Lansing Common FC begins fourth season with familiar roster anchors but also relying on unproven players
Lansing Common FC opens its season at home at 6 p.m. Saturday with a friendly against Livonia City FC. Here’s a look at this year’s team, season and schedule:
The skinny
Lansing Common head coach Brent Sorg knows he’s got enough experienced talent to compete this season — stalwarts of recent teams like Kevin Payne and Ben Derby on the back line and productive players in the midfield and up top like Ty Usiak, Jack Voight and Seth Russ.
But whether this year’s Lansing Common team, in its fourth season as a club, has the goods to compete for a Midwest Premier League Great Lakes West Division title — after coming up just short of championships in each of its first three seasons — will largely come down to the readiness and quality of several returners stepping into larger roles and new players coming in. The Robins have several voids to fill.
“We're just young at some places where it's OK,” said Sorg, entering his second full season as head coach and fourth year on the staff. “We're gonna have to grow through that. Guys are going to have to mature quickly if we're going to have success.”
Players like defenders Spencer Powe and Victor Toune and midfielder Daniel Silva fall in this category, as well as a couple of gifted players in or coming out of high school that will have to make the adjustment to a more physical and seasoned brand of soccer.
“How quickly do they rise to the level?” Sorg asked.
“I'm looking forward to it as, as every year, there's always excitement surrounding it. I think there's some talent in this group. I really do.”
In an effort to create a pipeline of more experienced players and also provide opportunities for emerging young Lansing-area stars, Lansing Common has started reserve side this season. They'll practice as one club, but there will be several games just to feature those players.
MORE: See Lansing Common FC's 2024 schedule
Players to watch
Among the key returners for Lansing Common, veteran defenders Kevin Payne (Niagara, Jackson) and Ben Derby (Western Michigan, Okemos), midfielder Ty Usiak (WMU, Okemos), forward Jack Voight (Spring Arbor, South Lyon), forward Seth Russ (Stetson, Mason), forward Fady Omar (Haslett).
The Robins are also hoping returning midfielder Daniel Silva (Grand Blanc) and defenders Victor Toune (Spring Arbor, DeWitt) and Spencer Power (Detroit Mercy, East Lansing) thrive in bigger roles this season.
The schedule
(Home matches, played at Lansing Eastern Stadium, in bold)
May 11: Livonia City FC, 6 p.m. (friendly)
May 18: Indy Boyz FC, 6 p.m.
May 29, At Northern Indiana, 6 p.m., South Bend, Indiana
June 1: At Tulip City United SC, 6 p.m., Holland
June 7: Holland Rovers FC, 7 p.m.
June 21: Michigan Jaguars FC (reserves), 7 p.m.
June 23: At 1927 SC, 4 p.m., Fort Wayne, Indiana
June 29: Northern Indiana FC (reserves), 3 p.m.
June 29: Northern Indiana FC, 6 p.m.
July 7: 1927 SC, 4 p.m.
July 10: At Holland Rovers FC, 7 p.m., Holland
July 11: Troy United FC (reserves), 7 p.m.
July 14: Tulip City United, 4 p.m.
July 20: At Indy Boyz FC, 3 p.m., Whitestown, Indiana
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing Common FC's roster features familiar stars, unproven players
