First win for men: Sporting Club Jacksonville earned its first competitive victory in men's soccer, with goals from Rafferty Pedder and Ahmad Al Qaq securing a 2-0 victory in the USL Cup tournament against third-level opponent Sarasota Paradise at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch.
Pedder finishes long run: Pedder scored in the 34th minute, taking a pass from Kieran Sadlier and dribbling 20 yards into the Sarasota defense before drilling a low shot from the edge of the penalty area. Al Qaq made it two in the closing minutes after a cross from Edgardo Rito.
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Dudley gets start: Former Bartram Trail High School defender Ethan Dudley started alongside Ryan Edwards and Antonio Gomez in a central defensive trio.
Quick free kicks: The game formed part of the USL Cup series for teams in both the second-tier USL Championship, like Sporting Jax, and the third-tier USL League One, like Sarasota Paradise. ... Although the win is the first for Sporting Jax men's soccer in competition, they are still seeking their first victory against clubs at their own level in the USL Championship. ... Christian Olivares made three saves to preserve the Sporting Jax shutout.
Up next: Sporting Jax plays another USL Cup match on the road against FC Naples at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 17.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sporting Club Jacksonville-Sarasota Paradise men's soccer score