Wikipedia

Lansing Ignite FC

Lansing Ignite FC was a professional soccer team based in Lansing, Michigan, United States. The club began play in the newly-formed USL League One in 2019 and ceased operations following their inaugural season.

Lansing Ignite FC
Full nameLansing Ignite Football Club
FoundedOctober 25, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-10-25)
DissolvedOctober 21, 2019; 4 years ago (2019-10-21)
StadiumCooley Law School Stadium
Capacity7,527
OwnerTom Dickson
PresidentNick Grueser
General ManagerJeremy Sampson
CoachNate Miller
LeagueUSL League One

History edit

The formation of USL League One (originally announced as USL Division III) was first announced in April 2017, and league officials began touring the country looking for candidate cities for new soccer clubs. The city of Lansing was already home to Lansing United, an amateur soccer team in the National Premier Soccer League. In 2018, United moved from NPSL to the Premier Development League, another amateur league often considered the fourth tier of American soccer. The move was seen as a step towards establishing a professional team, as the PDL is managed by United Soccer Leagues, the same organization that manages League One as well as the second-tier United Soccer League.[1]

In September 2018, the Lansing State Journal reported that the owners of the Lansing Lugnuts, a local minor league baseball team, had presented plans to Lansing City Council for a professional soccer team to play at Cooley Law School Stadium, also home to the Lugnuts.[2] On October 8, the city council unanimously approved the plans, which are expected to cost the city $1 million over the course of a five-year contract. This also signaled the end of the Lansing United men's team, as United owner Jeremy Sampson became the new club's general manager; however, Lansing United Women would continue to operate as planned.[3]

On October 25, 2018, USL League One officially announced Lansing Ignite FC as its ninth founding member team, to begin play in 2019.[4] On November 14, 2018, Lansing Ignite FC announced Nate Miller as the inaugural head coach.[5] On March 19, 2019, Lansing Ignite FC announced an affiliation agreement with Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer.[6]

Lansing played their first USL League One match on 30 March 2019, beating Richmond Kickers 3–2 at City Stadium, Richmond.[7] Lansing finished their first season with a 12–6–10 record, good for second place in USL League One.[8] They fell in the playoff semifinal to Greenville Triumph SC, 1–0.[9] On October 14, 2019, midfielder Marshall Hollingsworth posted on Instagram that the Ignite would be folding and that all players had been released from their contracts. Team President Nick Grueser said that the team would not give an update on the team's future until after the conclusion of the League One final.[10]

On October 21, 2019, it was officially announced by USL League One that, despite a successful first season performance-wise, the Ignite would not be returning for the 2020 season.[11]

Sponsorship edit

Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2019 Moneyball LAFCU[12]

Players edit

First team roster edit

As of match played March 30, 2019[13]
No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (age) Signed in Previous club
Goalkeepers
1 Mike Kirk   GK (1994-02-12) February 12, 1994 (age 30) 2019   Pittsburgh Riverhounds
13 Kyle Ihn   GK (1994-12-10) December 10, 1994 (age 29) 2019   Reno 1868
Defenders
2 Rhys Williams   DF (1995-08-09) August 9, 1995 (age 28) 2019   Real Monarchs
4 Grant Stoneman   DF (1995-11-27) November 27, 1995 (age 28) 2019   Loyola Ramblers
5 Brandon Fricke   DF (1992-03-27) March 27, 1992 (age 32) 2019   Des Moines Menace
17 Kevin Coiffic   DF (1994-09-18) September 18, 1994 (age 29) 2019   Young Harris Mountain Lions
25 Marshall Hollingsworth   DF (1993-08-06) August 6, 1993 (age 30) 2019   Columbus Crew
Midfielders
6 Ricardo Perez   MF (1995-05-30) May 30, 1995 (age 28) 2019   Colorado Rapids
7 Rafael Mentzingen   MF (1996-05-02) May 2, 1996 (age 27) 2019   Valparaiso Crusaders
8 Kyle Carr   MF (1995-01-21) January 21, 1995 (age 29) 2019   Lansing United
10 Xavier Gomez   MF (1994-11-21) November 21, 1994 (age 29) 2019   Chicago FC United
12 Christian Silva   MF (1989-08-02) August 2, 1989 (age 34) 2019   Jacksonville Armada
16 Lewis Jones   MF (1994-12-25) December 25, 1994 (age 29) 2019   Lansing United
21 Ivo Cerda   MF (1995-10-31) October 31, 1995 (age 28) 2019   Michigan Wolverines
23 Tumi Moshobane   MF (1994-09-07) September 7, 1994 (age 29) 2019   Lansing United
24 Elma N'For   MF 2019   Asheville City
27 Nathan Lewis   MF (1990-07-20) July 20, 1990 (age 33) 2019   Indy Eleven
— Omar Castro   MF (1996-02-07) February 7, 1996 (age 28) 2019   TSC Vahdet
Forwards
9 Ricky Lopez-Espin   FW (1995-12-02) December 2, 1995 (age 28) 2019   Real Salt Lake
11 Steeve Saint-Duc   FW (2000-01-08) January 8, 2000 (age 24) 2019   Los Angeles FC
14 Nick Moon   FW (1996-05-31) May 31, 1996 (age 27) 2019   Lane United
19 Pato Botello Faz   FW (1996-09-08) September 8, 1996 (age 27) 2019   St. Mary's Rattlers
20 Alex Bruce   FW (1998-10-28) October 28, 1998 (age 25) 2019   San Antonio FC (loan)

