Photo Gallery: Union Dubuque vs Chicago Athletic
Union Dubuque FC hosted Chicago Athletic FC in Midwest Premier League play this past weekend at the Dubuque Soccer Complex in Dubuque, IA. After scoreless first 45 minutes Union was able to break open the match when Chicago ended up scoring an own goal. DBQ would add one more goal to the match when Lorran De Almeida scored on a penalty kick
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WPSL Central Region Week 10: Preview
Monday:
Chicago City SC vs Milwaukee Bavarians SC - 8pm - Chicago Hope Lions Complex, Chicago, IL - No Announced Stream
The 4-3-1 Bavarians face a City squad with only one win, with the Milwaukee squad looking for some momentum to push up the table after their win against the Torrent.
Salvo SC vs MapleBrook Fury - 7pm - Reynolds Field, Roseville, MN - No Announced Stream
MapleBrook's stop-start season faces Salvo as the visitors look to solidify second place, following a blowout win on the road last time out.
Wednesday:
Milwaukee Bavarian SC vs Green Bay Glory - 6pm - Bavarian Soccer Club, Glendale, WI - No Announced Stream
The Bavarians host the winless Glory, in what should be a routine win for the hosts.
FC Milwaukee Torrent vs Chicago Dutch Lions - 7pm - Hart Park, Wauwatosa, WI - Eleven Sports
The 4-2-2 Torrent face a 3-3-2 CDL squad. It could be a closely contested game.
Chicago City SC vs Chicago Red Stars Reserves - 8pm - DuPaul College Preparatory, Chicago, IL - No Announced Stream
A Chicago derby as the Red Stars Reserves roll into town and face the struggling City team, with the professionals expected to extend their lead at the top of the Lake Michigan Conference.
Friday:
Salvo SC vs Fire SC 98 - 7pm - Reynolds Field, Roseville, MN - No Announced Stream
In a Twin Cities derby, the one win Fire squad face Salvo - who will have played on Monday.
Saturday:
Milwaukee Bavarian SC vs Chicago Dutch Lions - 4pm - Bavarian Soccer Club, Glendale, WI - No Announced Stream
Bavarians face the Dutch Lions in another close match up.
Cincinnati Sirens vs Fire & Ice SC - 7pm - Lakota West High School, West Chester Township, OH - No Announced Stream
6-1-4 Fire & Ice faces 6-0-2 a Sirens squad, with the hosts at roughly double their visitors' goal difference.
Lady Victory FC vs FC Pride - 7pm - Guerin Catholic High School, Noblesville, IN - Eleven Sports
The top 2 teams in the Midwestern Conference face each other in a matchup of metro Indianapolis clubs. Lady Victory is on a run of five straight wins, whereas FC Pride have two losses in the last five games.
Sunday:
FC Milwaukee Torrent vs Chicago Red Stars Reserves - 3pm - Hart Park, Wauwatosa, WI - Eleven Sports
Chicago Red Stars Reserves are rolling into Wauwatosa but will face a tougher challenge with Torrent than Chicago City.
Green Bay Glory vs Chicago City SC - 3pm - Capitol Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - Eleven Sports
This match sees two struggling squads who will hope to have picked up points earlier in the week.
FC Pride vs Cincinnati Sirens - 3pm - Pride Performance Center, Indianapolis, IN - No Announced Stream
Pride play host to the Sirens in a matchup of teams with close records, results permitting earlier in the week.
Lady Victory FC vs Dayton Dutch Lions FC - 5pm - Guerin Catholic High School, Noblesville, IN - Eleven Sports
Dayton Dutch Lions travel into Indiana with a record of 3-3-4 and they face the top team in their division in Lady Victory.
WPSL Central Region Week 9: Recap
Tuesday:
Bavarian Soccer Club 2 vs FC Milwaukee Torrent 0 : Heartland Value Fund Stadium, Glendale, WI - No Stream Announced
The opening match of the week was the WPSL's Milwaukee Derby with the Women's sides of Bavarians and Torrent facing each other. The hosting Bavarians came away with a clean sheet victory at home to take the season series with Torrent.
Wednesday:
Chicago Dutch Lions 1 vs Chicago Red Stars Reserves 1 : Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex, Lisle, IL - Eleven Sports
One of the many battles of Chicago's saw the Dutch Lions host the powerful Red Stars Reserves side. RSR struck first early in the second half but CDL drew the match even later on in the half. For the second time this season RSR has dropped points, this time only dropping two rather than three.
FC Pride 8 vs St. Louis Lions 0 : Pride Performance Center, Indianapolis, IN - No Stream Announced
The season has not been kind to St. Louis who entered the match with an 0-0-8 record and being outscored 38 GA to 6 GF. FC Pride on the other hand was chasing a conference championship. This match was very kind to the hosting Pride but not to the Lions who were shut down badly on the road in their second to last match of the season.
