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"I am very pleased with the growth of the league" stated BSL president Dennis Ott. "We started with only five teams in 2004; at this winter's organizational meeting we had over 20 different representatives present. Sixteen of those teams signed up by registration time and one additional team [the Bearz] also made the deadline."
Nine clubs will play in the first division and eight clubs will compete in the second division. The league also features a limited schedule of interdivisional matches which will not count in the standings. Teams will play for their division's championship; the top four teams from each group will then compete in their division's tournament, with the winners facing each other for the Blossomland Cup.
The 2008 regular season runs from Apr. 27 - July 10. According to BSL vice president Octavio Latino, with two divisions the process of relegation and promotion will be instituted. "Next season the bottom two teams in the first division will move down to the second division, and the top two teams in the second division will take their place. Of course, if we get new additions in 2009 we will need to adjust the divisions accordingly. In future any new team will come into the league in the second division."
Last year twelve teams participated in the Blossomland Soccer League. All but one returns [Internationals], and one of last year's teams has been reconfigured and bears a new name [Bearz]. Two clubs return from past seasons [Jaier from 2005 and Buchanan FC from 2006], two have added reserve squads [Kickers and Diamonds], and the Niles' teams have divided into the youth-oriented RAP and the more veteran Wolverines.
The league tournament begins July 17 with four games; the tourney semi-finals will be played at the St. Joe Kickers Club in Arden on July 20 and the Blossomland Cup will also be held there on July 27. Most games will be played on Thursdays and Sundays. There is no admission to the matches.
FIRST DIVISION
REAL DOWAGIAC
Real Dowagiac won the 2008 BSL championship but was soundly defeated, 5-0, by the St. Joe Kickers in the Blossomland Cup --- the same score by which Real defeated the Kickers during the regular season. This was the second year in a row that Real was upset in Cup play: in 2006, sixth-place finisher Whirlpool upended the Dowagiac squad in the tournament semi-finals.
Real Dowagiac features five Hernandezes, one of whom, Alejandro, is the BSL's all-time leading scorer with 46 career markers in three seasons. Last year he surpassed his brother, Ishmael, as the circuit's career scoring champion. Ishmael is now in third place with 41 goals in four years. Mauricio Mancera, 2007's "Golden Boot" winner with 21 goals, will also provide offense for a team that finished 11-1-2 a year ago.
Real has moved their home field to Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs, where they will share the pitch with three other BSL teams. After departing the confines of Southwestern Michigan College, the roomier field at Andrews could prove a test for the legs of this mostly veteran club.
Real Dowagiac opens their season on Apr. 27 when they travel to Rockey Weed Field in Stevensville to take on Dura Mold FC. Last year the underdog squad from Stevensville gave Real all they could handle. Only a late goal by the league champions allowed them to escape with a 1-1 tie.
ST. JOE KICKERS
The 2005 BSL champions placed second in 2007 for the second straight year. But due to a strong tournament run, the Germans finished with the league's best record (12-1-1) and won the Blossomland Cup for the second consecutive season. The Kickers have secured a regular season or Cup championship in all four of the league's campaigns, compiling a 39-6-2 record along the way.
Berrien Springs High School varsity coach Nick Lesch will serve only as Kickers' mentor after retiring from first division competition as a player. He will be assisted by Dowagiac High School junior varsity coach Craig Black. Jason and Andrew Girvan will continue to anchor the team. Jason looks to return as the Kickers' top scorer (he found the net a dozen times in '07) and Andrew will lead the defense after making a strong comeback from an injury that forced him to sit out the 2006 season. Dowagiac graduate Tony Black will also contribute to the Kickers' attack. Although his goal production fell off last year, he still stands in third place for the league's career mark with 42 tallies.
After taking the Blue and White to an undefeated indoor season, Brandon Schmaltz, Nick Sherrill, and Andrew Maier expect to continue their success. They will be helped by two Southwestern Michigan College standouts, Aaron Haack and Tony Schmitt. Former Whirlpool netman Rob Scudder will seek to win the chief goalkeeping duties from two-year starter Tim Smith.
St. Joe launches its season on May 4, when they travel to Rockey Weed Field to take on Whirlpool United at 4:00pm.