Coaching staff edit

Position Name
Head coach   Nate Miller
Assistant coach   Tim Daniels
Assistant coach   Joel DeLass
Goalkeeping coach   Wael Zenga

2019 season edit

Lansing Ignite
2019 season
OwnerTom Dickson
Head coachNate Miller
StadiumCooley Law School Stadium
USL League One2nd
USL1 PlayoffsSemifinals
U.S. Open Cup2nd Round
Top goalscorerTumi Moshobane (10)
Highest home attendanceLeague/All: 4,818
(June 22 vs. Orlando City B)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 1,725
(May 11 vs. Greenville Triumph)
All: 100
(May 8 vs. AFC Ann Arbor (USOC))
Average home league attendance2,758
Biggest win5–0
(September 6 at FC Tucson)
Biggest defeat0–3
(June 8 at Toronto FC II)

Preseason friendlies edit

February 27 Indy Eleven 1–2 Lansing Ignite Westfield, Indiana
2:00 PM EST
  • Ilić   68'
 Report
Stadium: Grand Park Indoor Arena
Attendance: 300
March 3 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2–0 Lansing Ignite Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
12:00 PM EST
Report Stadium: Highmark Stadium
Attendance: Closed door
March 8 Lansing Ignite 7–0 Davenport Panthers Brighton, Michigan
1:00 PM EST
Report Stadium: Legacy Center
Attendance: 200
March 15 Lansing Ignite 3–0 Western Michigan Broncos Brighton, Michigan
1:00 PM EST
Report Stadium: Legacy Center
Attendance: 418

Midseason friendlies edit

April 16 Capital Cup Lansing Ignite 4–0 Michigan State Spartans Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EST Botello Faz   28'
Saint-Duc   50'
N'For   62'
Bruce   88'		 Report Stanley   54'
Pimlott   66'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 3,338
September 24 Lansing Ignite v Chicago Fire SC Reserves Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
September 28 Lansing Ignite v Livonia City FC Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Note: Originally scheduled to play Grand Rapids FC. Change announced on September 4.[14]

USL League One edit

Standings edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 North Texas SC 28 17 5 6 53 31 +22 56 Playoffs
2 Lansing Ignite FC 28 12 10 6 49 37 +12 46
3 Greenville Triumph SC 28 12 7 9 32 22 +10 43
4 Forward Madison FC 28 12 7 9 33 26 +7 43
5 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 28 10 10 8 35 37 −2 40
Source: 2019 USL League One standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 5) disciplinary points; 6) coin toss or drawing of lots

Results summary edit

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
28 12 10 6 49 37  +12 46 8 4 2 28 16  +12 4 6 4 21 21  0

Source: USL

Results by round edit

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
StadiumAAHHAAHHAAAAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHHH
ResultWLWLLDDDDWLDWWLDWDDDWWWWWWDL
Position4544989784775466456653222222
Source: USL
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results edit

