Lansing Ignite FC
Full nameLansing Ignite Football Club
FoundedOctober 25, 2018 (2018-10-25)
DissolvedOctober 21, 2019 (2019-10-21)
StadiumCooley Law School Stadium
Capacity7,527
OwnerTom Dickson
PresidentNick Grueser
General ManagerJeremy Sampson
CoachNate Miller
LeagueUSL League One

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.

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]

Players

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
1Mike KirkUnited StatesGKFebruary 12, 19942019United States Pittsburgh Riverhounds
13Kyle Ihn United StatesGKDecember 10, 19942019United States Reno 1868
Defenders
2Rhys Williams United StatesDFAugust 9, 19952019United States Real Monarchs
4Grant Stoneman United StatesDFNovember 27, 19952019United States Loyola Ramblers
5 Brandon Fricke United States DF March 27, 1992 2019 United States Des Moines Menace
17 Kevin Coiffic France DF September 18, 1994 2019 United States Young Harris Mountain Lions
25 Marshall Hollingsworth United States DF August 6, 1993 2019 United States Columbus Crew
Midfielders
6Ricardo Perez MexicoMFMay 30, 19952019United States Colorado Rapids
7 Rafael Mentzingen Brazil MF May 2, 1996 2019 United States Valparaiso Crusaders
8 Kyle Carr United States MF January 21, 1995 2019 United States Lansing United
10 Xavier Gomez United States MF November 21, 1994 2019 United States Chicago FC United
12 Christian Silva United States MF August 2, 1989 2019 United States Jacksonville Armada
16 Lewis Jones British Virgin Islands MF December 25, 1994 2019 United States Lansing United
21 Ivo Cerda Chile MF October 31, 1995 2019 United States Michigan Wolverines
23 Tumi Moshobane South Africa MF September 7, 1994 2019 United States Lansing United
24 Elma N'For Cameroon MF 2019 United States Asheville City
27Nathan Lewis Trinidad and TobagoMFJuly 20, 19902019United States Indy Eleven
— Omar Castro United States MF February 7, 1996 2019 Germany TSC Vahdet
Forwards
9Ricky Lopez-Espin United StatesFWDecember 2, 19952019United States Real Salt Lake
11Steeve Saint-Duc HaitiFWJanuary 8, 20002019United States Los Angeles FC
14 Nick Moon United States FW May 31, 1996 2019 United States Lane United
19 Pato Botello Faz Mexico FW September 8, 1996 2019 United States St. Mary's Rattlers
20 Alex Bruce England FW October 28, 1998 2019 United States San Antonio FC (loan)

Coaching staff

Position Name
Head coach United States Nate Miller
Assistant coach United States Tim Daniels
Assistant coach United States Joel DeLass
Goalkeeping coach Egypt Wael Zenga

2019 season

Lansing Ignite
2019 season
OwnerTom Dickson
Head coachNate Miller
StadiumCooley Law School Stadium
USL League One2nd
USL1 PlayoffsSemifinals
U.S. Open Cup2nd Round
Top goalscorerTumi Moshobane (10)
Highest home attendanceLeague/All: 4,818
(June 22 vs. Orlando City B)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 1,725
(May 11 vs. Greenville Triumph)
All: 100
(May 8 vs. AFC Ann Arbor (USOC))
Average home league attendance2,758
Biggest win5–0
(September 6 at FC Tucson)
Biggest defeat0–3
(June 8 at Toronto FC II)

Preseason friendlies

February 27 Indy Eleven 1–2 Lansing Ignite Westfield, Indiana
2:00 PM EST
  • Ilić 68'
 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 28'
Saint-Duc 50'
N'For 62'
Bruce 88'		 Report Stanley Yellow card 54'
Pimlott Yellow card 66'		 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]

USL League One

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 North Texas SC 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
Source: 2019 USL League One standings
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

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
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

