LANSING, Mich. — Michael Kostoglanis’ proudest moment in his soccer career is the hat trick he achieved on May 10.
Lansing Common FC hosted Ypsilanti Athletic FC for a friendly match. The Robins were up 3-0, and Kostoglanis subbed in on the wing.
“I really wanted to come in, even though we were winning, and make an impact and help the team anyway I could,” Kostoglanis said.
Kostoglanis brought energy off the bench for LCFC. He scored his first goal in the 78th minute off an assist from Xtreme Hauk, then knocked in his second two minutes later to push the Robins to a 5-0 lead. He added his third goal in the 89th minute to extend the lead to 7-0 and seal the win.
“I felt great,” Kostoglanis said. “My first goals for Lansing Common. I was very happy.”
Watching the World Cup in 2014 is Kostoglanis’ earliest memory of soccer. He loved watching Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. They inspired him.
“Growing up, I always took soccer really seriously and loved playing,” Kostoglanis said.
Kostoglanis tries to always go out on the field and enjoy the game, even in big and high-pressure games.
“I love playing soccer, so it just comes naturally,” Kostoglanis said.
Before a game, his favorite pregame song is Headlines or Die Trying by Drake, and his go-to pregame meal is chicken and rice for protein.
In-season, Kostoglanis starts his day with breakfast and a workout. He also likes to get in a pregame nap. In the off-season, he attends classes at Michigan State University as an Advertising Management student, gets a workout in between classes, hangs out with friends, attends training sessions and is a part of the MSU club soccer team.
Outside of soccer, Kostoglanis plays pickleball. He has been trying to get rated because he wants to play the sport at a high level.
His biggest challenge in his soccer career thus far has been injuries. Kostoglanis has had knee and ankle injuries, as well as a concussion that set him out for a bit. To come back from these injuries, he has rested and tried to keep his body and mind in a good place.
Two people who have been mentors for Kostoglanis are Aaron Byrd from Next Level Training and Ali Ahmad from Path2Profootball, who’s also a midfielder with Lansing Common FC this year.
“He’s been a great mentor, helping me,” Kostoglanis said of Byrd. “I moved from Chicago, so when I first came to Michigan, he was huge for me.”
Kostoglanis joined LCFC because he wanted to play high-level summer soccer.
“I was playing club soccer at Arizona State, and I transferred this past January to MSU,” Kostoglanis said. “I wanted to get back into playing at higher levels, and it’s a great opportunity playing with a good team.”
Kostoglanis’ advice to young soccer players who hope to play at a high level is to keep having fun, work on their game and do it with a smile.
