GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Oct. 27, 2021) — Three teams added their names to list of champions among the Fall 2021 divisions of the US Youth Soccer Midwest Conference. Entering the final month of play, Midwest Conference teams will continue fighting to claim spots that can earn them conference promotion, berths to the 2022 USYS Midwest Regional Championships or qualification into the 2022-23 season of National League P.R.O.

Some notes from the weekend’s Team vs. Team action:

• The 13U Girls Premier White Division featured a very close finish, with Tonka Fusion Elite 09 (MN) winning its final game, 1-0, on Sunday to finish in first place. Tonka ended up tied with MKSC Academy U13 Girls (WI) on 20 points, but the Minnesota side finished ahead thanks to a superior goal difference, as the teams drew their matchup, 0-0, earlier in the season.
• WIUFC 2006 Girls Premier (WI) secured the top spot and promotion to Premier I after winning its final two games of the season by 2-0 score lines in the 16U Girls Premier II White Division.
• Galaxy 2008 Girls Blue (IL) missed a chance to guarantee the 14U Girls Premier I Division title after dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Legends 2008 Girls Black (MI). The draw means that second-place KC Fusion Academy 08 (KS) can leapfrog the Illinois side if it wins its two games this coming weekend and overturn the 10-goal gap in goal difference between the sides.
• With the two teams above it having already finished their seasons, SBV Academy 08 (KS) has three games this upcoming weekend to rise to the top of the standings following its dominant win over the weekend in 14U Boys Premier II Blue. Securing wins in each match will win SBV the title, while seven points will see it tie Cadence SFC 2008 (IL) atop the standings, where it will come down to goal difference to separate the sides.
• The race for promotion slots from 18U Girls Premier II Blue will be a close one as MI Stars 04G Elite (MI) defeated Plymouth SC Reign 04 Green (MI), 4-2, to move up to second place and one point behind MFJ 04G Elite (MI) in first.
• Two points separate the top four sides in the 15U Girls Premier II Yellow Division, with Liverpool Clarkston 07 G Academy (MI), SCOR Meulensteen 07 Black (MI), and TKO Premier SC 2007 Girls Blue (MI) all picking up points in recent weeks to make the finish in the division a close one. TKO Premier holds a slight advantage in having two games in hand over Liverpool and one game in hand over SCOR.
• Alliance FC '09 Academy (MO) and LFA Blue Star Liga 2009G (MO) each won their game over the weekend to leave the race for first in 13U Girls Premier Blue wide open. The teams are set to finish their season this weekend to determine who will finish on top of the standings.
• Chicago Magic PSG 2009 MCL (IL) is one point away from winning the 13U Boys Premier Yellow Division and a guaranteed spot in Premier I for the Spring 2022 season following its 3-0 win over the weekend. Chicago’s next game, against second-place Campton United 2009 Boys Red (IL), will have the final determination on which team can call itself champion.
• In a huge matchup between first and second place teams in 19U Premier II Blue, Chicago Soccer Academy 03 Girls Chelsea (IL) drew FCX 2003 Girls Black (IL), 0-0, which means Chicago Soccer Academy can clinch first place so long as it avoids defeat by seven or more goals in its final game of the season.
• Following their sixth win of the season, First XI 06 Girls (IL) can clinch first place in 16U Girls Premier II Yellow if they can claim victory in their final game of the season this weekend, thanks in part to MI Burn 06 Black (MI) dropping points on Saturday.
• Kingdom SC 05 Red (MI) continued its undefeated start to the season with a 5-1 victory over MI Stars 05G Elite (MI) in the 17U Girls Premier I Division. The upcoming weekend at the Creve Coeur College Showcase will have a huge impact in the direction of the division title and a spot in 2022-23 season of National League P.R.O. Kingdom plays LFA Tottleben 2005G (MO) and JB Marine Thunder (MO), who currently sit in second and third, respectively.
• The race for promotion from the 14U Girls Premier Black Division will go down to the wire as there are four teams within a shout of finishing atop the standings with only two remaining. A combination of results from the seven games played over the past week means MI Stars 08G Elite (MI), Plymouth SC Reign 08 Green (MI), Michigan Tigers 2008 Girls Gold (MI), and SCOR Meulensteen 08 Black (MI) are in view of first place.
• Evolution SC 09 Girls Mercurial (IL) secured first place in the 13U Girls Premier Yellow Division with two games to spare thanks to its two wins over the weekend, including a 4-0 win over Chicago Inter 2009 Red (IL).

Some notes from the weekend’s Girls Club vs. Club action:

• SC Wave (WI) and Madison 56ers (WI) split their games on Saturday, with SC Wave winning the 15U and 18U matchups, Madison 56ers winning the 16U and 19U matchups, and the sides drawing in the 17U game. The win in the 15U and 18U age groups left SC Wave one win away from winning its bracket in each age group, while the 19U win for Madison 56ers leaves it one point from winning its bracket.
• Sunday saw Nationals (MI) host Michigan Jaguars (MI). The hosts won the first two games in the 15U and 16U age groups, while Michigan Jaguars won in the 17U match, and the teams tied the 19U game. The 2-1 win in the 17U age group means Michigan Jaguars can win its bracket if they can claim four points from their remaining two games to be played this weekend.

What they’re saying:

Many divisions in the fall season of the Midwest Conference are going right down to the wire, showing how competitive and consistent teams must be in order to earn top finishes.

“Any team is beatable any given week, and we have to give our all every week,” said Katy Lindsey, coach of Alliance FC '09 Academy (MO), which plays the second-place team in its last game of the season — likely determining who will win the division. “They have a drive to get better each week. The wins this season are obviously great, but more important to me, they are continuing to develop as players and people.”

With all other contending teams having finished their season, SBV Academy 08 (KS) can move from third to first place if it wins each of its remaining three games this weekend.

“We try to keep everything as simple as possible and continue to work on our possession, team framework and discipline,” said SBV coach Gareth Hughes. “With one more weekend of games to determine the outcome of our fall season, we are looking forward to another challenge with this fantastic group of players.”

The Midwest Conference is one of 13 Conferences in the National League, and it consists of teams primarily from Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

To follow the Midwest Conference results and standings, click here.

Click here for more information on the Midwest Conference. For more information on all 13 of the National League Conferences, the National League Showcase Series, and National League P.R.O., click here.