For the 2017 season, Detroit City FC will return at least 13 players from its 2016 squad, among them 2016 captain David Edwardson and 2016 Black Arrow MVP Tommy Catalano.
Cyrus Saydee and Zach Schewee, both with DCFC since its inaugural season in 2012, will also return this summer. Schewee leads the team all-time in minutes played and matches played (48), with Saydee second all-time in matches played with 45.
Edwardson, City’s captain in 2016, will anchor the midfield for his fifth season with Le Rouge.
Additional returning veterans include Jeff Adkins, who joined City in 2013, and Seb Harris and George Chomakov, who joined Le Rouge in 2014.
Players returning in 2017 have a combined total of 258 matches played for City.
“We are very humbled yet excited to be able retain this great group of players,” DCFC head coach Ben Pirmann said. “Whether they have been the team MVP or appeared for a few minutes, one thing this group has in common is their commitment and selflessness to this club and city.
“These players will serve as the foundation for the 2017 season and will provide invaluable amounts of leadership.”
Returning players include:
- Goalkeepers: Joe Smith, Nate Steinwascher
- Defenders: Seb Harris, Zach Schewee
- Midfielders: Jeff Adkins, George Chomakov, Andrew Dalou, Dave Edwardson, Cyrus Saydee, Troy Watson
- Forwards: Tommy Catalano, Tyler Moorman, Spiro Pliakos
At forward, Catalano returns for his third season with City. He was named the team’s Black Arrow MVP last season after tallying four goals in eight NPSL regular season matches. Moorman, a University of Detroit Mercy redshirt senior, and Pliakos, currently a junior at UDM, both return for their second seasons with Le Rouge.
Goalkeepers Nate Steinwascher and Joe Smith return after successful first seasons with DCFC. Steinwascher featured in four NPSL matches for Le Rouge, not including his standout performance in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup, which saw DCFC fall to USL side Louisville City FC in a penalty shootout. Smith, a redshirt sophomore at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, featured in three NPSL matches in 2016.
Le Rouge’s midfield is led by veterans Edwardson, Saydee and Adkins. Troy Watson returns for his third season with City at the defensive midfield position. Watson has recorded 21 matches played since 2015. Andrew Dalou, a sophomore at Saginaw Valley State University, returns for his second season with Le Rouge after featuring in four NPSL matches in 2016.
DCFC begins preseason play on Saturday, April 15 at SVSU before visiting Lawrence Tech University on Sunday, April 30. Le Rouge wraps up preseason action on Saturday, May 6 at Keyworth Stadium against Dayton Dynamo at 7:30 PM.
The 2017 NPSL regular season kicks off at Keyworth on Friday, May 12 against Milwaukee Torrent. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM.
View the full schedule here.
Season tickets are still available, but they are expected to sell out. Supporters can shop 2017 season ticket packages starting at $70 here.
Further roster news will be released in the coming weeks.
