Our contribution to Buffalo.com’s “Ultimate NPSL Midwest Great Lakes Playoff Preview.”
Momentum heading into postseason: A win against FC Sparta Michigan and a draw against Detroit City FC has given Cleveland momentum going into the playoffs. Yes, Cleveland is the fourth seed and is going up against an undefeated DCFC, but they play up to the level of their competition and will be Detroit’s biggest rival and challenge of the weekend.
Regular season MVP: Goalkeeper Ben Yabrow has to be the regular season MVP for the Royals. He has been “Mr. Consistent” for Cleveland over the past two seasons, serving as an anchor and leader for the entire squad.
Team’s best unit: Goalkeeper is also the team’s best overall unit with Yabrow, Alex Ivanov, and Anthony Flowers all capable of starting for any NPSL team. Ivanov will likely be the starter for the Ohio State Buckeyes this fall, while Flowers is expected to be a Division I college recruit in the very near future.
Depth: AFC Cleveland’s roster is very deep, giving head coach Andy Hoggarth lots of options. Players come from a variety of college programs from small NCAA Division III schools like Mount Union University to the biggest and best in the collegiate game like the University of Akron.
Potential weaknesses: AFC Cleveland has struggled to live up to the success of last season, as their inaugural campaign saw them claim all kinds of hardware, including winning the Rust Belt Derby and the Midwest Conference Playoffs.
2013 hasn’t been so kind with just one piece of hardware—the Presidential Cup—going to the Royals. Cleveland has been victimized by bad luck throughout the season, but they hope the playoffs will turn things around.
Dark horse: A player to watch for is midfielder Keisuke Ohata from Tokyo, Japan. He recently joined the Royals from Kokugakuin Kugayama and has provided a spark for the Cleveland attack. He has great pace and excellent footwork, making him capable of breaking a big play at any moment.
Closing outlook: Cleveland can realistically repeat as conference champions if they defeat DCFC in the opening match, which is a daunting task. However, the rivalry between Cleveland and Detroit is big in every sport, and the AFCC/DCFC matches always live up to that billing.
The Royals will need career games from Vinny Bell and Tommy Schmitt in the attack, while Yabrow and Carter Poe will be counted on to lead the defense.
The Midwest Region is one of the strongest in all of the NPSL. Whomever advances to face Quad Cities in the final faces an even stiffer challenge. QCFC has been one of the league’s strongest teams all season, a squad that is truly clicking on all cylinders. Quad Cities also has the advantage of having an extra week to rest and prepare as they host the regional final on July 20 in Bettendorf, Iowa.
