MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group
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FLINT, Mich. – There will be no shortage of soccer talent up in Flint this weekend.
None whatsoever.
Four quality teams will gather for the USL-League Two Central Conference Tournament’s first two rounds at Atwood Stadium at Kettering University just a mile northwest of downtown Flint and only one side will survive past Sunday night.
Four other teams – perennial powerhouse Des Moines Menace, Bavarian United SC, Thunder Bay Chill and Peoria City SC – are on the other half of the Central Conference in games being played at Shea Stadium in Peoria, Illinois.
In Flint, Indiana representative Fort Wayne FC (12-2-2) will face Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Midwest United FC (10-3-1) in one quarterfinals match Friday at 4 p.m., while perennial powerhouse Flint City Bucks (11-1-3) will take on the Cleveland Force (5-2-5) at 7:30 p.m. in the second game.
“There should be some good games this weekend,” offered second-year Bucks coach Paul Doroh, also the head coach of NCAA Division I Oakland University. “There’s some tough teams in the Central Conference. Our division (Great Lakes Division) was very tough this year with a number of quality teams, while the (Valley Division) was also very tough. If you want to play at the next level, it’s places like this that can give you extra exposure.”
Fort Wayne FC coach Mike Avery echoed that statement.
“This is just another chance for some of these guys to get some exposure, especially if they want to play at the (professional) level in the future,” he said. “We played the Bucks in the first game (last year) and it went down to overtime in a great game. I expect all of the games to be very good this weekend.”
The Flint City Bucks, back-to-back winners of the Great Lakes Division – the franchise owns 16 divisional titles in the regular season -- are making their record 26th postseason appearance over a 29-year period. The Bucks missed the postseason only in 2009, 2018 and 2020 – and there was no season in 2020 due to the Covid restrictions.
Great Lakes Division runner-up Midwest United FC is making its first-ever USL-League Two postseason appearance in just its third year in the league. The same for the Valley Division runner-up Cleveland Force.
“We’ve come a long ways since our first season,” admitted Midwest United coach Luke Ruff.
Midwest finished 2-11-1 in 2022 before jumping up to 4-5-3 overall in 2023 to an impressive 10-3-1 overall in league play this season. Midwest United FC began the season 7-0-1 before cooling off slightly. The team has not played a regular season game since July 1 and other than training and a scrimmage against its MLS Next youth team have not played a regular game in nearly three weeks.
Midwest United FC should be well-rested for its debut postseason match.
“We have one key player injured, and one player is suspended (for having six yellow cards) this season, but other than that we have most of our top players available,” added Ruff. “We wouldn’t have played him in our last game where he got a yellow. I guess there’s a league rule if you get (a sixth caution) you have to sit out a game.”
The Cleveland Force split with rival Fort Wayne FC in the regular season and the two are on the opposite side of the bracket in Flint. Cleveland has a giant obstacle in knocking out the home-standing Bucks in the conference quarterfinals. Flint City (19-2-1 last season and 11-1-3 this year) has captured four North American championships (2006, 2014, 2016, 2019) and has been to the Final Four nine times in its history, including trips to the semifinals in 2022 and 2023.
Last year the Bucks advanced all the way to the Final Four only to fall to Ballard FC, the eventual North American champion, 1-0 in a game where Flint City dominated play.
“If you want to be knocked out, I guess it should be by the eventual champions,” laughed Doroh. “That was just one of those games where we dominated but couldn’t buy a goal. We hit the post, crossbar, their goalie made great saves, defenders blocked shots – you name it. We just couldn’t score. But that’s soccer sometimes. We hope to have a better showing this year.”
Two years ago, Fort Wayne FC – which is anticipating a move over to the USL-Championship over the next 2-4 years – just missed the postseason in 2022, its second campaign in the league, by just a point. Last year Fort Wayne qualified for the first time following its first Valley Division title.