March 30 1 Richmond Kickers 2–3 Lansing Ignite Richmond, Virginia
5:00 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,936
Referee: Danielle Chesky
April 6 2 Greenville Triumph SC 2–1 Lansing Ignite FC Greenville, South Carolina
7:00 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Legacy Early College
Attendance: 4,014
Referee: Jasmine Peralta
April 13 3 Lansing Ignite 3–1 Richmond Kickers Lansing, Michigan
5:00 PM EDT Report Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 3,369
Referee: Danielle Chesky
April 26 4 Lansing Ignite 0–2 Toronto FC II Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Stoneman   45+1'
Moshobane   80'		 Report Petrasso   11'
Mohammed   24'
Campbell   39'
Okello   53'
Ovalle   85' (pen.)		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 1,895
Referee: Nickrod Fateh
April 30 5 FC Tucson 2–0 Lansing Ignite Tucson, Arizona
9:00 PM Jambga   27'
Somersall   38'
Spencer   49'
Vega   57'   62'		 Report Fricke   49' Stadium: Kino North Stadium
Attendance: 702
Referee: Karen Abt
May 4 6 Richmond Kickers 2–2 Lansing Ignite Richmond, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT Chin   32'
Shanosky   75'
Jackson   90'		 Report Cerda   24'
Stoneman   27'
Lopez-Espin   58'
Fricke   70'		 Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 2,947
Referee: Matt Franz
May 11 7 Lansing Ignite 1–1 Greenville Triumph SC Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Lopez-Espin   76' Report Boland   36'
Polak   58'
Ward   68'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 1,725
Referee: Adam Kilpatrick
May 18 8 Lansing Ignite 2–2 North Texas SC Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Mentzigen   54',   56'
Bruce   65',   90+5'
Saint-Duc   72'
Stoneman   89'		 Report Tessmann   35'
Jatta   51'
Pepi   83'
A. Rodríguez   87',   90+2'
Almaguer   89'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 2,149
Referee: Calin Radosav
May 25 9 Tormenta FC 0–0 Lansing Ignite Statesboro, Georgia
7:00 PM EDT Miccaletto   42'
Knutson   59'		 Report Cleveland   73' Stadium: Eagle Field
Attendance: 1,697
Referee: Joshua Encarnacion
June 1 10 Forward Madison FC 0–1 Lansing Ignite Madison, Wisconsin
8:00 PM EDT Banks   39'
Núñez   90+7'		 Report Moon   47'
Stoneman   51'
Cerda   80'		 Stadium: Breese Stevens Field
Attendance: 4,271
Referee: Brad Jensen
June 8 11 Toronto FC II 3–0 Lansing Ignite Toronto, Ontario
4:00 PM EDT Hundal   29'
Ovalle   48'
Dorsey   66'
Bunk-Andersen   80'
Perruzza   90+1'		 Report Stadium: BMO Training Ground
Referee: Myriam Marcotte
June 15 12 Greenville Triumph SC 1–1 Lansing Ignite Greenville, South Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Seiler   66' Report Moon   30'
Saint-Duc   90+3'		 Stadium: Legacy Early College Field
Attendance: 2,715
Referee: Matthew Corrigan
June 19 13 Lansing Ignite 1–0 Toronto FC II Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Saint-Duc   28',   61'
Bruce   87'		 Report Mingo   27'
Srbely   89'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 2,287
Referee: Becky Pagan
June 22 14 Lansing Ignite 2–0 Orlando City B Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Moshobane   28'
Moon   51'
Bruce   59'
Coiffic   68'		 Report Bagrou   30' Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 4,818
Referee: Chris Ruska
June 29 15 North Texas SC 3–1 Lansing Ignite Frisco, Texas
7:00 PM EDT Tessmann   43'
Montgomery   57'
Damus   59',   73'
Rodriguez   71'		 Report Moon   59'
Cleveland   74'
Faz   83'		 Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 632
Referee: Marco Vega
July 6 16 Chattanooga Red Wolves 1–1 Lansing Ignite Chattanooga, Tennessee
