By Zander Plizga

Flint, MI – The Men’s First Team took home the club’s first-ever USL 2 playoff victory in a dominant 1-0 performance over Northern Indiana FC. This victory saw Steel City improve to a (10-0-3) record on the season, and they notched yet another clean sheet, which saw them cross another double-digit milestone.

Facing Adversity

Smoke and smog from wildfires in Canada had trickled down into the Michigan area, and over the past two days, it was a big concern when and where this match would take place. Early this morning, the USL 2 decided that playing outdoors at Atwood Stadium would put too many players and fans at health risk. The match was moved indoors to Legacy Sports Complex, but this hiccup did not stifle Steel City.

Hot Start

Steel City threatened early, in the second minute of the match, Luke Fiscus (Duquesne ’28) fired a ball up the line to Nick Graeca (John Carroll ’25), whose one-time shot was dragged just wide of the frame.

Photo Cred: Randy Warner

Just three minutes later, Steel City created another promising chance when Ryan Kopay (FDU ’27) forced a turnover high up the pitch and committed the center backs before slipping Johan Nissen-Lie (Bellarmine ’28) in on goal. Nissen-Lie was closed down from behind, and the goalie read the shot well, keeping the game at nil all inside of five minutes. These two linked up for another chance just four minutes later. Kopay found a pocket in between the opposing midfield and backline, then turned and played a driven cross between the backline into a diving Nissen-Lie, whose outstretched effort rang off the bar.

Nissen-Lie’s future college teammate Nick Niebauer (Bellarmine ’30) got in on the action when, in the 38th minute, he received a long ball and beat his defender with a wonderful chest-first touch. He then drove inside the six and fired a shot near post from a tight angle. The opposing keeper fumbled the shot off the post and just managed to keep it from crossing the goal line.

Second Half Standard

Steel City really got into the game in the second half, moving the ball quickly and thoughtfully, forcing Northern Indiana FC into a low block. The lone goal of the match came off a Steel City 18 pass move that was punched home by Nissen-Lie. After swinging the ball from side to side among the backline, a forward ball and link up between Nissen-Lie and Anass Hadran (RMU ’26) found a deep ball into Graeca, who cut the ball back to Nissen-Lie, and he hit the shot first time to the far post, leaving the goalie no chance.

Photo Cred: Randy Warner

Keeping it Clean

This marked Josh Lane (RMU ’27) and this Steel City team’s 10th clean sheet of the season, and this defensive unit continues to show its grit and commitment to working for each other. Lane wasn’t tested much but came up big with two major saves. The first came in the 19th minute, when a loose ball fell inside the six and a Northern Indiana player tried to poke it past Lane, who sprawled out making a kick save. He was called to action again in the 74th minute when he stood tall and took a shot off the shoulder from a deep diagonal cross in between center backs.

Up Next

Steel City FC returns to action Sunday, July 19th, when they take on Flint City Bucks, in a rematch of last year’s USL 2 Playoff first round. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.

Sunday’s game will be broadcast on SportsEngine.

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