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.

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. 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.

On October 25, 2018, USL League One officially announced Lansing Ignite FC as its ninth founding member team, to begin play in 2019. On November 14, 2018, Lansing Ignite FC announced Nate Miller as the inaugural head coach. On March 19, 2019, Lansing Ignite FC announced an affiliation agreement with Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer.

Lansing played their first USL League One match on 30 March 2019, beating Richmond Kickers 3–2 at City Stadium, Richmond. Lansing finished their first season with a 12–6–10 record, good for second place in USL League One. They fell in the playoff semifinal to Greenville Triumph SC, 1–0. 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.

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.

In 2020, Lansing Common FC, was formed as a supporter-owned team. They began play in 2021 as part of the Midwest Premier League.

Sponsorship

SeasonKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2019MoneyballLAFCU

Players

First team roster

As of match played March 30, 2019

No.NameNationalityPosition(s)Date of birth (age)Signed inPrevious club
Goalkeepers
1Mike KirkUnited StatesGK(1994-02-12)February 12, 1994(age 32)2019United States Pittsburgh Riverhounds
13Kyle IhnUnited StatesGK(1994-12-10)December 10, 1994(age 31)2019United States Reno 1868
Defenders
2Rhys WilliamsUnited StatesDF(1995-08-09)August 9, 1995(age 30)2019United States Real Monarchs
4Grant StonemanUnited StatesDF(1995-11-27)November 27, 1995(age 30)2019United States Loyola Ramblers
5Brandon FrickeUnited StatesDF(1992-03-27)March 27, 1992(age 34)2019United States Des Moines Menace
17Kevin CoifficFranceDF(1994-09-18)September 18, 1994(age 31)2019United States Young Harris Mountain Lions
25Marshall HollingsworthUnited StatesDF(1993-08-06)August 6, 1993(age 32)2019United States Columbus Crew
Midfielders
6Ricardo PerezMexicoMF(1995-05-30)May 30, 1995(age 30)2019United States Colorado Rapids
7Rafael MentzingenBrazilMF(1996-05-02)May 2, 1996(age 29)2019United States Valparaiso Crusaders
8Kyle CarrUnited StatesMF(1995-01-21)January 21, 1995(age 31)2019United States Lansing United
10Xavier GomezUnited StatesMF(1994-11-21)November 21, 1994(age 31)2019United States Chicago FC United
12Christian SilvaUnited StatesMF(1989-08-02)August 2, 1989(age 36)2019United States Jacksonville Armada
16Lewis JonesBritish Virgin IslandsMF(1994-12-25)December 25, 1994(age 31)2019United States Lansing United
21Ivo CerdaChileMF(1995-10-31)October 31, 1995(age 30)2019United States Michigan Wolverines
23Tumi MoshobaneSouth AfricaMF(1994-09-07)September 7, 1994(age 31)2019United States Lansing United
24Elma N'ForCameroonMF2019United States Asheville City
27Nathan LewisTrinidad and TobagoMF(1990-07-20)July 20, 1990(age 35)2019United States Indy Eleven
—Omar CastroUnited StatesMF(1996-02-07)February 7, 1996(age 30)2019Germany TSC Vahdet
Forwards
9Ricky Lopez-EspinUnited StatesFW(1995-12-02)December 2, 1995(age 30)2019United States Real Salt Lake
11Steeve Saint-DucHaitiFW(2000-01-08)January 8, 2000(age 26)2019United States Los Angeles FC
14Nick MoonUnited StatesFW(1996-05-31)May 31, 1996(age 29)2019United States Lane United
19Pato Botello FazMexicoFW(1996-09-08)September 8, 1996(age 29)2019United States St. Mary's Rattlers
20Alex BruceEnglandFW(1998-10-28)October 28, 1998(age 27)2019United States San Antonio FC (loan)

Coaching staff

PositionName
Head coachUnited States Nate Miller
Assistant coachUnited States Tim Daniels
Assistant coachUnited States Joel DeLass
Goalkeeping coachEgypt Wael Zenga