7:00 PM EDT Cisse   12'
Walls   55'		 Report N'For   25'
Fricke   30'
Coiffic   45'
Moon   57'		 Stadium: David Stanton Field
Attendance: 1,766
Referee: Michael Smith
July 9 17 Lansing Ignite 3–2 Forward Madison FC Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT N'For   17'
Mentzigen   90+2',   90+3'
Bruce   90+5'		 Report Smart   32',   50'
Bennett   63'
Banks   90+4'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 1,871
Referee: Kevin Fikar
July 13 18 Lansing Ignite 2–2 FC Tucson Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Moshobane   26' (pen.),   49'
Williams   50'		 Report Howell   34'
Jones   52' (pen.)
Hauswirth   73'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 4,348
Referee: Gabriele Giusti
July 19 19 Toronto FC II 3–3 Lansing Ignite Toronto, Ontario
4:00 PM EDT Perruzza   35'
Dorsey   38'
Bunk-Andersen   78'
Romeo   81',   84'		 Report Faz   41' (pen.)
Fricke   51'
Gomez   54'		 Stadium: BMO Training Ground
Referee: Giancarlo Pavone
July 27 20 Tormenta FC 1–1 Lansing Ignite Statesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDT Knutson   16'
Saint-Vil   21'
Kadono   88'
Micaletto   90'
Morrell   90+3'		 Report Mentzingen   12',   45+3'
Coiffic   35'
Stoneman   60'
Carr   90+3'		 Stadium: Eagle Field
Attendance: 1,785
Referee: Nickrod Fateh
July 31 21 Lansing Ignite 2–0 Chattanooga Red Wolves Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Moshobane   32'
Mentzigen   50'
Faz   84'		 Report Kendall-Moullin   10'
Pineda   45+1'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 2,215
Referee: José Lara
August 3 22 Lansing Ignite 3–0 Orlando City B Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Moshobane   8'
N'For   14'
Mentzingen   84'		 Report Tablante   37'
Thiago   50'
Amer   87'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 3,285
Referee: Carter Brochu
August 16 23 Orlando City B 1–2 Lansing Ignite Montverde, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Forbes   13'
Tablante   42'
Bagrou   71'		 Report Gomez   22',   82'
Coiffic   28'
Mentzingen   54'		 Stadium: Montverde Academy
Referee: Joshua Encarnación
August 22 24 Lansing Ignite 4–1 North Texas SC Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Faz   8',   69'
Moon   31'
N'For   50'
Moshobane   71'		 Report Rayo   65'
Rodriguez   76'
Romero   86' (pen.)		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 2,757
Referee: Luis Arroyo
September 6 25 FC Tucson 0–5 Lansing Ignite Tucson, Arizona
10:30 PM EDT Wheeler-Omiunu   28'
Venter   62'
Batista   76'		 Report Moon   12'
Faz   16',   26'
Moshobane   33',   90+3'
Williams   60'		 Stadium: Kino North Stadium
Attendance: 708
Referee: Omeed Azadpour
September 14 26 Lansing Ignite 4–3 Chattanooga Red Wolves Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Mentzingen   8'
Moshobane   18',   90'
Moon   30',   79'
Gomez   60'
Carr   77'		 Report Zguro   3',   60'
Hurst   17',   54'
Amponsah   35'
Beattie   43'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 2,994
Referee: Calin Radosav
September 21 27 Lansing Ignite 1–1 Tormenta FC Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Moon   45+1' Report Dennis   19'
Arslan   34'
Rowe   67'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 2,489
Referee: Joshua Encarnación
October 5 28 Lansing Ignite 0–1 Forward Madison FC Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT N'For   20'
Fricke   59'
Moshobane   73'
Williams   87'		 Report Omsberg   31'
Banks   43'
Núñez   66'
Paulo Jr.   68'
Díaz   81'
Leonard   90+4'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 2,412
Referee: José Lara