Rochester United FC 1 vs Fire SC 98 1 : Spartan Field at Mayo High School, Rochester, MN - Eleven Sports
A match where points were on the line but not much else other than pride and experience. After a hard fought match it was Rochester who walked away with a win/
Saturday:
Green Bay Glory 0 vs Bavarian Soccer Club 1 : Capital Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - Eleven Sports
Green Bay has had a tough go of things in 2021 so far. While they haven't won a match a lot of them have been very competitive. This was no exception as the Glory held strong but still allowed a lone goal for Bavarians to win.
St. Louis Lions 0 vs Lady Victory FC 5 : Tony Glavin Soccer Complex, Fenton, MO - No Stream Announced
The Lions final match of the 2021 season saw them face Lady Victory FC from the other side of the St. Louis area. Just days before the match it was moved from the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex in Fenton to the Lou Fusz Soccer Complex in St. Louis. Before starting it also endured a rain delay and then finally kicked off with a late start. Lady Victory cruised to a big win over St. Louis in the hosts final match of 2021.
Dayton Dutch Lions 3 vs FC Pride 1 : Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium, West Carrolton, OH - Gem City Sports Network
Dayton is sitting at the middle of the table in the Midwest while FC Pride sits near the top. In a stunning upset the Dutch Lions defeated FC Pride in Dayton setting Pride back pretty heavily in a year with no playoffs.
Dakota Fusion 1 vs Salvo SC 10 : Jim Gotta Stadium, Moorhead, MN - Magnitude Sports
Fusion's hopes for a win, a lone win on the season were dashed by Salvo SC. Salvo fired well salvos at Fusion all evening in Moorhead and left back to the Twin Cities with a blowout victory.
Chicago Red Stars Reserves 1 vs FC Milwaukee Torrent 1 : Evergreen Bank Group Athletic Field, Oak Brook, IL - Eleven Sports
After dropping points against the Dutch Lions earlier in the week with a draw it's something Red Stars Reserves wanted to avoid in their second match of the week. However the Torrent were able to hold their own against RSR and come out with a point on a misty Chicago night.
Fire & Ice SC 1 vs Cincinnati Sirens 0 : Althoff Catholic High School Stadium, Belleville, IL - Eleven Sports
In order to stay in the race for the Midwestern Conference, Fire & Ice needed to defeat Cincinnati. And they did that in a very close match.
Sunday:
Fire & Ice SC 2 vs Lady Victory FC 4 : Althoff Catholic High School Stadium, Belleville, IL - Eleven Sports
Another one that Fire & Ice needed to win to keep pace with the division leaders. This was not meant to be as Lady Victory FC ran away with a massive 4-2 win over Fire & Ice. This win puts Lady Victory up over FC Pride by 5 points with two matches left on the season.
Columbus Eagles 0 vs Dayton Dutch Lions 4 : Bernlohr Stadium at Capital University, Bexley, OH - Eleven Sports
This was the final match of the WPSL season for Columbus and the penultimate match of 2021 for the Dutch Lions. Columbus did not go out on a strong note as the Dutch Lions shut down and shut out the Eagles in suburban Columbus.
USL League Two Week 9: Recap
Tuesday:
Flint City Bucks 2 vs South Bend Lions 1 : Atwood Stadium at Kettering University, Flint, MI - Eleven Sports
Flint City opened the first of their two matches sitting a few points back from second place in the Division. Matthew Fearnley got the Bucks off to a great start in the first half. South Bend's Milo Yosef drew the match even in the 56th minute but Noah Jensen close up the match with a late goal to give the home Bucks a 2-1 win.
FC Wichita 2 vs Kaw Valley FC 4 : Stryker Sports Complex, Wichita, KS - Eleven Sports
A Kansas clash between Wichita and Kaw Valley would be FC Wichita's final home match of 2021. This would not be Wichita's night and a combined six goals from three goal scorers later Kaw Valley left with a win. However both teams had major highlights as Wichita's Kevin Black scored a brace only one upped by Kaw Valley's Alessandro Salvadego who scored a Hat Trick.
Wednesday:
Kalamazoo FC 1 vs Oakland County FC 1 : Mayors Riverfront Park Football Stadium, Kalamazoo, MI - Eleven Sports
A pivotal match for Kalamazoo as they pursue a division title, it didn't end the way KZFC wanted, though could have been worse. OCFC's Alexander Dalou scored just 17 minutes into the match. Kalamazoo only got back at them with their lone goal by Josep Martinez in the 56th to force a draw.
Grand Rapids FC 6 vs Toledo Villa 0 : Midwest United Soccer Complex, Grand Rapids. MI - Eleven Sports
Grand Rapids who is also pursuing one of the three playoff spots helped their case pretty heavily last Wednesday night at home. On the back of four Farai Mutatu goals GRFC cruised to a massive 6-0 beating of Toledo Villa and extended their win streak to three straight.
Chicago FC United 2 vs Des Moines Menace 0 : Bridgeview Dome, Bridgeview, IL - No Stream Announced
Both teams entered the match on Wednesday unbeaten but only one team would end up leaving that way. Chicago FC United would be the team leaving unbeaten as Diego Gutierrez and Derek Waleffe each scored for Chicago en route to an upset win over Des Moines to not only break their unbeaten streak but also get closer to winning the Heartland.
