Minneapolis City SC

Last updated

Minneapolis City SC
Minneapolis City SC.jpg
Full nameMinneapolis City Soccer Club
Nickname(s)The Crows [1]
Founded2016;8 years ago (2016)
StadiumEdor Nelson Field, Augsburg University [2]
Capacity1,500 [3]
ChairmanAdam Pribyl
Head coachJustin Oliver
League USL League Two
2024 5th, Deep North Division
Playoffs: DNQ
Website Club website

Minneapolis City SC (known informally as Mpls City SC or The Crows) is an American soccer club based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2016, the team plays in the USL League Two, the top national league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The club won three straight NPSL North Conference championships (2018, 2019 and 2021) before joining League Two. Their nickname is The Crows, coined by the club's supporters, which comes from the "Mega Murder" of crows that roost in Minneapolis. [4]

Contents

History

Founded in 2016 as an offshoot of Stegman's Soccer Club, team managing director Dan Hoedeman stated that his goal with the team is to re-create the local feeling of the Minnesota Thunder's early days. As such, every player is a Minnesota resident and the team is owned by "members" who make important decisions for the team, such as the league, colors, logo and budget. [5] [6]

In their inaugural 2016 season in the Premier League of America, [7] the team finished at three wins, four draws and three losses, good for third place in the league's West Division. [8] Their first competitive game was a scoreless draw against Bavarian SC in Milwaukee. [9] The club's first goal was scored by Matthew Gweh in their first home match, a 2–1 win over Croatian Eagles at Les Barnard Field. [10]

That October, they would win their first qualifying match for the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, defeating league-mates Oakland County FC by a score of 2–1 in extra time. [11]

In 2017 Minneapolis City SC announced it was joining the National Premier Soccer League. The team is a member of the North Conference in the Midwest Region [12]

With the win over Oakland County FC, Minneapolis City became the first amateur team from Minnesota to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup proper, but were disqualified from the tournament for switching leagues. [13]

In 2018, Minneapolis City SC clinched the NPSL North Conference title [14] while going undefeated in conference play, one of only five teams in the NPSL to remain unbeaten in the regular season. Additionally, the Crows were the top offensive team in the entire league with 46 goals scored.

They followed that up with the 2019 NPSL North Conference title. Interestingly, after beating Duluth FC 4–2 in the second-to-last match of the season to clinch the 2018 title, the Crows went to Duluth and beat them 4–2 in the second-to-last match of the season to clinch the 2019 title as well. [15]

The 2020 season was cancelled because of COVID so it took until 2021 for the Crows to win their third-straight NPSL North Conference title, [16] which they did in style by beating rival Duluth FC 6-1 in Duluth to secure the title with two games still to play. It was the third season in a row that the Crows beat Duluth to win the conference. In the playoffs, the Crows went on to the Midwest Region Final where they fell to Cleveland SC 2-0.

In September 2021, the team announced that it would join USL League Two for the 2022 season. [17]

Club culture

Called a "ramshackle, DIY soccer club" by The Growler, and not unfairly as the club has embraced that ethos both as a way to harken back to the original days of pro soccer in Minnesota and as a way to create a "people-driven alternative to corporate pro sports". [18] [19]

Minneapolis City launched a "throwback" style logo and kit before ever playing a game. The kit and logo were designed by designer Matthew Wolff, from Minneapolis, whose credits include the branding for Los Angeles FC, New York City FC, and others. [20]

Supporters

Minneapolis City is a well-supported club at its level, [21] and the Citizens supporter's group is a large reason why. [22] [23]

Known for being loud, for their tifo, and for humorous in-game heckling, The Citizens are a staple at Crows games. [24]

Affiliates

Stegman's Soccer Club is an amateur soccer club based in Minneapolis. The club fields five competitive amateur men's teams across the two major summer leagues in Minneapolis-St Paul: Stegman's 1977, Stegman's Old Boys, and Stegman's Athletic in the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League (MASL), Stegman's United and Stegman's Blues in the Minnesota Recreational Soccer League (MRSL), and various small-sided teams in various other leagues throughout the year. [25]

In 2021, Minneapolis City created the Minneapolis City Futures Program, a supplementary training program for local players under the age of 20, to bridge the gap between youth and adult soccer in the area. [26]

Rivalries

Though not technically a derby, matches between Minneapolis City SC and Duluth FC are important to supporters and, while City was in the NPSL, were important to the conference title race. [27] The famous 'donkey tifo' of 2017 helped give Duluth FC the nickname "The Donkeys."

