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Category Archives: AFC Cleveland

AFC Cleveland Falls to Sparta in Shocker

Photo Credit: Pam Moody/ISNSoccer.com

Jesus Ginez and FC Sparta Michigan spoiled AFC Cleveland’s home opener on Friday night with a sneaky goal in the 89th minute. The goal gave the visiting side a 1-0 victory in their first-ever NPSL game.

It was an even match with both teams having their share of scoring chances. Vinny Bell and Tommy Schmitt were both effective in the attack for the hometown Royals, a squad that held an edge in possession on the night.

Bell would clank a shot off the crossbar late in the first half, while Schmitt constantly tested the Sparta backline as he tried to get behind defenders in the attack.

“I think we just need to get together more,” Schmitt remarked. “We were only together for two weeks. We got unlucky and lost 1-0. We are going to focus on chemistry and getting game fitness back.”

The weather was less than optimal as a day of showers and storms turned Krenzler Field into a fast and slick surface. Fans and supporters from the 6th City Syndicate braved the elements to enjoy the beautiful game in its return to downtown Cleveland.

Photo Credit: Pam Moody/ISNSoccer.com

“It’s nice being down here in a more intimate atmosphere, where you can really hear the noise,” Cleveland head coach Andy Hoggarth commented.

The game seemed to be headed to a draw after a 0-0 score at the end of the first half.

The teams continued to trade chances after the break, including a near miss from Cleveland attacker Ryan Minick in the 74th minute. But it was Ginez that scored the game-winner for the expansion Sparta side with literally moments to spare.

“They played it in,” Ginez said when asked about his goal. “It kind of bounced around there. I just hit it with my right foot.”

“We honestly didn’t know what it was going to be like,” Ginez added. “It felt good out there though.”

The 1-0 win gave the visitors three points to start their inaugural season, while Cleveland must look to road games at Detroit and Zanesville to advance up the league table.

“Possession is great, but possession with no purpose to it really isn’t great,” Hoggarth added. “We didn’t test their goalkeeper enough.”

Subside Sports Man of the Match: Tommy Schmitt, AFC Cleveland

Event Photos

2013 NPSL Great Lakes Conference Preview

FC Sparta Michigan will play their home matches at Hurley Field in Berkeley, MI.  The team is led by CEO Eric Kallis, Director of Operations James Babb, and Head Coach George Kallis.

“Fans should know that our club is not only instilling the concept of winning in the minds of our players but the concept that hard work will lead to success,” Eric Kallis stated.

Sparta joins a vibrant soccer market with great tradition and talent, something the organization has embraced in preparation for their inaugural season.

“The greatest feeling in the world is when you step out onto the pitch knowing that you will succeed because you take a look around and see your 10 best friends playing next to you,” Eric Kallis added.

Detroit City FC had success in their first season, on and off the pitch.  They return to their fortress at Cass Technical High School in downtown Detroit.  DCFC prides themselves in strong attendance numbers, a large supporters’ group, and their charitable work in the community.

They are led on the pitch by 2012 captain and defender Josh Rogers.

Photo Credit: DCFC/Jon DeBoer

Attacker Adam Bedell is a Livonia product that stars at the University of Detroit Mercy. He is expected to pack some scoring punch as he did at the collegiate level, leading the Horizon League with 11 goals and 27 points.

Knox Cameron is a former Columbus Crew striker, who played in 30 games and scored 4 goals for the MLS side.

“No matter what way you enter the match, you must keep the ball,” DCFC Head Coach Ben Pirmann said. “The best teams in the world keep the ball. We have special players on this team and the fans deserve to see their special flair.”

FC Buffalo returns to 4,000 seat Robert E. Rich All High Stadium in 2013, a stadium that was opened in 1926 and designed after the European soccer stadiums of the time.

Defenders Jake Rinow (Cornell) and Adam Lauko (Wisconsin), midfielder Andrew Bednarsky (St. Lawrence University), and goalkeeper Kareem Gray (Canisius) are all expected to be impact players for the 2013 FCB squad.

COO Scott Frauenhofer, GM Nick Mendola, and Director of Partnerships Brent Garner all lead Buffalo’s front office.

FC Buffalo is very excited about the direction they are heading in 2013. The addition of new head coach Brendan Murphy has seen the club undergo a change in culture. The club believes that Coach Murphy is a perfect conduit for player development as FC Buffalo seeks to become a destination for the top U.S. and international players in the NPSL.

“We’ve had seven players move on to sign professional contracts in our first three seasons,” Frauenhofer remarked. “Our dedication this year is to winning and we know we have to do it in a very difficult conference, but we are up to the challenge.”

The Erie Admirals play their home games at Cathedral Prep Events Center, a facility that seats 2,500 and features an artificial turf surface.  Goalkeeper Dan Mudd and forward Afrim Latifi are two players that have been with the Admirals for five seasons. The team is counting on their ability and leadership to make sure there is continuity year after year.

John Melody has been the head coach since the club’s inception and purchased the team two years ago, while Neil Brown is entering his third season as associate head coach. Colleen Dixon and Debbie Boniminio are key members of Erie’s front office.

“We have a tremendously strong conference and our goal is to compete week in week out,” Melody commented. “I do think in the not too distant future that the winners of our conference will also win a national championship.”

Zanesville Athletic FC is the other newcomer to the Great Lakes. They will play their home matches at Maysville Athletic Complex, a state of the art facility that features an artificial turf surface.

Tyler Drumm (IUPUI), Smart Osadolor (Tiffin), and John Barr (Muskingum) are being counted on as key contributors to the 2013 ZAFC squad.

The team is led by Head Coach Brenton Dawson, GM Lou Cancasci, and President Josh Stocker.

