Crown Legacy FC and Team Captain Willian Sangoquiza get set for MLS NEXT Pro playoffs this weekend
By Brian Maurer
Crown Legacy FC finished their 2026 regular season first in the Eastern Conference and are preparing for their First Round opponent Red Bull New York II on Sunday. It will be a good First Round test for Legacy as RBNYII are the defending champions and are known for developing top talent and bringing those players through their Second Team. USMNT call-ups Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti are recent examples of what the Red Bull New York's development system can produce.
Legacy have the best attack in NEXT Pro this season finishing with 67 goals (nearly a 2.5 goal per game clip). RBNYII's attack was also in the top 5 making this weekend fixture full of potential for a high score line and excitement.
I caught up with Legacy's Captain Willian Sangoquiza (21) to discuss his time in the Charlotte FC system, the 2026 season, and this weekend's game.
Sangoquiza's recovery from injury in the spring
Sangoquiza was one of many players called up to Charlotte FC's First Team for preseason this year and looked to be building momentum and the potential to take the next step before an unfortunate injury in the Spring put a brief halt to his progression. "In that moment, I'm not going to lie, I felt bad, felt really sad" said the Ecuadorian when asked about the injury.
The young prospect had plenty of tools to help him work through the early season setback. "It's always work, it's always hard work and with my family helping me I can be back now." His work ethic and family support were key for his speedy recovery. Sangoquiza also pointed to his faith as being instrumental. "I always put in my mind that it's God's plan, always something happens for some reason, I can't complain."
Captain Sangoquiza
Taking agency and responsibility, even when things don't go one's way. A willingness to put in the work to recover a head of schedule. All traits personified by Sangoquiza through overcoming his injury that exemplify why he was named the Captain at the start of the 2026 campaign. "He's got such an elite mindset...he's a really special character," Crown Legacy FC Head Coach Kevin Sawchak said on what Sangoquiza brings to the table as a leader.
"[Sawchak] said he talked to all the coaching staff and they are proud of me and they made that decision that I am ready," Sangoquiza recalled about his initial conversation with his coach about being named the 2026 Captain. "I was excited, I am really happy for that."
Sangoquiza mentioned that it has been easy to step into a leadership role this season because of the continuity and maturity of the squad even if they are all still young developing prospects. "We are a united team, we are ready together, everyone knows each other well," praised Sangoquiza. "It's a really mature group, everyone is more professional at this point of the year, and we learn, we're young but we learn every day."
Building the maturity and professionalism of the squad
The maturity of the squad was built throughout the season. Sangoquiza pointed out that the team's growth started in the first minute of opening day when they immediately went down a goal against Chattanooga FC. "We start losing the game at like 30 seconds...we never stress out for that, we've always been very together...that mentality that each other has built the group."
Crown Legacy went on to win that road opener 4-1.
During the summer, Crown Legacy played through the World Cup break and while Scotland's National Team was in town, Legacy had to temporarily move their home base and built their own little summer camp spot where there were lots of competitive ping-pong and poker games. It was a unique opportunity for the group to bond and keep building team chemistry.
Sangoquiza said that ping-pong and poker were not his games, that he preferred playing pool. First Team players Isaac Walker and Will Cleary, and academy graduate Adrian Mendoza were all guys that played pool together. According to Sangoquiza, Walker is the best of them.
Crown Legacy vs Red Bull New York II
Sangoquiza praised how competitive the team has been this year, and that spirit will be going head-to-head with a similarly styled team that is also very competitive. "We did a really good job...we've been so competitive, and I think that Red Bull is that team that has similar things compared to us, so it will be a nice game, a tight game." The home fans are one of the keys for the Captain. "That's our advantage, we play at home with our fans and we just have to show how much we want to be champions this year...we will help each other out and fight for the team."
Sawchak and Sangoquiza were both part of Crown Legacy's 2024 playoff run in which Sangoquiza scored the equalizing goal against FC Cincinnati 2 to help Legacy advance in the playoffs for the first time in their history. That team finished eighth in the Eastern Conference, and Sawchak has gone from interim to permanent head coach since then. "The group is more together at this time...we know how to play together, how to solve problems on the field more, at this time that will help," said Sangoquiza on how the team has grown since 2024.
Sawchak's demands to keep a competitive edge at all times will also be key according to Sangoquiza. "Be competitive, even on training, no one likes to be soft, everyone is pushing each other to be better and that's the key for us."