The City-Suburbs Derby was contested over the years with Minnesota TwinStars, who typically play in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis. As with any local derby, the games were hotly contested and rife with chicanery and "technical difficulties". [28]

Starting in 2022, Stillwater-based St. Croix SC joined USL League Two and the Twin Cities Derby commenced. [29] Tightly contested on the field, the derby hasn't yet acquired broader significance or traction with supporters.

Players

Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.Squad correct as of October 2, 2023. [30]

No.Pos.Player Nation
1 GK Evan SiefkenFlag of the United States.svg  United States
2 DF Andrew SoczynskiFlag of the United States.svg  United States
3 DF Carson PinaFlag of the United States.svg  United States
4 DF Jonah GarciaFlag of the United States.svg  United States
5 DF Max KentFlag of the United States.svg  United States
6 MF Robi BuzakovicFlag of the United States.svg  United States
7 FW Steevie LamarreFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti
8 MF Jameson CharlesFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti
9 FW Hakeem MorganFlag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
10 FW Joe HighfieldFlag of the United States.svg  United States
11 MF Victor GaulminFlag of France.svg  France
12 MF Sidike JabatehFlag of Liberia.svg  Liberia
13 GK Daniel SesslerFlag of the United States.svg  United States
14 MF Morgan OlsonFlag of the United States.svg  United States
15 DF Nick KentFlag of the United States.svg  United States
16 MF Henri TophovenFlag of Germany.svg  Germany
17 FW Juan MorenoFlag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
18 DF Adam SennaFlag of the United States.svg  United States
20 DF Curtis WagnerFlag of the United States.svg  United States
21 MF Shea BechtelFlag of the United States.svg  United States
23 FW Bernard Assibey-RhuleFlag of the United States.svg  United States
24 DF Ryan KeefeFlag of the United States.svg  United States
25 FW Dennis MensahFlag of the United States.svg  United States
27 MF Scott HeinenFlag of the United States.svg  United States
28 DF Darley FlorvilFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti
30 FW Clemente Arcuch-PuigFlag of Chile.svg  Chile
31 MF Otis AndersonFlag of the United States.svg  United States
32 FW Daniel LainsburyFlag of the United States.svg  United States
33 GK Jack RoachFlag of the United States.svg  United States
51 GK Gabe KuffelFlag of the United States.svg  United States

Notable players

Minneapolis City players who have been drafted in the MLS SuperDraft include Brandon Bye (New England Revolution), Luke Haakenson (Nashville SC), Xavier Zengue (Columbus Crew), Herbert Endeley (FC Dallas), and Rory O'Driscoll (Nashville SC).

Minneapolis City players who went on to play at professional level include Brandon Bye (New England Revolution), Luke Haakenson (Nashville SC), Herbert Endeley (FC Dallas), Loic Mesanvi (Minnesota United), Rory O'Driscoll (Minnesota United 2), Xavier Zengue (Columbus Crew 2), Scotty Heinen (Germania Eicherscheid), Matt Gibbons (Germania Eicherscheid), Ian Smith (Oppsal IF), Jakop Popkin (AC Syracuse Pulse), Mitch Wolff (Stumptown FC), Juan Louis (Chattanooga FC), Abbai Habte (Nordvärmlands FF), Miles Stockman-Willis (Vrigstad IF) and Andy Lorei (San Diego Sockers).

Additionally, former Minnesota United player Brian Kallman turned out for the Crows in the 2017 season.

