Lansing Common FC concluded their inaugural season with a 2-1 victory over Livonia City FC with goals from midfielder Noah Canlas and forward Shady Omar. Omar scored his 10th goal for the Robins and secured a second-place finish in the Midwest Premier League East Division.
“We wanted to get a win for the fans, the board, and the entire community,” Omar said. “That was the most important thing.”
The Eastern Illinois University striker became the club’s first double-digit scorer, and his performances this season will be remembered by many.
The Robins were without Aidan O’Connor, Kyle Scott, Ty Usiak, and Ben Derby due to them returning to the Western Michigan Broncos for preseason training. Captain Julian Birge was also absent due to personal reasons.
The Lansing coaching staff made several changes to their regular starting lineup and placed Ben Meschke at forward alongside Omar to start the game. Meschke scored his first goal for the Robins against LK St. Clair in the previous game.
“I don’t think we were at our complete best [today], but there is something special about a team that continues to win games,” head coach Josh Oakley said.
Canlas opened the scoring in the third minute of the game when a back-heel pass from Meschke set up Canlas to take a first-time strike and put it past the goalkeeper and inside the near post.
Canlas, who scored the opening goal against Detroit City FC U23 on July 4, was no stranger to getting momentum on his team’s side with an early goal.
The former Alma College midfielder won the “Toughest Robin Award”, which goes to the player “who always gave 110% on the field, and who displayed the grit and toughness that would make any Lanstronaut proud all season long.”
Then, at the 11th-minute mark, Omar took advantage of a defensive mistake by Livonia that gave him a clear lane to goal. With a quick breakaway past two defenders, Omar used his left foot to comfortably fire the ball to the goalkeeper’s lower-left corner, making it 2-0.
“We have to do everything we can to get the win,” was Omar’s message to his teammates during the game.
Livonia made it 2-1 in the 42nd minute when a deflected cross from Griffin Storr found its way to Patrick Smith, who volleyed it past Lansing goalkeeper Zac Kelly.
At halftime, the Robins subbed on Esteban Russell and Nick Robinson for Dante Morrissette and Josh Adam. Robinson, who made his debut against LK St. Clair, played significant minutes for the Robins in the final 45 minutes of the season.
The best chance of the second half came at the 47th minute when a cross from Munir Sherali found Omar near the penalty spot, but his shot went over the goal.
Possession was split evenly for the majority of the second half, but Lansing was testing Livonia’s defense more as the game progressed.
“I am so excited for what we can and will do for this club in the future,” said Oakley.
Lansing had an opportunity to make it 3-1 in the 67th minute when midfielder Trevor Towghi’s right-footed shot on a counterattack was put just wide of the post.
Then in the 80th minute, captain Marco Bernardini received a standing ovation as he was subbed off for Owen Swan. The veteran midfielder was announced as the next head coach of Spring Arbor University’s men’s soccer program, and he bid farewell to the Lansing crowd.
“A lot of them [players] were old relationships that were rekindled,” said Oakley. “So the chance to coach a lot of these men again was an unbelievable experience.”
With a second-place finish in the MWPL, the Robins finished with a league record of 10-1-3 and will be invited to compete in the NISA Independent Cup in 2022, as the division’s top independent club.
“Wins tend to bring communities together and tend to make everyone a little excited about your team,” said Oakley.
