LANSING, Mich.— Lansing Common FC shut out Grand Rapids SC on Saturday, May 31 at Eastern Stadium in a Midwest Premier League showdown.
Coming off a 1-1 draw with Midwest United FC, LCFC took the match against GRSC 1-0, improving them to an unbeaten 2-0-1 record for the season.
“I thought we were the better side,” LCFC head coach Brent Sorg said. “Sometimes when you play, you could have a team that just batters you and you walk away like ‘God I’m glad we escaped with a draw or a win,’ but tonight I thought 100% we were the better side.”
With defender Myles Foster and midfielder Roarke Watterson out, the Robins’ depth needed to step up. The next man up mentality was instilled into the team by the coaching staff.
Sorg was particularly impressed with midfielders Brett Swaton, Ali Ahmad, and Josh Madery and forward Carter Hagan, all of whom were in the starting lineup.
“I thought all of those guys were reliable and I thought they all did their jobs well today,” Sorg said.
Lansing needed to take chances against this Grand Rapids SC team to gain the advantage. The Robins held control of the ball for most of the first half and had multiple shots on goal.
Ahmad finally got the long-awaited opening goal for Lansing in the 36th minute with an assist from defender Max Crawford to give them a 1-0 advantage.
“It was just clever,” Sorg said of Ahmad’s goal. “He just picks his head up, he sees the window and it wasn’t even powerful. It was the placement of it.”
Lansing took their 1-0 advantage into the second half while Grand Rapids SC was still fighting to get a result. The momentum kept shifting back and forth between the two sides with eight shots on goal between them, but neither team found the back of the net and the Robins emerged victorious.
Sorg thought that GRSC had some moments where they pressed more, and Lansing wasn’t as clean with their responses. Overall, he was pleased with the team’s performance in the second half when they continued to create dangerous moments in Grand Rapids’ final third.
Up next, Lansing will host Red Cedar FC for a friendly match on Lansing Facts Night, Friday, June 6 at 7 p.m. at Eastern Stadium. Tickets are just $5 online or $7 at the gate. Food vendors Outlaw Snack Society, Capital City Sweets, and Snow Stars Shave Ice will be at the game in addition to Lansing Common’s regular concessions menu.