USL League One Playoffs edit

Main article: 2019 USL League One Playoffs
October 12 Semifinals Lansing Ignite FC 0–1 Greenville Triumph SC Lansing, Michigan
7:00 p.m. (EDT) Coiffic   70'
Cerda   74'
Cleveland   87'		 Report Clowes   37'
Mohamed   45+2'
Polak   46'
Bermudez   59'
Gómez   79'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 2,340
Referee: Matthew Thompson

U.S. Open Cup edit

Main article: 2019 U.S. Open Cup
May 8 1st Round Lansing Ignite FC   2–1   AFC Ann Arbor Lansing, Michigan
7:00 pm EDT N'For   29',   72' Report Alexis   40',   66' Stadium: Lansing Catholic High School
Attendance: 100
Referee: Nicole Green
Note: Kickoff time and venue changed from 7:00 p.m. at Cooley Law School Stadium due to inclement field conditions.
May 15 2nd Round Indy Eleven   1–0   Lansing Ignite FC Indianapolis, Indiana
7:00 PM EDT Newton   21'
Enevoldsen   51',   57'
Watson   62'
Walker   88'
Kelly   90+2'		 Report Stoneman   62' Stadium: Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl
Attendance: 853
Referee: Adam Behrens

Final roster edit

Final team roster edit

As of January 10, 2019.[15]

No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Mike Kirk   United States
2 DF Rhys Williams   United States
4 DF Grant Stoneman   United States
5 DF Brandon Fricke   United States
6 MF Ricardo Pérez   Mexico
7 MF Rafael Mentzingen   Brazil
8 MF Kyle Carr   United States
10 MF Xavier Gomez   United States
11 FW Steeve Saint-Duc   Haiti
12 MF Christian Silva   United States
13 GK Kyle Ihn   United States
14 DF Nick Moon   United States
16 MF Lewis Jones   British Virgin Islands
17 DF Kevin Coiffic   France
19 FW Pato Botello Faz   Mexico
21 MF Ivo Cerda   Chile
23 MF Tumi Moshobane   South Africa
24 FW Elma N'For   Cameroon
25 DF Marshall Hollingsworth   United States
27 MF Nathan Lewis   Trinidad and Tobago

Year-by-year edit

Lansing Ignite FC
Season USL League One Play-offs U.S. Open Cup Top Scorer 1 Head coach
P W L D GF GA Pts Pos Player Goals
2019 28 12 6 10 49 37 46 2nd National Semifinals 2R   Tumi Moshobane 10   Nate Miller

^ 1. Top Scorer includes statistics from league matches only.

Head coaches edit

  • Includes USL Regular Season, USL Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
Coach Nationality Start End Games Win Loss Draw Win %
Nate Miller   Israel November 14, 2018 Present 31 13 8 10 041.94

Average attendance edit

Year Reg. Season Playoffs
2019 2,758 2,340

References edit

  1. ^ Couch, Graham (May 1, 2018). "Lansing United's move to PDL comes with new rivalries, USL dreams". Lansing State Journal. Gannett Company. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  2. ^ Couch, Graham (September 24, 2018). "Lansing Ignite USL pro soccer team likely to begin in downtown Lansing". Lansing State Journal. Gannett Company. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  3. ^ Couch, Graham (October 8, 2018). "Lansing Ignite, new USL soccer club, gets go-ahead to play downtown". Lansing State Journal. Gannett Company. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "Lansing Ignite FC Unveiled as USL League One Founding Member". USLLeagueOne.com (Press release). USL League One. October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  5. ^ Friend, Phil (November 14, 2018). "Lansing Ignite Soccer's First Coach, Nate Miller, Ready to Bring Championships to the City". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  6. ^ Friend, Phil (March 19, 2019). "Lansing Ignite forms alliance with Chicago Fire, will host MLS team at Cooley Stadium". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  7. ^ Friend, Phil (March 30, 2019). "Lansing Ignite wins inaugural match, 3–2, over Richmond Kickers in USL League One". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  8. ^ "Lansing Ignite FC". uslleagueone.com. USL League One. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019.
  9. ^ Friend, Phil (October 12, 2019). "Lansing Ignite falls to Greenville Triumph, 1–0, in USL League One semifinals". Lansing State Journal. Gannett Company. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  10. ^ Friend, Phil (October 14, 2019). "Lansing Ignite president: 'No further updates' about club's future until next week". Lansing State Journal. Gannett Company. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "Lansing Ignite FC Ceases Operations". USLLeagueOne.com (Press release). October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  12. ^ "LAFCU Named Official kit sponsor of Lansing Ignite". Lansing Ignite. February 12, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  13. ^ "Richmond Kickers roster". RichmondKickers.com. Richmond Kickers. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  14. ^ "LIFC to Host Livonia City FC in Final 2019 Exhibition Match". LansingIgnite.com. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  15. ^ "Club News". Lansing Ignite FC. lansingignite.com. Retrieved December 3, 2018.

External links edit

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