Lansing United
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| Full name | Lansing United | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | LanU, The Hoops | ||
| Founded | 2014 | ||
| Dissolved | 2018 | ||
| Ground | Archer Stadium East Lansing, MI | ||
| Capacity | 1,500 | ||
| Owner | Jeremy Sampson | ||
| 2018 | 2nd, Great Lakes Division Playoffs: Conference Semifinals | ||
| Website | http://www.lanunited.com/ | ||
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Lansing United was an American amateur soccer club based in East Lansing, Michigan that competed in the Premier Development League and the National Premier Soccer League.[1][2] The club's men's team folded after the 2018 season, with Lansing Ignite FC beginning play in USL League One. The club continued to field a women's team in United Women's Soccer.[3]
Among their most notable alumni is USMNT and New England Revolution defender DeJuan Jones, who competed for United while playing for Michigan State in 2018.
Club Beginnings (2013–2017)
Lansing United was accepted into the National Premier Soccer League's Great Lakes West Conference of the Midwest Region in Fall of 2013. Ideas for names were solicited from the Greater Lansing community, and Lansing United was chosen.[4] The club motto is "Pride, Passion and Unity" and is reflected in the team's logo, with the star representing pride, the flame representing passion, and the gear representing unity. The club also uses the Latin phrase "Coniunctis Viribus" which means "With Connected Strength."[5]
Lansing United played its inaugural match in the NPSL in May 2014.[6] They finished the regular season by winning the Great Lakes West championship. United went on to win the NPSL's Midwest Region Playoffs before ultimately losing in the semi-finals to eventual champion, New York Red Bulls U-23s.
The following year, the club secured its first U.S. Open Cup victory over Chicago's RWB Adria, before falling 1–0 to Louisville City FC of the USL.[7]
Both the 2016 & 2017 seasons saw United finish mid-table despite promising starts to each campaign.
Premier Development League & United Women's Soccer (2017–2018)
Beginning in May 2018, Lansing United fielded both men's and women's squads. Lansing United men began competing in the United Soccer Leagues' Premier Development League after four years in the NPSL.[8] They played in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference. Lansing United Women also began competition in the Midwest Division of United Women's Soccer.[9]
Stadium
The team played its home matches at Archer Stadium located in the East Lansing Soccer Complex. On July 9, 2017, a facility-record 1,388 people watched the team take on Detroit City FC.[10]
United sometimes played at DeMartin Stadium on the Michigan State University campus, to facilitate larger crowds. A club-record, 2,014 people watched United secure the Great Lakes West championship over Detroit City FC on July 13, 2014.[11]
Head coaches
Eric Rudland (2014–2015)- Nate Miller (2015–2018)
Notable Lansing United Players
Matt Brown formerly of R.C.S. Verviétois, current Youth Coach at Chelsea F.C.[12]- Brian Cunningham formerly of Harbour View F.C., Waitakere United[13]
Thabiso Khumalo formerly of D.C. United
Tyler Pasher currently with Houston Dynamo
Lewis Jones, member of British Virgin Islands national football team
Lukas Muszong currently with Bremer SV
Honors
Team Records
As of July 20, 2018[14]
Year-by-year
| Year | Tier | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 | NPSL | 1st of 5, Midwest-Great Lakes West (8–2–4) | National Semifinal | Not eligible |
| 2015 | 4 | NPSL | 6th of 13, Midwest (6–4–2) | Did not qualify | Second Round |
| 2016 | 4 | NPSL | 4th of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes West (4–4–4) | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2017 | 4 | NPSL | 4th of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes (6–7–1) | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2018 | 4 | PDL | 2nd of 6, Great Lakes (7–2–5) | Conference Semifinals | Did not qualify |
All-Time Appearances
| Rank | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  James DeCosemo |
43 |
| 2 |  Austin Dunn |
39 |
| 3 | Matt Brown |
29 |
| 4 | Andrew Hill |
27 |
| 5 | Alec Greene |
26 |
All-Time Goals
| Rank | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Brown |
19 |
| 2 | James DeCosemo |
13 |
| 3 |  Rafa Mentzingen |
9 |
| 4 |  Tumi Moshobane |
5 |
| 5 | Brian Cunningham |
3 |
| 5 | Gabe Matteo |
3 |
| 5 |  Tyler Pasher |
3 |
All-Time Assists
| Rank | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyler Pasher |
6 |
| 2 | Dewey Lewis |
5 |
| 3 | James DeCosemo |
4 |
| 3 | Tumi Moshobane |
4 |
All-Time Clean Sheets
| Rank | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe White |
5 |
| 2 | Zach Bennett |
4 |
| 3 | Jimmy Hague |
3 |
| 4 | Wes Mink |
2 |
