With the 2015 Detroit City FC season in the past, we can now look forward to watching several Le Rouge players represent their universities on the pitch this fall. As Friday, August 28, marks the start of the 2015 men’s collegiate regular season for many teams, we’ve gathered a short list of where you’ll find Detroit City players in action. They may be wearing different colors now, but they’ll always be Rouge & Gold. Stay tuned at https://www.detcityfc.com for a new installment of Le Rouge Review each week.
Saginaw Valley State: The DCFC ties run thick through this Saginaw Valley State men’s team, with a total of nine Cardinals representing Le Rouge in 2015. Seniors Tyler Channell and Troy Watson, along with sophomore Alex Isaevski, will be leading the way for SVSU as the team’s recently named co-captains. Sophomore Alex Bouillennec, who recorded 720 minutes and three shutouts for Detroit this summer, is tabbed as the Cardinals’ starter between the pipes. After going unbeaten in its first 12 matches and reaching the NCAA Division II Round of 16 last season, expectations will be high for SVSU this time around. The Cardinals are ranked 18th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll and are predicted to finish in third place in the GLIAC, according to the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
Most recently, SVSU played to a 2-0 loss at Oakland in its second exhibition match. Isaevski, Bouillennec, Watson, Channell and Tyler Stephens all started for the Cardinals, with Joshua Howell replacing Bouillennec in the second half.
The 2015 GLIAC regular season begins for Saginaw with two road matches: First, against Lewis University on September 4 at 8:30 p.m. EST; then, the Cardinals face Wisconsin Parks on September 6 at 3:30 p.m. EST. View the entire SVSU schedule here: http://bit.ly/1IpeFqQ.
Michigan: After a tough 2014 that saw Michigan finish 6-9-3 overall, the Wolverines will look to bounce back this season. And the team has the tools to do so, with five DCFC players on the squad – including seniors Colin McAtee and James Murphy, the Wolverines’ co-captains. McAtee, Murphy and senior Will Mellors-Blair will lead the Wolverines’ attack, while junior Andre Morris returns as an important piece in the UM backline. This summer with Detroit, Mellors-Blair became the all-time leading goalscorer for Le Rouge and was named to the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and Supporters’ XI first teams. Fifth-year senior TJ Van Slooten also returns after missing all of last season due to injury. Michigan sits at No. 7 in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Wolverines wrapped up their preseason slate with a 1-0-1 record, beating Butler, 3-0, and drawing Loyola, 1-1. Mellors-Blair scored twice and tallied an assist in the matches.
Michigan kicks off its season tonight at 8:30 p.m. EST in Omaha, Nebraska against No. 6 Creighton. The Wolverines host West Virginia on Friday, September 4 at 4 p.m. EST. View Michigan’s entire schedule here: http://bit.ly/1Ekm9es.
Michigan State: In the offseason, Michigan State added an additional Detroit City staff member to its coaching corps. City’s head coach Ben Pirmann, an assistant coach with MSU, is now joined by former Le Rouge coach Cale Wassermann, who left Saginaw Valley State after four successful years at the helm. MSU’s top-notch coaching staff is expected to lead an equally thriving squad that’s ranked third in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll and ninth in the nation in the NSCAA Preseason Poll. After finishing 12-5-6 last season and advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight, Michigan will look to continue its winning ways with Pirmann and Wassermann helping to lead the way.
Michigan State opens its 2015 campaign on the road as it takes on Portland tonight at 10 p.m. EST, then heads to Oregon State on Sunday, August 30 at 3 p.m. EST. View the 2015 MSU schedule here: http://bit.ly/1RMXlqO.
Butler: Jeff Adkins returns to Butler for his senior season. Adkins tallied an assist in Butler’s final exhibition match against Dayton, despite the team losing all three of its matches during its preseason campaign. Last season, Adkins played in all 18 matches for Butler, finishing with five goals and three assists. The Bulldogs begin the season tonight at 8:30 p.m. EST at Wisconsin and travels to IUPUI at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1. View Butler’s schedule here: http://bit.ly/1JqM6x7.
Western Michigan: Senior Connor Furgason is back in the Gold & Black as a captain of WMU in 2015, after being named to the First Team All-MAC and tying the team-high in goals (4) last season. In 2014, the Broncos finished 8-7-4 overall and advanced to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament for their second consecutive year. In the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Broncos are picked to finish in second place behind Akron. The Broncos host Marshall today at 4 p.m. EST to kick-off the 2015 season after finishing the preseason 1-1. On Sunday, August 30, WMU travels to IPFW at 1 p.m. EST. View the Broncos’ schedule here: http://bit.ly/1LGZVLF.
St. Ambrose: As the Fighting Bees’ captain, Australia native Ross Hendry will be leading St. Ambrose on the pitch for his junior year. Last season, St. Ambrose advanced to the Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament championship in its final year in the MCC and finished with a 7-11-2 record. This year marks the team’s first in the Chicago Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). The Bees begin their 2015 campaign when they host non-conference opponent Grand View – the team the Bees lost to in the MCC championship, 3-1 – on Saturday, August 29 at 6:30 p.m. EST. They then travel to Mount Mercy University on Wednesday, September 2 at 6 p.m. EST. View the Bees’ schedule here: http://bit.ly/1KqLQR3.
Coastal Carolina: As the Chanticleers’ assistant goalkeeping coach, Bret Mollon and Coastal Carolina enjoyed a fruitful 2014 season, winning the team’s 12th overall Big South Conference Tournament championship with a 16-6-1 record. This season, the Chants look prime to repeat that feat, ranked 1st in the Big South Preseason Coaches Poll and ranked 21st in the NSCAA Preseason Poll. Carolina opens the season at Old Dominion tonight at 7 p.m. EST, and travels to VCU on Sunday, August 30 at 5 p.m. EST. View the Chants’ schedule here: http://bit.ly/1LAoOWy.
Robert Morris: Redshirt junior Bennett Jull returns to RMU to lead the Colonials’ backline in 2015. The Toronto native began his campaign on the road against Niagara, playing to a 1-0 win today. Up next, the Colonials head to Cleveland State on Sunday, August 30 at 7 p.m. EST. View RMU’s 2015 schedule here: http://bit.ly/1N0vKzm.
Albion College: After his first season with Le Rouge, Bobby Budlong returns to Albion for his junior year as one of the Britons’ captains this fall. Budlong ended his 2014 season on the sidelines rehabbing a broken foot, so he’ll look to carry his end of season performance with City into the fall months. Albion begins its 2015 campaign on Tuesday, September 1 at 4 p.m. EST when it hosts Rochester. View the Brits’ schedule here: http://bit.ly/1F3y8xl.
Oakland: Eliott Tarney is back between the pipes for Oakland in 2015. The senior goalkeeper from Preston, England is the Golden Grizzlies’ starter who will look to help OU continue its winning ways this fall. Oakland is ranked first in the Horizon League Preseason Poll after a 2014 that saw the Grizzlies win the Horizon League regular season and tournament championship, while also advancing to the NCAA Tournament second round. Tarney recorded his first shutout since 2012 in OU’s 2-0 win over SVSU in the preseason. He’s joined by former City players Shawn Claud Lawson, Raphael Reynolds and Brendan Woodfull. The Grizzlies host Western Illinois tonight at 7 p.m. EST. On Sunday, August 30, they host Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at 3 p.m. EST. Watch both matches live on ESPN3 with DCFC play-by-play broadcaster Neal Ruhl on the call. View OU’s schedule here: http://bit.ly/1N0K5vD.
