Orange Legionnaire

Carbon Copy: Dutch Lions and Michigan Bucks both come into this game with 20 points, winner takes closer step to PDL playoffs and Great Lakes Division title.

The Dayton Dutch Lions (5-1-5, 20 points) enter this game looking to extend their winning streak to two straight games as they face off against the Michigan Bucks (6-2-2, 20 points) with the divisional title and PDL playoffs at stake. The Dutch Lions will feel confident going into this contest; as the Dutch Lions defeated the Michigan Bucks in late May at the Bucks indoor facility. Further, the Dutch Lions come off one of their best weeks with two solid performances against the Cincinnati Kings and Chicago Fire.

The Michigan Bucks are also in the title and PDL playoff hunt. However, the Bucks were only able to get a tie last night against Forest City London (6-1-3, 21 points), another contender, which narrows the race for the Great Lakes Division title even more so; as neither the Bucks or Forest City London could capture a vital three points.

The Dutch Lions and Michigan Bucks both need wins, not ties. The Dutch Lions will be bolstered by the return of Bret Jones and Johan Wigger who will likely start for the first time in months. The return of these two pivotal players will hopefully offset the loss of Geert den Ouden. Further, Dutch Lions Head Coach Sonny Silooy is confident that Hans van de Haar can fill in at Geert's position.

Here is what Sonny is looking for in this game:
"We know how dangerous the Michigan Bucks are. But, we'll play our same system. We'll play offensive. But, we'll play a little bit smarter than we did in the beginning of the season. And I hope we can play like the Cincinnati and Chicago games, and that's also good for the spectators."

Defensive midfielder Johan Wigger is raring for his first start since injury:
"I told Sonny when I came back from Holland, I wanted to play every match despite any sort of injury. First game back I had an injury. But, I'm ready to go now. I want to play, I always want to play."

Every game for the Dutch Lions is pivotal from here on in and the Dutch Lions will be looking for their fan support once again. The Dutch Lions are looking to celebrate "Orange, White, and Blue" on July 3rd at 7:30 p.m. with you before the "Red, White, and Blue" Independence day festivities on July 4th. Please be there to cheer loud and to back the Dutch Lions.



Go Lions!

Dayton Dutch Lions Look To Get Back To Winning Against Lynx
By Ryan Kozlowski

The Dayton Dutch Lions (3-1-3) find themselves going into a game in an unfamiliar position and that position is picking up the pieces after a defeat. The Dayton Dutch Lions dropped their first game in PDL action on Wednesday, as the speed of the Indiana Invaders and their forward Saidi Isaac on the counter was too much pace for the Dutch Lions on the road. The Dutch Lions will look to make some adjustments in defense and turn around the ship against the Toronto Lynx (0-3-0) at Miami Valley South Stadium this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Toronto Lynx should be a team that the Dutch Lions can get back in the "W" column against; this is if the orange play their game, instead of allowing the opponent to dictate the flow as Indiana was allowed to do at their Sports Complex. The Lions will have a good chance as this Toronto Lynx side has lost all three of their games so far this season and have yet to find the back of the net, while allowing eight goals.

The Dutch Lions have a real opportunity this weekend to get back-to-back wins and to regain a nice hold on the Great Lakes Division's top spot; as the Dutch Lions will face off against the Toronto Lynx on Saturday and the Cleveland Internationals on Thursday. The prospects are good for the Lions if they play well as the Toronto Lynx have zero points, while the Cleveland Internationals have four points in the Great Lakes Division on the season. The Dutch Lions have also already defeated the Cleveland Internationals by a 3-nil score. Two wins could give the Lions back the top spot as league leaders Chicago and Indiana will have tougher opponents in their next two games.



The Dutch Lions game against Toronto commences a busy week for the Lions as this Saturday they'll face off against the Toronto Lynx at home, then battle the Rochester Rhinos in Rochester on Tuesday in Open Cup play, then play the Cleveland Internationals in Cleveland Thursday, and finally the Lions will be back home Saturday to face off against the Crew in the "Battle of Ohio."

Head Coach Sonny Silooy will have to be clinical about mixing and matching players and using his whole lineup in a way that does not weaken the squad, as the usual starting eleven cannot go for all four games. Further, the U.S. Open Cup game against Rochester will only allow five international players per Open Cup rules, so Silooy's hand may be forced to sit some of his Dutch starters and field a predominately American squad for that important fixture.

This Saturday's game promotion is Faith Night, where those in Church or Faith groups will get half-off discounted tickets. Check back here throughout the week as we'll have plenty of video footage on our websites as well as stories from the road in Rochester and Cleveland.

Dayton Dutch Lions v. FC London In A Battle For Great Lakes Supremacy
By Ryan Kozlowski

Dayton (OH)- The Dayton Dutch Lions will have a tough contest tomorrow morning at 1 p.m. as they'll face off against the only other undefeated team left in the Great Lakes Division in Forest City London (2-0-0). The game tomorrow at home is the Dutch Lions only late afternoon affair at Miami Valley South's Bellbrook Stadium this season. The Dutch Lions are inviting all Air Force personnel and employee's from Wright Patterson Air Force Base to this matchup with significantly discounted tickets, at $6 dollars for adults associated with W.P.A.F.B. and $3 dollars for their children.

