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.
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Full name | Lansing Ignite Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Founded | October 25, 2018 | ||
Dissolved | October 21, 2019 | ||
Stadium | Cooley Law School Stadium | ||
Capacity | 7,527 | ||
Owner | Tom Dickson | ||
President | Nick Grueser | ||
General Manager | Jeremy Sampson | ||
Coach | Nate Miller | ||
League | USL League One | ||
|
2019 season | |
---|---|
Owner | Tom Dickson |
Head coach | Nate Miller |
Stadium | Cooley Law School Stadium |
USL League One | 2nd |
USL1 Playoffs | Semifinals |
U.S. Open Cup | 2nd Round |
Top goalscorer | Tumi Moshobane (10) |
Highest home attendance | League/All: 4,818 (June 22 vs. Orlando City B) |
Lowest home attendance | League: 1,725 (May 11 vs. Greenville Triumph) All: 100 (May 8 vs. AFC Ann Arbor (USOC)) |
Average home league attendance | 2,758 |
Biggest win | 5–0 (September 6 at FC Tucson) |
Biggest defeat | 0–3 (June 8 at Toronto FC II) |
History
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
Season | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|
2019 | Moneyball | LAFCU[12] |
2019
First team roster
- 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 | February 12, 1994 | 2019 | ![]() |
13 | Kyle Ihn | ![]() | GK | December 10, 1994 | 2019 | ![]() |
Defenders | ||||||
2 | Rhys Williams | ![]() | DF | August 9, 1995 | 2019 | ![]() |
4 | Grant Stoneman | ![]() | DF | November 27, 1995 | 2019 | ![]() |
5 | Brandon Fricke | ![]() |
DF | March 27, 1992 | 2019 | ![]() |
17 | Kevin Coiffic | ![]() |
DF | September 18, 1994 | 2019 | ![]() |
25 | Marshall Hollingsworth | ![]() |
DF | August 6, 1993 | 2019 | ![]() |
Midfielders | ||||||
6 | Ricardo Perez | ![]() | MF | May 30, 1995 | 2019 | ![]() |
7 | Rafael Mentzingen | ![]() |
MF | May 2, 1996 | 2019 | ![]() |
8 | Kyle Carr | ![]() |
MF | January 21, 1995 | 2019 | ![]() |
10 | Xavier Gomez | ![]() |
MF | November 21, 1994 | 2019 | ![]() |
12 | Christian Silva | ![]() |
MF | August 2, 1989 | 2019 | ![]() |
16 | Lewis Jones | ![]() |
MF | December 25, 1994 | 2019 | ![]() |
21 | Ivo Cerda | ![]() |
MF | October 31, 1995 | 2019 | ![]() |
23 | Tumi Moshobane | ![]() |
MF | September 7, 1994 | 2019 | ![]() |
24 | Elma N'For | ![]() |
MF | 2019 | ![]() | |
27 | Nathan Lewis | ![]() | MF | July 20, 1990 | 2019 | ![]() |
— | Omar Castro | ![]() |
MF | February 7, 1996 | 2019 | ![]() |
Forwards | ||||||
9 | Ricky Lopez-Espin | ![]() | FW | December 2, 1995 | 2019 | ![]() |
11 | Steeve Saint-Duc | ![]() | FW | January 8, 2000 | 2019 | ![]() |
14 | Nick Moon | ![]() |
FW | May 31, 1996 | 2019 | ![]() |
19 | Pato Botello Faz | ![]() |
FW | September 8, 1996 | 2019 | ![]() |
20 | Alex Bruce | ![]() |
FW | October 28, 1998 | 2019 | ![]() |
Coaching staff
Position | Name |
---|---|
Head coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Goalkeeping coach | ![]() |
Non-competitive
Preseason friendlies
February 27 | Indy Eleven | 1–2 | Lansing Ignite | Westfield, Indiana |
2:00 PM EST |
|
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
April 16 Capital Cup | Lansing Ignite | 4–0 | Michigan State Spartans | Lansing, Michigan |
7:00 PM EST | Botello Faz ![]() Saint-Duc ![]() N'For ![]() Bruce ![]() |
Report | Stanley ![]() Pimlott ![]() |
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] |
Competitive
Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | North Texas SC (X, C) | 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 |
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
(C) Champion; (X) Regular Season League Champion.
