Armada FC Public Relations | Sept. 9, 2016

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Armada FC announced on Friday the addition of Armada U-23 goalkeeper Kyle Nasta to the first team. He is the Armada FC’s first-ever signing from within the club development pyramid.

Nasta, a 6-foot native of Jacksonville, made six starts for U-23 this season, finishing with a 1.17 GAA and helping lead his side to a second-place finish in the NPSL Sunshine Conference.

He is expected to add depth to the goalkeeping unit, which thinned out last Saturday when Miguel Gallardo went down with a groin injury against the Carolina RailHawks. Gallardo is projected to miss 2-4 weeks.

“Kyle adds some valuable depth to our ’keeper group,” said Mark Lowry, Armada FC interim head coach. “With Miguel being injured, this is an opportunity for him to be involved. We fully trust his capabilities from seeing him in practice and he had a good season with the 23s. It is an exciting moment for the club to have a player move up from the 23s to the first team.”

Prior to joining the Armada FC, Nasta starred for local NCAA Division I side University of North Florida, where he was a two-time All-Atlantic Sun Conference selection and finished as the school’s Division I career leader in saves (150), wins (18) and shutouts (10). In 2014, he was named the A-Sun Goalkeeper of the Year.

Nasta came up through the Armada FC Youth Academy (then known as Jacksonville FC) and also played high school soccer locally at Episcopal High School and Mandarin High School.

“Seeing the growth of soccer in Jacksonville and [the Armada FC] come together has been exciting,” Nasta said. “It is great to have an outlet locally to advance my career, and I am ready to grow with this club. I will work hard every day and be a contributor to our team producing positive results.”

Jacksonville will return to action at 8 p.m. this Sunday on the road against Rayo OKC.