Peoria City returns: Everything you need to know about the city's soccer team for 2023

The Peoria City soccer team enters its second season as a member of the USL League Two when it opens the 2023 schedule against St. Charles (Mo.) FC at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Shea Stadium in Peoria.

Peoria City is coming off a 6-4-3 season during which it earned the No. 8 seed in the USL League Two playoffs and finished the year as the runnerup in the Deep North Division. Peoria City moves to the Heartland Division for 2023.

Here is what you need to know about the team, who is playing, who is coaching, when and where it plays and how to get tickets.

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What is the USL League Two?

The USL League Two is a North American pre-professional league that provides a platform for players pursuing professional soccer careers. Peoria City was announced as a USL League Two expansion franchise in January 2020, just months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team made its debut in May 2022.

The players come mostly from colleges, maintaining their eligibility while playing in the league. Ownership of teams comes from organizations within the MLS and USL, as well as leading business and sports individuals.

For the 2023 season, League Two includes 122 teams competing in 18 divisions across four conferences — a growth of nine teams from last season.

Who plays for Peoria City?

All League Two rosters fluctuate throughout the season and players must clear the USL registration process.

The Peoria City’s roster enters 2023 with eight former Peoria-area high school stars: Alester Dawson (Wisconsin-Platteville), Lucas Fontana (Chicago State), Danny Gutzwiller (Wisconsin-Platteville), Noah Madrigal (Marquette), Myles Sophanavong (Wisconsin-Green Bay) and Charlie Waugh (Illinois-Springfield) of Notre Dame, Wes Gibson (Southern Illinois-Edwardsville) of Morton and Mitch Coughlon (Bradley) of Washington.

The other 12 players listed on the Saturday morning release are: Brady Drozdowski (Upper Iowa, Incarnate Word), Grady Easton (Saint Louis), Mason Hart (Saint Louis), Camron Lawrence (Bryant), Sam Moore (DePaul), Christian Ortiz (Oregon State, Loyola Marymount), JP Pascarella (Virginia Tech, Drake), Danail Sergiev (Bradley, Chicago State), Jonah Stekly (Coastal Carolina, Bryant), Abdel Talabi (Bryant), Leonel Toledo (Mercer), Alex White (Knox College, Calvin University)

Who is on the Peoria City staff?

Peoria City this season will be coached by former MLS and Bradley player Tim Regan. He replaces Ruben Resendes, who after his season in Peoria went on to lead his Franklin Pierce team to the NCAA Division II national championship. In December, he was named the new head coach at Division I Bryant College — a role that will not allow him to return to Peoria City.

Bradley soccer coach Jim DeRose helped bring the team to Peoria and is its director of business operations.

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When does Peoria City play?

Peoria City is scheduled for 12 regular-season games (six at home, six on the road) against the USL League Two's Heartland Division of the Central Conference — which includes Chicago City SC, the Chicago Dutch Lions FC, the Des Moines Menace, Springfield Athletic SC, St. Charles (Mo.) FC and FC Wichita (Kan.).

All home games begin at 7:30 p.m. and are held at Bradley’s Shea Stadium, located at 1523 W. Nebraska Ave. in Peoria. They are scheduled for Saturday, May 20; Friday, May 26; Saturday, June 3; Saturday, June 24; Wednesday, June 28; and Sunday, July 9.

How can you get Peoria City tickets?

Tickets are $5 and are available at peoriacitysoccer.com. Fieldside tickets are $25. Tickets also can be purchased two hours before each home game at Shea Stadium.

Season tickets are available for $25 for general admission or $125 for fieldside. Parking is free at Shea Stadium. Lots open at 5 p.m. for tailgating. The stadium will have food trucks on site from Dos Hermanos and Tacos and Thai.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria City soccer: Roster, coaches, tickets for USL League Two team