Results summary
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
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Results
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 ![]() Moshobane ![]() |
Report | Petrasso ![]() Mohammed ![]() Campbell ![]() Okello ![]() Ovalle ![]() |
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 ![]() Somersall ![]() Spencer ![]() Vega ![]() ![]() |
Report | Fricke ![]() |
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 ![]() Shanosky ![]() Jackson ![]() |
Report | Cerda ![]() Stoneman ![]() Lopez-Espin ![]() Fricke ![]() |
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 ![]() |
Report | Boland ![]() Polak ![]() Ward ![]() |
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 ![]() ![]() Bruce ![]() ![]() Saint-Duc ![]() Stoneman ![]() |
Report | Tessmann ![]() Jatta ![]() Pepi ![]() A. Rodríguez ![]() ![]() Almaguer ![]() |
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 ![]() Knutson ![]() |
Report | Cleveland ![]() |
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 ![]() Núñez ![]() |
Report | Moon ![]() Stoneman ![]() Cerda ![]() |
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 ![]() Ovalle ![]() Dorsey ![]() Bunk-Andersen ![]() Perruzza ![]() |
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 ![]() |
Report | Moon ![]() Saint-Duc ![]() |
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 ![]() ![]() Bruce ![]() |
Report | Mingo ![]() Srbely ![]() |
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 ![]() Moon ![]() Bruce ![]() Coiffic ![]() |
Report | Bagrou ![]() |
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 ![]() Montgomery ![]() Damus ![]() ![]() Rodriguez ![]() |
Report | Moon ![]() Cleveland ![]() Faz ![]() |
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 ![]() Walls ![]() |
Report | N'For ![]() Fricke ![]() Coiffic ![]() Moon ![]() |
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 ![]() Mentzigen ![]() ![]() Bruce ![]() |
Report | Smart ![]() ![]() Bennett ![]() Banks ![]() |
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 ![]() ![]() Williams ![]() |
Report | Howell ![]() Jones ![]() Hauswirth ![]() |
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 ![]() Dorsey ![]() Bunk-Andersen ![]() Romeo ![]() ![]() |
Report | Faz ![]() Fricke ![]() Gomez ![]() |
Stadium: BMO Training Ground Referee: Giancarlo Pavone |
July 27 20 | Tormenta FC | 1–1 | Lansing Ignite | Statesboro, Georgia |
8:00 PM EDT | Knutson ![]() Saint-Vil ![]() Kadono ![]() Micaletto ![]() Morrell ![]() |
Report | Mentzingen ![]() ![]() Coiffic ![]() Stoneman ![]() Carr ![]() |
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 ![]() Mentzigen ![]() Faz ![]() |
Report | Kendall-Moullin ![]() Pineda ![]() |
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 ![]() N'For ![]() Mentzingen ![]() |
Report | Tablante ![]() Thiago ![]() Amer ![]() |
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 ![]() Tablante ![]() Bagrou ![]() |
Report | Gomez ![]() ![]() Coiffic ![]() Mentzingen ![]() |
Stadium: Montverde Academy Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
August 22 24 | Lansing Ignite | 4–1 | North Texas SC | Lansing, Michigan |
7:00 PM EDT | Faz ![]() ![]() Moon ![]() N'For ![]() Moshobane ![]() |
Report | Rayo ![]() Rodriguez ![]() Romero ![]() |
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 ![]() Venter ![]() Batista ![]() |
Report | Moon ![]() Faz ![]() ![]() Moshobane ![]() ![]() Williams ![]() |
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 ![]() Moshobane ![]() ![]() Moon ![]() ![]() Gomez ![]() Carr ![]() |
Report | Zguro ![]() ![]() Hurst ![]() ![]() Amponsah ![]() Beattie ![]() |
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 ![]() |
Report | Dennis ![]() Arslan ![]() Rowe ![]() |
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 ![]() Fricke ![]() Moshobane ![]() Williams ![]() |
Report | Omsberg ![]() Banks ![]() Núñez ![]() Paulo Jr. ![]() Díaz ![]() Leonard ![]() |
Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 2,412 Referee: José Lara |
USL League One Playoffs
October 12 Semifinals | Lansing Ignite FC | 0–1 | Greenville Triumph SC | Lansing, Michigan |
7:00pm (EDT) | Coiffic ![]() Cerda ![]() Cleveland ![]() |
Report | Clowes ![]() Mohamed ![]() Polak ![]() Bermudez ![]() Gómez ![]() |
Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 2,340 Referee: Matthew Thompson |
U.S. Open Cup
May 8 1st Round | Lansing Ignite FC ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Lansing, Michigan |
7:00 pm EDT | N'For ![]() ![]() |
Report | Alexis ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Lansing Catholic High School Attendance: 100 Referee: Nicole Green |
Note: Kickoff time and venue changed from 7:00pm at Cooley Law School Stadium due to inclement field conditions. |
May 15 2nd Round | Indy Eleven ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Indianapolis, Indiana |
7:00 PM EDT | Newton ![]() Enevoldsen ![]() ![]() Watson ![]() Walker ![]() Kelly ![]() |
Report | Stoneman ![]() |
Stadium: Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Attendance: 853 Referee: Adam Behrens |
Final roster
Final team roster
As of January 10, 2019.[15]
Year-by-year
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 | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
^ 1. Top Scorer includes statistics from league matches only.
Head coaches
- Includes USL Regular Season, USL Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
Coach | Nationality | Start | End | Games | Win | Loss | Draw | Win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nate Miller | ![]() |
November 14, 2018 | Present | 31 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 41.94 |
Average attendance
Year | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
---|---|---|
2019 | 2,758 | 2,340 |
References
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- "Lansing Ignite FC Unveiled as USL League One Founding Member". USLLeagueOne.com (Press release). USL League One. October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- "Lansing Ignite FC". uslleagueone.com. USL League One. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019.
- 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.
- 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.
- "Lansing Ignite FC Ceases Operations". USLLeagueOne.com (Press release). October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- "LAFCU Named Official Kit Sponsor of Lansing Ignite". Lansing Ignite. February 12, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- "Richmond Kickers roster". RichmondKickers.com. Richmond Kickers. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
- "LIFC to Host Livonia City FC in Final 2019 Exhibition Match". LansingIgnite.com. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- "Club News". Lansing Ignite FC. lansingignite.com. Retrieved December 3, 2018.