LANSING, Mich. — Following a 1-1 draw against Midwest United FC U23, Lansing Common FC returns home looking to make a statement against Grand Rapids SC.
Jack Voight was the lone goal-scorer for the Robins on May 23, giving them a 1-0 lead at halftime with a goal in the 41st minute. Lansing goalkeeper Jackson Kiszka turned in a strong performance in his first start with the club, making several big saves and only being scored on once.
The result puts LCFC at 1-0-1 on the year with three points and a plus-two goal differential, keeping them in third place in the Great Lakes West Division behind Holland Rovers and Goshen City FC, who have each played one more game than the Robins.
Even though the team would have preferred a win in its last outing, LCFC head coach Brent Sorg believes in his team’s ability to bounce back.
“I think Grand Rapids is a winnable game,” Sorg said. “If we put together a complete performance, we stand a chance to get a result.”
Sorg’s confidence remains high even with two key players missing from the lineup for Saturday’s match.
“We’re now without Myles Foster; he has a sports hernia, and Roarke Watterson won’t be in on Saturday,” Sorg said. “It’s just the next guy up mentality, which I’m not really worried about.”
Sorg’s confidence in his team’s depth is a good sign, with the timetable for his starting center back’s (Foster) injury still unknown.
Center back may be a new potential weakness for the Robins, but it is a position of strength for GRSC, helping fuel its disruptive defense.
“They have two big center backs. They have a big goalkeeper,” Sorg said. “I think they are pretty solid. They are steady. They defend well, they just disrupt the game, but they’re also reliable in how they play.”
GRSC has yet to pick up a win and sits sixth out of seven teams in the division with one point and a minus-one goal differential through two games. The team mainly plays out of a 4-1-4-1 formation, which Sorg believes the Robins can take advantage of.
“If we can break their first line of four and get into that zone and go against their last six, I think we have a good chance of creating and unlocking them,” Sorg said. “Especially given how we play and what we’re looking to do.”
The Robins may be able to exploit GRSC’s formation, but solid execution will be key.
“In order to score goals, we’re going to have to be clinical,” Sorg said. “We’re going to have to take our chances and do well in those moments.”
Two familiar faces for LCFC coaches, players and fans, Seth Russ and Elijah Maas, will be playing against their former club. Maas began the season with the Robins before making the move to GRSC.
Sorg understands the familiarity between players but expects nothing but respect for the opponent from his team.
“We should do it always, but respect the opponent and not worry about who’s across from you. Just go and compete,” Sorg said. “I still have respect for Seth and Maas.”
At the end of the day, a match against GRSC is just another opportunity to earn points toward the league standings, and Sorg is making sure his team understands their value.
“It’s different than the Premier League where you play 35-40 games in a season,” Sorg said. “If you drop points, you can make up for it. We don’t have that luxury. So, you’ve got to take points every time out. It’s obviously important for us to establish ourselves and do that.”
After spending last week on the road, LCFC is back in Lansing to host GRSC on Saturday, May 31, at 6 p.m. at Eastern Stadium. Tickets are just $5 online or $7 at the gate. Food vendors The Food Bandit, Maria’s Taco Truck, and Capital City Sweets will be at the game in addition to Lansing Common’s regular concessions menu.