Thursday:
Kaw Valley FC 2 vs St. Louis Scott Gallagher 6 : Rock Chalk Park, Lawrence, KS - Eleven Sports
Coming off a win earlier in the week against FC Wichita, Kaw Valley had momentum but not rest on their side heading into their final home game at Rock Chalk Park this year. After going into the half with a 2 - 3 scoreline in favour of SLSG, the visitors were able to pull away in the second half with three unanswered goals.
Friday:
Toledo Villa 2 vs Grand Rapids FC 5 : Paul Hotmer Soccer Field, Toledo, OH - Eleven Sports
A rematch of the two sides on Toledo's home after just one day off was the case for this. While the scoreline changed the match result did not. Grand Rapids stormed out of the gate with back to back goals by Adam Knight before Toledo's Savio Adams put Villa on the board. In the second half Grand Rapids managed two more goals before Villa scored again but GRFC had Ryan DeBois out one final one in for a blowout win. The loss sent Toledo's losing streak to four games and their winless streak to six, while Grand Rapids extended their winning streak to four.
Dayton Dutch Lions 2 vs Oakland County FC 5 : Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium, Dayton, OH - Gem City Sports Network
The Dutch Lions have had a relatively awful season in 2021 sitting at 0-1-9 (0 points) and sadly it did not get better on Friday. A 3-2 score at the half was initially positive however Oakland County scored two in the second half to wrap up their route of Dayton.
Green Bay Voyageurs vs FC Wichita: 7 PM - Capital Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - Eleven Sports
Saturday:
South Bend Lions 4 vs Fort Wayne FC 1 : TCU School Field, South Bend, IN - No Stream Announced
A battle of two Indiana sides for the second time this season and just like the first the winning team stayed the same. With the score one all just after half time, the Lions scored three straight to blow out the future USL League One side.
Kaw Valley FC 2 vs St. Louis Scott Gallagher 3 : Swope Soccer Village, Kansas City, MO - Eleven Sports
Another rematch from a match played earlier this week, instead of it being Kansas vs Missouri it was two Missouri sides as Kaw Valley hosted their final home match at Sporting KC's Swope Soccer Village. This match was much more competitive as the teams ended with just a one goal difference on the final scoreline.
Sunday:
Oakland County FC 1 vs Flint City Bucks 4 : 4 PM - Clawson Stadium, Clawson, MI - No Stream Announced
The last match of the weekend pitted Oakland County against Flint City in the first of two matches the sides will play against each other in a week. After Oakland County's August Hunter scored early to give the home side the lead, the Bucks scored four unanswered to give them a huge and much needed win.
*Note All Times CT
USL League Two: Week 10 Preview
Wednesday:
Toledo Villa FC vs Flint City Bucks - 5:30pm - University of Toledo, Toledo, OH - Eleven Sports
Against the 3-6-4 Villa, Flint City will be looking for an easy match to keep up their playoff positioning in the Great Lakes division.
Kings Hammer vs Fort Wayne FC - 6pm - Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH - No Announced Stream
Kings Hammer will need a win to keep up their playoff spot, but should have an easy ride against a Fort Wayne side with only 1 win all season.
South Bend Lions vs Dayton Dutch Lions - 6pm - TCU School Field, South Bend, IN - No Announced Stream
This matchup of declawed lions sees a South Bend club at 4-5-3 face a basement dwelling Dayton side with a record of 0-10-1.
Grand Rapids FC vs Oakland County FC - 6pm - Midwest United FC Soccer Complex, Grand Rapids, MI - No Announced Stream
Grand Rapids will be looking for a win against a team around them in the table to bolster their playoff quest.
Des Moines Menace vs Chicago FC United - 6pm - Valley Stadium, West Des Moines, IA - CISN
The Class of the Heartland meet again, with the Menace looking to maintain their top spot against a CFCU team who could vault above them with a win.
Friday:
Kings Hammer vs Dayton Dutch Lions - 9am - Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH - No Announced Stream
Kings Hammer should gain an easy win to bolster their playoff positioning against a Dayton side struggling for points.
Dayton Dutch Lions vs Grand Rapids FC - 6pm - DOC Stadium, West Carrolton, OH - No Announced Stream
GRFC looking to push for a playoff spot against a struggling Dayton Dutch Lions squad.
Saturday:
Chicago FC United vs FC Wichita - 2pm - Bridgeview Sports Dome, Bridgeview, IL - No Announced Stream
Chicago looking to push for the top playoff seed against a pointless Wichita squad.
Flint City Bucks vs Oakland County FC - 6:30pm - Kettering's Atwood Stadium, Flint, MI - Eleven Sports
Flint City will be hoping they can solidify their playoff spot against an OCFC team just out of contention.
Green Bay Voyageurs vs Kaw Valley FC - 7pm - Capital Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - Eleven Sports
4-7-0 Kaw Valley travel to 1-7-2 Green Bay with late season pride and fitness on the line.