Like all of the 35 teams in the title hunt, the battle of retaining all of its top players I July is an ever-growing challenge. NCAA Division I players can report to their respective schools early, as the preseason can start as early as Aug. 5.
“Sure, we lost a couple of guys, but that’s how it goes for everyone,” said Fort Wayne’s Avery. “But we will still have a lot of talent available for this weekend. Every (team) will still have good teams or else they wouldn’t have made it this far.”
“I guess that’s amateur soccer in the summer,” added Doroh about losing some players that have to report back to their respective universities. “Some schools shut down their players by this time. (University of) Michigan shut their players down and we lost a couple there. But most of our guys are still available.”
Although most teams roster 30-40 players for league and non-conference games from May-July, teams must designate up to 26 players for the postseason and can only dress 18 for each game.
This year there is a record 128 teams placed in 18 separate divisions and spread across the United States and Canada that call the USL-League Two home this season – and that number has nearly doubled during the last decade. There were 122 teams in 2023 and 110 franchises in 2022. The league began in 1995 under the name USISL Premier League and has had four different names over its 30-year life span.
Only six clubs have won two or more North American championships and the Flint City Bucks lead the way with four titles – 2006, 2014, 2016 and 2019.
USL-LEAGUE TWO CENTRAL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS-GROUP A
(July 19-21 at Atwood Stadium, Kettering University, Flint, Mich.)
Friday, July 19
Game 1 – Midwest United (10-3-1, 10-3-1 Great Lakes Division) vs. Fort Wayne (12-2-2, 8-2-2 Valley Division)
Game 2 – Cleveland Force (5-2-5, 5-2-5 Valley Division) vs. Flint City Bucks (11-1-3, 10-1-3 Great Lakes Division)
Sunday, July 21
Game 3 – Central Conference Semifinals, 5 p.m.
(Winner advances to the USL-League Two North American Central Conference finals next week on a date, location and time to be determined.)
USL-LEAGUE TWO CENTRAL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS-GROUP B
(July 19-21 at Shea Stadium, Peoria, Illinois)
Friday, July 19
Game 1 – Des Moines Menace (9-1-2) vs. Bavarian United SC (6-3-3), 3:30 p.m.
Game 2 – Peoria City SC (8-1-3) vs. Thunder Bay Chill (8-3-1), 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 21
Game 3 – Central Conference Semifinals, 3 p.m.
(Winner advances to the USL-League Two North American Central Conference finals next week on a date, location and time to be determined.)
CENTRAL CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS—GROUP A … AT A GLANCE
CLUB: Flint City Bucks
HEAD COACH: Paul Doroh, second season
2024 RECORD: 11-1-3, 10-1-3 USL League Two Great Lakes Division (first)
LAST FIVE LEAGUE GAMES: Kalamazoo FC (W, 4-3); AFC Ann Arbor (W, 2-1); Oakland County FC (T, 1-1); Union FC Macomb (L, 3-1); Michiana Lions (W, 10-0)
LEAGUE STATS: 39 goals, 16 against; five shutouts.
HISTORY/FAST FACTS: Over the last 29 years, the Bucks have become one of the most storied programs in league history. The Bucks began as the Mid-Michigan Bucks in Saginaw in 1996 and later became the Michigan Bucks in 2004 before moving to Flint and rebranded as the Flint City Bucks before the 2019 campaign. They own four North American championships (2006, 2014, 2016, 2019), finished as the runner-up three twice (2000, 2007) and reached the semifinals three other times (1997, 2022, 2023) along with several other postseason berths and runs. In fact, the franchise has a record 26 postseason berths in its illustrious history. The Bucks missed in 2009, 2018 and 2020 when there was no season due to the Covid restrictions. The team played a six-game exhibition schedule that August and September of 2020. This year FCB defended its Great Lakes Division title while the Bucks have earned 16 regular season divisional titles and nine times advanced to the league’s postseason Final Four.
