Believe it: Lansing Ignite is legit contender for USL League One title

Lansing Ignite is currently one of the hottest teams in the U.S. soccer landscape.

After trouncing Orlando City B, 3-0, on Saturday night at Cooley Law School Stadium in front of more than 3,200 fans, Nate Miller's squad has gone unbeaten in seven consecutive matches, and have only lost once in its last 11.

That run of form -- which saw goals from Tumi Moshobane, Elma Nfor and Rafa Mentzingen on Saturday night -- has seen the team jump from fifth place to second in USL League One with 33 points, only one point back of league leaders North Texas SC.

The Ignite's sparks are burning brightly right now, to the point where talk of lifting the USL League One trophy at season's end is a very realistic goal.

"If we keep playing the way we played (Saturday) and the game against Chattanooga, we can go all the way and maybe bring something back home," said Moshobane, who scored in both of this week's matches.

Their place in the standings comes with a caveat, though. Thanks to fitting the Ignite's home matches around the Lansing Lugnuts baseball schedule, LIFC has played a league-high 22 matches. 

North Texas and South Georgia Tormenta (third place, 30 points) have only played 18 matches, while Forward Madison (fourth place, 28 points) and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (fifth place, 28 points) have played 19. Each team plays 28 regular-season games.

Because of that, talk of Lansing being at the top of the table at season's end or hosting a playoff game will have to wait for now, thanks in large part to a league-high nine draws.

But make no mistake, the biggest trophy is on the table. The top four teams in the league make the playoffs, and Lansing, in its current form, seems like a strong possibility to make the playoffs.

"We really feel like we can push for the top of the table," Miller said. "This group has that capacity. I don't think many people thought we could, but I know we can. And you can see from the performance tonight how hungry they are."

North Texas SC is arguably the best team in the league, but Lansing Ignite hung with them in both regular-season matches -- a 2-2 home draw where North Texas scored twice after the 82nd minute, and a 3-1 away loss. LIFC drew both matches with Tormenta and owns two wins over Madison.

Lansing's offensive attack has been balanced, as it has scored a league-high 33 goals. Moshobane leads the team with five goals, while Nick Moon (4), Rafa Mentzingen (4) Pato Botello Faz (3) Alex Bruce (3) and Elma Nfor (3) are right behind. Mentzingen leads in assists (4) while Moshobane and Xavier Gomez each have three apiece. 

Saturday night's clean sheet was the team's sixth of the season, and the decision to bring in goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland on loan from MLS club Chicago Fire has paid huge dividends. You could make the case that Cleveland has been the team's most valuable player.

"We're trending in the right direction," Miller said.

Despite being unbeaten in 10 of its last 11 matches, Lansing has missed a few opportunities to pad its point total. The Ignite conceded late goals in draws vs. Toronto and Tormenta, and were on the losing side of officiating decisions that potentially cost them points vs. Chattanooga on July 6 and FC Tucson on July 13.

But finishing in the top four is the main objective. The team with the higher seed in both the semifinals (1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3) and the final will host those games.

But will Lansing finish in the playoff spots? The confidence is growing.

"I'd say we have a strong case for it," Nfor said. 

"We just have to keep going the way we are. We have some things we still need to clean up, and the guys know that, and the coaching staff as well. ... We just need to step it in high gear and show no mercy to any team that comes here, or wherever we go."

The top four won't officially be decided until Oct. 5, but Lansing only has six games left. If the last 11 matches have been any indication, the rest of the league should be terrified of Lansing Ignite.

"At the end of the day, as long as we’re in (the playoffs), it’s two games to win a title," Miller said. "Obviously, we’d like to have the home field, but there’s so much work to be done and we have games in hand and other teams are going to get closer to us.

"There's going to be other pressure-packed moments, and our team is in a place where they're ready for that challenge."

Contact digital sports reporter Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.