South Bend Lions FC
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 and continues today. The 2022 USL2 campaign was successful by winning the Valley Division.
![]() | |
Full name | South Bend Lions Football Club |
---|---|
Founded | November 18, 2019 |
Stadium | TCU School Field |
Capacity | 8,000 |
Owner | Ritchie Jeune |
Technical Director | Abel Zamarripa & Tory Newberg |
Head coach | Abel Zamarripa[1] |
League | USL League Two |
2023 | 7th, Great Lakes Division Playoffs: DNQ |
Website | Club website |
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.[2] The logos and colors for the club were also unveiled at a press conference held in South Bend's County-City Building.[2] 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.[2] 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.[2]
Ownership
The club's owner is Ritchie Jeune, who is also the principal owner of Kettering Town, in England's National League North, Shantou Lions FC, a club based in China.[3]
Management team
Position | Name | Nation |
---|---|---|
Technical director/Head Coach | Abel Zamarripa | ![]() |
Technical Director/Head Coach | Victor Newberg | ![]() |
Assistant Coach | ![]() | |
Equipment Manager | Ethan Villalba | ![]() |
Head Data Analyst | Michael Bellina | ![]() |
2022 Roster
Position | Name | Nation |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Jacob Madden | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | Owen Cornell | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | Johnny Guedert | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | Finn Popescu | ![]() |
Defender | Jack Empson | ![]() |
Defender | Daniel Nimick | ![]() |
Defender | Jaylen Shannon | ![]() |
Defender | Josh Ramsey | ![]() |
Defender | Jonny Mora | ![]() |
Defender | Diego Rodriguez | ![]() |
Defender | Joao De Oliviera | ![]() |
Defender | Lucas Barankiewciz | ![]() |
Midfielder | Collins Tanor | ![]() |
Midfielder | Brennan Creek | ![]() |
Midfielder | Duvan Canchila | ![]() |
Midfielder | Landon Fisher | ![]() |
Midfielder | Tim Noeding | ![]() |
Midfielder | Gabriel Nyenka Jr | ![]() |
Midfielder | Sebastian Green | ![]() |
Midfielder | Daniel Lynch | ![]() |
Forward | Fumiya Shiraishi | ![]() |
Forward | George Herbert | ![]() |
Forward | Kainan Dos Santos | ![]() |
Forward | Connor Duggan | ![]() |
Forward | Andrew Michael Andrew | ![]() |
Statistics and records
Season-by-season
- As of 22 July 2022
Season | USL League Two | Finals | USOC | CONCACAF | Top Scorer | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Position | Player | Goals | |||||
2020 | Season cancelled due to 2019-2020 Coronavirus Pandemic | |||||||||||||
2021 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 27 | 17 | 26 | 5th, Great Lakes Division | did not qualify | Ineligible | — | ![]() |
6 | |
2022 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 40 | 12 | 32 | 1st, Valley Division | Conference Quarterfinals | did not qualify | — | ![]() |
10 | |
2023 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 33 | 3 | 7th, Great Lakes Division | did not qualify | did not qualify | — | ![]() |
4 |
Youth development
The Club has grown to include a successful USL-Academy boys team that currently (Summer 2023) plays in USL-Academy League play. The Academy is coached by Tory Newberg.[4]
See also
References
- "Instagram".
- Catania, Anthony (November 19, 2019). "South Bend awarded United Soccer League team". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- "Pickering FC to rejoin L1O Premier in 2022 with new ownership". League1 Ontario. October 19, 2021.
- Hough, Austin (November 19, 2019). "South Bend Lions Football Club to debut in May 2020". Goshen News. Retrieved January 23, 2020.