Written By: John Patton
Ocala.com
When the Ocala Stampede took the pitch for the first time in 2021 the hope from management, players and the team’s fanbase was to be competitive, put out an entertaining product and show gradual improvement.
At that point, it’s probably fair to say very few would have predicted Southeast Division championships in each of the team’s first three years in the USL Premier Development League. But that happened.
And the gradual improvement?
Season One saw a first-round playoff loss. Season Two brought one victory and one loss in the playoffs. And last year saw the Stampede advance all the way to the national semifinals.
So, what’s next?
“I wouldn’t say we have expectations,” said third-year coach Cheyne Roberts, whose team finished the 2021 regular season 9-4-1 after opening 1-1-1. “We have desires.
“We have a mindset to earn everything we possibly can, to accomplish every task put in front of us.”
Roberts said the blueprint for Ocala’s success begins with the ownership team of Bill Reed, Burt Reed and Ted Strawbridge.
“There is motivation at the top,” Roberts said. “This is a club that puts the players’ priorities first and that puts us in a position to be successful.”
That dedication has created a situation where talented players have chosen to play for the Stampede and specifically, Roberts, a bright 27-year-old who was an All-American defender for Palm Beach Atlantic before playing professionally for three seasons.
Among the returners this summer are standouts like Ben Knight, Lewis Hilton, Samuel Duininck, Paco Craig and former Forest High School goalkeeper Lex Craggs. Roberts said he looks for major contributions to come from newcomers like Jose Ribas (an All-Big-East defender from Creighton), Ricardo Diegues (second in NAIA scoring last season for Texas at Brownsville) and Conor Branson (Division II All-American defender for the University of Charleston).
The Stampede open play Wednesday night at Chattanooga FC in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup and will begin PDL competition Saturday at SW Florida Adrenaline. Ocala’s first home game will be against the Palm Beach Suns on June 2 at Jervey Gantt’s MCYFL Stadium.
“We are hoping to put out performances that will help us grow and reach further,” Roberts said.
Sounds like a theme that has been typical of the Stampede so far.
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