Five former DLFC players in 2020 MLS season

Dayton – May 12, 2020

With the MLS season postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we took a look at what former Dutch Lions FC players are currently still active in the MLS. There are five players that wore the Dutch Lions FC jersey that play in the 2020 MLS season. Four of those players are former Dayton Dutch Lions FC players, and one is a former Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC player.

Kyle Smith (28) graduated from Transylvania University in 2013. He played two years for Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC and is still record holder in goals, assists and points. In 2015 he was second in the USL PDL (now League 2) with 11 goals in 14 matches. In 2016 he signed with Louisville City FC in USL Championship where he played 3 years. In 2019 he signed with Orlando City FC, where he played 24 games in 2019.

J.J. Williams (22) graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2018. He then played for Dayton Dutch Lions FC in the USL League 2 where he played 13 games and scored 8 goals. He the signed with Columbus Crew in 2019 where he played 7 games and was loaned to Birmingham Legion. In 2020 he signed with Atlanta United FC as a replacement for Josef Martinez.

Brad Stuver (29) went to Cleveland State where he graduated in 2012. He then signed with Columbus Crew. In 2014 he was loaned to Dayton Dutch Lions FC (2 games) and Wilmington Hammerheads. In 2018 he signed with New York City FC. In 2019 he started in 5 MLS games.

Ben Sweat (28) went to the University of South Florida where he graduated in 2013. He signed with Columbus Crew in 2014 and was loaned to Dayton Dutch Lions FC (7 games). He signed with Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2015 where he played 2 years. He was signed by New York City in 2017 where he played three year. This season he signed with expansion team Inter Miami FC. Ben was also called up for the USMNT in 2018 and has two caps for the National Team.

Aaron Schoenfeld (30) went to East Tennessee State University where he graduated in 2011. He signed with Columbus Crew in 2012 where he played 4 seasons (52 games, 5 goals). In 2014 he was loaned to Dayton Dutch Lions FC where he played 18 games and scored 12 goals in the USL Championship. In 2015 he signed with Maccabi Netanja (Israel) and in 2016 with Hapoel Tel Aviv. In 2020 he returned to the US and signed with Minnesota United.

Other players that were in MLS situations are:

Bradley Bourgeois (HDL FC) was drafted by Houston Dynamo in 2015 but loaned to Rio Grande Valley FC;
Stefan Cleveland (DDL FC) signed with Chicago Fire in 2017 where he played 5 games in MLS;
Jake Stovall (who played for both CDL FC as well as DDL FC) was drafted by Seattle Sounders in 2017 but played with Puerto Rico FC (NASL) that season;
Kevin Barajas (CDL FC) was signed by Atlanta United FC and played in their 2^nd team in 2018 and 2019;
Adam Wilson (CDL FC) was drafted by Toronto FC in 2019 in the MLS Superdraft Pick (39^th) but rejected an offer to go to TFC2;
Eric Osswald (2015 – Real Monarchs SLC), Alejandro Garcia (2016 – Orlando City B), Jalen Brown (2017 – drafted by NYCFC, played with Rochester Rhinos that season), Matt Nance (2019 – Tacoma Defiance, Seattle Sounders 2^ndteam) are former CDL FC players that were involved with MLS teams and their affiliates.

On the Women’s side, Rose Lavelle needs no introduction. In 2019 she won the World Cup with the US and was named the 6^th best player in the world and awarded the Bronze Ball at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Awards. She currently plays for Washington Spirit in the NWSL. Rose played two seasons for Dayton Dutch Lions FC (2014 and 2015).

Emilie Fillion, who played for Dayton Dutch Lions FC in 2012 and 2013, signed with Dutch Premier League club FC Twente in 2014 and then German Bundesliga club MSV Duisburg in 2015.

Claire Falknor (2015) played for Dayton Dutch Lions FC and signed with German powerhouse Bayern Munich, Houston Dash (2017) and Logrono and Sevilla in Spain (2018-2019). She also played two games for the USNWT U23 team.

Josee Stiever (2015) played for Dayton Dutch Lions FC and was 1 of the 5 reserve players for FC Kansas City (NWSL). She also played one season (2017) in Sweden for Ostersunds DDF. She was also called up for the USNWT U23 for a game vs Ireland.

Brittany Persaud (2012) and Alex Warren (2013 and 2014) both signed with ADO Den Haag in The Netherlands.