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Harvey Sarajian traveled with Orlando City to face FC Naples in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. The Naples High alum, drafted fifth overall in 2023, connected with old friends but did not play in the match.
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Harvey Sarajian took a few steps out on the pitch at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex and found himself recognizing familiar faces and catching up with old friends.
The Naples High alum and 2023 Southwest Florida Boys Soccer Player of the Year was drafted with the fifth overall pick last year by Orlando City in the MLS SuperDraft and traveled with the club in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Naples alum greeted plenty of former teammates, classmates, coaches, and fans before and after the game.
Sarajian was not made available to the media before or after Wednesday night's game, as he was not suited up as part of the active club. He did get work in after the Lions' 1-0 win over FC Naples, doing conditioning and agility drills while most of the 4,782 in attendance filed to the exits.
Orlando City SC forward Harvey Sarajian (23) trains on the field after the team competed against FC Naples in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 game at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Fla., on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Sarajian's coach at Naples, Bob Prange, was one of the many he caught up with before the game, as the two shared a moment in pregame warmups and briefly caught up.
"This little kid had a soccer ball everywhere he went," said Prange, who retired as Naples' soccer coach after this season. "He wore his jerseys every single day. You knew he was good. As I got to know the family, they said, 'You should come watch him', when they found out I was coaching at the high school. I went and watched this kid, and I'm telling you, he went through every kid on the field. He was scoring three, four, five goals a game. It was unbelievable."
Sarajian was an elite goal scorer at Naples, helping the Golden Eagles reach the Class 4A title as a senior after a 23 goal, 12 assist senior campaign. He spent his freshman season with Georgia Southern in 2024, winning the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year award as well as making First Team All-Conference. He then transferred to Wake Forest, scoring a pair of goals and assists to help the program finish 7-4-6.
Harvey Sarajian is a Naples High alum and the 2023 Southwest Florida Boys Soccer Player of the Year, drafted fifth overall by Orlando City in the MLS SuperDraft.
Orlando City won the match against FC Naples 1-0 in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The match took place at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Florida.
Harvey Sarajian was not suited up as part of the active club for the match against FC Naples.

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Orlando City SC forward Harvey Sarajian (23) trains on the field after the team competed against FC Naples in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 game at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Fla., on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Orlando City liked what they saw and fully expect him to be a key contributor down the road as he gets further acclimated to professional soccer.
"We are so happy with him," Orlando City interim coach Martín Perelman said. "First of all, he's an amazing guy. He worked really hard. He's performing really well with our second team and with us during the training sessions. He's been part of the roster many times in the MLS. I think his development is amazing so far. It's not easy for rookies to come and get themselves in the environment, but he's doing amazingly and we expect him to continue developing."
His touch has been elite since he was young, something that he honed in on his own in his free time. Then, the goal scoring and athletic ability followed shortly thereafter.
Orlando City SC forward Harvey Sarajian (23) trains on the field after the team competed against FC Naples in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 game at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Fla., on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
"You can tell when people are naturals at something," Prange said. "He was a natural. And then as he got older, he worked on it on his own. I told several people that I had nothing to do with his success. I don't think his coaches growing up had that much to do with his success. I think Harvey had the most to do with his success. He worked at it outside of practice. Of course, coaches help you, but the special kids, they work at it."
Now, suiting up professionally, Sarajian's at the highest level of professional soccer in the United States.
"He's made it," Prange said. "I was talking to my daughter earlier, that some people make the Major Leagues, some people make the NBA, NFL. He's made the MLS. This is the real deal. And it's different because I knew him as a young kid. I still remember in the seventh, eighth grade when his older brother Hayden played for me, we were 11th in the nation and he came up to me at the fence and said, 'Prange, I'm gonna play for you.' It's pretty cool."
Orlando City SC forward Harvey Sarajian (23) trains on the field after the team competed against FC Naples in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 game at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Fla., on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples alum Harvey Sarajian returns home with Orlando City against FC Naples