Forest City London comes into Saturday's game in a little different stituation than the Dayton Dutch Lions; as Forest City London have only matched up against one team so far this season, the Toronto Lynx (0-0-2), who FC London beat twice in consecutive weeks (both times by a 3-nil scoreline). Forest City London could only play the Toronto Lynx twice to start off their season because all the other Great Lakes Division clubs were matching up for qualification for the U.S. Open Cup. Whereas, FC London and the Toronto Lynx can't compete in the U.S. Open Cup qualification as Canadian PDL clubs.

Therefore, Forest City London have some games to make up as the Dayton Dutch Lions, Michigan Bucks, Kalamazoo Outrage, and Chicago Fire have all played five games, Cincinnati has played six, while every other American PDL club in the Great Lakes Division have played four games, but London and Toronto have only played two. As a result, Forest City London is playing a doubleheader this weekend with a game tonight at 7:30 p.m. against the Cincinnati Kings (2-3-1) followed up by a early afternoon affair 60 miles North in Dayton against the Dutch Lions at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

However, the Dayton Dutch Lions are not going to look at Forest City London's back-to-back, busy workload as a huge advantage:

"Against an opponent like Forest City London we must work," commented Dayton Dutch Lions manager Sonny Silooy. "We cannot see any advantage from FC London playing back to back games, because I don't know them yet, they could have enough solid players for two squads, they could interchange some players and see no drop off."

The former Ajax star and Dutch National player Silooy continues:

"Were going to play our game, were going to pressure and attack. I'll have to see how the players respond; because some players can have a full week of good practices and not show up for the game. So, against a strong opponent we have to have a good read on the players and be ready to make the correct switches."

The respect appears to be mutual as Forest City London's Head Coach Martin Painter had the following to say about the Dutch Lions, “Dayton is in first place and playing at home after a week off so we expect a very challenging game."

The game will be challenging for both clubs in the afternoon heat and the winner will jump out as the sole leader in the Great Lakes Division.

LAST GAME'S OUT:

The Dutch Lions over the weekend won a physical contest against the Michigan Bucks in Michigan, now the Lions turn their sights back to their orange den (Miami Valley South Stadium) for a contest against the Indiana Invaders on Wednesday, May 26th at 7 p.m.. The Dutch Lions may have expected the Michigan Bucks to be their toughest opponent in the Dutch Lions early season/Open Cup qualifying schedule, but the Lions cannot overlook the Indiana Invaders who've had a strong start to their season as well. As the Invaders squad has split their two results so far this season with a 2-1 away win against the Cincinnati Kings (who the Dutch Lions tied to start the season) and a 1-0 nail biting, home defeat against the PDL Chicago Fire. The PDL Chicago Fire also appear to be the Lions toughest competitor for the Great Lakes Division's Open Cup spot which makes the Indiana Invaders nail biter (decided on a penalty kick) against the Fire even more impressive (for more breakdown on the Open Cup race, click here). Therefore, looking at the Invaders results so far this season, the Dutch Lions must be geared up for another battle tomorrow night.



The Dayton Dutch Lions are also hoping that their loyal fans will be pumped up as well considering the squad is halfway to their first goal which consists of a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup spot. The Dutch Lions want a good, boisterous crowd tomorrow that will carry the boys to victory; as Indiana and possibly even Kalamazoo both look to be stiffer tests for the Lions than the two teams that Chicago still has to play (Cincinnati and Cleveland).

Head Coach Sonny Silooy last night on the game against the Indiana Invaders:
"I expect this to be one of our tougher games of the season. The team is getting better and better. But the pressure is on us to win at home and to be the best because were the Dutch Lions."

This was also the consensus in interviews with four Dutch Lion players with WDTN Channel 2 NBC last night, link here. As the players said that the team is getting better and better but that the Dutch Lions will not be underestimating the Indiana Invaders.

Also expect the Dutch Lions to come out and press the whole game because if the Dutch Lions win all four of their games and the PDL Chicago Fire win all four of theirs as well then the team with the greater goal differential will be invited to the U.S. Open Cup. Currently, the Dutch Lions (+4) lead the PDL Chicago Fire (+3) on goal differential.

Many different groups have been invited to tomorrow's game for free as a part of Chipotle Group Night, to see if you have been invited or can still be included check out the following link.

Go Lions!

Quotes from Dayton Dutch Lions Head Coach Sonny Silooy in video below.

Here's a video I took from practice tonight with quotes from Dayton Dutch Lions Head Coach Sonny Silooy, and Dayton Dutch Lion midfielders Alex VanderSluijs and Bas Ent:


I wanted to get a podcast up tonight but my car almost blew up when I tried to start it after practice (not joking) so I've been having a real bad night and got sidetracked. Next week, I'll have one up for sure, as long as my life gets back to normal here.