TOP PLAYERS: Jakub Grzesiak, G (Oral Roberts University); Jonas Buechte, D (University of Akron); Malik Henry, D/M/F (University of Akron); Josemir Gomez, F (Butler University); Colin Innes, M (Boston University); Dyson Clapier, F (University of Akron); Landon Fisher, M (Western Michigan University); Palmer Ault, M (Butler University); Schinieder Mimy, D (Oral Roberts University); Brock Pickett, F (Wright State University); Woodi Pondeca, D (Mercer University); Abdul Al-Rashed, M/F (Spring Arbor University); Jelldrik Dallmann, F (Southern Methodist University); Daire O’Riordan, M (Davenport University); Scott McLeod, D (Virginia Commonwealth University); Pierre Lurot, D (University of Michigan; not available for postseason); Barzee Blama, F (Mercer University); Kai Phillip, F (University of Evansville); Pasha Dashin, F (Southern Methodist University); Nolan Miller, D (University of Michigan; not available for postseason); Sam Harshe, D (Yale University); Micah Sonnenberg, D/M (Oakland University); Deryn Armstrong, F (Coastal Carolina University); Barzee Blama, F (Mercer University); Baraka Tarleton, M (University of Evansville); Carson Shene, G (Michigan Jaguars MLS Next Academy, youth player); Pasha Dashin, M (Southern Illinois-Evansville University); Hugo Tavares, M (New Jersey Institute of Technology); Eskil Gjerde, M (Drake University); Ashton Kamdem, D (University of Akron); Blake Gillingham, G (Creighton University); Mitch Budler, G (University of Akron); Joost de Schutter, M (Butler University); Matthew Fisher, D (University of Michigan; injured, unavailable for remainder of season)
CLUB: Cleveland Force
HEAD COACH: Nick Taljan, second season
2024 RECORD: 5-2-5, 5-2-5 USL League Two Valley Division (second)
LAST FIVE LEAGUE GAMES: Fort Wayne FC (L, 2-0); Toledo Villa FC (T, 3-3); FC Buffalo (T, 2-2); Fort Wayne FC (W, 2-1); Toledo Villa FC (T, 0-0)
LEAGUE STATS: 22 goals, 19 against; three shutouts
HISTORY/FAST FACTS: First time postseason berth. The Force are on a four-game unbeaten streak and are 1-1-3 in their last five games entering the Central Conference Tournament. This is the first time the Force and Bucks have played during the past two seasons. The Force has scored 1,84 goals a game but have conceded 19 goals and have a team goals-against-average of 1.59.
TOP PLAYERS: Jack Roman, F (University of Akron); Zsombor Onodi, F (Ohio State University); Gavin Csiszar (Malone University); Marko Rimac (Cleveland State University); Zach Glesius, G (Virginia Tech University); Zoltan Nagy, G (Duquesne); Kyle Cusimano (Bowling Green State University); Grant Blake (no college roster); Jacob Bergin (Bowling Green State University); David Kolar (Notre Dame College); Cole Parete (Georgetown University); Marco Valentic (University of Connecticut); Collin Folds (Bellarmine University); Cole Werthmuller (Wright State University); Jaxon Ervin (Duquesne University); Kyle Folds (Cleveland State University); Nathan Trickett (Xavier University); Justin Shreffler (Indiana University); Bryan Wolanski (youth player); Braden Lamb (Malone University); Jack Roman (University of Akron); Josip Rimac (Cleveland State University); Carter Hancock (University of Mount Vernon); Bissafi Dotte (Campbell University); Owen Sullivan (University of Pennsylvania); Ryan Sandborn (Bowling Green State University); Aiden Ptacek (Bowling Green State University); Theo Jackson (Malone University); Sam Cipriano (Baldwin-Wallace University); Alex Hoover (Malone University); Kael Richards (Keiser University); Ryan Betts (Ohio Wesleyan University); Andrew Nachtwey (Denison University); Kabi Ramadhani (University of Mount Union); Connor Hain (Robert Morris University); Adam Kalvitz (University of Mount Union); Grant Glorioso (Robert Morris University); Will Wagner (Cleveland State University); Daniel Lacerda (Cleveland State)
