Sports
Orlando City Dominates New England, Finish 2nd Place in MLS
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — In an era of Messi-dominated headlines and massive overspending for lackluster results; Orlando City remains an anomaly within the league. In December, Oscar Pareja’s tenure at Orlando City will turn four years old. In that time, the Lions have slowly reformed themselves into a sleeping giant in the Eastern Conference. This 3-2 result against the Revs proves that Orlando City has evolved into a scary team. Coupled with their narrow win mid-week against Nashville, this nine-game unbeaten run secures home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Purple Revolution is officially here.
Orlando City’s formula to success has been unorthodox, to say the least. Nonetheless, last night’s victory over New England — especially the offensive fluidity in the first half — was a testament to how far this team has come.
Just three short years ago, Orlando was a one-dimensional team relying on the heroics of a Nani, Mueller, or Dyke to turn a game around. After Nani’s departure in 2021, Orlando City indexed into South American talent with the likes of Facundo Torres, Cesar Araujo, and Antonio Carlos the summer prior.
Torres’ debut season was a smashing success as Orlando City won their first piece of silverware with the U.S. Open Cup trophy. The following summer, Orlando doubled down on their prospects in the southern hemisphere. Martin Ojeda and Ramiro Enrique both made the jump from Argentina to the United States.
Wilder Cartagena, the Peruvian ball-stopper, became a fundamental pairing alongside Araujo in midfield. But the real ace in the hole was Ivan Angulo’s loan transfer from Palmeiras. Once the Colombian international found his footing in an Orlando City shirt; Orlando’s offense has never looked better.
Where does Orlando’s depth rank among the best?
One of the best attributes of Orlando City’s nine-game unbeaten run is their strength in numbers. Orlando City possesses four players with more than ten goal contributions (goals + assists) on their roster. Martin Ojeda and Torres are the crafty left-footed wingers that can play on either side of the field. When Torres is on the right wing, the objective is to cut inside and score. When he occupies the left wing, the gameplan tends to be a lofted cross into space. Then, players like Angulo and Mauricio Pereyra fill in the gaps in midfield.
No championship-caliber team is complete without a plethora of strikers. Luckily, Orlando City has that in droves with their star rookie of the year candidate Duncan McGuire. After last night’s header, the Omaha native has 11 goals in 17 starts to his tally. Ramiro Enrique shared a lot of his time with the now-departed Ercan Kara. Even still, the former Banfield product has been efficient in front of the goal for Orlando City. He is averaging .46 goals/assists per 90 minutes which is a number that can only improve once he finds regularity. In fact, McGuire was called up to the United States Men’s Olympic National Team Sunday morning.
Playoff aspirations higher than ever before
So how does Orlando fare against the rest of the conference for their playoff run? Since their last loss to Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup, they have beaten or taken points off every team in the top five of the Eastern Conference. This is the first year Orlando City surpassed a +10 goal differential since their shortened 2020 season.
The best part about it? The City Beautiful is playing a beautiful brand of soccer that all fans can love. In a year where massive Messi headlines have dominated the league, the real storyline out of Florida is how Orlando City continues to churn out a successful style of play that dazzles the fans but also remains potent against the league’s best defenses.
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Nicolas Vera is a sports reporter for Florida National News, part of the FNN News Network. | info@floridanationalnews.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — During Women’s History Month, leaders across the United States are recognized for their contributions to progress, equity and community empowerment. Among them, Florida National News (FNN) recognizes retired U.S. Army Commander Jocelyn Thomas, a military veteran, author, speaker and advocate for women’s sports.
Thomas has built a career defined by service, leadership and storytelling, transitioning from two decades in the U.S. Army to a growing influence in the sports and media industry.
Photo Credit: U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion, Facebook page – Tampa (Captain Jocelyn Thomas speaker)
Commander, United States Army (Retired)
Thomas entered the United States Army at just 19 years old, beginning a distinguished 20-year military career that would take her across the United States and around the world.
During her time in service, she held numerous leadership roles including Company Commander (twice), Battalion S3, Battalion Assistant Support Operations Officer (SPO), Executive Officer, Platoon Leader, Platoon Sergeant and Team Leader.
Her assignments included Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina, Texas, Korea and Florida, along with combat deployments to Afghanistan, Kuwait and Guantanamo Bay.