Des Moines Menace vs St Louis Scott Gallagher - 7pm - Valley Stadium, East Des Moines, IA - CISN
The Menace will look to push on against a St Louis squad who pushed hard but will just miss out on the playoffs this season.
Sunday:
Kings Hammer vs South Bend Lions - 3pm - Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH - No Stream Announced
Kings Hammer will be looking to solidify playoff positioning against a lower third South Bend Lions squad.
Fort Wayne FC vs Kalamazoo FC - 5pm - Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, IN - No Announced Stream
Great Lakes leading Kzoo will be looking to build their goal difference and solidify top spot.
NPSL Midwest Week 9: Recap
Wednesday:
Carpathia FC 2 vs FC Columbus 3 : Avondale High School, Auburn Hills, MI - Eleven Sports
In a must win match FC Columbus surprised the home side by pulling out an upset victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. Carpathia took an early 1-0 lead but Columbus would tie it up a quarter-hour later. FCC held the lead the rest of the night scoring their second and third goals before Carpathia managed their second.
Duluth FC 1 vs Minneapolis City SC 6: Public Schools Stadium, Duluth, MN - Eleven Sports
Minneapolis City SC just needed a win to wrap up back to back to back NPSL North Championships, and a win did they get. It didn't look great initially as Duluth's Aidan Hill scored just two minutes in to give the BlueGreens the lead. Jack Berry tied up the match for the Crows inside the 20 minutes and it stayed that way for a while. However after receiving two yellow cards Aidan Hill was sent off in the 53rd minute, which allowed City to blow the doors off the match. The Crows scored 5 unanswered goals starting in the 60th minute en route to a 6-1 win and their third straight North title.
La Crosse Aris vs Med City FC: 7 PM - Arcadia High School Stadium, Arcadia, WI - No Announced Stream
Sioux Falls Thunder 3 vs Joy Athletic Club 3 : 7 PM - McEneaney Field, Sioux Falls, SD - Eleven Sports
Both teams have had their highs and lows through what has been a rough year for both the returning Thunder and expansion Goats. The season wouldn't really get any better or any worse for either side as Sioux Falls and Joy Athletic drew at three all in Sioux Falls.
Saturday:
FC Indiana 2 vs FC Columbus 2 : Legacy Sports Club Stadium, Lafayette, IN - Facebook
Another must win match to either keep the playoff hopes alive or possibly improve them pending the result of the evening match between Carpathia and FC Indiana. Ricardo John scored first for the Lions and was shortly followed up by Sean Bonval getting the Lions their second goal. Michael Chilton drew the game within one with a 61' goal for FCC. FC indiana knocked in an own goal just minutes later in what proved to be the final goal of the match.
Carpathia FC 4 vs FC Milwaukee Torrent 0 : Adams High School, Rochester Hills, MI - Eleven Sports
After the FC Indiana/FC Columbus result from earlier in the day, Carpathia just needed a win to punch their ticket to the Region Playoffs. Not only did Carpathia win but they dominated the Torrent. Ryan Williams scored first for Carpathia in the 13th, Owen Smith would knot a brace on back to back goals, and Charles Braithwaite wrapped up the match with Carpathia's fourth goal of the night.
*Note – All Times CDT
NPSL Midwest Week 10: Preview
Wednesday:
FC Columbus vs FC Indiana - 6pm - Roberts Field at The Wellington School, Columbus, OH - Eleven Sports
FCC face a winless Indiana squad, with only pride on the line.
FC Milwaukee Torrent vs Panathinaikos Chicago - 7pm - Hart Park, Wauwatosa, WI - Eleven Sports
After their perfect season came to an end vs Carpathia, Torrent looking to get back on the beam and fight for the playoff bye. PAO will be looking to improve their sub zero goal differential.
Duluth FC vs La Crosse Aris FC - 7pm - Public Schools Stadium, Duluth, MN - Eleven Sports
Duluth's battle for the second playoff spot continues with the visit of the -20 goal differential of Aris and one of the hottest strikers in the entire league in Sidney Warden.
Joy Athletic Club vs Med City FC - 7pm - Oriole Stadium, St Louis Park, MN - CCX Sports
The other half of the battle for the North's second spot sees the visitors from Rochester try to hold off a hot and cold Joy Athletic team who nonetheless have a hot striker in Immanuel Iwe and a well drilled squad.
Sioux Falls Thunder FC vs Dakota Fusion FC - 7pm - McEneaney Field, Sioux Falls, SD - Eleven Sports
2-5-2 Thunder plays 2-7 Fusion in a match when both teams could enter wishing there was overtime, since a tie does neither much good.
Saturday:
FC Columbus vs Carpathia FC - 6pm - Roberts Field at The Wellington School, Columbus, OH - No Announced Stream
Carpathia have secured their spot in the playoffs, but will have to watch out for Chukwuemeka Eneli.