2019 season

Preseason friendlies

February 27Indy Eleven1–2Lansing IgniteWestfield, Indiana
2:00 PM ESTIlić 68'Saint-Duc 21' (pen.) Mentzingen 78'Stadium: Grand Park Indoor Arena Attendance: 300
March 3Pittsburgh Riverhounds2–0Lansing IgnitePittsburgh, Pennsylvania
12:00 PM ESTDos Santos 22' Bartman 66'Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: Closed door
March 8Lansing Ignite7–0Davenport PanthersBrighton, Michigan
1:00 PM ESTBotello 6', 22' Williams 30' Moon 37' Saint-Duc 41' N'For 58' Coiffic 75'Stadium: Legacy Center Attendance: 200
March 15Lansing Ignite3–0Western Michigan BroncosBrighton, Michigan
1:00 PM ESTSaint-Duc 64', 77' N'For 75'Stadium: Legacy Center Attendance: 418

Midseason friendlies

April 16 Capital CupLansing Ignite4–0Michigan State SpartansLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM ESTBotello Faz 28' Saint-Duc 50' N'For 62' Bruce 88'Stanley 54' Pimlott 66'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 3,338
September 24Lansing IgnitevChicago Fire SC ReservesLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTStadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
September 28Lansing IgnitevLivonia City FCLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTStadium: Cooley Law School Stadium
Note: Originally scheduled to play Grand Rapids FC. Change announced on September 4.

USL League One

Standings

PosTeamvtePldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1North Texas SC2817565331+2256Playoffs
2Lansing Ignite FC28121064937+1246
3Greenville Triumph SC2812793222+1043
4Forward Madison FC2812793326+743
5Chattanooga Red Wolves SC28101083537−240

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
28121064937+12468422816+1246421210

Source: USL

Results by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
StadiumAAHHAAHHAAAAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHHH
ResultWLWLLDDDDWLDWWLDWDDDWWWWWWDL
Position4544989784775466456653222222