CLUB: Fort Wayne FC
HEAD COACH: Mike Avery, fourth season
2024 RECORD: 12-2-2, 8-2-2 USL-League Two Valley Division (first)
LAST FIVE LEAGUE GAMES: Cleveland Force (W, 2-0); Dayton Dutch Lions (W, 3-1); Cleveland Force (L, 2-1); Dayton Dutch Lions (W, 1-0); Kings Hammer (W, 2-0)
LEAGUE STATS: 20 goals, 10 against; five shutouts
HISTORY/FAST FACTS: This is the second postseason berth for Fort Wayne on the strength of back-to-back Valley Division championships. Last year Fort Wayne lost in double-overtime in the Round of 32 to eventual North American semifinalist Flint City Bucks. Two years ago, the program finished third by a point and just missed qualifying for the postseason. Fort Wayne was set to enter the USL-League Two in 2020 but the season was cancelled due to Covid restrictions and had to settle for a 2021 debut campaign. This year might be the best for the program, which finished 8-2-2 inside the Valley Division and 12-2-2 overall. Inside league play, FWFC has a team goals-against-average of 0.84 and five shutouts and has not yielded a high-volume of scoring chances to the opposition. The team does field a star-studded lineup featuring NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NAIA college players.
TOP PLAYERS: Aurie Briscoe, G (Rutgers University; last year’s USL-League Two Golden Glove winner); Tiago Diaz, D (Albany University/Indiana Tech University); Anthony Hernandez, M (Bowling Green State University); Shotaro Kino (Monroe College/St. Leo University); Josh Erlandson, CB (Bowling Green State University); Rodrigo De Castro, D (Bethel University); Gaku Nishimura, M (University of California-Berkeley); Alberto ‘Beto’ Anaya, M (Bowling Green State University); Aaron Sanchez, M (Franklin-Pierce College); Ethan Giwa-McNeil, F (Bethel University/Houston Christian College); Chris Bley, F (France); Mikey Ketteman, M/F (Oakland University); Namik Mehic, F (Northrop High School, Ind.); Rood Schnaider Beaubrun, F (Spring Arbor University); Aboubacar Traore, F (University of North Carolina/Florida Atlantic University); Flavio Cruz, D (Grace College); Thomas Lamailie, D (St. John’s University); Trey Theard, D (Purdue-Fort Wayne); Aitor Cuenca, D (Franklin-Pierce); Aleksander Mihov, F (Indiana Tech); Michail Tselios, F (University of Indianapolis); Gijs Hovius, F (Missouri State University); Brandon Bermingham, F (University of Rhode Island); Junior Seydou Kone, F (University of Nebraska-Omaha); Noak Wike, M (Grand Canyon University); Nduduzo Kheswa, D (South Africa); Joe O’Shaughnessy, G (England); David Anderson, G (St. John’s University)
CLUB: Midwest United FC
HEAD COACH: Luke Ruff, third season
2024: 10-3-1, 10-3-1 USL League Two Valley Division (second)
LAST FIVE LEAGUE GAMES: Oakland County FC (W, 4-0); AFC Ann Arbor (L, 3-0); Flint City Bucks (L, 3-0); Lansing City FC (W, 5-0); Michiana Lions (W, 3-1)
LEAGUE STATS: 28 goals, 13 against; seven shutouts
HISTORY/FAST FACTS: This is the third year of the club having a team in the USL-League Two and by far the best team produced. This is the first time MUFC has qualified for the postseason and first time over the five-hundred mark, going from … Team has posted a 0.93 goals-against-average.
