WPSL Central Region, Week 4: Recap
Wednesday:
Chicago City SC, 0 vs Chicago Red Stars Reserves, 5 : 8 PM - DePaul College Prep Turf Field, Chicago, IL - Eleven Sports
After a 4-0 win over the Chicago Dutch Lions last weekend Chicago Red Stars Reserve squad faced another local Chicago side in Chicago City SC. Halftime saw CRS Reserves only hold a 1-0 lead, however the NWSL reserve side added four more goals in the second half en route to a massive win over Chicago City.
Friday:
Mankato United, 7 vs Fire SC 98, 2 : 7 PM - Bethany Lutheran College Soccer Field, Mankato, MN - Eleven Sports
Mankato United debuted in a new home on Friday night, now playing at Bethany Lutheran College's brand new Soccer Field rather than the Caswell North Soccer Complex in North Mankato. The hosts opened with an early goal before Fire 98 struck back with their own. Mankato proceeded to score five unanswered between the first and second halves before Fire 98 scored their second of two goals. MUSC capped off the night in the 86th minute with their seventh goal of the match.
Salvo SC, 2 vs Minnesota Thunder, 1 : 7 PM - Reynolds Field, St. Paul, MN - Eleven Sports
Defending champions vs a debuting side, Salvo SC hosted the Minnesota Thunder at Reynolds Field on the campus of Northwestern University in St. Paul for a clash of Twin Cities clubs. The Thunder scored first in just the 6th minute off a corner kick and held that lead for a good part of the first 45 minutes. Salvo had an opportunity to level the score in the 30th minute on a penalty, however that kick hit the post and the rebound shot was sent just wide. Katherine Jones evened the match in the 43rd minute on a screamer from 25 yards out. After a leveller near 45 minutes, in the second half Alaysia Lane gave Salvo SC the win on another screamer from 20 yards out.
Saturday:
FC Pride, 2 vs Fire & Ice SC, 1 : 2 PM - FC Pride Performance Center, Indianapolis, IN - No Stream Announced
Chicago City SC, 2 vs FC Milwaukee Torrent, 1 : 4:30 PM - Chicago Lions Hope Complex, Chicago, IL - Eleven Sports
This battle of contenders to be runner-up in the Lake Michigan Conference saw the visitors take an early lead in the 7th minute after a quick break down their right wing. However, the home team rallied to equalize only 4 minutes later and the comeback was completed mid-way through the second half.
Chicago Dutch Lions, 1 vs Bavarian Soccer Club, 1 : 5 PM - Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex Stadium, Lisle, IL - Eleven Sports
Lady Victory FC, 9 vs St. Louis Lions, 1 : 6 PM - Guerin Catholic High School - Noblesville, IN - Eleven Sports
Lady Victory took the massive win here, scoring early and often and not letting their feet off the gas, even outscoring their opponents 3-1 in a second half which could have been seen as academic.
Chicago Red Stars Reserves, 5 vs Green Bay Glory, 0 : 7 PM - Evergreen Bank Group Athletic Field, Oak Brook, IL - Eleven Sports
MapleBrook Fury, 1 vs Rochester United FC, 1 : 7 PM - Maple Grove Crimson Stadium, Maple Grove, MN - No Stream Announced
Sunday:
Lady Victory FC, 0 vs Fire & Ice SC, 1 : 2 PM - Guerin Catholic High School - Noblesville, IN - Eleven Sports
Dayton Dutch Lions, 2 vs Columbus Eagles, 2 : 3:30 PM - Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium, West Carrollton, OH - Gem City Sports Network
St. Louis Lions 2 vs FC Pride, 4 : 4 PM - Tony Glavin Soccer Complex, Cottleville, MO - No Stream Announced
MapleBrook Fury vs Dakota Fusion: 7 PM - Maple Grove Crimson Stadium, Maple Grove, MN - No Stream Announced
Covid caused the postponement of this match. With a makeup date yet to be announced, this leaves both the Fury and the Fusion with only one game each in the books - from an originally scheduled three.