Results

March 30 1Richmond Kickers2–3Lansing IgniteRichmond, Virginia
5:00 PM EDTGallardo 25', 76' (pen.) Rodriguez 68' Eckenrode 72'Moshobane 19' Gomez 27' Coiffic 32', 49' Carr 63' Stoneman 75' Cerda 86'Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 5,936 Referee: Danielle Chesky
April 6 2Greenville Triumph SC2–1Lansing Ignite FCGreenville, South Carolina
7:00 PM EDTRobinson 7' Seiler 35' 77' Politz 85' Clowes 89'Perez 14' 58' Lopez-Espin 27' Stoneman 40' Coiffic 32', 49' Moshobane 59' 62'Stadium: Legacy Early College Attendance: 4,014 Referee: Jasmine Peralta
April 13 3Lansing Ignite3–1Richmond KickersLansing, Michigan
5:00 PM EDTStadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 3,369 Referee: Danielle Chesky
April 26 4Lansing Ignite0–2Toronto FC IILansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTStoneman 45+1' Moshobane 80'Petrasso 11' Mohammed 24' Campbell 39' Okello 53' Ovalle 85' (pen.)Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 1,895 Referee: Nickrod Fateh
April 30 5FC Tucson2–0Lansing IgniteTucson, Arizona
9:00 PMJambga 27' Somersall 38' Spencer 49' Vega 57' 62'Fricke 49'Stadium: Kino North Stadium Attendance: 702 Referee: Karen Abt
May 4 6Richmond Kickers2–2Lansing IgniteRichmond, Virginia
7:00 PM EDTChin 32' Shanosky 75' Jackson 90'Cerda 24' Stoneman 27' Lopez-Espin 58' Fricke 70'Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 2,947 Referee: Matt Franz
May 11 7Lansing Ignite1–1Greenville Triumph SCLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTLopez-Espin 76'Boland 36' Polak 58' Ward 68'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 1,725 Referee: Adam Kilpatrick
May 18 8Lansing Ignite2–2North Texas SCLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTMentzigen 54', 56' Bruce 65', 90+5' Saint-Duc 72' Stoneman 89'Tessmann 35' Jatta 51' Pepi 83' A. Rodríguez 87', 90+2' Almaguer 89'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 2,149 Referee: Calin Radosav
May 25 9Tormenta FC0–0Lansing IgniteStatesboro, Georgia
7:00 PM EDTMiccaletto 42' Knutson 59'Cleveland 73'Stadium: Eagle Field Attendance: 1,697 Referee: Joshua Encarnacion
June 1 10Forward Madison FC0–1Lansing IgniteMadison, Wisconsin
8:00 PM EDTBanks 39' Núñez 90+7'Moon 47' Stoneman 51' Cerda 80'Stadium: Breese Stevens Field Attendance: 4,271 Referee: Brad Jensen
June 8 11Toronto FC II3–0Lansing IgniteToronto, Ontario
4:00 PM EDTHundal 29' Ovalle 48' Dorsey 66' Bunk-Andersen 80' Perruzza 90+1'Stadium: BMO Training Ground Referee: Myriam Marcotte
June 15 12Greenville Triumph SC1–1Lansing IgniteGreenville, South Carolina
7:00 PM EDTSeiler 66'Moon 30' Saint-Duc 90+3'Stadium: Legacy Early College Field Attendance: 2,715 Referee: Matthew Corrigan
June 19 13Lansing Ignite1–0Toronto FC IILansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTSaint-Duc 28', 61' Bruce 87'Mingo 27' Srbely 89'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 2,287 Referee: Becky Pagan
June 22 14Lansing Ignite2–0Orlando City BLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTMoshobane 28' Moon 51' Bruce 59' Coiffic 68'Bagrou 30'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 4,818 Referee: Chris Ruska
June 29 15North Texas SC3–1Lansing IgniteFrisco, Texas
7:00 PM EDTTessmann 43' Montgomery 57' Damus 59', 73' Rodriguez 71'Moon 59' Cleveland 74' Faz 83'Stadium: Toyota Stadium Attendance: 632 Referee: Marco Vega
July 6 16Chattanooga Red Wolves1–1Lansing IgniteChattanooga, Tennessee
7:00 PM EDTCisse 12' Walls 55'N'For 25' Fricke 30' Coiffic 45' Moon 57'Stadium: David Stanton Field Attendance: 1,766 Referee: Michael Smith
July 9 17Lansing Ignite3–2Forward Madison FCLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTN'For 17' Mentzigen 90+2', 90+3' Bruce 90+5'Smart 32', 50' Bennett 63' Banks 90+4'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 1,871 Referee: Kevin Fikar
July 13 18Lansing Ignite2–2FC TucsonLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTMoshobane 26' (pen.), 49' Williams 50'Howell 34' Jones 52' (pen.) Hauswirth 73'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 4,348 Referee: Gabriele Giusti
July 19 19Toronto FC II3–3Lansing IgniteToronto, Ontario
4:00 PM EDTPerruzza 35' Dorsey 38' Bunk-Andersen 78' Romeo 81', 84'Faz 41' (pen.) Fricke 51' Gomez 54'Stadium: BMO Training Ground Referee: Giancarlo Pavone
July 27 20Tormenta FC1–1Lansing IgniteStatesboro, Georgia
8:00 PM EDTKnutson 16' Saint-Vil 21' Kadono 88' Micaletto 90' Morrell 90+3'Mentzingen 12', 45+3' Coiffic 35' Stoneman 60' Carr 90+3'Stadium: Eagle Field Attendance: 1,785 Referee: Nickrod Fateh
July 31 21Lansing Ignite2–0Chattanooga Red WolvesLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTMoshobane 32' Mentzigen 50' Faz 84'Kendall-Moullin 10' Pineda 45+1'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 2,215 Referee: José Lara
August 3 22Lansing Ignite3–0Orlando City BLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTMoshobane 8' N'For 14' Mentzingen 84'Tablante 37' Thiago 50' Amer 87'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 3,285 Referee: Carter Brochu
August 16 23Orlando City B1–2Lansing IgniteMontverde, Florida
7:30 PM EDTForbes 13' Tablante 42' Bagrou 71'Gomez 22', 82' Coiffic 28' Mentzingen 54'Stadium: Montverde Academy Referee: Joshua Encarnación
August 22 24Lansing Ignite4–1North Texas SCLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTFaz 8', 69' Moon 31' N'For 50' Moshobane 71'Rayo 65' Rodriguez 76' Romero 86' (pen.)Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 2,757 Referee: Luis Arroyo
September 6 25FC Tucson0–5Lansing IgniteTucson, Arizona
10:30 PM EDTWheeler-Omiunu 28' Venter 62' Batista 76'Moon 12' Faz 16', 26' Moshobane 33', 90+3' Williams 60'Stadium: Kino North Stadium Attendance: 708 Referee: Omeed Azadpour
September 14 26Lansing Ignite4–3Chattanooga Red WolvesLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTMentzingen 8' Moshobane 18', 90' Moon 30', 79' Gomez 60' Carr 77'Zguro 3', 60' Hurst 17', 54' Amponsah 35' Beattie 43'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 2,994 Referee: Calin Radosav
September 21 27Lansing Ignite1–1Tormenta FCLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTMoon 45+1'Dennis 19' Arslan 34' Rowe 67'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 2,489 Referee: Joshua Encarnación
October 5 28Lansing Ignite0–1Forward Madison FCLansing, Michigan
7:00 PM EDTN'For 20' Fricke 59' Moshobane 73' Williams 87'Omsberg 31' Banks 43' Núñez 66' Paulo Jr. 68' Díaz 81' Leonard 90+4'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 2,412 Referee: José Lara