DIAMONDS UNITED
The Diamonds rebounded from a losing record in 2006 to finish third in '07 with an enviable 9-2-1 mark. BSL vice president Octavio Latino's team returns many of its top players, including assistant coaches Miguel Irwin and LynRoy Palmer, top scorer Normanh Ramirez, and veterans Doug Pittman and Claston "Junior" Reid.
In addition to their premier first division squad, the Diamonds' organization has added a reserve team which will play in the second division. Coach Latino stated that "this will help some of the depth issues we have had in the past by providing a training ground for younger players who are not quite ready to perform at the top amateur level."
Last year the Diamonds were the first Blossomland club to compete for the statewide adult league championship when they hosted Arandas FC. Although the locals went down in defeat, Arandas --- which used all-star players from other Detroit-area elevens --- took notice back to the east side of the state that adult soccer has matured in Southwest Michigan.
Winning is not the only goal for the Diamonds. Latino stated "The main standards both of the Diamonds Premier and Reserves are to keep a good reputation for discipline and sportsmanship. It's not just about the result, it is also about enjoying soccer, making friends, and helping local soccer talent grow."
The Diamonds will once again play their home games at Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs, where many of the team's players have connections to the Adventist Church and Andrews University. The Diamonds will host P&R FC on Sun., Apr. 27 at 4:00pm to start their season.
WHIRLPOOL UNITED
Whirlpool's 2007 offensive output belied its 7-4-1 record. Their leading scorers, Mike Dalton and Richard Love, contributed only seven goals each. But outstanding goalkeeping by former Lakeshore Lancer Rob Scudder gave this company team an average goal difference of two points per game on the plus side. This year Scudder has transferred to the Kickers and Whirlpool has added Brad Rudasill to play between the posts.
Other major changes in Whirlpool's line-up include the acquisition of Diamonds' forward Jonatan Martinez, and in a demonstration of quid pro quo, former Kicker Andrew Pyzik was hired by the Whirlpool Corporation and will now play for the Benton Harbor-based squad. Veteran player/coach Marcelo Castro will share managerial duties with Tomas Diaz.
Whirlpool's current roster features players from nine different countries --- definitely the BSL's most ethnically-diverse contingency --- with players from four different continents. The team is directly sponsored by the Whirlpool Hispanic Network, which supports the growth of "futbol" in Southwest Michigan.
Whirlpool is one of three teams that will share Rockey Weed as its home. Whirlpool opens their 2008 campaign when they travel to Ott Field in Bridgman to take on P&R FC on Thurs., May 1 at 6:30pm.
P&R FC
In 2007 P&R finished with seven wins for the second year in a row --- good for a fifth place finish and an 8-5-1 record.
Coach Dennis Ott, who is also the league's president, will be led by goalkeeper-turned-forward Casey Janick, a former St. Joseph High School overachiever now starring for Albion College. P&R will also be helped by Lakeshore High School alumnus Jon Radtke, who gained valuable college experience last fall while playing at Ancilla College.
Ott has been instrumental in helping the league run smoothly as additional clubs have joined the original five. "I am happy with how the BSL is making a name for itself around the state" asserted Ott. "Detroit no longer has a monopoly on adult premier amateur soccer. As proof, both Real Dowagiac and the St. Joe Kickers will be participating in this year's Tournament of Champions [Michigan's tournament for the top adult teams]. Every season our numbers increase and the competition becomes stronger."
P&R kicks off the BSL's regular season when they host the Diamonds' first division squad on Sun., Apr. 27 at Ott Field at 2:00pm. The field, located next to Coach Ott's home, is located near the corners of Lemon Creek and Gast Roads near Bridgman.
DURA MOLD FC
Last year Dura Mold FC, in their inaugural season, almost pulled off the upset of 2007 against league champion Real Dowagiac. A late goal by the side from the Grand Old City preserved a 1-1 tie and ultimately left Dura Mold with a 6-6-2 mark. Dura Mold is coached by Jeff Zych, former St. Joe Kicker star and St. Joseph High School coach during the school's first varsity season in 1982. Zych is aided by former Lakeshore assistant coach Hans Koppenhoefer, who also serves as DMFC's captain.