Minneapolis City SC vs Joy Athletic Club - 6pm - Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis, MN - YouTube
The second Twin Cities Derby sees Joy visit Minneapolis. The first match was one of City's few competitive matches, and the visitors will hope for a repeat but with a more generous result. The Crows, on the other hand, have perfection on the line.
Dakota Fusion FC vs Duluth FC - 7pm - Jim Gotta Stadium, Moorhead, MN - Magnitude Sports Network
Duluth's game in hand sees the BlueGreens visit Moorhead against the struggling Fusion, in what should be a chance for the visitors to build up their goal differential.
Sioux Falls Thunder vs La Crosse Aris FC - 7pm - McEneaney Field, Sioux Falls, SD - No Announced Stream
Two struggling sides face each other in Sioux Falls, but Thunder should still have the fire power to finish off Aris.
WPSL Central Region Week 9: Preview
Tuesday:
Bavarian Soccer Club vs FC Milwaukee Torrent: 7 PM - Heartland Value Fund Stadium, Glendale, WI - No Stream Announced
While neither team technically in Milwaukee this is a match between to sides from MKE and second match in the Milwaukee Derby should prove to be as exciting as ever. Bavarian SC (2-2-1, 8 points) host the Torrent (3-2-2, 11 points) at Heartland Value Fund Stadium at Bavarian Soccer Park. Currently Bavarian SC are 2-1-0 with a major win over Red Stars Reserves in their last three matches. Torrent meanwhile are also sitting at 2-1-0 with wins over Chicago Dutch Lions and Chicago City, the draw between the two sides falls within both teams last three.
Wednesday:
Chicago Dutch Lions vs Chicago Red Stars Reserves: 6 PM - Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex, Lisle, IL - Eleven Sports
Red Stars Reserves dominance has been shown to not be as much as previously thought. With their 1-0 loss to Bavarians and BSC's 1-1 draw with the Chicago Dutch Lions this looks to be a very formidable opponent for RSR. RSR does hold a game in hand and a four point advantage over the Dutch Lions. Staying in title contention will require a win as a draw, while would technically keep CDL mathematically in the chase, will effectively end the chance. However this will take a lot of work for the Dutch Lions to knock down the mighty Red Stars Reserves after CDL lost 4-0 to RSR in their season opener.
FC Pride vs St. Louis Lions: 7 PM - Pride Performance Center, Indianapolis, IN - No Stream Announced
Unlike the Northern Conference who played just an 8 game schedule with the same amount of teams the Midwestern Conference has a 12 match slate and full double round robin. This means almost everyone in the Midwestern Conference is within range of taking the title, currently the top spot is owned by Lady Victory. However an FC Pride win will snag that spot from Lady Victory, at least for a bit. While for the Lions this match is another attempt to get win number one in 2021.
Rochester United FC vs Fire SC 98: 7 PM - Spartan Field at Mayo High School, Rochester, MN - Eleven Sports
With the Northern Conference title being between MapleBrook and the Minnesota Thunder this match is really just for pride and playing time for both sides. RUFC should be able to handle the Thunder fairly easily in the Lions final match of 2021.
Saturday:
Green Bay Glory vs Bavarian Soccer Club: 1 PM - Capital Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - Eleven Sports
Green Bay has a tough match on their hands against Bavarians on Saturday afternoon. The 0-1-6 (1 point) Glory host the 3-2-1 (11 points) Bavarian SC in the first match of a home and home series between the teams. While Glory cannot shoot for the division title they'll look to earn only their second set of points in 2021. Bavarians on the other hand have four games left and 12 possible points, more than anyone else in the conference. With that they have a great chance at unseating RSR from the top spot in the conference over the next few matches.
St. Louis Lions vs Lady Victory FC: 2 PM - Tony Glavin Soccer Complex, Fenton, MO - No Stream Announced
Lady Victory sits second in the Midwestern Conference just a point back from FC Pride who currently hold the lead in the conference. With five matches to play for Lady Victory the Midwestern Conference championship is up for the taking. The host Lions on the other hand are still looking to get their first win or even points of the season, entering this afternoon at 0-0-9.
Dayton Dutch Lions vs FC Pride: 3:30 PM - Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium, West Carrolton, OH - Gem City Sports Network
Dayton is out of the race for the conference title at this point with a record of 2-3-4 (9 points) with three matches to play. On the other hand FC Pride leads the conference by one point with three matches left. A win is not only imperative to FC Pride but also very necessary to keep themselves in the face as Lady Victory has two games in hand over Pride.
Dakota Fusion vs Salvo SC: 5:00 PM - Jim Gotta Stadium, Moorhead, MN - Magnitude Sports
The Northern Conference inches ever closer to the close of their 2021 season and with no playoffs and the division title race at least partially decided this is more or less a friendly that happens to have points on the line. The Fusion women will want to claim points and avoid finishing 0-0-8 this season while Salvo will try to redeem themselves after a 2-1 loss to MapleBrook.
