The M2 season is over for Jake Schindler, but the MASL season isn’t just yet. (Photo courtesy of the Lancers)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
It shouldn’t surprise anyone following the Rochester Lancers that Jake Schindler was honored twice by the Rochester Lancers in their end of the season awards.
Schindler was named team MVP and defensive player of the year.
On Tuesday night, he made it a unique hat-trick, being named a Major Arena Soccer League 2 first-team all-star.
He also was named to a M2 first-team all-star along with midfielder-forward Boomer Steigelman, who led the league in assists.
In fact, the West Irondequoit High School graduate certainly won’t sit on his laurels after helping the Lancers captured third place in the Major Arena Soccer League 2 playoffs last weekend. He will help Utica City FC lost out the MASL season and participate in the playoffs.
Entering this weekend’s game, Schindler had played in 27 regular-season indoor games (the MASL season is 24, M2 is 12), between his two teams, 30 if you count the playoffs. No one has played more arena games this season than he has.
“He’s going good. He’s doing incredible,” Utica City FC general manager Tommy Tanner said. “I’m not quite sure if the status is true, but we may have lost just one game when Jake’s been there. He’s the smartest defender in the league and he’s rugged. If anyone could play the way he’s doing right now, it’s him.”
Tanner was close. Utica City is 11-3 with the Irondequoit, N.Y. native in the lineup. The Lancers were 8-4 in the M2 regular season with Schindler playing and captaining the squad, and that’s not counting a stunning 4-3 triumph over the team’s nemesis, the host Chicago Mustangs in the Eastern Division final two weeks ago.
“He is the rock that really solidifies our team, whether he is playing as the target or playing in the back,” Lancers head coach Doug Miller said. “He’s so versatile. When you talk about an MVP, most of the time those accolades go to a guy who scores 35 or 40 goals, not to a player who actually brings the most to a team and that’s what Jake does. He brings all of the unsung hero things you look for in a player. If I was to say the MVP of the Lancers, it would most definitely be Jake.”
The 2019 Lancers award winners:
* IDE Family of Dealerships Team MVP: Jake Schindler
* Palmer Foods Offensive Player of the Year: Boomer Steigelman
* Marathon Energy Defensive Player of the Year: Jake Schindler
* Sahlens 2019 Lancers Indoor Rookie of the Year: August Finn
* iHeart Radio Community Award: Anthony Rozzano
