ORLANDO, Fla. (March 1, 2017) – In the build-up to Opening Day 2017 on March 5, Orlando City SC will face 100 kids from the local community on Thursday, March 2. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium.
Kids between the age of 8 and 10 will have the opportunity to play on the same pitch as the Club - at the same time. The kids play two 20-minute halves against the biggest stars from Orlando City, Orlando Pride and Orlando City B. Brazilian superstar Kaká headlines a list of soccer stars that will take the pitch against the 100 kids. The Kids roster will be made up of 50 kids from LionNation, 25 from Orlando City Youth Soccer and 25 from Soccer for Success, the Club’s initiative to better the lives of local youth through soccer.
A $10 donation to the Orlando City Foundation is all it costs to attend one of the few events at Orlando City Stadium before the Major League Soccer season opener on Sunday, March 5. Season ticket members will have free access.
Tickets can be purchased at the link here.
“This is going to be a huge challenge for our team,” Orlando City SC mascot Kingston said. “The passing lanes will be shut down. We won’t have time on the ball. The Kids will be kicking their boots off. But we’re the Pros. We got this.”
“I’m obviously delighted for our youngsters to have this opportunity,” Kids team General Manager Kay Rawlins said. “We put together a strong team that will be able to take down the Pros. They’re coming into this thinking they’ll win easily, but our Kids will lay it all on the line for this match.”
The match will feature some of the best players from each team under the Orlando City SC umbrella. Eleven-time 2016 MLS Save of the Week winner Joe Bendik will try to keep a clean sheet against a stacked Kids lineup. Orlando Pride forwards Sarah Hagen and Christina Burkenroad will do their best to break down the Kids’ stingy back line while veteran midfielder Lewis Neal and U.S. youth national team star Joe Gallardo will try to break down an onslaught of Kid defenders.
“We’ll be able to exploit the height advantage,” City midfielder Servando Carrasco said. “I’m looking forward to the game.”
Kid Korrespondent Gabriella was confident that her team will be able to stop the Pros “by tackling them,” and that she looks forward to “scoring on Joe Bendik.”
“You’re going to score on me?” Bendik asked Gabriella. “I don’t think you can.”
The full Pros roster is below.
GK - Aubrey Bledsoe (Orlando Pride)
GK - Joe Bendik (Orlando City SC)
GK - Earl Edwards (Orlando City SC)
DEF - Toni Pressley (Orlando Pride)
DEF - Jon Spector (Orlando City SC)
DEF - Victor 'PC' Giro (Orlando City SC)
DEF - Zach Carroll (Orlando City B)
DEF - Scott Thomsen (Orlando City B)
DEF - José Aja (Orlando City SC)
MID - Kaká (Orlando City SC)
MID - Jordan Schweitzer (Orlando City B)
MID - Servando Carrasco (Orlando City SC)
MID - Lewis Neal (Orlando City B)
MID - Austin Martz (Orlando City B)
MID - Paul Clowes (Orlando City B)
MID - Matías Pérez García (Orlando City SC)
MID - Antonio Nocerino (Orlando City SC)
FWD - Sarah Hagen (Orlando Pride)
FWD - Christina Burkenroad (Orlando Pride)
FWD - Ben Polk (Orlando City B)
FWD - Joe Gallardo (Orlando City B)
FWD - Carlos Rivas (Orlando City SC)
FWD - Hadji Barry (Orlando City SC)
