.�

Pineda played for FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and in what is now the USL Championship. He also coaches FC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s academy and is an assistant for the UA’s varsity soccer team.

“I think it’s a great side, it’s very deep, a lot of strong international players mixed with local players and a lot of players that already have had incredible success at the USL League Two level already and also at all different levels collegiately — Division I, II, NAIA, junior college,� Pearlman said. “I love that we have that balance from all different types of programs and players from different countries, it’s really truly hard to be able to work with those players that have worked hard to be here, that are still striving, and, honestly, Sebastian does a great job of getting them all the same.�

USL adds Division 1, promotion and relegation

In March, the USL announced it will add promotion and relegation after already deciding to add a first division.

Major League Soccer has been the United States’ lone first division league since its inception in 1996.

In a promotion and relegation system, which would apply to the first division and USL’s two existing professional leagues, if teams play well enough, they can be elevated like Wrexham AFC and the worst teams get demoted.

“I think it’s really exciting what they’re doing, I think this country wants to see the opportunity for any club to possibly rise as high as they can,� Pearlman said. “It certainly makes the USL an exciting investment for a city like ourselves who might use to start at the League One level and know that they could promote themselves all the way through, to perform and grow as they’re able to grow.

“So I always support all the new innovations, we’re excited for the possibility for us to grow, as well,� he added. “We want to make sure we have done a good job of increasing our fan base so that we’re prepared to make that move. Everything we’re doing from a success on the field and the focus on that will allow us to be successful and maybe have an opportunity to take advantage of that league when it comes to fruition.�

In the traditional American pro sports system, major league teams like Utah Hockey Club have farm teams like the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Roadrunners.

“I think it’s exciting for soccer in this country, I’m interested to see how that system is going to be implemented because I think it brings something else to the table in the in the type of markets that the league is reaching into,â€� Pineda said. “And I think it gives ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ another chance to potentially go back to the pro ranks here soon. I know as a club that’s the aim and this just gives us another chance to go on and try to figure out.â€