This year Dura Mold expects to make a strong bid for the title. "We spent our first season getting used to each other and playing together as a team" stated Koppenhoefer. "Now it is time for us to really make a run. We made some great transfers during the off-season and we believe that all the new players will make an immediate impact."
New additions include former St. Stephen's Villains Shane Bookwalter and Rob Grashorn, who will support Dura Mold's 2007 leading scorer Mike McCoy, and aerial threat Adam M. Hess. Former Lakeshore players Chris Froelich and Hunter Hendley have been added to the mix, as well as new goalkeeper Mike Mierau. Local soccer legend Frank Bock, Zych's predecessor as coach at St. Joseph High School in the Bears' club soccer days, will play alongside his son, Austin.
Dura Mold will play their games at the Rockey Weed Complex in Stevensville. Their first match is on opening day, Sun., Apr. 27, when they host Real Dowagiac at 2:00pm.
ST. STEPHEN'S VILLAINS
St. Stephen's Villains is a combination of former St. Joseph and Stevensville Lakeshore players, hence the name. In their sophomore season in the BSL, SSV ended the year with a 4-7-1 record and a seventh place finish
Coach Aaron Soule proved a suitable replacement for his brother Judson, who was the Villains' mentor in their inaugural campaign before a business opportunity removed him to Florida. Aaron tallied five times for the Rockey Weed-based Villains. But off-season departures will test St. Stephen's ability to remain in the first division. Leading scorer Rob Grashorn, who accounted for half of the team's 28 goals in 2007, has transferred to Dura Mold FC and taken forward Shane Bookwalter along with him.
The Villains are not getting any younger and will need to count on the efforts of former St. Joe standouts Randy Hyrns and Vilath Viengmyxay and the Dejas --- Chad and Kevin, in order to contend. The Villains also feature the league's best female player, Jenny Stringham.
St. Stephen's helps kick-off the Blossomland season when they travel to Brandywine High School in Niles to take on the Tornados on Sun., Apr. 27 at 2:00pm.
TORNADOS
The Tornados stumbled to ninth place in 2007 but avoided relegation when eighth place finisher Niles RAP opted to participate in the second division. Despite a 4-6-1 record, the Tornados pulled off one of the biggest surprises of last season by tying the St. Joe Kickers, 1-1, on May 20.
Player/coach Tony Catanzarite has added some new players that he believes are more team oriented and will play better together than last year's squad. "We are fast and tactical," stated Catanzarite. "I believe this will make up for some of the players we've lost." A big question mark will be the status of leading scorer Andy Low, who will be graduating from Albion College. Depending upon the job market, the team from the City of Four Flags may be losing their 2005 "Golden Boot" winner.
Although Dowagiac is the traditional rival of Niles, the Tornados are a haven for former Dawg players who have gotten on in years. Dawg coach Chaiwa Chende will play for Catanzarite's crew, along with fellow Chieftain soccer coaches Justin Rose and Mike Williams. Other Dawg alumni on the Tornados' roster include Brian Edgerly, Sam Preston, Robbie Hyche, and Kyle Kowalski.
Last season the Tornados moved their home field from Ballard Elementary to Brandywine High School, where they will continue to play this season. The Tornados open the year by hosting the Villains on Sun., Apr. 27 at 2:00pm.
ATHLETIC JAIER FC
Jason and Jeremy Woolery have built their Athletic Jaier youth teams into a formidable travel program and hope to do the same with this adult eleven of college-age players. Jaier participated in the Blossomland League in 2005 and finished with a 6-4-1 mark. At that time the team's biggest concern was commitment. When all players showed up, Jaier could compete against any squad in the league, but when they were short-handed they often dropped winnable games to inferior opponents. Jaier will carry a roster of 22 players this year, which should help compensate for any key absentees.
Coach Woolery will be using his Cumberland University connections to bring four players from the Lebanon, Tenn. school to the Sunset Coast this season: Joseph and Mikey John-Williams, Kempess Villafana, and Adam Owczarzak. Jaier will also feature such solid local talent as Lakeshore assistant coach Alex Boehm and Clay Hewitt, who accounted for almost half of the Dowagiac Dawgs' 30 goals last year.
Jaier will play their games at Bridgman High School, where they will open their season with a rare Saturday morning game on May 10 against crosstown rival P&R FC at 11:30am.
