Position: Midfielder
Birthdate: 07/10/1997
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida
Previous Club: Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
College: University of South Florida
Height: 5-6
Ycaza (EE-kah-zah) enters his third season with the Black and Yellow after two successful seasons that saw the Battery make back-to-back runs to the Eastern Conference Final.
Ycaza, 27, has featured in 63 matches across all competitions for the Battery since joining in 2023. Overall, the midfielder has recorded eight goals and six assists for Charleston.
Across the 2024 regular season and playoffs, Ycaza scored four goals and three assists, matching the same tally as his 2023 numbers, along with setting up his teammates with three penalties won and 28 chances created. Among Ycaza’s most memorable moments in 2024 were his match-winners against Birmingham Legion FC and Sacramento Republic FC.
Ycaza was among the league’s premier players on defense among midfielders in 2024, registering 31 interceptions, 40 tackles won, 27 clearances and 188 duels won. The University of South Florida alumnus earned three Team of the Week selections for his stellar performances in Weeks 6, 8 and 21.
Quickly developing into a fan-favorite in his first year, Ycaza was a spark at midfield and tallied four goals and three assists across 24 matches in the regular season and playoffs in 2023. Ycaza additionally recorded 28 chances created, 32 interceptions, 26 tackles won and 113 duels won.
Ycaza turned in memorable postseason performances when he scored in consecutive games, the Conference Quarterfinal and Semifinal, as part of the Battery’s run to the 2023 USL Championship Final.
Ycaza played his previous two seasons with Western Conference side Rio Grande Valley FC Toros. With RGV, Ycaza made 50 appearances across all competitions, tallying seven goals and six assists.
The midfielder was a constant force for RGV last season, leading the team in matches played (35), starts (33), minutes played (2,893) and chances created (44). He also registered an 81.7% passing accuracy, 40 tackles won and 160 duels won. Ycaza’s marks in chances created, tackles won and duels won topped those by Battery players in 2022. Ycaza earned Team of the Week honors for his two-goal performance against San Diego Loyal SC in Week 11.
His versatility has seen him deployed across the midfield, primarily in attacking roles, centrally and on both wings.
Prior to RGV, Ycaza played for former USL Championship teams Austin Bold FC in 2021 and Reno 1868 FC in 2020. The midfielder helped lead Reno to the Western Conference Semifinals of the USL Championship Playoffs.
The Florida native played collegiately at the University of South Florida, competing with the Bulls from 2018 to 2019 and making 35 appearances. Before USF, Ycaza was part of the youth sector of Swedish club IF Brommapojkarn from 2015 to 2016.
Emilio is a dual citizen of Ecuador and the United States.