Minnesota Thunder, 3 vs Mankato United, 1 : 7:45 PM - Academy of Holy Angels StarDome, Richfield, MN - Eleven Sports
*Note – All Times CDT
Midweek Madness, Recap 5/24-27, 2021
USL League Two
Monday:
St. Louis Scott Gallagher 2 vs FC Wichita 0:
After two defeats League Two newcomers SLSG gained their first win of the season on Monday. In the 31st minute St. Louis scored their first of the night from a PK by Jack Lynn. Lynn sent the kick to the right while the FC Wichita keeper went the opposite way. John Klein scored SLSG's second goal of the night in the 84th minute, once again on a PK.
Tuesday:
Kings Hammer 0 vs Flint City Bucks 0:
The teams went 90 minutes to a nil-nil draw in what ended up being a very chippy match. Flint City would be called for 12 fouls while Kings Hammer were issues 9. For their troubles on the night both sides were also handed four yellow cards each.
Toledo Villa 5 vs Oakland County FC 5:
Oakland County headed across state lines to face Toledo Villa and it turned out to be a barn burner of a match. Oakland County scored two goals in a row to open the match with Pliakos and Rizzo scoring in the 8th and 18th with Popovic getting assists on each. Toledo screamed back with three unanswered goals in the 36th, 42nd, and 45th minutes to close the half. However in the second half Popovic scored to goals to add to his two assists, putting OCFC up 4-3. The final 20+ minutes saw both sides trade goals with Toledo scoring in the 75th and 90th while Toledo scored the 88th.
Wednesday:
Dayton Dutch Lions 0 vs Kalamazoo FC 3:
Kalamazoo's road trip to Dayton was one they hoped would be an easy one. And an easy one it was, at least after the first half. Daire O'Riordan scored Kalamazoo's first in first half stoppage time. The visitors scored two more times in the second half, including Cyrus Harmon's goal in the 53rd that made it 2-0.
National Premier Soccer League
Wednesday:
Minneapolis City SC 3 vs Duluth FC 2:
A match with massive implications between the only two sides who have ever won the North Conference. Both sides struggled for most of the first half, however Sidney Warden put Duluth FC on top in the 41st. Minneapolis City's Mohamed Youssef responded back in the 47th minute while teammate William Kidd scored the Crows second goal in the 52nd. However, Warden responded back for Duluth FC with a 53rd minute to level up the score at 2-2. The final near 30 minutes proved tough for both sides to score as they each missed plenty of shots. In the end Brayan Lopez scored the game winner for the hosts in the 80th minute.
United Premier Soccer League
Wednesday:
Cedars FC 3 vs Grand Haven Admirals 1
Detroit United 5 vs City United SC 4
United Women’s Soccer
Wednesday:
Corktown AFC 0 vs Detroit City FC 3:
A short trip for DCFC to do battle with a Detroit rival. The Corner Ballpark in Corktown, the former site of Tiger Stadium, would see the visitors go on a tear. Sarah Huge's goal on a diving header and Kenna White's chip shot over the Corktown keeper put Le Rouge up 2-0 inside 20 minutes. Tatiana Mason's free kick goal from the top of the box sealed up Detroit City's win.
UWS League Two
Wednesday:
Corktown AFC II vs FC Midland:
No Reported Score
Thursday:
Livonia City FC 1 vs Legends FC II 3:
United Women's Soccer Week 4, Where to Watch
Friday:
Springfield Demize vs KC Courage: 4 PM - Cooper Stadium, Springfield, MO - MyCujoo
Lansing United vs Midwest United: 6 PM - East Lansing Soccer Complex, East Lansing, MI - MyCujoo
Saturday:
Muskegon Risers vs Ladies Steel City FC: 6 PM - Monsignor Kehren Stadium, Muskegon, MI - MyCujoo
Detroit City FC vs Chicago Mustangs: 6 PM - Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI - MyCujoo
Sunday:
MSC Peoria vs Indiana Elite: 7 PM - EastSide Centre, Peoria, IL - MyCujoo
*Note – All Times CDT
USL League 2 Week 4, Where to Watch
Friday:
Grand Rapids FC vs Kings Hammer: 6:30 PM - Midwest United FC Complex, Grand Rapids, MI - No Announced Stream
Green Bay Voyageurs vs Des Moines Menace: 7 PM - Capital Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - No Announced Stream
Saturday:
South Bend Lions vs Toledo Villa: 4 PM - TCU School Field, South Bend, IN - No Announced Stream
Flint City Bucks vs Dayton Dutch Lions: 6:30 PM - Atwood Stadium at Kettering University, Flint, MI - No Announced Stream
Green Bay Voyageurs vs St. Louis Scott Gallagher: 7 PM - Capital Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI - No Announced Stream
Kaw Valley FC vs FC Wichita: 7:30 PM - Rock Chalk Park, Lawrence, KS - No Announced Stream
Sunday:
Fort Wayne FC vs Oakland County FC: 2 PM - The Stadium at Shields Field, Fort Wayne, IN - No Announced Stream
*Note – All Times CDT
Illinois State Cup Begins
The Illinois State Soccer Association's Open Cup begins play this week. In 2021 the Tony Dallas Cup will feature a total of 14 sides will competing for the trophy. The tournament begins tonight with two matches featuring a few Midwest Premier League clubs. Edgewater Castle will travel to Buffalo Grove and face Schwaben AC at 7:30. The other match will see DeKalb County United head to Bensenville to play Wisloka Chicago at 8 PM.