As a Company Commander, Thomas led a military unit responsible for approximately 100 to 250 soldiers, overseeing mission readiness, operational planning, training and the well-being of service members under her command.
Her responsibilities included:
- Tactical Leadership: Planning and executing company-level operations and maneuvers
- Training and Readiness: Ensuring soldiers were prepared for combat while maintaining equipment and operational standards
- Personnel Management: Mentoring and developing subordinate leaders, including platoon leaders
- Disciplinary Authority: Upholding military discipline and accountability within the unit
“Being a woman in the Army is a unique experience unlike any other,” Thomas said. “I want people to know that beneath the uniform, I am my own person.”
She describes herself as influential, trustworthy and hardworking. In addition to her military accomplishments, Thomas is also a certified personal trainer and wellness coach, reflecting her continued commitment to leadership, discipline and personal well-being.
Crewing Coordinator at ESPN
Following her military retirement, Thomas transitioned into the sports and media industry, where she currently works as a Crewing Coordinator at ESPN.
In this role, she supports live sports productions, managing behind-the-scenes logistics and coordinating on-air talent to ensure seamless broadcasts.
Thomas is also a Disney Military Fellowship Program Ambassador, representing the program that helps military veterans transition into civilian careers within The Walt Disney Company and ESPN.
Her leadership, organization and communication skills have proven valuable in the fast-paced environment of sports broadcasting.
Sports Events Manager at ESPN Wide World of Sports
Prior to joining ESPN, Thomas worked as a Sports Events Manager at ESPN Wide World of Sports, where she helped oversee major sporting events from planning through execution.
Her background as a U.S. Army Operations Officer provided the leadership and logistical expertise needed to manage complex sporting events and coordinate teams working behind the scenes.
Advocate for Women’s Sports
Thomas has also become a passionate advocate for the growth and visibility of women’s sports, particularly women’s flag football.
Her work includes storytelling and coverage for initiatives such as:
- She Is Football Weekend with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Girls Flag Football Week with the Atlanta Falcons
- Coverage of Alabama State University’s Women’s Flag Football Team during the 2026 season
Through these efforts, Thomas continues to amplify opportunities for female athletes and expand awareness of women’s football programs across the country.
Author and Motivational Speaker
Beyond sports media, Thomas is also a best-selling author and national keynote speaker, sharing lessons on leadership, resilience and perseverance.
She has delivered presentations for organizations including:
- Collegiate Sports Management Group
- ESPN Wide World of Sports
- Military Influencer Conference
- The Mayweather brand
- Streaming platform Twitch
Thomas has also spoken at universities and institutions such as Spelman College, Full Sail University and the University of Tampa, along with numerous military programs and high schools.
Her philosophy remains simple yet powerful:
“Success is a marathon, not a sprint.”
Impact on Women and Future Leaders
Thomas’ journey from Army commander to sports media professional reflects the growing influence of women leaders in fields traditionally dominated by men, including military leadership, sports broadcasting and athletics.
Through her advocacy for women’s flag football, leadership mentoring and public speaking, Thomas continues to inspire young women, athletes and veterans pursuing new careers after military service.
Key Achievements and Milestones
- 20-year U.S. Army combat veteran
- Three combat deployments
- Two-time U.S. Army Company Commander
- Leader responsible for more than 10,000 soldiers during her military career
- Disney’s first Military Veteran Intern (Fellow) at Disney Sports
- First Disney Fellow to complete the fellowship program and be hired full-time by ESPN
- Crewing Coordinator at ESPN
- Former Sports Events Manager at ESPN Wide World of Sports
- Best-selling author and national keynote speaker
- Sideline reporter and journalist for the Atlanta Truth Women’s Professional Tackle Football team and Alabama State University Women’s Flag Football team
- Mother to Legend Thomas (8)
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About the Florida National News Women’s History Month Series
Each March, Florida National News proudly celebrates Women’s History Month by highlighting the achievements, leadership, and impact of women across Florida and beyond. This special editorial series spotlights trailblazers in arts, culture, and fashion; business and entrepreneurship; education and academia; government and public service; media and communications; military and veterans; nonprofit and community leadership; philanthropy; and sports and athletics—women whose stories inspire progress and empower future generations.
