Lansing United

Lansing United was an American amateur soccer club based in East Lansing, Michigan that competed in the Premier Development League and the National Premier Soccer League.[1][2] The club's men's team folded after the 2018 season, with Lansing Ignite FC beginning play in USL League One. The club continued to field a women's team in United Women's Soccer.[3]

Lansing United
Full nameLansing United
Nickname(s)LanU, The Hoops
Founded2014; 10 years ago (2014)
Dissolved2018; 6 years ago (2018)
GroundArcher Stadium
East Lansing, MI
Capacity1,500
OwnerJeremy Sampson
20182nd, Great Lakes Division
Playoffs: Conference Semifinals
WebsiteClub website

Among their most notable alumni is USMNT and New England Revolution defender DeJuan Jones, who competed for United while playing for Michigan State in 2018.

History

Club Beginnings (2013–2017)

Lansing United was accepted into the National Premier Soccer League's Great Lakes West Conference of the Midwest Region in Fall of 2013. Ideas for names were solicited from the Greater Lansing community, and Lansing United was chosen.[4] The club motto is "Pride, Passion and Unity" and is reflected in the team's logo, with the star representing pride, the flame representing passion, and the gear representing unity. The club also uses the Latin phrase "Coniunctis Viribus" which means "With Connected Strength."[5]

Lansing United played its inaugural match in the NPSL in May 2014.[6] They finished the regular season by winning the Great Lakes West championship. United went on to win the NPSL's Midwest Region Playoffs before ultimately losing in the semi-finals to eventual champion, New York Red Bulls U-23s.

The following year, the club secured its first U.S. Open Cup victory over Chicago's RWB Adria, before falling 1–0 to Louisville City FC of the USL.[7]

Both the 2016 & 2017 seasons saw United finish mid-table despite promising starts to each campaign.

Premier Development League & United Women's Soccer (2017–2018)

Beginning in May 2018, Lansing United fielded both men's and women's squads. Lansing United men began competing in the United Soccer Leagues' Premier Development League after four years in the NPSL.[8] They played in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference. Lansing United Women also began competition in the Midwest Division of United Women's Soccer.[9]

Stadium

The team played its home matches at Archer Stadium located in the East Lansing Soccer Complex. On July 9, 2017, a facility-record 1,388 people watched the team take on Detroit City FC.[10]

United sometimes played at DeMartin Stadium on the Michigan State University campus, to facilitate larger crowds. A club-record, 2,014 people watched United secure the Great Lakes West championship over Detroit City FC on July 13, 2014.[11]

Head coaches

  • Eric Rudland (2014–2015)
  • Nate Miller (2015–2018)

Notable Lansing United Players

Honors

Domestic League

  • Midwest Region – Great Lakes West Conference (NPSL)
  • Midwest Region (NPSL)
    • Playoff champions (1): 2014

Team Records

As of July 20, 2018[14]

Year-by-year

YearTierLeagueRegular SeasonPlayoffsU.S. Open Cup
20144NPSL1st of 5, Midwest-Great Lakes West (8–2–4)National SemifinalNot eligible
20154NPSL6th of 13, Midwest (6–4–2)Did not qualifySecond Round
20164NPSL4th of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes West (4–4–4)Did not qualifyDid not qualify
20174NPSL4th of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes (6–7–1)Did not qualifyDid not qualify
20184PDL2nd of 6, Great Lakes (7–2–5)Conference SemifinalsDid not qualify

All-Time Appearances

RankNameTotal
1 James DeCosemo43
2 Austin Dunn39
3 Matt Brown29
4 Andrew Hill27
5 Alec Greene26

All-Time Goals

RankNameTotal
1 Matt Brown19
2 James DeCosemo13
3 Rafa Mentzingen9
4 Tumi Moshobane5
5 Brian Cunningham3
5 Gabe Matteo3
5 Tyler Pasher3

All-Time Assists

RankNameTotal
1 Tyler Pasher6
2 Dewey Lewis5
3 James DeCosemo4
3 Tumi Moshobane4

All-Time Clean Sheets

RankNameTotal
1 Joe White5
2 Zach Bennett4
3 Jimmy Hague3
4 Wes Mink2

Historic Record vs Opponents

OpponentRegular SeasonPlayoffsU.S. Open CupGoals ScoredGoals concededGoal DifferentialTotalPlayedWin %
AFC Ann Arbor1–3–0**45−11–3–040.250
AFC Cleveland0–1–1**27−50–1–120.250
Cincinnati Saints1–1–0**64+21–1–020.500
Dayton Dynamo2–0–0**40+42–0–021.000
Detroit City FC2–3–3**1110+12–3–380.437
Erie Commodores FC[A]2–0–0**60+62–0–021.000
FC Buffalo1–1–0**24−21–1–020.500
FC Indiana2–0–0**60+62–0–021.000
Fort Pitt FC Regiment1–0–11–0*42+22–0–130.833
Grand Rapids FC1–2–1**68−21–2–140.375
Indy Eleven NPSL[B]1–0–3**32+11–0–340.625
Kalamazoo FC1–2–1**27−51–2–140.375
Louisville City FC**0–101−10–1–010.000
Madison 56ers1–0–0**21+11–0–011.000
Michigan Stars FC5–3–1**169+75–3–190.611
Milwaukee Torrent1–1–0**43+11–1–020.500
Minnesota Twin Stars1–0–0**21+11–0–011.000
Minnesota United FC Reserves1–0–01–0*81+72–0–021.000
New York Red Bulls U-23*0–1*02−20–1–010.000
RWB Adria**00000–0–1 (4–2 PKs)10.500
Total26–18–112–10–1–18867+2128–20–12500.566
Legend
0-0-0Win–loss-draw
0–0Win–loss
*No games played
  • Does not include friendlies
  • Updated to end of 2017 season[15]
Notes

References