Coastal Nation Expands as Kings II Open With Dominant Win at Memorial Stadium

Coastal Kings II opened their inaugural UPSL Division 1 campaign with a commanding 5-0 victory over Ocala Institute Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Goals from Nacho Gallego, Hector Hernandez (2), and Waswa Drajoru (2) powered the Kings to the historic win, while goalkeeper Navier Collins recorded the clean sheet in the club’s first Division 1 match.

Saturday night marked a historic moment for the club as Coastal Kings II officially took the field for the first time, representing the organization in UPSL Division 1. The addition of a second men’s team expands the Coastal Kings structure while providing another competitive platform for players within the program.

Playing at the club’s new home, Memorial Stadium, Kings II earned a convincing 5-0 victory over Ocala Institute, beginning their first UPSL Division 1 campaign with authority.

The breakthrough came around the twenty minute mark.

Team captain Nacho Gallego opened the scoring, finishing a well placed service from Steve Flores to give Kings II their first goal in club history.

Assistant Coach Mike Powers noted the importance of the early breakthrough.

“Any time you can start a season with five goals in your first game is a step in the right direction,” Powers said. “It was nice to see our captain get us on the board first.”

Once the first goal arrived, the Kings began to take control of the match.

Hector Hernandez added two more goals before halftime. The first came from a well timed pass by JJ Stein, while Hernandez created the second himself to give Kings II a 3-0 lead heading into the break.

At halftime, the coaching staff made several adjustments to sharpen the team’s approach for the second half.

“At halftime we made a few adjustments and executed well, putting on an even more dominating performance,” Powers said. “Overall the young men played well. There’s still plenty to work on though, so we’ll get after it in training this week.”

The adjustments paid immediate dividends.

Kings II continued to control possession and tempo throughout the second half, eventually adding two more goals through Waswa Drajoru, both assisted by JJ Stein, to complete the 5-0 result.

Assistant Coach Tom Walsh praised both the team’s response after halftime and the overall performance in the club’s first Division 1 match.

“It was a great performance in their inaugural match,” Walsh said. “This squad has come together better than expected, from our players who have been part of the program to the players who have just joined us. There’s a bright future for these lads and I can’t wait to see what they can achieve.”

Walsh also pointed to the second half dominance as a reflection of the players’ ability to respond to coaching adjustments.

“The players were very responsive to the corrections the coaching staff made at halftime,” Walsh said. “It showed as they dominated the second half to the point the opposing team resorted to continual clearances in desperation.”

Defensively, Kings II remained organized throughout the night. Goalkeeper Navier Collins recorded the shutout, facing just one shot on goal and making one save.

While the action on the field set the tone, the atmosphere in the stands added its own energy.

Approximately 50 supporters attended the historic first match, including local legend Jordan Gentry, who once again provided rhythm from the stands as a one man drumming section. The club hopes more supporters will join Jordan in the stands as the Coastal Nation continues to grow.

Admission for the inaugural Kings II match was free, with the goal of introducing the community to the expanding Coastal Kings family. Moving forward this season, tickets for all Kings II home matches will be just $2. As attendance grows, so too will the club’s ability to expand the overall fan experience at the stadium.

Following the match, Head Coach David Koebler reflected on both the performance and the significance of the moment.

“It was always our plan to add a second team to the club,” Koebler said. “That said, it’s hard to call these guys second team players when you see the way they performed tonight.”

“Once the first goal came around the twenty minute mark, the game opened up. From start to finish after that it was absolute dominance.”

“For a majority of the boys this was their first taste of the game at this level. They handled it professionally and the outcome shows their talent level. We have high hopes for this group on the national stage and we’ll continue to develop and improve as the season progresses. We know there will be tougher matches along the way and the boys are excited for the challenge.”

Kings II will now turn their attention to week two of the UPSL Division 1 season, where they travel south to face Valdosta FC on Saturday, March 14.

For Coastal Nation, the next chapter has officially begun.

Match Notes

Final Score: Coastal Kings II 5 – Ocala Institute 0
Goals: Nacho Gallego (1), Hector Hernandez (2), Waswa Drajoru (2)
Assists: JJ Stein (3), Steve Flores (1)
Clean Sheet: Navier Collins (1 save)
Attendance: Approx. 50
Next Match: Saturday, March 14 – Coastal Kings II at Valdosta FC (UPSL Division 1)