South Bend Lions FC explained

Clubname:Michiana FC Lions & Lionesses
Upright:0.7
Fullname:Michiana Fútbol Club
Nickname:Michiana FC Lions & Lionesses
Stadium:Leighton Stadium
Capacity:3,500
Owntitle:Owner
Owner:Ritchie Jeune
Chrtitle:Technical Director
Chairman:Shek Borkowski
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Shek Borkowski
League:USL League Two
Season:2023
Position:7th, Great Lakes Division
Playoffs: DNQ
Website:https://www.michianalionsfc.com/
American:true

Michiana Fútbol Club formerly South Bend Lions Football Club is an American soccer club based in South Bend, Indiana, that plays in USL League Two, the American pre-professional soccer league. The club was established on November 18, 2019. The 2022 USL2 campaign was successful by winning the Valley Division.

History

On November 18, 2019, it was announced by USL League Two that South Bend Lions FC would be the newest team to join the league for their 2020 season, joining the Great Lakes Division.[1] The logos and colors for the club were also unveiled at a press conference held in South Bend's County-City Building.[1] Ritchie Jeune was introduced as the club's owner while Thiago Pinto, the head coach of Bethel University's soccer team, was introduced as the club's technical director.[1] During the press conference, Jeune stated that South Bend was one of "three or four different locations" that his team visited before deciding to form a team in the city.[1]

Ownership

The club's owner is Ritchie Jeune, who is also the principal owner of Kettering Town, in England's Southern League Premier Division Central, Shantou Lions FC, a club based in China.[2]

Management team

PositionNameNation
Technical director/Head CoachShek Borkowski Poland
Assistant Coach Nathaniel King England
Assistant CoachErik Castro Ecuador
Goalkeeper CoachAlloysius Agu Nigeria
Equipment ManagerBobo Galoblow United States
Head Data AnalystMichael Bellina United States

2022 Roster

PositionNameNation
GoalkeeperJacob Madden United States
GoalkeeperOwen Cornell United States
GoalkeeperJohnny Guedert United States
GoalkeeperFinn Popescu Germany
DefenderJack Empson England
DefenderDaniel Nimick England
DefenderJaylen Shannon United States
DefenderJosh Ramsey United States
DefenderJonny Mora United States
DefenderDiego Rodriguez United States
DefenderJoao De Oliviera Brazil
DefenderLucas Barankiewciz Brazil
MidfielderCollins Tanor Ghana
MidfielderBrennan Creek United States
MidfielderDuvan Canchila Columbia
MidfielderLandon Fisher United States
MidfielderTim Noeding Germany
MidfielderGabriel Nyenka Jr Liberia
MidfielderSebastian Green United States
MidfielderDaniel Lynch United States
ForwardFumiya Shiraishi Japan
ForwardGeorge Herbert England
ForwardKainan Dos Santos Brazil
ForwardConnor Duggan England
ForwardAndrew Michael Andrew Tanzania

Statistics and records

Season-by-season

SeasonUSL League TwoFinalsCONCACAFTop Scorer
PlayerGoals
2020Season cancelled due to 2019-2020 Coronavirus Pandemic
2021145452717265th, Great Lakes Divisiondid not qualifyIneligible Nana Tuffour6
20221410224012321st, Valley DivisionConference Quarterfinalsdid not qualify Kainan Dos Santos10
20231203983337th, Great Lakes Divisiondid not qualifydid not qualify Sahel Yessen4

Youth development

The Club has grown to include a successful USL-Academy boys team (Summer 2023)that currently plays in USL-Academy League play. As well as womens’ programs to debut (summer 2024) USL W League Lionesses and USL-A womens’ team. [3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Catania . Anthony . South Bend awarded United Soccer League team . January 23, 2020 . South Bend Tribune . November 19, 2019.
  2. Web site: Pickering FC to rejoin L1O Premier in 2022 with new ownership. October 19, 2021. League1 Ontario.
  3. News: Hough . Austin . South Bend Lions Football Club to debut in May 2020 . January 23, 2020 . Goshen News . November 19, 2019.