JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After an off-season of change the Armada began the 2017 season with what they hope will be a recurring theme: a victory.
J. C. Banks' goal in the 77th minute was the only score of the game, and was enough to power the Armada to a 1–0 victory over FC Edmonton in the season opener for both clubs.
Banks, one of 11 new additions to the Armada on the roster this year, beat two Edmonton defenders before sliding the left footed shot past the Edmonton goalkeeper, giving the Armada the second half lead. From there, Jacksonville's defense did the rest.
Caleb Patterson-Sewell, making his Armada debut in goal, recorded the clean sheet. However, he was rarely tested as the Armada defense, led by new captain Aaron Pitchkolan, kept the scrappy Eddies at bay.
It was the second time in three seasons that the Armada opened the year against FC Edmonton. The first time, in 2015, the Armada won 3–1 and set an NFL record for fastest north when Jemal Johnson scored 12 seconds into the game. Johnson, ironically, is the only Armada player remaining from that game. He was also the last substitution made by head coach Mark Lowry on Sunday.
"It's massive, it gives great momentum for the club," Lowry said. "It's been a long offseason, it's been a challenging one. The players have worked very hard the last six or seven weeks. This is a reward for that work. This is just the beginning."
The game also mark the first NASL match for the Armada at Hodges Stadium on the UNF campus, their new home field this year. 3,472 cheered on the Armada, despite temperatures in the mid-80s to start the game,
The Armada make a return trip to Edmonton on Saturday, before returning to Jacksonville to face the expansion San Francisco Deltas on at 7 p.m. on April 15 at Hodges Stadium.