Chicago Red Stars Reserves vs FC Milwaukee Torrent: 7 PM - Evergreen Bank Group Athletic Field, Oak Brook, IL - Eleven Sports
RSR are very much showing they are not an unbeatable juggernaut like most season. With a loss to Bavarians and the Dutch Lions forcing a draw RSR have dropped four points this year, making the Lake Michigan Conference ripe for the taking. With a win the Torrent women would tie RSR on points at the top of the conference and both sides enter with an identical 1-1-1 run of form in their last three.
Fire & Ice SC vs Cincinnati Sirens: 7 PM - Althoff Catholic High School Stadium, Belleville, IL - Eleven Sports
Back in the Midwestern Conference again and another match with pretty huge implications for the table. The Sirens are also a single point back of FC Pride and also have two games in hand, the only loss the Sirens have been dealt was against Lady Victory in their last outing. Fire & Ice are even on matches with FC Pride but are 5-1-3 with 16 points. A loss would put a massive dent in the trophy hopes of Fire & Ice while it wouldn't be a massive issue to the Sirens. On the other hand a win will possibly get the Sirens to the top of the standings.
Sunday:
Fire & Ice SC vs Lady Victory FC: 2 PM - Althoff Catholic High School Stadium, Belleville, IL - Eleven Sports
After both sides won on Saturday they came into another big match regarding the Midwestern Conference title. Just a two point difference between the sides showed the title was still up for grabs. Fire & Ice will 100% need to win to stay in the title race as they have one match left. Anything less and Lady Victory inches closer to a Conference Championship and Fire & Ice's hopes are dashed.
Columbus Eagles vs Dayton Dutch Lions: 2 PM - Bernlohr Stadium at Capital University, Bexley, OH - Eleven Sports
Another Midwestern Conference match between two sides closer to the bottom of the table. Neither side can challenge for the conference title so this is a battle for price, experience, and Ohio.
* All Times CT
UWS Week 10: Preview
Monday:
Ladies Steel City FC vs Indiana Elite: 7:30 PM - DuPage Medical Group Field, Joliet, IL - No Stream Announced
After Indiana Elite FC came in as a late replacement for Indiana Union their first season in United Women's Soccer comes to a close. They'll take to the road for a match at DuPage Medical Group Field in Joliet (home of the Frontier League's Joliet Slammers) for a match with Ladies Steel City FC. Both sides have struggled this season with Elite at 0-0-9 (0 points) and LSC at 2-0-7 (6 points) but will each look to end on a high note before the player begin to prepare for the collegiate season in the fall.
Tuesday:
Muskegon Risers vs Corktown AFC: 6:30 PM - Kehren Stadium, Muskegon, MI - No Stream Announced
Corktown AFC wraps up their 2021 regular season with a road trip to Western Michigan as Muskegon Risers play host in the Risers last home match of the season. Corktown cannot win the Midwest-North due to Midwest United's dominance of the division but they can finish on an upswing with the second most points in the Midwest-North. Corktown (6-0-3, 18 points) is 2-0-1 in their last three, Muskegon (1-1-6, 4 points) are 0-1-2 in their last three matches played.
Wednesday:
St. Louis Scott Gallagher vs Gretna Elite: 7:30 PM - World Wide Technology Soccer Park, Fenton, MO - Eleven Sports
The last match of the middle of the week has the number one and four teams in the Central Conference facing each other. This is SLSG's final match of the 2021 while Gretna has one more match to finish out the 2021 regular season. SLSG has a three point lead over FC Wichita with each team having one match to play, in order to clinch the Central Conference title all SLSG has to do is not lose at home and they take the Conference.
Saturday:
FC Wichita vs Gretna Elite: 2 PM - Stryker Sports Complex, Wichita, KS - No Stream Announced
The importance of this match depended on whether or not SLSG managed to get a point against Gretna Elite on Wednesday. And they did with a draw giving SLSG the Central Conference Championship. This match will now be for just pride as neither side can go for the Conference title.
Detroit City FC vs Lansing United: 6:30 PM - Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI - Eleven Sports
The UWS Midwest Conference is a bit of an odd one in the league. Because the Conference is split into two divisions only the top two teams in each division will make the National Playoffs. With Midwest United having won the Midwest-North and Corktown clinching a playoff spot this will be a match for pride between two teams in the middle of the Midwest-North.
Sunday:
Midwest United vs Muskegon Risers: 11 AM - Aquinas College Athletic Field, Grand Rapids, MI - Eleven Sports
The final match of the regular season in either the Midwest Conference, this will more of less be a test run for North Division Champions, Midwest United before heading into the Conference Playoffs that are scheduled to take place July 15th to 18th. As fore the Risers this is really just attempting to get one more win before the end of the season.
* All Times CT
WPSL Central Region Week 8: Recap
Tuesday:
MapleBrook Fury 4 vs Dakota Fusion 0 : Wilmes Field at Osseo High School, Osseo, MN - No Stream Announced
One of MapleBrook's last officially scheduled matches of the season (as two prior ones have not officially been rescheduled) saw them host Dakota Fusion FC. It was not a good night for the Fusion as MapleBrook dropped them 4-0 in Osseo.
