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New Dutch Lions coach has clear vision for team

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By David DiCenzo, Contributing Writer 6:07 PM Friday, April 22, 2011

BELLBROOK — “The ideas are good,” Ivar van Dinteren yells out to his players during an intense scrimmage at Miami Valley South Stadium on Thursday morning.

The new Dayton Dutch Lions FC coach expects creativity and problem-solving on the pitch, and his side, stocked with young talent, will need those qualities against the strong teams of the United Soccer Leagues Pro Division.

Van Dinteren, a midfielder on last season’s Premier Development League edition of the Lions, has assembled a roster he hopes can carry out the organization’s vision.

“Most important are the technical abilities, good passers, good runners,” he said of what management was searching for. “We also looked at the physical qualities but for us, the most important thing was that they could pass the ball and that they understand the philosophy of the Dutch Lions.

“We want to play soccer — not the long ball.”

DDL didn’t do much of that in the first 45 minutes of its season opener last week against the Charleston Battery. Horrid weather conditions and a stifling Battery defense denied the Lions the chance. But van Dinteren was encouraged by what he saw in the second half of a 2-1 loss to the defending league champions, when the team mounted a trademark attack that resulted in a goal from new striker Kolby LaCrone.

“The first half we didn’t play soccer at all,” he said. “Our game is to build up from the back, to play from the defense to the midfield and the midfield to the wingers so they can cross.

“We had some nice phases of attack. We need to do it.”

If the opening week was a stiff test, the second of seven consecutive home matches, against the Rochester Rhinos tonight, will be equally difficult. Despite an 0-2 start, the Rhinos have been a perennial USL powerhouse and beat the Lions 2-0 in US Open Cup play last season.

Van Dinteren believes midfield will be the key to a match that pits differing styles. He will look for key contributions from Lucien Seymour, Marvin van der Pluijm, returning teammates Julius Wille and George Davis IV, and newcomer LaCrone to undo the Rhinos defense.

“They play long ball,” van Dinteren said. “The most important thing is that we get a free man in the midfield.”

ALL IS RIGHT: While the newly assembled Lions continue trying to jell as a team, there is a familiar face at right back. The speedy Evan Schwartz, a 23-year-old native of Steamboat Springs, Col., has returned.

After a long off-season of rehabbing a torn meniscus in his right knee, Schwartz was happy to don the DDL FC shirt again in 2011.

“We had great fan support, a great place to play,” he said of Dayton. “And the Dutch style is the way I want to play. It’s making me better. Coming back (with the Lions) at a higher level, it will be interesting to play that style against better teams.”

Schwartz looked fully fit when placing second among all his teammates in a sprinting drill to end Thursday’s training session. He drew interest from some Major League Soccer sides this past year and after getting healthy, he visited Canada to talk with Toronto FC, in addition to attending training camps with the Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids.

“I popped around a bunch and got a lot of good feedback,” Schwartz said, suggesting the experience was beneficial in many ways. “The professionalism, the way they play, the way everybody carries themselves. Playing in the MLS, the level is much higher than you think.

“My confidence got pretty high because I felt I could play with those guys.”

Schwartz will again be a fixture on the right side, providing runs and linking with midfielders, specifically Seymour, who is slated to play on the right. He likes the young makeup of the club and believes they can make a splash in USL Pro.

“Everybody’s really excited,” Scwartz said. “Everyone wants to win. Everybody’s come here to compete for a spot.”

HOME BREW: the Lions begin their first USL Pro season with a long stint at home. The seven straight on home turf before hitting the road for an extended period in June (and then again in July to face some of the International Division teams like Puerto Rico United and Sevilla FC) means DDL will have to win some matches early.

“We need to get points because the away games will be tougher than the home games,” said van Dinteren.

The top-heavy home schedule will also enable the Lions to showcase their brand to attract local players before their Youth Academy season gets underway in June.