Kalamazoo FC Earns Home Weekend Split

Kalamazoo FC, the lone elite-level soccer team in Southwest Michigan, opened their home schedule at Mayors Riverfront Park over the weekend with a pair of solid matches.

AFC Ann Arbor - Friday

In the opener, the Teals host AFC Ann Arbor in National Premier Soccer League action, looking to earn their first win of the season. After a scoreless first half, the Mighty Oaks would gain momentum in the second half after a Kalamazoo FC own goal in the 60th minute.

Ann Arbor's Diego Suarez would score in the 79th minute to put the game away with a 2-0 final. The loss for KzFC would put them at 0-2-0 in the NPSL competition following an earlier 2-0 loss to Ann Arbor May 14th.

For his defensive efforts, Kalamazoo FC's Ade Adeniyi received the Hardest Working Player Award for the game.

La Liga Latina All-Stars - Sunday

In the other weekend contest Kalamazoo FC welcomed the all-star members of Southwest Michigan's Hispanic League, La Liga Latina, for an exhibition match (a friendly, for the soccer fans). The Teals wore their road purple kit for the match.
The game was instantly competitive, as La Liga would score off a misdirected shot from the near sideline to go up 1-0 in the 12th minute.

The match was knotted up at 1-1 just two minutes later as KzFC midfielder Rocky Guerra would plant a shot in the net with a Xahne Reid assist. Guerra would get another goal in the 43rd minute to give The Teals a 2-1 lead at the half.

KzFC would add two more goals in the second half, both from Adeniyi in the 68th and 90th minute for the 4-1 final. Esteban Russell and Hunter Vanderboom would add respective assists.

With an equal balance of defense and his first two goals on the season, Adeniyi earned his second straight Hardest Working Player of the game.

The Week Ahead

Kalamazoo FC has a single match for the Memorial Day Weekend on Friday, as they host FC Indiana in NPSL action. FC Indiana is in their first year in the Great Lakes Conference and seeking their first win on the season.

The lone advantage in the early season is that FC Indy has two goals on the season, but have allowed 13 goals in two games. KzFC has yet to score in two NPSL matches while allowing four.

It will be the first of two straight matches between the two clubs, with the Teals hosting this Friday. Tickets are still available for the 7pm contest at Mayors Riverfront Park.