SECOND DIVISION
NILES R. A. P.
Although they finished in eighth place last year and were eligible to start the 2008 season in the first division, the management of Niles RAP ("Raiders and Pillagers") decided it was in the best interest of this high school-age team to participate in the primarily youth-oriented second division.
Coach Jerry Holtgren noted that for the first time in RAP's three seasons in the BSL, their roster consists entirely of high school players. "My key returners are defenders Grant Cramer and Justin Zimmerman, and midfielders Zak Herrmann and Colin Freas," added Holtgren. "These young men will play hard to make this season a success."
Last year RAP became eligible for the Blossomland Cup by upsetting their hometown rival, the Tornados, in the last game of the regular season. In the first round of the tournament, the number eight seed just narrowly missed upsetting league champion Real Dowagiac, losing on a last minute goal to the eventual tournament runners-up.
RAP will continue to play their home games at the Niles High School varsity soccer field. They open their 2008 campaign by hosting some of their former teammates, the Niles Wolverines, on Sun., May 4 at 2:00pm.
DOWAGIAC DAWGS
The Dawgs, a collection of Dowagiac Union High School players, return to BSL league action for the fifth consecutive year. Chaiwa Chende will continue to coach the squad despite playing for the first division Tornados.
Dowagiac will need to find a replacement for last year's scoring threat Clay Hewitt, who has moved on to play for Jaier. Hewitt scored 14 of the team's 30 goals in 2007. The Dawgs finished the '07 season with a 2-8-1 record, a noticeable decline from past years when their records were closer to .500.
Dowagiac Union High School varsity soccer coach Mike Williams feels that a two-division league will help clubs like the Dawgs and RAP. "A second division serves the purpose of competition very well," noted Williams. "The BSL has always helped supplement soccer for towns like Dowagiac, which is big enough to develop quality soccer players but can not sustain an extensive travel league program. By participating in the Blossomland League, our school's players are able to stay together during the off-season, which has helped our success in the fall during MHSAA play."
The Dawgs have some very good, but very young prospects that will be playing against older competition for the first time. In order to be successful they will depend upon the leadership of more experienced players, such as goalkeeper Art Springsteen, and the Soto brothers: Ben and Efrain.
The Dawgs will play their home games at the Dowagiac High School varsity soccer field. Dowagiac's curtain-raiser is on Sun., May 4 when they entertain Buchanan FC at 2:00pm.
ST. JOE KICKERS RESERVES
For the first time in 25 years the St. Joe Kickers will sponsor a reserve team. "I think the club is taking a step in the right direction with this," claimed Kickers' first division coach Nick Lesch, who will participate on the reserve team as a player. "It's a great spot for young players to develop their skills; it is also a 'home' for older players who may no longer be able to compete at the first division level, but still have something to give to the game they love."
The Reserves will be coached by Shawn Sunnarborg and assisted by Kickers' member Rose Emory. The squad will consist of players from various Southwest Michigan high schools, as well as veterans such as Lesch. "I'm hopeful that we [the older players] will be able to give some guidance to the younger guys," stated Lesch. "We'll be able to point them in the right direction and hopefully they will be able to do what our old legs won't let us do anymore!"
The Reserves will play their home games on the St. Joe Kickers "B" Field.
The Blue and White open their 2008 season on Sun., May 4 when they host the Diamonds Reserves at 2:00pm.
DIAMONDS UNITED RESERVES
Diamonds' leader Octavio Latino will emulate the Kickers by developing a "B" team of his own. Latino will play for the Reserves and coach both the Diamonds' first and second division squads. Mickey Kutzner will serve as Latino's reserve assistant. Like their parent club, the Reserves will play their home games at Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs.
"Our team has grown so much in the past two years that we needed to add a second team to accommodate for the interest" stated Latino. Latino is actually responsible for three of the league's clubs. Latino's first squad, Manchester, branched into Real Dowagiac. The Diamonds were organized in 2005 and have since developed into one of the strongest sides in the circuit.
The Diamonds Reserves consist of international players living in the Berrien Springs area as well as older players such as John Egelhaaf and Jim Harshaw, who should bring a calming influence to the eleven. The Diamonds Reserves also feature Chicago resident Andres Avendano, who will make the drive in for games.