State Open Cup?
The Tony Dallas Cup is one of many open cups inside the State of Illinois. Others played are Men's Over-30, Over-40, Over-48, Under-23, and Women's tournaments. In fact many states across the country have their own open cups which serve to supplement lower league seasons from smaller city leagues to state leagues to regional ones. Most states that have one Cup usually have a few, which we will also be covering.
Cup History
The Tony Dallas Cup itself has only been awarded the past three seasons, however the tournament dates back to 1909. From 1909-1970 the Peter J Peel Cup was awarded to the champions. During the Peel Cup era Sparta would win the title 12 times. From 1971-1977 the trophy awarded was the Illinois Governors Cup, which saw the Lions win three titles. Since 1978 the trophy has taken the names of the Fred W Netto Cup (78-83), George E Fishwick Cup (84-87), William P Hemmings Cup (88-93), Alfredo V Arias Cup (94-03), George L Chazaro Cup (04-07), and Frank Mariani Cup (07-16).
RWB Adria has won the title a total of 14 times, most in cup history, including the last time it was awarded in 2019.
2021 Format
The 2021 format of the Tony Dallas Cup is a straight forward 14 team knockout tournament. All rounds will be single elimination with two teams gaining a first round bye. Those sides being AAC Eagles of the Metropolitan Soccer League and Gazelle Chicago of the National Soccer League. All clubs in this years tournament hail from Chicago or it's immediate surroundings.
MWPL Week 7, Where to Watch
Wednesday:
Michigan Stars U23 vs Livonia City: 6 PM - Michigan Stars Sports Center, Washington, MI - MyCujoo
RWB Adria vs Steel City FC: 8 PM - Hales Franciscan High School, Chicago, IL - Facebook
Friday:
Inter Detroit vs Lansing Common: 4 PM - Evolution Sportsplex, Auburn Hills, MI - MyCujoo
Saturday:
Union Dubuque vs Rockford FC: 3:30 PM - Dubuque Soccer Complex, Dubuque, IA - MyCujoo
Livonia City vs Detroit City U23: 6 PM - St. Joe's Sports Complex, Livonia, MI - MyCujoo
Berber City vs Steel City FC: 7 PM - Lions for Hope Sports Complex, Chicago, IL - MyCujoo
Sunday:
Edgewater Castle vs Chicago Mustangs: 3 PM - CIBC FirePitch, Chicago, IL - Twitch
*Note – All Times CDT
NISA Independent Cup and field announced
Yesterday morning the National Independent Soccer Association announced the 2021 edition of the Independent Cup.This year with a much larger field than in 2020, which albeit was hampered by most clubs not playing due to COVID-19.
The 2020 tournament saw a total of 15 clubs split out across four regions. Those four regions played a single round robin tournament with the exception of the Central Plains region. Which consisted of clubs from the GCPL and UPSL in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. It did not play a round robin format rather a knockout tournament format with a two game aggregate semi-final and single match final.
The Gulf Coast Premier League's Gaffa FC were champions Central Plains Region, NISA's Detroit City FC won the Great Lakes Region, the NPSL's Maryland Bobcats FC took the Mid-Atlantic Region, and lastly NISA's Chattanooga FC scored the Southeast Region title.