TOP PLAYERS: Jonathan Kliewer, G (Missouri State); Brad Dunwell, M (Wake Forest University alum); Gabe Villagomez, F (signed with Western Michigan University); Jonathon Stout (M/F, Michigan State University; out of lineup), Vitalis Takawire (F, Davenport University), Roni Sylejmani, F/M (Western Michigan University; currently injured); Ben Adamson, F/D (Saginaw Valley State University); Giuseppe Barone, F (Michigan State alum); Ezra White, M (College of Charleston); Christian Shannon, D (Western Michigan University); Joshua Clemitson, D (Aquinas College); Jesunifemi Ojutalayo, F (Aquinas College); Alan Lemus, M/F (Saginaw Valley State University); Joe Lockey, D (Aquinas College); Connor Burkett, D/F (Western Michigan University)
USL-LEAGUE TWO POWER RANKINGS
(Through July 13)
1. Asheville City SC
2. Seacoast United Phantoms
3. Western Mass Pioneers
4. Little Rock Rangers
5. Flint City Bucks
6. Long Island Riders
7. Ventura County Fusion
8. Ocean City Nor’Easters
9. Corpus Christi FC
10. Lionsbridge FC
11. Virginia Beach United
12. Des Moines Menace
13. United PDX
14. Peoria City
15. FC Motown STA
NOTE: There are a record 128 teams spread over 18 different divisions in the USL-League Two in the United States and Canada.
USL-LEAGUE TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
(formerly USISL Premier League; USISL Premier Developemntal Soccer League, USL- Premier Developemntal League)
YEAR NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONS RUNNERS-UP
USISL Premier League
1995: Richmond Kickers San Fransisco United
1996: Central Coast Roadrunners Richmond Kickers
USISL Premier Developemntal Soccer League
1997: Central Coast Roadrunners Spokane Shadow
1998: San Gabriel Valley Highlanders Jackson Chargers
USL-Premier Developmental League
1999: Chicago Sockers Jackson Chargers
2000: Chicago Sockers Mid-Michigan Bucks
2001: Westchester Flames Calgary Storm
2002: Cape Cod Crusaders Des Moines Menace
2003: Cape Cod Crusaders New Orleans Shell Shockers
2004: Central Florida Kraze Chicago Fire Reserves
2005: Des Moines Menace Orange County Blue Star
2006: Michigan Bucks Laredo Heat
2007: Laredo Heat Michigan Bucks
2008: Thunder Bay Chill Laredo Heat
2009: Ventura County Fusion Reading Rage
2010: Portland Timbers U23s Thunder Bay Chill
2011: Kitsap Pumas Fresno Fuego
2012: Forest City London Michigan Bucks
2013: Austin Aztex Thunder Bay Chill
2014: Michigan Bucks Des Moines Menace
2015: K-W United FC Michigan Bucks
2016: Michigan Bucks Calgary Foothills FC
2017: Charlotte Eagles New York Red Bulls U-23
2018: Calgary Foothills FC Des Moines Menace
USL-League Two
2019: Flint City Bucks Des Moines Menace
2020: No season, cancelled due to Covid restrictions
2021: Des Moines Menace North Carolina Fusion U23
2022: Ventura County Fusion Long Island Rough Riders
2023: Ballard FC Lionsbridge FC
2024: To be determined
MOST NORTH AMERICAN/NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
4 – Flint City Bucks/Michigan Bucks
2 – Des Moines Menace
2 – Ventura County Fusion
2 – Cape Cod Crusaders
2 – Chicago Sockers
2 – Central Coast Roadrunners
1 – Ballard FC
1 – Calgary Foothills
1 – Charlotte Eagles
1 – K-W United FC
1 – Austin Aztex
1 – Forest City London
1 – Kitsap Pumas
1 – Portland Timbers U23
1 – Thunder Bay Chill
1 – Laredo Heat
1 – Austin Aztex
1 – Central Florida Kraze
1 – Westchester Flames
1 – San Gabriel Valley Highlanders
1 – Richmond Kickers
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
(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 of teams or players 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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