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
StadiumAAHHAAHHAAAAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHHH
ResultWLWLLDDDDWLDWWLDWDDDWWWWWWDL
Position4544989784775466456653222222
Source: USL
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 Yellow card 45+1'
Moshobane Yellow card 80'		 Report Petrasso 11'
Mohammed Yellow card 24'
Campbell Yellow card 39'
Okello Yellow card 53'
Ovalle 85' (pen.)		 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 27'
Somersall Yellow card 38'
Spencer Yellow card 49'
Vega Yellow card 57' 62'		 Report Fricke Yellow card 49' 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 32'
Shanosky Yellow card 75'
Jackson 90'		 Report Cerda Yellow card 24'
Stoneman Yellow card 27'
Lopez-Espin 58'
Fricke 70'		 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 76' Report Boland Yellow card 36'
Polak Yellow card 58'
Ward 68'		 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 54', Yellow card 56'
Bruce 65', Red card 90+5'
Saint-Duc Yellow card 72'
Stoneman Yellow card 89'		 Report Tessmann Yellow card 35'
Jatta Yellow card 51'
Pepi 83'
A. Rodríguez 87', Yellow card 90+2'
Almaguer Yellow card 89'		 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 Yellow card 42'
Knutson Yellow card 59'		 Report Cleveland Yellow card 73' 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 Yellow card 39'
Núñez Red card 90+7'		 Report Moon 47'
Stoneman Yellow card 51'
Cerda Yellow card 80'		 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 29'
Ovalle Yellow card 48'
Dorsey Yellow card 66'
Bunk-Andersen 80'
Perruzza 90+1'		 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 66' Report Moon 30'
Saint-Duc Yellow card 90+3'		 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 Yellow card 28', 61'
Bruce Yellow card 87'		 Report Mingo Yellow card 27'
Srbely Yellow card 89'		 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 Yellow card 28'
Moon 51'
Bruce Yellow card 59'
Coiffic 68'		 Report Bagrou Yellow card 30' 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 Yellow card 43'
Montgomery 57'
Damus Yellow card 59', 73'
Rodriguez 71'		 Report Moon Yellow card 59'
Cleveland Yellow card 74'
Faz 83'		 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 Red card 12'
Walls 55'		 Report N'For 25'
Fricke Yellow card 30'
Coiffic Red card 45'
Moon Yellow card 57'		 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 17'
Mentzigen 90+2', Yellow card 90+3'
Bruce 90+5'		 Report Smart 32', Yellow card 50'
Bennett Yellow card 63'
Banks 90+4'		 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 26' (pen.), 49'
Williams Yellow card 50'		 Report Howell 34'
Jones 52' (pen.)
Hauswirth Yellow card 73'		 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 35'
Dorsey Yellow card 38'
Bunk-Andersen 78'
Romeo 81', Yellow card 84'		 Report Faz 41' (pen.)
Fricke 51'
Gomez 54'		 Stadium: BMO Training Ground
Referee: Giancarlo Pavone
July 27 20 Tormenta FC 1–1 Lansing Ignite Statesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDT Knutson Yellow card 16'
Saint-Vil Yellow card 21'
Kadono 88'
Micaletto Yellow card 90'
Morrell Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Mentzingen 12', Yellow card 45+3'
Coiffic Yellow card 35'
Stoneman Yellow card 60'
Carr Yellow card 90+3'		 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 32'
Mentzigen Yellow card 50'
Faz 84'		 Report Kendall-Moullin Yellow card 10'
Pineda Yellow card 45+1'		 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 8'
N'For 14'
Mentzingen 84'		 Report Tablante Yellow card 37'
Thiago Yellow card 50'
Amer Yellow card 87'		 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 Yellow card 13'
Tablante Yellow card 42'
Bagrou 71'		 Report Gomez 22', Yellow card 82'
Coiffic Yellow card 28'
Mentzingen 54'		 Stadium: Montverde Academy
Referee: Joshua Encarnación
August 22 24 Lansing Ignite 4–1 North Texas SC Lansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDT Faz 8', 69'
Moon Yellow card 31'
N'For 50'
Moshobane 71'		 Report Rayo Yellow card 65'
Rodriguez Yellow card 76'
Romero 86' (pen.)		 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 Yellow card 28'
Venter Yellow card 62'
Batista Yellow card 76'		 Report Moon Yellow card 12'
Faz 16', 26'
Moshobane 33', 90+3'
Williams 60'		 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 8'
Moshobane 18', 90'
Moon 30', Yellow card 79'
Gomez Yellow card 60'
Carr Yellow card 77'		 Report Zguro 3', Red card 60'
Hurst 17', 54'
Amponsah Yellow card 35'
Beattie Yellow card 43'		 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 45+1' Report Dennis Yellow card 19'
Arslan Yellow card 34'
Rowe 67'		 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 Yellow card 20'
Fricke Yellow card 59'
Moshobane Yellow card 73'
Williams Yellow card 87'		 Report Omsberg Yellow card 31'
Banks 43'
Núñez Yellow card 66'
Paulo Jr. Yellow card 68'
Díaz Yellow card 81'
Leonard Yellow card 90+4'		 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
7:00 p.m. (EDT) Coiffic Yellow card 70'
Cerda Yellow card 74'
Cleveland Yellow card 87'		 Report Clowes Yellow card 37'
Mohamed Yellow card 45+2'
Polak Yellow card 46'
Bermudez 59'
Gómez Yellow card 79'		 Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Attendance: 2,340
Referee: Matthew Thompson