Wednesday:
St. Louis Lions 0 vs Fire & Ice SC 3 : Tony Glavin Soccer Complex, Cottleville, MO - No Stream Announced
The Lions hosted Fire & Ice SC and were looking to gain their first win of 2021. A strong Fire & Ice side shut that hope down with a few goals and a clean sheet. The crowd at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex watched FISC run away with their 3-0 win and three points on the night.
Minnesota Thunder 1 vs Rochester United FC 1 : Academy of Holy Angels StarDome, Richfield, MN - Eleven Sports
The final match of the 2021 season for the Minnesota Thunder, who have gotten a share of the Northern Conference (pending MapleBrook playing their cancelled matches). RUFC wouldn't let the Thunder go out on a high note as the two sides drew 1-1 in their only meeting of the much shortened season.
Chicago City SC 1 vs Chicago Dutch Lions 1 : Lions for Hope Sports Complex, Chicago, IL - Eleven Sports
Both Chicago City and the Dutch Lions are attempting to catch Red Stars Reserves to attempt to dethrone them and take the first Lake Michigan Conference Championship. The result would be the one that neither side wanted as it ended in a 1-1 draw.
Thursday:
MapleBrook Fury 2 vs Salvo SC 1 : Wilmes Field at Osseo High School Stadium, Osseo, MN - No Stream Announced
The final scheduled match of the season for MapleBrook while Salvo (officially) has two more to play. Another match played in Osseo saw the hosting Fury defeat the defending champion Salvo SC.
Friday:
FC Milwaukee Torrent 2 vs Chicago City SC 1 : Hart Park, Wauwatosa, WI - Eleven Sports
The final match of the relatively short week in the WPSL. Lake Michigan Conference match and a Milwaukee/Chicago showdown. The Torrent were able to work past CCSC for a 2-1 victory at Hart Park. A stark contrast of what the Torrent's men's first team had happen just a day later.
UWS Week 9: Recap
Monday:
Ladies Steel City FC 0 vs Corktown AFC 4 : DuPage Medical Group Field - YouTube
The league's only Monday clash did not end well for the home side. Corktown AFC came from Detroit to Chicago and ran through Ladies Steel City FC by a score of 4-0. Ladies Steel City have just two wins so far this season after their loss to Corktown.
Tuesday:
Springfield Demize 0 vs St. Louis Scott Gallagher 1 : Cooper Stadium at Lake Country Soccer, Springfield, MO - Eleven Sports
In what proved to be the Demize's final match of 2021 the hosted visiting St. Louis Scott Gallagher at home in Springfield. It would be the visiting side from Eastern Missouri who would win with a single goal on the night. This dropped Springfield down to 0-0-8 with zero points on the entire season. SLSG is 5-1-1 with 16 points and one match left to play.
Wednesday:
Gretna Elite 2 vs FC Wichita 0 : Papillion Landing Community Recreation Center, Papillion, NE - Eleven Sports
The first meeting of the two side in 2021 went off well for Gretna Elite who sent Wichita back home with no points. Gretna's Skylar Heinrich and Regan Zimmers would be the goalscorers with Rylan Childers and Lindsey Prokop also getting assists in Gretna's 2-0 clean sheet win. Gretna's upset win gets them to 3-1-2 (10 points) and sets Wichita to 4-1-2 (13 points).
Friday:
Midwest United 2 vs Detroit City FC 1 : Midwest United Soccer Complex, Grand Rapids, MI - Eleven Sports
A cross state battle of Michigan had two of the top teams in the Midwest-North face each other. Midwest United playing at the MUFC Soccer Complex defeated Detroit City for the second time this season sending Le Rouge home with a 2-1 loss.
Chicago KICS vs Indiana Elite: De La Salle Institute, Chicago, IL - Eleven Sports
This match was originally on the league schedule, however has since been removed. The KICS next match will be on July 11th as home against MSC Peoria at home in Chicago, IL. Indiana Elite will play their final match of the season on Monday, July 5th against Steel City FC at DuPage Medical Group Field in Joliet, IL.
Saturday:
FC Wichita vs Springfield Demize: Stryker Sports Complex, Wichita, KS - Eleven Sports
MSC Peoria vs Indiana Elite: Eastside Centre, Peoria, IL - No Stream Announced
This match was also initially scheduled however has been pulled off the league schedule. Indiana Elite will play their final match of the season on Monday, July 5th against Steel City FC at DuPage Medical Group Field in Joliet, IL. MSC Peoria will play two more matches, one on July 10th at home against the Chicago Mustangs and their final match of the season on July 11th against the Chicago KICS in Chicago, IL.
Midwest Premier League: July Preview
This weekend the Midwest Premier League enters the final month of play in their inaugural season with the last matches of 2021 being played on August 1st. Those are one East Division match between BiH Grand Rapids (3rd Place as of 7/2/21) and Michigan Stars U23 (2nd Place as of 7/2/21). One West Division match will be played along side that as DeKalb County United (11th as of 7/2/21) hosts Rockford FC (9th as of 7/2/21).
