LANSING, Mich – To reclaim its first-place ranking in the Midwest Premier League’s Great Lakes West Division, Lansing Common FC needed a win in Fort Wayne, Indiana over familiar foe 1927SC this past Wednesday.
1927SC was on the hunt for redemption after allowing a last-minute, game-tying goal from Lansing defender Spencer Powe at Eastern Stadium on May 16.
Prior to the match in Fort Wayne, Lansing Common head coach Brent Sorg emphasized the importance of striking first, but the opening minutes did not go according to plan.
Several fouls were called on the Robins in the first half, and a free kick in the 10th minute allowed 1927SC to get on the board first.
“It’s recognizing that you can’t change what the guy in the middle is going to do,” Sorg said. “So I told the team, just stay the course and focus on your job.”
The equalizer came in the first added minute of the first half by forward Charlie Ahearn, which began the momentum shift for the Robins.
“Charlie getting that goal, that’s just what goal-scorers do,” Sorg said. “He gets his first Lansing Common goal, again showing that resiliency and staying the course.”
LCFC won the time of possession in the first half, and in the halftime huddle, coach Sorg noted that they needed to clean up sloppy transitions and limit turnovers, and the shots would inevitably fall.
“I felt that we were in the driver’s seat when we got the equalizer to end the first half,” Sorg said. “I just had this feeling like, we’re going to come away with three points.”
After a heated huddle, Common came out firing on all cylinders, scoring three straight goals to earn a dominant 4-1 victory.
An own goal by 1927SC in the 48th minute gave the Robins a 2-1 lead shortly after halftime. In the 84th minute, midfielder Owen Resch played forward Xtreme Hauk into open space in 1927SC’s box and Hauk buried his chance to give Lansing a two-goal lead. Resch would put the nail in the coffin with a goal of his own in the 92nd minute to end the contest.
“I’ll echo Ameer’s [defender Ameer Shetiah] words: that was a total team performance,” Sorg said. “Every guy played their role today, and as a result, you get to come away with three points.”
Lansing Common’s victory over 1927SC moves the Robins back to the top of the division standings ahead of their next league match against Tulip City United.
The match against Tulip City will take place on Lansing Common FC’s Pride Night on Saturday, June 6 at Eastern Stadium at 6:00 pm. Tickets are just $5 online or $7 at the gate.