Technical staff

Statistics

Season-by-season

SeasonDivisionLeagueWinsDrawLossesRegular seasonPlayoffsOpen Cup
20164 PLA (Western Conference)3433rdDid not qualifyDid not enter
20174 NPSL (Midwest Region, North Conference)8153rdDid not qualify 1st Round, Disqualified [31]
20184 NPSL (Midwest Region, North Conference)10401stMidwest semifinal 3rd qualifying round [32] [33]
20194 NPSL (Midwest Region, North Conference)9121stMidwest semifinalDid not enter
20204 NPSL (Midwest Region, North Conference)---cancelledcancelledQualified, cancelled
20214 NPSL (Midwest Region, North Conference)11011stMidwest finalqualified, cancelled [34]
20224 NPSL (Midwest Region, North Conference)7164thDid not qualify 1st round
4 USL2 (Central Conference, Deep North Division)1296thDid not qualifyDid not qualify
20234 USL2 (Central Conference, Deep North Division)3366thDid not qualifyDid not qualify

Historic record vs opponents

[35] [36]

OpponentLeague Record

(W-D-L)

Open Cup Record

(W-D-L)

Friendly Record

(W-D-L)

Biggest

Victory

Biggest

Defeat

Aurora Borealis*0-0-01–0–00-0-0W 3–2N/A
Cedar Rapids Rampage United*0–1–10-0-00-0-0N/AL 2-4
Carpathia FC 1–0–00-0-00-0-0W 3-0N/A
Cleveland SC 0–0–10-0-00-0-0N/AL 0-2
Croatian Eagles 1–0–10-0-00-0-0W 2-1L 0-1
Dakota Fusion7–0–10-0-00-0-0W 8-0L 2-3
Des Moines Menace 0-0-20-0-10–0–1N/AL 1-4
Des Moines Wanderers*0-0-00-0-00–1–0N/AN/A
Detroit City FC 0-0-10-0-00–0–0N/AL 0-2
Duluth FC 6–2–40-0-00-0-0W 6-1L 1-2
FC Fargo*0-0-00-0-01–0–0W 6-0N/A
FC Manitoba 2-0-20-0-00–0–0W 2-1L 1-4
FC Minneapolis 0-0-00-0-01–0–0W 4-1N/A
Joy Athletic Club3–0–10-0-00-0-0W 2-0L 2-3
LaCrosse Aris FC 9–1–00-0-00-0-0W 8-0N/A
Madison 56ers*1–1–00-0-00-0-0W 3-2N/A
Rochester Med City FC 6–1–40-0-00-0-0W 2-0L 1-5
Milwaukee Bavarians 1–2–10-0-00-0-0W 1-0L 0-2
Minnesota TwinStars 3–1–40-0-00-0-0W 1-0L 0-2
Minnesota United Reserves1–1–10-0-00-0-0W 3-0L 0-1
Nebraska Bugeaters 0–0–00-0-01-0-0W 3-2N/A
Oakland County FC 0-0-01–0–00-0-0W 2-1N/A
Peoria City 0-1-20–0–00-0-0N/AL 0-2
RKC Third Coast0-0-20–0–00-0-0N/AL 3-5
Rochester FC 0-1-10–0–00-0-0N/AL 1-5
Rochester Lancers 0-0-00–0–10-0-0N/AL 1-2
St. Croix Legends1-1–30-0-00-0-0W 2-1L 1-2
Sioux Falls Thunder9–1–00-0-00-0-0W 6-1N/A
Thunder Bay Chill 0-1-30–0–00-0-0N/AL 1-3
Union Dubuque FC 0–0–00-0-01-0-0W 7-0N/A
Viejos son los Trapos FC*4–0–00-0-00-0-0W 5-1N/A

*Team folded

Honors

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Premier Soccer League</span> Football league

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American men's soccer league. The league is officially affiliated to the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and has automatic qualification for the U.S. Open Cup. It is the successor of the Men's Premier Soccer League, a regional league originally based in the Western United States, which has now expanded nationwide to encompass teams from 29 states. The league's motto is "A National League with a Regional Focus".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erie Commodores FC</span> Soccer club

