Jacksonville goalkeeper Sean Lewis limited the Tampa Bay Rowdies to a frustrating single point on the opening night of the NASL Fall Season with a 1-1 draw in front of a record crowd of 7,690 fans at Al Lang Stadium.
Lewis made 10 saves in his first start of the year for the Armada FC to spurn double-digit scoring chances for the Rowdies.
Jacksonville took a lead in the 12th minute through Zach Steinberger, but the Rowdies equalized less than a minute later via Georgi Hristov to level the match.
Jacksonville will return to action at 7 p.m. next Saturday July 9th when it hosts NASL expansion side Puerto Rico FC in the Fall Season home opener. Fans are encouraged to wear their best tropical gear for Armadaritaville presented by McDonald’s.
To round out July, the Armada will host Arts and Culture Night presented by Community First Credit Union (5 p.m., July 23 vs. Ottawa Fury). Fans who already have a ticket to the Jacksonville Sharks game at 7 p.m. against the Los Angeles KISS can take advantage of a buy one, get one free ticket offer by showing their Sharks ticket at the Community First Park box office.
Likewise, fans with a ticket to the Armada match can show up to the Veterans’ Memorial Arena box office that day and get a free Sharks ticket with the purchase of one by showing their Armada ticket.
Jacksonville will host three action-packed theme nights in August, including Non-Profit Night presented by Key Auto (7 p.m., Aug. 6 vs. Carolina RailHawks), JAX Chamber Night presented by Socially Bold (6:30 p.m., Aug. 17 vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers), which includes beers for $1, and First Responders Night presented by Tropical Smoothie (7 p.m., Aug. 20 vs. Minnesota United FC).
In September, the jubilation continues with Hispanic Heritage Night presented by Metro PCS (7 p.m., Sept. 24 vs. Rayo OKC), which includes a special Family 4-Pack ticket deal, and Youth Soccer Night presented by Winn-Dixie (6:30 p.m., Sept. 28 vs. FC Edmonton).
For the first home match in October, the Armada will bring attention to a cause that continues to affect so many with Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by We Got Soccer (7 p.m., Oct. 8 vs. Indy Eleven). Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the match to show their support for the cause.
The regular season will conclude with three more events in October, including Oktoberfest presented by Key Auto (6:30 p.m., Oct. 12 vs. Miami FC), which includes beers for $1, Military Appreciation presented by Winn-Dixie (7 p.m., Oct. 15 vs. New York Cosmos) and the popular Fan Appreciation Day presented by McDonald’s (4 p.m., Oct. 30 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies), which includes an abundance of special prizes.
