Demize begins play in Springfield

The Springfield Demize, a member of the Premier Development League – one of four leagues that make up the United Soccer Leagues – played its first home game at Lake Country Soccer’s Cooper Stadium on May 12.

A group of players founded the team, which plays in the summer, with the help of several local silent partners. Among the founders are Head Coach Armen Tonianse, who is also an assistant coach at Western Illinois University, and goalkeeper Chris Hanlon.

The Demize features players under the age of 23 – a combination of college soccer players who want to play at a high level during the summer while retaining their college eligibility, high school players preparing to move to the next level and young pros looking to move back up the ranks.

The key to the success of the new team will be its ability to entertain – Hanlon said that, despite the fact that soccer is the largest youth participation sport in the country, it’s not as popular for spectators. That’s why his team tries to play a fast-paced, exciting style.

"We feel like if we play a professional type of game, lots of speed, lots of scoring, people will be entertained and come back," Hanlon said.

The team is 2-3 through its first five games.

See SBJ’s June 4 issue for more on local pro and semi-pro sports teams and other sports and business news.[[In-content Ad]]