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 was once a time when Malik Henry also wore track and field spikes to go along with his soccer cleats. And for good reason.
“In (middle school) I tried the 100 and I also tried the 400,” recalled Henry, who will turn 22 later this month. “They wanted me to run because I was fast. But by the time I got to high school I didn’t really have time.”
The Hamilton, Ontario, native Henry was also a rising star on the soccer pitch, sprinting all over the field and drawing attention from coaches at various levels in his homeland Canada and in the United States. Soccer was and still is his first love and where he is fulfilling his dreams.
Bu did we say that Malik Henry was fast?
“When I was a young kid, they always told me that,” offered Henry, who is majoring in Sports Business at the University of Akron. “By the time I entered high school, I only had time for soccer. I started playing in the soccer academies (with Toronto FC) and that took up all of my time. I didn’t have a chance to play (soccer) for my school, run (track) or do anything else. By that time, it was all about soccer.”
Throughout high school, where he attended Hamilton (Ont.) St. Jean de Brebeuf, Henry actually played in the MLS Academy youth program with Toronto FC where he quickly climbed the ranks. As a sophomore, he once made the U-15 Canadian Youth National Team roster and competed in the U-15 CONCACAF World Cup in Florida, helping his country reach the semifinals before being ousted by Mexico. He was also invited to a tryout for the U-17 Canadian National Team a couple of years later but was injured at the time and had to sit out and skip some national team events.
After graduating from high school, Henry spent one year at NCAA Division I University of North Carolina before hitting the transfer portal.
Today, Henry is just weeks before beginning his final season of collegiate soccer at NCAA Division I national powerhouse University of Akron. In the summer months, Henry has roamed the pitch for the Flint City Bucks – one of the most storied programs in the USL-League Two history – during the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
Henry – who was All-Big East Second Team and All-East Region Third Team last fall at Akron – and his talented teammates with the Bucks are set to embark on another postseason journey. Last year Henry and the Bucks – who are loaded with current college talent with most of them heralding from a wide variety of NCAA Division I programs – reached the USL-League Two North American semifinals last season all to come up short against eventual champion Ballard FC, a Seattle, Washington-based club who ousted the Bucks, 1-0.
“We just couldn’t score in that game,” recalled Henry, who is one of five players who returned to Flint City in 2024 from the 2023 squad, including Palmer Ault, Schinieder Mimy, Josemir Gomez and Jelldrik Dallmann. “That was a tough loss. We hope to do a lot better this time.”
There are around 40 players list on the Bucks’ deep roster pool this season, but only up to 26 can be designated on the active roster before each game and only 18 can dress for each individual contest. The Bucks play host to the USL-League Two Central Conference quarterfinals and semifinals July 19-21 at Atwood Stadium on the campus of Kettering University with Henry slotted for a spot in the starting 11.
The right-footed Henry is versatile enough to play outside back, outside midfielder or even up top as a wing forward. His speed, quick acceleration, pace and track and field-like sprinting style on the pitch allows him to cover a lot of ground – and fast. Not to mention his overall skillset on the pitch.
“The one thing you do notice right away about Malik Henry is his speed,” noted Paul Doroh, the second-year Flint City Bucks head coach. “But it’s more than just his speed. It’s his acceleration and his ability to maintain it down the side. He’s also very skilled, which makes him very dangerous out on the field. He draws a lot of attention and that opens up things for us. Malik can get behind a defender rather quickly and he’s able to get into open space and slot the ball over to a teammate. We can use him all over, play him in the back, in the midfield or (up top). Wherever we need him.”
Henry has three goals and three assists this season, but always draws the attention of opposing coaches who make sure their players understand Henry’s speed and his ability to create scoring chances off his speed and athleticism. Stats don’t always tell the whole story.
The uber-talented Henry was drafted last December in the MLS SuperDraft, taken by Club de Foot Montreal (CF Montreal). He was the 10th pick of the second round and the 39th pick overall – and one of five Bucks from the 2023 roster to get drafted at the end of last year.
“The one thing about Malik is that the coaching staff didn’t feel like he was playing his best early in the season, so we weren’t starting him in some games,” noted Doroh. “I pulled him aside and had a long talk with him. I don’t know that since he was drafted that maybe he was just going through the motions and not giving it his all. But ever since that talk he’s been great, and he’s been one of our top players since then. He has really stepped up since that day.
“If we’re going to be able to win some games (in the postseason) and make a run, we’ll need for Malik and all of our players to be engaged and all in,” continued Doroh. “I don’t think that will be a problem. This team is very focused right now.”
Coming off back-to-back Great Lakes Division and Central Conference championships, the Bucks have a ton of history. The franchise, who used to known as the Mid-Michigan Bucks in the late 1990s and later the Michigan Bucks before migrating north from Pontiac to Flint before the start of the 2019 campaign, have reached the Final Four of the USL-League Two nine times, including the last two seasons. The program has four North American/National championships in its rich history and have also finished runner-up twice. The team owns 16 divisional titles and have been to the Central Conference finals more than a dozen times.
“We do have some unfinished business,” noted Henry about not reaching the finals last season.
Henry hopes to finish strong with the Bucks and help Akron also make a deep run in the NCAA Division I College Cup before he can join the MLS side in training camp in January of 2025. That’s the goal. But there is that unfinished business.
“We want to try to get back to where we were last year, but this time win it,” noted Henry.
That would be the right way to speed off into the sunset.
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. Ashville 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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