UWS, Week 6: Preview
Saturday:
Springfield Demize vs Gretna Elite 4pm - Lake Country Soccer Cooper Stadium, Springfield, MO - No Stream Announced
A Springfield team which is 0-2 on the young season looks to defend home field against a fellow struggler in Gretna Elite.
Chicago Mustangs vs Indiana Elite 6pm - Knoch Park, Naperville, IL - No Stream Announced
An unbeaten, division leading Mustangs squad plays host to a win-less Indiana Elite team, in what should be an easy win for the home team.
FC Wichita vs St Louis Scott Gallagher 7pm - Stryker Sports Complex, Wichita, KS - Eleven Sports
With 3 points each, this looks to be an even matchup in the midsection of the Central Conference as these two teams try to put some pressure on the KC Courage.
Muskegon Risers vs Lansing United 7pm - Kehren Stadium, Muskegon, MI - Eleven Sports
Defence will be the aim for Muskegon, who enter this match with a -18 goal difference, and they may have a chance to sneak some points against a LanU side which only has 1 point more.
Detroit City FC vs Corktown AFC 7pm - Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI - YouTube
In what is already becoming a spicy rivalry, Corktown AFC make the short trip to Keyworth to face the division leading Rouge and Gold - who are 4-1 on the season, with a goal difference of +17, compared to the Corktown record of 2-2 with a goal difference of +4.
MSC Peoria vs Chicago KICS 7pm - Eastside Centre, East Peoria, IL - Eleven Sports
Two pretenders to the throne meet in East Peoria with hopes of making a run for the division's top spot. MSC is undefeated at 2-0-0, whereas the visitors have dropped two games.
Sunday:
KC Courage vs Gretna Elite 2pm - Kansas City Kansas Community College, Kansas City, KS - No Stream Announced
Central Division leaders KC Courage match up against a struggling Gretna side. The Courage are 2-1-1 on the season, without running away at the top of the division, but should have enough quality to get past Gretna.
Midwest United vs Indiana Elite 7pm - Aquinas College, E Grand Rapids, MI - Eleven Sports
A Midwest United team pushing Detroit City in the Midwest North play host to an Indiana Elite side struggling in the Midwest South standings.
Monday:
Ladies Steel City vs MSC Peoria 7:30pm - DuPage Medical Group Field, Joliet, IL - No Stream Announced
An MSC team contending for top spot in their division faces a 1-4 Steel City squad.
*Note – All Times CDT
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
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.
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