It's Kickoff Time!! (match preview)

Attention Jurassic Fanatics! It's finally here: The kickoff of the 2025-26 MASL2 season. The Lady Raptors get us started with a tilt against the Kansas City Astras. Tickets are still available, and our crazy BOGO Blowout offer still stands -- purchase tickets at the Powerhouse Box Office with the code CRWATCH, and get two for the price of one! And that's not all! One ticket gets you into both the Men's and the Women's games! It's full evening of electric indoor soccer action, and it's basically FOUR for one!

The Men's squad will get their first look at the Minnesota Blizzard, now in their second year of indoor play. Minnesota returns their record-setting top scorer, Devin Digrado, who torched the Wisconsin Conquerors for 8 goals and 6 assists. Overall, Digrado tallied 24 goals and 11 assists in the '24-'25 season. He'll be joined by Logan Weller, a local product who netted 16 goals on 3 assists last year. An affiliate of the M1 Kansas City Comets, the Blizzard are a much tougher opponent than their 3-9 2025 record would suggest.

Fortunately, your Raptors are returning some top-shelf talent of their own. Ronaldo Rojas, a key contributor to the squad that made it to the Championship Game in 2024, leads a stacked squad into the new season. He's joined by local standout Kolby Godbolt, who also had a storied college career (he was MVC Player of the Year during his time at Old Dominion). Jonah Dancer, an offensive force for the Raptors in '22-'23, returns from a stint with the Muskegon Risers and M1's Milwaukee Wave. They'll be joined up front by returning speedsters Alan Losoya and Ian Kearney -- both local standouts at Coe College -- and Hussain Mohammed. Fan favorite Orlando Clark also returns.

Gritty defenders David Lapan-Islas, Sarrive Rukakiza, and Dawson Swearingen also return for your Raptors, helping to lock it down for returning veteran goalkeepers Sean Austin and Junior Holland (Coe College).

Some new faces are also expected to shine for your Raptors in the upcoming season. Especially keep an eye on Emmanuel "Champ" Krah, a Liberian native who was a collegiate standout at Coastal Carolina University. At 6'2" and 211 pounds, he'll be a major force up front. Also expected to light it up is Beni Mubake, a South African-born Cedar Rapidian who last played for the Cedar Rapids Inferno. Already a fan favorite, Beni participated in our skills minicamps with local kids in the offseason -- they love his energy!

Your Raptors are guided by the veteran leadership of local standout Jake Johnson (Coe College, Washington High School) and Bobby Hurwitz. Both have significant M1-level experience. Johnson played with the Cedar Rapids Rampage from 2016-18. Hurwitz is well-traveled, playing in the M1 division from 2014-19 with the Raptors, St. Louis Ambush, Orlando Seawolves, and Seattle Impact. Johnson and Hurwitz also joined fellow Raptor Rojas in representing Team USA at the World Soccer Fest this summer in Des Moines. Hurwitz is a Minifootball World Cup veteran, having represented the USA eight times, with 5 goals and 4 assists in 7 victories.

Johnson and Hurwiz will be the on-field leaders for Coach Jose Fajardo. Hurwitz serves as Co-Head Coach and is ably assisted by Johnson, who is also the Girls' Varsity Head Coach at Xavier High School. With their wealth of experience and competitive fire, we're gearing up for our best season yet!

It's going to be a great night, fans. Get your tickets now, and help us #PackThePowerhouse.