Erie Commodores FC is an American soccer team based in Erie, Pennsylvania which competes in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a nationwide amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team plays its home matches at Saxon Stadium on the campus of Mercyhurst University. In 2021, the Commodores added a pro-am women's team to play in United Women's Soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Revolution FC</span> Soccer club

Georgia Revolution FC is an American soccer club based in McDonough, Georgia, United States. The team competes in the Southeast Conference of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth tier of the United States soccer league system. The NPSL is officially affiliated to the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and qualifies for the U.S. Open Cup. It is generally considered to be the level of competition behind Major League Soccer (MLS), the USL Championship, USL League One, and roughly equal with USL League Two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami FC</span> American soccer team

Miami FC is an American professional soccer team based in Miami, Florida that competes in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlon Hairston</span> American soccer player

Marlon Hairston is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder and full-back for USL Championship club Hartford Athletic.

Harrison William Heath is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFC Ann Arbor</span> Soccer club

AFC Ann Arbor is an American soccer club based in Ann Arbor, Michigan with a men's team that has played in USL League Two since 2020 and a women's team that has played in USL W League since 2020. The men's team played in the National Premier Soccer League from 2016 to 2019, and the women's team played in the United Women's Soccer during its inaugural 2019 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FC Wichita</span> Soccer club

FC Wichita is a soccer club based in Wichita, Kansas that plays in USL League Two's Heartland Conference. The club was a member of the Heartland Conference in the National Premier Soccer League, a national semi-professional league at the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid, up until the end of the 2019 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Premier League of America</span> Association football league

The Premier League of America (PLA) was an American soccer league consisting of teams in cities in the Great Lakes region of the United States. The league was a part of the United States Adult Soccer Association. It began its first season of play in 2015 as the Great Lakes Premier League, and at the end of the 2017 season its member clubs moved to form the Midwest Conference of the United Premier Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duluth FC</span> American soccer club

Duluth FC is an amateur men's soccer club based in Duluth, Minnesota. The club currently competes in the NPSL Midwest Region’s North Conference. The club's colors are green and blue, and plays its home matches at Duluth Public Schools Stadium in West Duluth.

The 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 104th edition of the oldest ongoing competition in American soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Independent Soccer Association</span> Third division American soccer league

The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is in the third tier of American soccer and began play in 2019. NISA initially used a fall-to-spring season format with a winter break but have switched to spring-to-fall which is more common in the United States.

The 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 105th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, a knockout cup competition in American soccer. It is the oldest ongoing competition in the United States and was contested by 97 teams from leagues in the U.S. system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nashville SC</span> American soccer club

Nashville Soccer Club is an American men’s professional soccer club based in Nashville, Tennessee. The team began play in Major League Soccer in 2020 as a continuation of the USL club of the same name and plays its home matches at Geodis Park. It is principally owned by John Ingram, owner of Ingram Industries, along with investors and partial owners the Turner family of Dollar General Stores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland SC</span> Soccer club

Cleveland SC is an American semi-professional soccer club based in the Greater Cleveland, Ohio region. Cleveland competes in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) as part of the Midwest Region's Great Lakes Conference. The club was established on February 19, 2018, taking over from the recently defunct AFC Cleveland as the city's representative in the NPSL.

The 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 106th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, a knockout cup competition in American soccer. It is the oldest ongoing competition in the United States, and was contested by 84 teams from leagues in the U.S. system.

The 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was planned to be the 107th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, a knockout cup competition in American soccer. Atlanta United FC was the defending champion after defeating Minnesota United FC in the 2019 final. The competition was suspended on March 13, 2020, before the first round fixtures, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and later canceled on August 17. Despite the tournament's cancelation, the spot for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League was awarded to the defending champion, Atlanta United FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampa Bay Rowdies U23</span> American soccer team

The Tampa Bay Rowdies U23 were an American semi-professional soccer team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. They were the reserve club of USL Championship club Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The 2021 National Premier Soccer League season was the 19th season of the National Premier Soccer League and part of the 109th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States. The 2020 season was cancelled after five weeks of play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Miami FC, the defending league champions from 2019, left in the previous off-season and joined the National Independent Soccer Association and later the USL Championship.

