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Dutch Lions think of possible new home

New division, women’s team on horizon; but for now squad will still play games in Bellbrook.

The Dayton Dutch Lions will again play their home games at Bellbrook High School’s stadium next season. The team is moving up a division in the United Soccer Leagues to USL-2, its second-highest division.

Contributed photo by Christian Ramirez The Dayton Dutch Lions will again play their home games at Bellbrook High School’s stadium next season. The team is moving up a division in the United Soccer Leagues to USL-2, its second-highest division.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer 1:11 AM Friday, July 16, 2010

XENIA — Mike Mossel, the co-owner of the Dayton Dutch Lions professional soccer team, has an ideal home site situation in his head.

In it, the Dutch Lions will someday build a 6,000-seat stadium for the men’s team and women’s team (which will play its inaugural season next year), several fields for the youth academy and a clubhouse to house the entire bunch. Mossel said he has felt interest from locals about aiding the effort.

For certain, though, is the Dutch Lions’ home for next season. As they close their 2010 home schedule at Bellbrook High School on Saturday, July 17, by hosting the Kalamazoo Outrage in a Premier Development League matchup, the Dutch Lions have committed to playing at Bellbrook again next season.

But there will be some changes. The team will move up a division in the United Soccer Leagues and play in USL-2, its second-highest division. The DDL also will add a professional women’s team, which will play at Bellbrook.

Mossel said he and the team have been very happy at Bellbrook, but the idea of a home stadium is important for the growth of the club, from the pro teams down to the youth academy.

“That’s the ideal situation,” Mossel said. “That could help us gain more attention, more spectators and maybe even bring in some international teams to play. But we also are very happy with our relationship with Bellbrook, and we look forward to playing there next season.”

Losing streak

The Dutch Lions will return home after a two-game trip to Canada last week during which they suffered losses against Forest City London and the Toronto Lynx. With just two games remaining, the team is 6-3-5 and stands in fourth place in the Great Lakes Division of the PDL’s Central Conference.

The top two teams in each division make the playoffs.

“We were fit enough for the trip, but we didn’t score on our chances,” coach Sonny Silooy said. Silooy will be staying in the area after the season to be part of the DDL’s youth academy before coaching the men’s team again next season.