East Division
Heading into the final four weeks of league play the East Division has been entirely dominated by Detroit City U23, the developmental side of NISA's Detroit City FC. Le Rouge sit atop the East at a perfect 9-0-0 with 27 points. Detroit City U23 can clinch the MWPL East Division title inside the next month if all circumstances go right for them. Right below them but not quite as successful are the aforementioned Michigan Stars U23, another NISA development side. The Stars are 4-2-2 with 15 points and with 6 matches left in their final month. With how much of a lead Detroit has there isn't a huge chance the Stars can take the title but the possibility is still there.
Sitting in third is BiH Grand Rapids, a former UPSL club they have done surprisingly well in this extremely tough division of the MWPL. BiH has the second highest amount of goals scored in the East at 16 entering the month and is tied for the fewest goals against on the year. With 8 matches to play in their final month BiH will have to balance a late gasp at the title with keeping players healthy. The league website lists BiH as having a back to back double header against Inter Detroit on July 10th followed by another game against Detroit City on the 11th to start July. However the team site lists the second match as being played on July 25th.
Rounding out the top four is expansion side Lansing Common. The Robins are a double replacement and a true Phoenix Club for soccer in Lansing, MI. Initially Lansing United (who still has a women's UWS side) was the men's team in the city. LUFC dissolved their men's side following the 2018 season due to the impending arrival of Lansing Ignite in USL League One. Ignite however would only last one season, folding immediately following the 2019 USL League One Final, that gave way to Lansing Common FC to begin play. The Robins are 4-1-1 on the season and similar to BiH have 8 matches left to play this month before the season comes to a close.
Currently LK St. Clair sits bottom, Livonia City at second bottom, Inter Detroit at third bottom, and West Michigan Bearings at fourth bottom. The full East Division standings can be seen below.
West Division
As we head across Lake Michigan we take a look at the physically larger but short schedule West Division. Unlike the East which plays a 14 match double round robin, the West only plays an 11 match single round robin. This actually has a direct impact on the title race for the West Division as only two teams have a chance at winning it. Those are the first place RWB Adria and third place Bavarian Soccer Club. Adria has a single match left to play, that being on July 31st against Bavarians, currently Adria sit at 9-1-0 with 28 points. Bavarians are in third place with a 5-1-0 record with 16 points and five matches left to play. However, in order to win the MWPL West, Bavarians will need to win out the entire rest of the season as , if they drop more than 3 points before playing Adria, then RWB Adria will win the inaugural MWPL West Division Championship.
Bisecting the two title contenders are the second place Steel City FC who are 5-2-2 with 17 points. SCFC will finish their season with some very winnable matches against DeKalb County United (July 7th, Home) and Chicago Athletic (July 31st, Home). Rounding out the top four of the West are Berber City FC, the men's affiliate of WPSL side Chicago City SC. Berber City is 4-1-3 with 13 points through eight played matches and with three left to play in the month of July. Those matches will have Berber City take to the road against Chicago Mustangs (July 1st), Bloomington, IL's FC Diablos (July 11th), and end the season against Cedar Rapids Inferno (July 17th).
At the bottom of the West Division table is Chicago Athletic (0-0-7, 0 points), DeKalb County United (1-1-4, 4 points) are at second bottom, DKCU's arch rival Union Dubuque (1-2-4, 5 points) are third bottom, and Rockford FC (2-0-7, 6 points) are at fourth bottom after starting the season with seven straight losses. The full West Division standings can be seen below.
2021 USL League Two Playoff Format Announced
Tuesday afternoon USL League Two announced it's 2021 Playoff format. This year there will be a total of 26 clubs, more than the typical 16 teams of the past, qualifying for the USL League Two Playoffs. This will consist of 8 teams from each the Central, Eastern, and Southern Conferences and two teams from the Western Conference.
Qualification Breakdowns
Central Conference
- Great Lakes Division - 3 Teams
- Heartland Division - 2 Teams
- Mid-South Division - 3 Teams
Eastern Conference
- Mid-Atlantic Division - 2 Teams
- Metropolitan Division - 3 teams
- Northeast Division - 2 Teams
- Wild Card - Best 3rd Place team between the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Divisions
Southern Conference
- Deep South Division - 3 Teams
- Southeast - 2 Teams
- South Atlantic - 3 Teams
Western Conference
- Mountain Division Champion vs Northwest Division Champion
Playoffs Schedule
The 2020 playoffs will run from July 16th to July 31st with the first round starting just three days after the final regular season game outside the Western Conference. The three Conferences playing Quarter-Final and Semi-Final round matches will play those the weekend of July 16-18. The winners of each conference Semi-Final and the Mountain Division and Northwest Division winners, who will represent the Western Conference, will meet the weekend of July 23-25. The teams will play the Conference Final followed by the National Semi-Final that weekend. The Western Conference will meet the Central Conference and the Eastern Conference will meet the Southern Conference in the Semi-Finals.
The USL League Two National Championship Final will be played on July 31st with the highest seed remaining hosting the final at their home site.