Fittingly, the Diamonds Reserves open their season against the Kickers reserves when they make the short trip to Arden to play their "B" team counterparts on Sun., May 4 at 2:00pm.
BAD NEWS BEARZ
Last year a group of players from the River Valley area known as the Red Arrow Stampede finished the season with a 0-11-0 record after giving up 122 goals: both Blossomland League records. This year one of their players, Steve Petro, has retooled the squad and taken over duties as player/coach/manager. His new team is called the Bad News Bearz
"We had fun last year or obviously we wouldn't be back," said Petro. "But in 2008 we should be more competitive and I hope to place in the top half of the division. Most of the team consists of River Valley High School alumni who want to continue to play the 'beautiful game,' but we also have a few players who are still in high school."
Petro, who is the side's starting forward, will depend on Jason Ehlert and Dan Alden at midfield. They will be helped by current RV players Vinny Baggett and Jacob Stark. Starting sweeper Adam Schmaltz will play in front of goalkeeper Josh Hudson. The Bearz also have Brett Lewis of Lake Michigan Catholic in reserve in case Hudson is unavailable. The Bearz will play a 4-4-2 system.
For the second straight year the River Valley contingency is without a home field. BBN starts their quest for their first win when they take on Barcelona at Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs on Thurs., May 8 at 6:30pm.
BUCHANAN FC
Buchanan FC returns after a one year hiatus and will be led by player/coach Heath Warmbein. Buchanan looks to improve upon its inaugural season's record of 2-9-0 and should do so with the addition of Dave and Chad Baker, Brian McKean, and Pete Rossow. BFC's leading scorer in 2006, Doug Summers, returns, as do Alex and Andrew Gordon, and Sean Jesse.
Buchanan will use a "chip and charge" style of soccer, utilizing the wings. Warmbein noted "We like to spread the field and plan on running a 4-3-3 system all season." Warmbein continued "We have excellent team players and our new additions will give us speed and depth. This depth will give us more versatility and allow us to be more competitive."
Buchanan FC, the winners of the 2006 Sportsmanship Award, is sponsored by Buchanan Pallet Products and will play their home games at VanDenBerg Field, on the campus of Buchanan Middle School. BFC kicks-off their 2008 campaign on opening day, Sun., Apr. 27, when they travel to Andrews Academy to take-on newcomer Barcelona at 4:00pm.
BARCELONA
Everything old is new again as Barcelona, a Hispanic side from the Stevensville area, makes its reappearance, in a way, in the Blossomland Soccer League.
Many of Barcelona's players participated for La Perla in the old Tri-Country Soccer League, the non-sanctioned predecessor of the BSL. That has been six years already. Many of the untamed veterans of that past aggregation have retired, and Barcelona has replaced them with more tractable, younger talent.
Sixteen of Barcelona's nineteen players were born in Mexico, and only one Anglo, Justin Brown, appears in the line-up. The club is coached by Carlos and Francisco Morales and managed by Emmanuel Santana. The sky-blue clad team will share Andrews Academy with three other squads as their home field. Barcelona opens the 2008 season by hosting Buchanan FC on Sun., Apr. 27 at 4:00pm.
NILES WOLVERINES
Due to the growth of competitive soccer in the City of Four Flags, Niles has divided into two teams. The original franchise, RAP, is now a high school age-only aggregation, while the Viking alumni will play for the BSL's newest team, the Wolverines.
There are many similarities between the two clubs. Both sides will play their home games at Niles High School and many of the Wolverines were former RAP players. "I think the time had come to split off the older players from the high school kids" stated Niles varsity soccer coach Jerry Holtgren. "We are focusing on RAP being a team where current Niles students can compete together and build continuity, while the Wolverines provide a place for our former players to continue their involvement in this great sport."
Former Raider and Pillager Evan McCullough will coach the Wolverines. He brings along such former RAP standouts as Aaron Acevedo, Danny Rodts, Gilles Nsengiyuma, and the Peters brothers, Mat and Mike.
The Wolverines' inaugural match is a hometown rivalry on Sun., May 4 at 2:00pm when they play an "away" game on their "home" field, Niles High School, against RAP.
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