By By CHRIS HAACK / Special to the Daily Star
The Blossomland Soccer League will soon kick-off its fourth year of adult premier play in Southwest Michigan.
The league has increased to twelve teams, with all but one of 2006's 10 teams returning. Two hundred twenty-one players from 23 countries will take part in the 2007 campaign, which begins April 26 when P&R FC hosts newcomers Berrien Springs Internationals at Ott Field in Bridgman at 6:30 p.m.
After a year of contraction the league has expanded with the addition of the Internationals, Duramold FC, and the Red Arrow Stampede. According to league registrar Paul Pantaleo, three other teams sought membership in the league but did not have their paperwork in order before the registration deadline.
"It is unbelievable how interest in the BSL has grown," Pantaleo said. "When we organized the predecessor to this league in 2003 (the unaffiliated Tri-County Soccer League), we were hopeful that we could get four teams. Now we are up to an even dozen and have players from as far away as Detroit and Chicago participating."
Blossomland Soccer League president Dennis Ott is satisfied that the league provides an opportunity for the majority of former high school players who, prior to the formation of the league, would never have kicked a soccer ball again.
"There are approximately 20 high schools in Southwest Michigan with soccer. If you figure an average team graduates about a half-dozen players annually, that's over 100 people each year that now have an outlet for their passion for the sport," he said.
And the BSL is not restricted to just post-high school players. Four of the teams are composed primarily of upperclassmen which use the league as a training ground for fall interscholastic play.
"The BSL is a great mix of youths and veterans," referee coordinator Chris Haack said. "Our uppermost goal is to promote respect for the game and respect for others. Championships are nice, but the main focus of the teams in the BSL is the advancement of positive soccer for Southwest Michigan. And so far, with rare exceptions, the individuals involved in this league have supported that principle."
The 2007 regular season runs from April 26-July 17. The top eight teams will compete for the Blossomland Cup, with the finals to be played at the St. Joe Kickers Club on Sunday, July 29.
Most games will be played on Thursdays and Sundays, with no games scheduled on Saturdays in order to accommodate the large number of Adventists who participate in the league.
Real Dowagiac
Real Dowagiac is the favorite to win the 2007 BSL championship.
Real captured the 2006 regular season title with a record of 8-0-1 but were upset in Blossomland Cup play by sixth-place finisher Whirlpool United.
The squad features five Hernandezes, one of whom, Alejandro, claimed the 2006 BSL "Golden Boot" by scoring 17 goals. Another brother, Ismael, is the Blossomland Soccer League's all-time leading scorer, averaging almost ten goals per season.
Real and their predecessor, Manchester, have established multiple BSL records. The club holds the top mark for most goals in a season (67 in 2004), and individual marks for most goals in a game (6) and season (19) – both by Ismael Hernandez in 2004. Ismael's career goal total stands at 37.
Real will play their home games at Southwestern Michigan College. At only 100 yards long it is the shortest pitch in the league, and could pose problems for visiting teams, especially when Real's skillful ball control is factored in.
Real opens the season on the road on Sunday, April 29, when they play Niles R.A.P. at Niles High School at 2 p.m.
St. Joe Kickers
The 2005 BSL champion Kickers placed second last year due to a 1-0 loss to Real Dowagiac but thanks to a strong tournament run actually finished with the league's best record (11-1) and won the 2006 Blossomland Cup. The Kickers have secured a league or Cup championship in all three seasons of the league, compiling a 27-5-1 record along the way.
Nick Lesch and Scotsman Ian Girvan will retain shared managerial duties for the Arden-based club. Girvan's sons, Andrew and Jason, will figure prominently for the team: Jason looks to return as the Kickers' leading scorer (he struck twine 10 times last season) and Andrew will anchor the defense after missing the '06 outing because of an injury.
The Kickers are further helped on defense with the addition of St. Joseph High School standout Stephen Dahn and Dowagiac stalwart Adam Hess. Hess' high school teammate, all-stater Tony Black, will add firepower to the Kickers front line.
Black accounted for 13 of the Dowagiac Dawgs' 33 goals last year to finish third in league scoring. Former Grace Christian goalkeeper Tim Smith returns to the nets for the Kickers, who do not begin their season until Thursday, May 10, when they travel to Niles High School to play R.A.P. at 6:30 p.m.
The Kickers will host the Blossomland Cup tournament championship again at their complex in Arden. This year's event will take place on Sunday, July 29.
P&R FC
After a disappointing 6-5 campaign in 2005, coach Ott's P&R FC squad rebounded to a third place finish in both league and Cup play in 2006, accumulating a 7-3-2 overall record.
Ott, who is also the league's president, has a compilation of players whose ages range from 19 to 50 years old (at the top end of the scale is the league's "grand old man," Harry Reinhardt, who recently celebrated the half-century mark).
Consistency is vital for P&R, who had twelve different players score the team's 27 goals in 2006.
Legendary St. Joseph High School goalkeeper Charley Racine returns between the sticks for P&R FC. Racine, who allowed on average only one goal per game last season, was a major reason for P&R's return to success in 2006.
Ott has high hopes for the league, and isn't afraid of thinking big.
"I'm hopeful that through the success of the Blossomland Soccer League, Southwest Michigan may one day be able to support a PDL team (The PDL is the Professional Development League, a minor league division of the professional United Soccer League)," he said.
P&R kicks off the BSL's regular season when they host the Berrien Springs Internationals on April 26 at Ott Field. The field, located next to Coach Ott's home, is located near the corners of Lemon Creek and Gast Roads near Bridgman.
Diamonds United
Along with the Dowagiac Dawgs and Whirlpool United, the Diamonds United finished with a 4-5 regular season mark in 2006, but claimed a fourth place finish due to tie-breaking criteria.
Coach Octavio Latino, who is also the league's vice-president, has a core of 12 players who played indoor soccer together during the winter in South Bend, Ind. placing second in the Indiana Invaders League. Latino has "cleaned house" for the upcoming season, and the renegade players are gone.
"I want players who not only have aptitude, but are also dedicated and have respect for the game," Latino said. "The majority of the Diamonds' players this year are also community leaders, involved heavily with youth soccer and the promotion of the sport," continues Latino.
Latino is known for his open-mindedness when it comes to putting together the best possible line-up. "I have players from all over Southwest Michigan and even one from Chicago. They come from all different backgrounds (Latino has players from five different countries participating on the 2007 Diamonds) and I expect them to work together regardless of their previous experiences." he added.
Last year's co-leading scorers Doug Pittman and Augustus Sampah return to the line-up, as well as starters Jonatan Martinez and Miguel Irwin. The Diamonds have also picked up Edwardsburg High School star Philip Turner, and will put Matt Hart in goal. Hart, from Lakeshore, was voted the most valuable rookie at the Invaders Indoor League.
The Diamonds start the 2007 season by hosting league-debutant Red Arrow Stampede on Sunday, Apr. 29 at 2 p.m.
* Will continue in Wednesday's paper.