MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group and affiliates
BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349
CELL PHONE: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
The Lakeland Conference will enter just its third season of competition and eyes will be on who can unseat reigning champion Niles Brandywine.
There are just four schools in the league that sponsor boys soccer programs – Berrien Springs, Buchanan, Dowagiac and Niles Brandywine – while a fifth member school, Benton Harbor, has never had a boys soccer program.
Below is a breakdown of the four-school conference:
DEFENDING CHAMPION:
Niles Brandywine (9-8-2, 4-1-1) emerged as the victor in the second conference race last season. The Bobcats were solid in conference games to edge out runner-up Buchanan by two points (13-11) in the final standings. Despite winning a conference title, Brandywine was still outscored 77-63 last season and recorded just one shutout, meaning the Bobcats need to shore up their defense this season. Seniors Pedro Segundo (M, All-League First Team), Preston Heed (F), Jordan Hester (M/D), Jayce Klapp, Evan Lary, Ethan Mera, Bailey Roeder and Diego Sanchez, junior Kyler Marshall (F) and sophomores Brayden Bates (M), Shivram Devdhara (M/D), Jase Deming (D), Alex Ibanez-Molina (F), Joseph Sherrick (D/M) and Brenden Smith (D/M) return. Seniors Jesus Delgado (D/M) and Jayce Klapp (G), sophomores Francis Rivera (D) and Jack Perez (D), and freshman Josue Segundo (F), Tanner Inman (F/M) and Malachi Gamble (D) make up the cast of newcomers. Brandywine started a little slow, going 1-4-0 in the first two weeks of the season and being outscored 20-3 and shut out three times.
TOP CHALLENGER:
Buchanan (8-6-3, 3-1-2) is an up-and-coming program in southwest Michigan and has been ranked in the top 15 in the Division 3 rankings or listed as honorable mention so far this season. The Bucks are one of the more improved programs in the state ready for a breakout campaign under first-year head coach Ryan Haines. Versatile senior Mason Frontczak (G/M/F) is a two-time first-team all-conference choice, while juniors Jacob Kuntz (D, All-League first Team) and Preston Payne (D, All-League Honorable Mention) and sophomore Easton May (M/F) all return. Buchanan is blessed with a talented and athletic freshmen class and some with club experience – Nico Sanchez (M), Charley Cowart (G/D), Cadan McMahan (M), Payson Regan (D) and Trenton Teshka (CB). The Bucks outscored their opposition 39-26 last season with five shutouts. So far this year, Buchanan is 4-1-1 overall, 1-0-1 in league play, and has outscored its six opponents 18-7 with a pair of shutouts. The only loss came in the finals of the VanDenBerg Invitational to Division 2 Niles.
DARKHORSE:
Dowagiac Union (2-15-0, 2-4-0) ventured through a major rebuilding campaign in 2023 with mostly a new starting lineup and roster as a whole. It was a season not worth remembering except for lessons learned on the pitch in order to be a better team and individual player this season. Senior Marn Frontczak (G/M/F) is a two-time first-team all-conference choice, while the Chieftains were outscored 90-30, shut out five times and recorded just one clean sheet on the defensive end. That’s where Dowagiac hopes to see the most improvements in 2024. So far the Chieftains have already surpassed last year’s win totals with a 3-2-1 start, including 2-0-0 in league play. Dowagiac already has two shutouts and have only been outscored 15-13 in the first two weeks, signaling major improvements. Senior forward Chase Morse (All-League First Team) is the team’s most accomplished player, while seniors Andres Hernandez (AM) and Isiah Sauvedra (CM) also return. Senior Ray Maynard (G/D) and sophomores Jaylin Medrano (AM/F) and Eli Stout (D/M) are other quality players.
Berrien Springs (1-12-1, 1-4-1) is coming off a one-win season and that victory came in the league. Veteran coach Octavio Latino has his work cut out for him, as the Shamrocks are coming off a major rebuilding campaign and will continue to build back up this season. For a program that was outscored 79-15 last season with little varsity or club experience, any positives are welcome. Berrien Springs has already breached last season’s marks, already going 2-2-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the league, and that includes a 9-2 drubbing of Brandywine on Sept. 4. The Shamrocks own a 19-7 scoring edge with one shutout after not even recording a single clean sheet last season. Seniors Alejandro Garcia (D/M) and Luis Escobar (M) and junior Kevin Silva (M) are all back to lead this side back into contention. Other returnees include juniors Moses Say (M/D), Logen Pothoff (D) and Luis Mariano (M), senior Yihyun Shin (M) and sophomores Jonathan Vazquez (M), Uhyun Shin (M) and Miles Matthews (M). Seniors Caylen Tate (M), Ben Chilambo (M), Caiden Ward (F) and Justin LeBrun (M), juniors Henry Garcia and Steven Thames (M/D), sophomores Jefferson Perez (CB) and Elian Andriamparany (D/F) and freshman Aaron Mariano (G/F) are the newcomers.
