Kalamazoo FC
Kalamazoo FC (KZFC) is a semi-professional football club from Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The club competes in USL League Two, the fourth-tier soccer league of the American soccer pyramid. Soisson-Rapacz-Clason Field (also known as Mayor's Riverfront Stadium) serves as the club's home venue.[1] It has a capacity for 2,200 spectators.
 | |||
| Full name | Kalamazoo Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | ||
| Stadium | Soisson-Rapacz-Clason Field, Kalamazoo, Michigan | ||
| Capacity | 2,200 | ||
| Owner | Dave Shufelt | ||
| President | Dave Shufelt | ||
| Manager | Shane Lyons | ||
| League | USL League Two | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
|
| |||
Current season
2019 NPSL Great Lakes Conference Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit City FC (C) | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 39 | 6 | +33 | 33 | Midwest Region Semifinals |
| 2 | AFC Ann Arbor | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 10 | +15 | 30 | Midwest Region Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Grand Rapids FC | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 12 | +12 | 29 | |
| 4 | Kalamazoo FC | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 13 | +5 | 23 | |
| 5 | FC Columbus | 14 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 23 | −5 | 14[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 6 | Michigan Stars FC | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 17 | −3 | 14[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 7 | Toledo Villa FC | 14 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 38 | −27 | 7 | |
| 8 | FC Indiana | 14 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 38 | −30 | 6 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head to head; 3) goal differential in head to head results; 4) wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) fewest losses; 7) coin toss. If three or more teams are tied on points, a mini-table involving only the tied teams is used, and teams are ranked in the mini-table on points. If two teams are tied on points in the mini-table, the two-team rules for classification apply. If three or more teams are tied on points in the mini-table, they are ranked based on 1) wins in conference competition; 2) total goal differential in conference competition; 3) fewest losses in conference competition; 4) coin toss.[2]
(C) Champion.
Notes:
- FC Columbus and Michigan Stars FC were equal on head to head points (2-2) and head to head goal difference (0-0).
Players
Roster
[3] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Team history
2015
Kalamazoo FC was founded by local businessman Mike Garrett. On December 21, 2015 the club was officially named "Kalamazoo FC" as stated in an email by the team owner. By doing so the club became the sixth and newest member of the NPSL from the state of Michigan.[4]
2016
KZFC played its first official game of its inaugural campaign as the visiting team to AFC Ann Arbor on May 13 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The match outcome would result in a 2–1 loss to AFC Ann Arbor. The first goal in Kalamazoo FC franchise history came in the thirty-second minute from Midfielder Jose Garcia to put the visiting team ahead 1–0.
The first victory in franchise history took place on May 22 against NPSL powerhouse side Detroit City FC in front of a crowd of 1,585 spectators.[5]
The series with the Michigan Stars was the only series where Kalamazoo FC was able to win both matches and the Ann Arbor series was the only series where KZFC lost both matches, all other series were split with the opponent.
Brandon Bye led team with 5 goals this season and was followed by Jose Garcia and Jay Mcintosh who each tallied 3 goals.
During the end of the season banquet the team gave out awards to Beau Prey who was awarded the Supports Player of the Season who was voted on by season ticket holders. Offensive Player of the Season went to Amadou Cisse and the Defensive Player of the Season was awarded to Lou Plascencia. David Whitaker who was the team captain that season was also voted the Overall Excellence award by the coaching staff based on his defensive and leadership abilities shown during the season.
The team would end the season with a record of 4–6–2 and finish 6th in the Great Lakes Conference.
The 2016 team featured Western Michigan University's Brandon Bye who would go on to be the 8th overall pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft to the New England Revolution.
2017
Coach Lumumba Shabazz returned as Head Coach for the 2017 season. Coach Shabazz added Brian Clements to the staff as his first assistant. Assistant Coach Jacob Puente also returned for the 2017 season. Another new edition to the coaching staff was Nick Losiewski.
Kalamazoo FC opened the 2017 season on the road at AFC Ann Arbor and suffered a 2–0 loss to the eventual division winner. Kalamazoo FC also played Ann Arbor for their first home game of the season and once again fell by a score of 2–0.
Kalamazoo FC played two exhibition matches during the 2017 season. One against La Liga Latina and the other against Oakland County FC. La Liga Latina is a member of a predominantly Hispanic League that is considered to be one of the top leagues in Southwest Michigan. Kalamazoo FC would go on to beat them by a score of 4–1. Oakland County FC is an amateur team who is a member of the Premier League of America and Kalamazoo FC would win the match by a score of 3–0.
In the 2017 season Kalamazoo beat two teams both home and away. Those teams were Lansing United and Milwaukee FC. Kalamazoo won the matches against Lansing by the scores of 3–0 and 4–1. Kalamazoo defeated Milwaukee by scores of 3–2 and 2–1.
Kalamazoo FC would end the 2017 campaign with a record of 5–6–3 and finished 5th in the conference. Some end of the season awards went to Fuad "Ade" Adeniyi as the Supporters’ Player of the Season and Offensive Player of the Season. Alex Ruddock took home the award for Defensive Player of the Season and Tommy Clark was given the Overall Excellence Award.
2018
Kalamazoo FC hired Brian Clements as the teams’ head coach for the 2018 NPSL season.
Kalamazoo FC will once again participate in the 2018 Michigan Milk Cup as a Pot 1 team and will face Force FC from Pot 2.
Team Awards
2016
- Offensive Player of the Season – Amadou Case
- Defensive Player of the Season – Lou Plascencia
- Supporters Player of the Season – Beau Prey
- Overall Excellence Award – David Whitaker
2017
- Offensive Player of the Season – Fuad "Ade" Adeniyi
- Defensive Player of the Season – Alex Ruddock
- Supporters Player of the Season – Fuad "Ade" Adeniyi
- Overall Excellence Award – Tommy Clark
Year-by-year
| Year | Tier | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Average Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 | NPSL | 6th of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes West (4–6–2) | Did not qualify | Ineligible | 1,200 |
| 2017 | 4 | NPSL | 5th of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes (5–6–3) | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 4 | NPSL | 5th of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes (4–5–3) | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | |
| 2019 | 4 | NPSL | 4th of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes (6–3–5) | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | |
| 2020 | 4 | NPSL | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[6] | |||
References
- "Kalamazoo FC to play home games of inaugural season at Mayors' Riverfront Park". Retrieved 2016-07-08.
- "2019 Playoffs - Tiebreaker Rules". NPSL Homepage. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- "'Kalamazoo FC' tabbed as name for new National Premier Soccer League team". Retrieved 2016-07-08.
- "Kalamazoo FC tops Detroit City FC for first win in club history". Retrieved 2016-07-08.
- Prince-Wright, Joe (26 March 2020). "2020 NPSL season cancelled". ProSoccerTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
External links
| Eastern Conference |
|  | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Conference |
| ||||||||
| Southern Conference |
| ||||||||
| Western Conference |
| ||||||||
| Seasons |
| ||||||||
| Miscellaneous | |||||||||
Sports teams based in Michigan | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseball |  | ||||
| Basketball |
| ||||
| Football |
| ||||
| Hockey |
| ||||
| Roller derby | |||||
| Rugby union | |||||
| Soccer | |||||
| Ultimate | |||||
| College athletics |
| ||||