Eric Rudland

Late Overtime Goal puts United into the NPSL Final Four

Late Overtime Goal puts United into the NPSL Final Four

Stepping up is a simple concept, but it is harder to do when a championship is on the line and it is in front of the home crowd.

Lansing United stepped up on the biggest stage of their season so far by earning a 2-1 victory over the Fort Pitt Regiment in 120 minutes.

“It’s unbelievably tough. I mean you watch high level tournaments, players have a minimum of three days to rest, so for us to turn around and come back a day after, speaks to how well these guys have taken care of themselves throughout the year,” United head coach Eric Rudland said. “The quick turn around is just the passion and pride they have playing for Lansing United.”

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United Roll in Regional Semifinal, On to the Championship

United Roll in Regional Semifinal, On to the Championship

In a 4-1 win against a Minnesota United Reserve team that had six professional players on its roster, Lansing United dominated from the start and stepped up defensively to earn a spot in the championship game.

“The message to our guys was, ‘Hey, to be the best, you have to beat the best,’ so let’s get it poppin’ and get it on and that’s exactly what they did in the first half,” United head coach Eric Rudland said.

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A Season of Achievement

A Season of Achievement

Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

Without a doubt, the 2014 Lansing United season has been an unquestionable success.

Having just finished in first place of the Great Lakes West Conference in their inaugural season of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), Lansing United has come a long way since winning its first exhibition game back in May. This prosperity has grown out of the fundamental principle of working together as a team, something that has been stressed from the initial practices earlier this year.

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Lansing United Win Great Lakes West and Head towards Playoffs

Lansing United Win Great Lakes West and Head towards Playoffs

In front of a crowd of 2,014 at DeMartin Stadium on the campus of Michigan State University, Lansing United tied Detroit City F.C., 2-2, to clinch a spot in the Great Lakes playoffs.

Through the first 19 minutes of the first half, both teams went back and forth, opening up a few scoring chances, but neither could convert.

In the 20th minute, United forward, Brian Cunningham, changed the game when he went on the counter up the right-hand side of the field and hit a low-driving cross towards the Detroit six-yard box, which found the head of United forward, Matt Brown, who flicked it on to the back post and scored.

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Lansing United One Step Closer to Making Playoffs

Lansing United One Step Closer to Making Playoffs

In front of a record breaking crowd of 1,166 fans at Archer Stadium, United moved one step closer to clinching a playoff berth in the Great Lakes Conference.

The Indiana Fire possessed the ball in the early minutes of the first half, which gave them an early scoring opportunity off a free kick. Fire midfielder Thomas Schmitt converted the free kick in the seventh minute.

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Late Goal Takes Two Points Away from United

Late Goal Takes Two Points Away from United

From the opening minute of the match, Lansing United constantly put pressure on the AFC Cleveland defense.

United midfielder, Brendan Finnerty, started the pressure in the 9th minute by hitting a shot from 25 yards out. The shot was deflected out-of-bounds for a corner kick, which was only the beginning of the amount of corners United would receive.

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United Falls Short to Detroit City

United Falls Short to Detroit City

In a physical game in which the flow of play went back and forth, Lansing United could not find the back of the net.

“I was proud of the guys’ effort. First half, I thought it took us a while to settle in to the game, the environment and the opponent.,” United head coach Eric Rudland said. “Made some changes at halftime, I thought in the second half, I was really proud of our effort, creating some phenomenal opportunities.”

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Brown’s Hat Trick Gives Lansing United First Win

Brown’s Hat Trick Gives Lansing United First Win

After scoring zero goals in their home opener, Lansing United seemed to have no trouble finding the back of the net on Sunday night against the Michigan Stars, especially their captain, Matt Brown.

Brown traveled 3,696 miles from his hometown of Dordon, England to play soccer for United, and he showed the crowd why team owner, Jeremy Sampson, and manager, Eric Rudland, wanted him on the team.

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Lansing United Draw in Home Opener

Lansing United Draw in Home Opener

In front of a crowd of 975 fans on Friday night, Lansing United opened up their first National Premier Soccer League season against the Indiana Fire at East Lansing Soccer Complex.

“It definitely was a good surprise,” Michigan State University starting goalkeeper Zach Bennett said. “I didn’t know 900-some were going to come out tonight, so it was really awesome to see the support.”

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Special Report on Lansing United: Part 3 — The Franchise’s First Signing

Special Report on Lansing United: Part 3 — The Franchise’s First Signing

Lansing United’s first signing has quite a story behind him.

From South Africa to the MLS to Lansing, 33-year-old Thabiso “Boyzzz” Khumalo was revealed as Lansing United’s first-ever signing and the key building block that the team’s predicted success will be built around.

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Special Report on Lansing United: Part 2 — The Head Coach

Special Report on Lansing United: Part 2 — The Head Coach

Eric Rudland will be in charge of constructing Lansing United’s roster as well as all the coaching duties throughout the team’s upcoming summer season.

“When I sat down with (Jeremy Sampson) it was very apparent that he’s passionate about this organization,” Rudland said. “He wanted to do things the right way and that made my decision to get involved very easy.”

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Special Report on Lansing United: Part 1 – A New Team, a New Era of Soccer in Lansing

Special Report on Lansing United: Part 1 – A New Team, a New Era of Soccer in Lansing

Lansing United is officially a reality.

The City of Lansing now has its first amateur soccer team in city history. Former local WILX sports anchor and first-time owner, Jeremy Sampson, envisioned the idea of a local amateur soccer team three years ago, and has been building upon his vision ever since.

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