USL League One Playoffs

October 12 SemifinalsLansing Ignite FC0–1Greenville Triumph SCLansing, Michigan
7:00 p.m. (EDT)Coiffic 70' Cerda 74' Cleveland 87'Clowes 37' Mohamed 45+2' Polak 46' Bermudez 59' Gómez 79'Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium Attendance: 2,340 Referee: Matthew Thompson

U.S. Open Cup

May 8 1st RoundLansing Ignite FC Michigan2–1Michigan AFC Ann ArborLansing, Michigan
7:00 pm EDTN'For 29', 72'Alexis 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 RoundIndy Eleven Indiana1–0Michigan Lansing Ignite FCIndianapolis, Indiana
7:00 PM EDTNewton 21' Enevoldsen 51', 57' Watson 62' Walker 88' Kelly 90+2'Stoneman 62'Stadium: Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Attendance: 853 Referee: Adam Behrens

Final roster

Final team roster

As of January 10, 2019.

No.PositionNationPlayer
1GKUSAMike Kirk
2DFUSARhys Williams
4DFUSAGrant Stoneman
5DFUSABrandon Fricke
6MFMEXRicardo Pérez
7MFBRARafael Mentzingen
8MFUSAKyle Carr
10MFUSAXavier Gomez
11FWHAISteeve Saint-Duc
12MFUSAChristian Silva
13GKUSAKyle Ihn
14DFUSANick Moon
16MFVGBLewis Jones
17DFFRAKevin Coiffic
19FWMEXPato Botello Faz
21MFCHIIvo Cerda
23MFRSATumi Moshobane
24FWCMRElma N'For
25DFUSAMarshall Hollingsworth
27MFTRINathan Lewis

Year-by-year

SeasonUSL League OnePlay-offsU.S. Open CupTop Scorer 1Head coach
Lansing Ignite FC
PWLDGFGAPtsPosPlayerGoals
201928126104937462ndNational Semifinals2RSouth Africa Tumi Moshobane10Israel 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 MillerIsraelNovember 14, 2018Present3113810041.94

Average attendance

YearReg. seasonPlayoffs
20192,7582,340

External links