Rory O'Driscoll is an American soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for Minnesota United FC 2 in the MLS Next Pro.

References

  1. ↑ "minneapolis City SC". Premier League of America. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  2. ↑ "CITY MOVE TO THE WEST BANK".
  3. ↑ "Minneapolis – City By Nature". Minneapolis Sports. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Thousands of crows roost nightly near downtown Mpls". February 4, 2014.
  5. ↑ Marthaler, Jon (February 12, 2016). "Soccer Insider: Minneapolis City seeks to fill the void left by United". Star Tribune .
  6. ↑ "Punk Rock Soccer: An Interview With Dan Hoedeman of Minneapolis City SC". American Pyramid Blog. February 6, 2016.
  7. ↑ "SSC Minneapolis City Joins PLA". pla-soccer.com. January 13, 2016. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  8. ↑ "West Division – 2016". Premier League of America. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Minneapolis City Draws in Debut: Bavarians 0, Crows 0". May 22, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Crows 2, Eagles 1: Minneapolis City Grinds Out Victory in Home Debut – FiftyFive.One". May 28, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Minneapolis City 2, Oakland County 1: Crows Extra-Time Winners in Open Cup Debut – FiftyFive.One". October 23, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Minneapolis City SC Joins the NPSL" (Press release). National Premier Soccer League. December 14, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Minneapolis City SC Disqualified From U.S. Open Cup – FiftyFive.One". February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Soccer: Marthaler's Short Takes – Star Tribune". Star Tribune . July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Minneapolis City Hands Duluth FC 1st Home Loss". CBS Duluth. July 7, 2019.
  16. ↑ "NPSL North Round Up Week 11". epluribusloonum.com. E Pluribus Loonum. July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Crows Join USL League Two for 2022 Season". mplscitysc.com. Minneapolis City SC. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  18. ↑ "The 'ramshackle', DIY soccer club bringing a new sense of fun to the pitch". July 6, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Why Players Pick Minneapolis City SC – FiftyFive.One". January 23, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  20. ↑ "A Logo Design from Scratch: The L.A. Soccer Team's Mark – How Design". March 7, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  21. ↑ Terada, Souichi (July 5, 2019). "Minneapolis City soccer club fills niche between college, pro levels". Star Tribune .
  22. ↑ Norling, Ashle (May 13, 2017). "Meet Minneapolis City SC". E Pluribus Loonum .
  23. ↑ "Taking Attendance: The NPSL". November 22, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Northern Exposure: Minneapolis City Sc". May 8, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Old MASL website". Minnesota Amateur Soccer League.
  26. ↑ "Futures". Minneapolis City SC - Uncorporate Soccer. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  27. ↑ "BlueGreens Best Crows in Budding Rivalry". June 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Technical Difficulties: And NPSL North Drama". May 22, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  29. ↑ "St Croix Legends Are Off The Blocks". May 28, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  30. ↑ "The Team". Mpls City SC. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Minneapolis City Out of U.S. Open Cup". Minneapolis City SC. February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  32. ↑ Rueter, Jeff (May 24, 2018). "$10,000 flights and personal credit: How the US Open Cup cripples smaller clubs". The Guardian. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Minneapolis City out of Open Cup as Stegman's fall to Rochester RiverDogz". FiftyFive.One. November 20, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  34. ↑ "Open Cup Committee Determines 2021 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Will Not Be Held This Spring". U.S. Soccer Federation. April 16, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Minneapolis City Schedule & Results". August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  36. ↑ "Minneapolis City SC". August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  37. ↑ "Minneapolis City SC Defeats Duluth FC 4-2 to Claim North Conference Title". National Premier Soccer League. July 2, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  38. ↑ "National Premier Soccer League". npsl.bonzidev.com. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  39. ↑ Norling, Ashle (July 15, 2021). "NPSL North Round Up: Weeks 8-10". E Pluribus Loonum. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.