“ZAFC is going to be competitive in every match,” Stocker said. “It is our goal to win all of our home matches, challenge for the conference title, help our players improve, all while playing an attractive brand of soccer.”

Photo Credit: Cleveland State University

AFC Cleveland marks the return of top-flight soccer to downtown Cleveland with their move to Krenzler Field on the Cleveland State University campus.

Forward Tommy Schmitt (Akron) and defensive midfielder Carter Poe (Duquesne) return for the Royals, anchoring the attack and the defense. Dan O’Callaghan (Hiram) is a newcomer that is expected to have an impact on the Cleveland backline.

Cleveland’s coaching staff includes head coach Andy Hoggarth with Aaron McGuiness, Chris Limle, and Marquis Walker all serving as assistants. Director of Player Personnel and Scouting David Schmac leads the front office.

“It is a privilege to play in the Great Lakes Conference, one of the most competitive regions in the NPSL,” CEO Terry Lawriw stated. “It is going to be a great season for our players, staff, and supporters.”

Erie came out on top in 2012, claiming the Great Lakes Conference title in the regular season.  Cleveland won the Rust Belt Cup and advanced through the conference playoffs before falling to the Madison 56ers, just missing out on a berth in the national championship series.

A New Home for AFC Cleveland

AFC Cleveland, Northeastern Ohio’s only top-flight soccer team, is proud
to announce that Krenzler Field in downtown Cleveland will be the site for all of their 2013 NPSL regular season matches.

“It is great to partner with such a great facility, a facility that will
provide an intimate atmosphere for our fans and supporters,” AFC Cleveland
Chairman Terry Lawriw stated. “We are thrilled to bring soccer back to
downtown Cleveland.”

Both Byers Field and the stadium at Brecksville-Broadview Heights HS are
being renovated and were unavailable for any events, including the NPSL
season.

Krenzler Field became the Cleveland State University’s first outdoor
athletic venue in 1985 at a cost of $1.9 million.

The field is located at the northwest corner of the CSU campus. The
facility includes seating for 1,680, an electric scoreboard and clock, two
36-person team locker rooms, a referee locker room, a training room, and public restroom facilities.

The pitch features a FieldTurf playing surface.

The facility is named in honor of Judge Alvin I. Krenzler, a long-time
supporter of the university.

Krenzler Field has been a major part of Cleveland soccer history, thanks
to the great success of the CSU soccer program and the USL-2 Championship
from the City Stars in 2008.

AFC Cleveland Announces Title Sponsor

AFC Cleveland is proud to announce that Rocky River and Ridge Park Urgent Care Centers will be the title sponsor for the team’s 2013 NPSL season.

The partnership brings AFC Cleveland their first title sponsor and provides massive exposure for the local healthcare company, including visibility on the team’s home and away jerseys.

“We are excited to have Rocky River and Ridge Park Urgent Care Centers as our title sponsor for the 2013 season,” AFC Cleveland Chairman Terry Lawriw stated. “They are leaders in their field and are going to be great community partners for our entire organization.”

It is an exciting partnership for both sides.

“We are proud to sponsor the AFC Cleveland soccer team,” commented Chris Smith of Rocky River and Ridge Park Urgent Care Centers. “We hope they have a successful season.”

Rocky River and Ridge Park Urgent Care Centers are family-owned and operated since 1999. The centers are open every day providing quality healthcare for minor illnesses and injuries in Rocky River on Detroit Road and in Brooklyn behind the Ridge Park Shopping Center. The centers offer occupational medicine for employers and on-site lab and X-ray for diagnostic testing. Most insurances are accepted.

AFC Cleveland’s Hoggarth is now a Zip

The University of Akron women’s soccer program announced the hiring of Andrew Hoggarth to Assistant Coach on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

“We are excited after an exhausting search that Andy chose to accept our offer to be a part of our staff and program.  His experience as a goalkeeper, goalkeeping coach, head coach at the collegiate level, and head coach at the professional level will bring numerous ideas and insights of the game to help our staff become better and most importantly help our players become better,” Head Coach Vernon Croft said of the hiring.

Croft continued, “Andy will fit in extremely well with our staff, and will do a great job filling the recruiting coordinator position while also taking the direction of the goalkeepers, as well an assistant in other aspects on and off the field.”

Hoggarth comes to the Zips after serving six years as head soccer coach at Thiel College from 2007-12. Hoggarth was instrumental in the recruitment and retention of student-athletes, which resulted in increased roster size, GPA, and winning percentage for both the men’s and women’s soccer programs.

Along with head coaching duties, Hoggarth sat as co-chair to the Physical Education department at Thiel College. One of his main duties was to be the chair of the coaching minor within the P.E. department.

Prior to Thiel College, Hoggarth was an associate head coach at Shenandoah University, where he also earned his Master’s in Education. Goalkeeper development and coaching was a main aspect to the position as well.

Hoggarth had also worked with Middlebrough Football Club from 2003-05 as a Health Promoter and Goalkeeper Development Officer. One of his main responsibilities in that position was to communicate the healthy lifestyle offered by soccer, and to develop and implement goalkeeper academy programs.

Before pursuing a career in coaching, he spent time as goalkeeper for several youth academies and semi-professional teams with the culmination of winning the FA Vase in 2001 with Whitley Bay FC. He has also spent time recently in 2012 as head coach of AFC Cleveland, which turned in a 6-7-2 record in his first season at the helm.

Hoggarth received his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Studies from Nothumbria University in Newcastle, England. He has also earned an Advanced National Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches of America.

Hoggarth will remain the head coach for AFC Cleveland, which plays in the NPSL during the summer months.