Benton Harbor has never offered boys soccer as a sport and it appears it does not have the interest in doing so for the time being.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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(MSN will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at https://www.michigansoccernetwork.com/reportascore. Please submit the competing teams, location and date of game, final score, overall and league records, goals, assists, goalkeepers and saves, standout defenders, players of the match, and any other pertinent details of the game. If there are courtesy action photos available, feel free to submit them at the above-listed emails.)
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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Michigan-based Premier Media Group is expanding ... don't miss out on coverage
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Premier Media Group is expanding its broadcast net.
And we want you.
The Michigan-based PMG, founded in 2022, its flagship production the Michigan Soccer Network and all other affiliates, is actively scheduling games in a wide variety of high school leagues and conferences, small colleges, amateur, pre-professional, youth club, and other avenues of the beautiful game in Michigan.
The schedule for the fall semester is starting to fill up across Michigan.
The daily connections are being made and the spreading of our brand has brought in great reviews.
Would the coaches, administration, student-athletes, players and fans like for us to broadcast a game near you?
Regardless of the now-popular remote broadcast games, on-location broadcast games, on-location shows or in-studio daily shows, there is a simple process. Visit the website www.michigansoccernetwork.com or click below for details.
PMG will also be holding various “Win A Free Broadcast” contest at various parts of the fall, winter (indoor) and spring seasons.
"(Michigan Soccer Network) has does a great job making these kids feel special,” offered Michal Hatfield, girls soccer coach at Trenton High School who also coaches in the Detroit City FC youth club system. “The broadcasts were professionally done and we were very pleased when they did our games. They did a great job with (play-by-play), graphics and postgame interviews with the kids. And a lot of people saw it. We had uncles and aunts that have never seen their nieces play get a chance to watch them on YouTube). And all of the kids were able to jump on there (the YouTube channel) afterwards and watch the game.”
The MSN staff had the pleasure of broadcasting multiple games the last two school years for schools in the Oakland Activities Association and have received its fair share of feedback. The goal is to conduct broadcasts of games throughout the state of Michigan, especially in the larger populated regions.
“MSN has done a great job with broadcasts in our league (Macomb Area Conference),” said Trevor Foster, current head coach of the Romeo girls soccer program, goalkeepers coach for Oakland University’s soccer programs, and director at the Michigan Goalkeepers Academy. “I know the girls love it. And I know some of the parents were putting their earphones on and listening to the game when they were (in the stands) and it gives relatives a chance to watch games that they normally wouldn’t be able to.
“It’s as close to professional (broadcast) as any broadcast of high school soccer that you will see out there,” added Foster. “Plus, they do all types of (amateur and pre-professional) leagues out there (in Michigan).”
“We were very pleased, especially with the knowledge of high school soccer in the state of Michigan from the play-by-play announcers and color commentators,” said Todd Heugh, the current director of athletics at Troy Athens High School and a former coach at the school. “They put together a valuable (product) and the games are live on YouTube for everyone to watch, even if you are (a relative or an alumni) not in the area. I know coaches go on there (YouTube), too, to watch games of an upcoming opponent.”
The PMG staff has a goal of 100-plus games this fall from mid-August through November. The Michigan Soccer Network conducted a record 50 remote or in-person broadcasts during the month of June.
PMG also has contacts within Michigan, the Midwest and even in different parts of the U.S. and have become broadcast partners for more than 15 different leagues or franchises within those leagues over the past three years. PMG has multiple broadcasting rights for within the USL-League Two, USL-W League, UPSL, MWPL, NISA, WSPL and more and constantly expanding its web of coverage both on various YouTube channels and on our website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com. It has broadcasted more high school boys soccer and high school girls soccer at more than 75 high schools in Michigan.
“MSN has been a great media partner for the Bucks and AFC,” said Costa Papista, President of the Flint City Bucks and Flint City AFC of the USL-League Two and USL-W League, respectively. “The production and overall quality of our live broadcasts are professional grade. Flint City fans, sponsors and supporters greatly appreciate the MSN quality. We are always receiving excellent feedback and comments from our fans and visiting fans as well.”
And now the busy season starts in earnest with high school, college and youth club team beginning the 2024-25 school year.
To schedule a game or to consult team members of our broadcast, reach out to the following persons in the PMG family of networks: Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner, 248-525-2083, jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com or new Director of Scheduling / Office Manager Alaina Gagnon, at agagnon@thepremiermediagrp.com and inquire about the broadcast options, packages, special packages and more.
For news on the soccer scene in Michigan, check out the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com for daily updates, game recaps, feature stories, previews and more for teams, players and coaches from a wide variety schools, amateur teams, colleges and youth club teams.
The PMG and MSN staff will continue to reach for its goal of providing quality broadcast on any network and in-depth coverage and content on it website.
INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
Interested in internships in broadcasting, communications, journalism, public relations or sales and marketing in the sports world? The Premier Media Group is seeking applications for current college students or students entering their senior or junior years of high school that have a career interest in working in different capacity of a constantly-evolving media world.
Contact both Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner at 248-525-2083 or jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com and Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at (248) 525-2349 and dstickradt@thepremeiermediagrp.com.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com.)
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