U.S. Open Cup

May 8 1st Round Lansing Ignite FC Michigan 2–1 Michigan AFC Ann Arbor Lansing, Michigan
7:00 pm EDT N'For 29', 72' Report Alexis Yellow card 40', 66' Stadium: Lansing Catholic High School
Attendance: 100
Referee: Nicole Green
Note: Kickoff time and venue changed from 7:00 p.m. at Cooley Law School Stadium due to inclement field conditions.
May 15 2nd Round Indy Eleven Indiana 1–0 Michigan Lansing Ignite FC Indianapolis, Indiana
7:00 PM EDT Newton Red card 21'
Enevoldsen Yellow card 51', 57'
Watson Yellow card 62'
Walker Yellow card 88'
Kelly Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Stoneman Yellow card 62' Stadium: Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl
Attendance: 853
Referee: Adam Behrens

Final roster

Final team roster

As of January 10, 2019.[15]

No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Mike Kirk  United States
2 DF Rhys Williams  United States
4 DF Grant Stoneman  United States
5 DF Brandon Fricke  United States
6 MF Ricardo Pérez  Mexico
7 MF Rafael Mentzingen  Brazil
8 MF Kyle Carr  United States
10 MF Xavier Gomez  United States
11 FW Steeve Saint-Duc  Haiti
12 MF Christian Silva  United States
13 GK Kyle Ihn  United States
14 DF Nick Moon  United States
16 MF Lewis Jones  British Virgin Islands
17 DF Kevin Coiffic  France
19 FW Pato Botello Faz  Mexico
21 MF Ivo Cerda  Chile
23 MF Tumi Moshobane  South Africa
24 FW Elma N'For  Cameroon
25 DF Marshall Hollingsworth  United States
27 MF Nathan Lewis  Trinidad and Tobago

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 South Africa Tumi Moshobane 10 Israel Nate Miller

^ 1. Top Scorer includes statistics from league matches only.

Head coaches

  • Includes USL Regular Season, USL Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
CoachNationalityStartEndGamesWinLossDrawWin %
Nate Miller  Israel November 14, 2018 Present 31 13 8 10 041.94

Average attendance

YearReg. SeasonPlayoffs
2019 2,758 2,340

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Lansing Ignite FC Unveiled as USL League One Founding Member". USLLeagueOne.com (Press release). USL League One. October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Lansing Ignite FC". uslleagueone.com. USL League One. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ "Lansing Ignite FC Ceases Operations". USLLeagueOne.com (Press release). October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  12. ↑ "LAFCU Named Official kit sponsor of Lansing Ignite". Lansing Ignite. February 12, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Richmond Kickers roster". RichmondKickers.com. Richmond Kickers. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  14. ↑ "LIFC to Host Livonia City FC in Final 2019 Exhibition Match". LansingIgnite.com. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Club News". Lansing Ignite FC. lansingignite.com. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
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