Lansing Common FC will complete their inaugural season in the Midwest Premier League with a game against Livonia City FC at Eastern Stadium on Saturday, July 31, 2021.
“It has been a great season and a great summer,” said head coach Josh Oakley. “We are really happy with it to this point, but there’s work to do.”
Lansing Common (9-1-3, 28 points in 13 GP) officially clinched second place in the East Division after games against Michigan Stars FC’s U23s and LK St. Clair last weekend. The second-place finish earned the Robins an invitation to the 2022 NISA Independent Cup as the division’s top independent club.
Livonia City FC (2-3-8, 9 points in 13 GP) is coming off consecutive losses in the 2021 NISA Independent Cup, including a 10-0 defeat at the hands of Detroit City FC’s professional team on Wednesday night. The first meeting between these two clubs ended in a 2-1 victory for Lansing Common on the road after the Robins were able to withstand Livonia’s second-half attack.
“It was a close match last time, but it maybe didn’t have to be close,” said Oakley. “We eked it out and it became close. Hopefully this time we can get back to those fast starts that we haven’t really seen in the recent past.”
Last Friday against Michigan Stars FC’s U23s, it took the Robins 93 minutes to score, while on Sunday it took 35 minutes for Lansing to find the back of the net. The Robins have not been able to capitalize on early chances recently and have conceded the first goal in three out of their last four games.
This weekend will provide Lansing with another challenge as the roster will be missing some regular starters due to the upcoming collegiate soccer season. The Robins will be without forward Ty Usiak and defenders Aidan O’Connor and Kyle Scott, who have all since left the team to return to Western Michigan University. Lansing will also be without the services of midfielder Julian Birge.
“Even last week we had a hard situation with the forfeit game, but we kept the game and we played. I can’t say that it was a bad decision. We needed that game,” said Oakley. “Some of our guys that have had very limited minutes to that point for the last month, they got minutes. Some of those guys will be called upon in this last game.”
Though there is still one more game to be played, Thursday’s final training session proved to be the perfect setting to take a moment of reflection on an eventful and productive season.
“You are never going to forget your first group of guys,” said Oakley. “These guys have been more than special, to be the first group of Lansing Common players, and the first team to have success on and off the field. I couldn’t be happier and I am so proud of them.”
Kickoff for Saturday’s season finale at Eastern Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Tickets are available for $5 at https://app.gopassage.com/events/lansing-common-jul31