In 2021 a total of 36 clubs will be split among 9 regions, those being; the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New England, Pacific, South Central, Southeast, Southwest, and West Coast. Those regions will play a three match single round robin amongst themselves. There will be no follow up after the end of the round robin with only the regional champions being declared.
"The Independent Cup champions the independent spirit of open competition,” says NISA Executive Vice President Josh Prutch. “Over the last year, we have seen competition after competition get shut down. The Independent Cup gives these clubs more opportunities to compete, develop and succeed – and that is why we expanded the field for 2021.”
A total of eight clubs from the Dakotas to Ohio region we cover will take place in the 2021 Independent Cup. In the Midwest, NISA expansion side and new SeatGeek Stadium tenant Chicago House AC will be joined by the newly renamed FC Milwaukee Torrent from the NPSL's Great Lakes conference, Rochester, MN's Med City FC from the NPSL's North Conference, and lastly the Midwest Premier League's Union Dubuque FC.
The Great Lakes Region will see a similar lineup with a NISA club joined by two National Premier Soccer League clubs and a MWPL side. Those being Detroit City FC (NISA), FC Buffalo (NPSL Rust Belt), Cleveland SC (NPSL Rust Belt), and Livonia City (MWPL East).
A schedule has not been announced for the tournament, however it will take place over July and August after most amateur leagues end their season.
Midweek Madness, Where to Watch 5/24-27, 2021
USL League Two
Monday:
St. Louis Scott Gallagher vs FC Wichita: 7 PM - World Wide Technology Soccer Park, Fenton, MO - MyCujoo
Tuesday:
Kings Hammer vs Flint City Bucks: 6 PM - Corcoran Field, Cincinnati, OH - YouTube
Toledo Villa vs Oakland County FC: 6 PM - Pat Hotmer Soccer Field, Toledo, OH - MyCujoo
Wednesday:
Dayton Dutch Lions vs Kalamazoo FC: 6 PM - Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium, West Carrollton, OH - Gem City Sports Network
National Premier Soccer League
Wednesday:
Minneapolis City SC vs Duluth FC: 7 PM - Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis, MN - YouTube
United Premier Soccer League
Wednesday:
Cedars FC vs Grand Haven Admirals: 6:30 PM - Fordson High School, Dearborn, MI - No Stream Announced
Detroit United vs City United SC: 7 PM - Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI - No Stream Announced
United Women's Soccer
Wednesday:
Corktown AFC vs Detroit City FC: 6:30 PM - The Corner Ballpark, Detroit, MI - GoLive SportsCast
UWS League Two
Wednesday:
Corktown AFC II vs FC Midland: 3 PM - The Corner Ballpark, Detroit, MI - No Stream Announced
Thursday:
Livonia City FC vs Legends FC II: 6 PM - St. Joe's Sports Complex - Livonia, MI - No Stream Announced
*Note - All Times CDT
Where to Watch: UWS Week 3
UWS Week 3:
Saturday:
KC Courage vs FC Wichita: 4 PM - Zarda Multisport Complex at Avila University, Kansas City, MO - MyCujoo
Muskegon Risers vs Midwest United: 6 PM - Kehren Stadium, Muskegon, MN - MyCujoo
Sunday:
Lansing United vs Detroit City:1 PM - East Lansing Soccer Complex, East Lansing, MI - MyCujoo
Corktown AFC vs MSC Peoria: 4:45 PM - The Corner Ballpark, Detroit, MI - MyCujoo
Chicago Kics vs Ladies Steel City FC: 7 PM - De La Salle Institute, Chicago, IL - MyCujoo
Where to Watch: WPSL Week 2
WPSL Week 2:
Friday:
FC Pride vs Dayton Dutch Lions: 6 PM - Pride Performance Center, Indianapolis, IN - No Stream Announced
Saturday:
Dayton Dutch Lions vs Cincinnati Sirens FC: 3:30 PM - Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium, Dayton, OH - No Stream Announced
Rochester United FC vs Dakota Fusion FC: 5 PM - Spartan Field at Mayo High School, Rochester, MN - No Stream Announced
Sunday:
Columbus Eagles FC vs Cincinnati Sirens FC: 1 PM - Bernlohr Stadium at Capital University, Bexley, OH - MyCujoo