(9/15/2021) Great Lakes Conference weekend recap

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (September 15, 2021) — The first major week of action took place in the Fall 2021 season of the Great Lakes Conference, with close to 50 games being played across all 12 divisions this past weekend.

Many teams played their first games of the season, hoping to get their season started on the right foot, with teams eyeing promotion slots for the Spring 2022 season.

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

Perrysburg SC served as host club for five games in the 14U Boys Premier I Division, with PSC 08 Gold (OH) winning all three of its games by a 3-0 scoreline to get a perfect start to the season. SCS United 2008 Boys Black (PA-W) is on PSC’s heels, as SCS won both of its games to get six points from six, including a thrilling 5-4 win over Nationals Union 08 Boys Black (MI).
The 14U Girls Premier I Division saw three games played, with CUP 08G Gold (OH) and GTFC Impact Girls 08 Premier (OH) winning their respective games by big margins to get their seasons started.
The busiest division on the weekend came in the form of the 13U Boys Premier White Division, which had seven games played. With the potential of getting promotion to Premier I in the Spring 2022 division available, Mockingbird Valley Premier- Boys 2009 Gold (KY) and FCSC 09 GOLD (KY) won both of their games to set the pace for what should be an exciting season.
TFA G09 Elite (OH) followed its first win of the season on Aug. 29 with another victory, this time defeating SKY Academy Select 2009 Girls 13U Black (KY), 3-0, which puts them solely in first place atop the 13U Girls Premier Yellow standings.
Club Ohio 08B National (OH) had a strong showing in the 14U Boys Premier II White Division, as it won all three of its games without conceding a goal to rebound from an opening-game loss at the end of August. Barcelona United Academy 08B (OH) also won all of its games this weekend to start their season with two wins from two.
The 14U Girls Premier II White Division is nearing the halfway point already, with LFC 08 Girls White (KY) winning one and drawing the other of their two games this weekend to remain in first place. However, with three teams just behind them in the standings, the second half of the season should see plenty of changes in the standings as teams fight for a promotion to Premier I in the Spring 2022 season.
AFFC 2009 Black (PA-W) won both of its games this weekend by a combined eight goals, including a 4-1 victory over previously undefeated Team Challenger FC B09 Black (OH), to get its season off to a great start in the 13U Boys Premier Blue Division.
Five games were played in 14U Boys Premier II, with three of them ending in draws, meaning this division should be very entertaining to watch as teams fight for a promotion slot to Premier I. Indy Premier SC 08B Elite I (IN) is setting the pace, having won all four of its games so far this season.

What they’re saying:

“We are very proud of our team’s performance this past weekend as they exceeded our expectations,” said Dennis Jeansonne, coach of PSC ’08 Gold (OH) in 14U Boys Premier I. “As we approached the opening weekend, our sessions became more tactically focused and much more competitive to ensure we’re training at the pace we expect the game to be played.”

“We wanted 17 game-ready players that could be interchanged on the pitch without a drop off in play and I think we succeeded,” Jeansonne said after his team won all three of its games by 3-0 score lines. “The boys’ performances were outstanding, which led to three wins and we could not have been more proud or excited for them.”

The Great Lakes Conference is one of 13 Conferences under the USYS National League in the multi-state tier, and it consists of teams primarily from New York West, Pennsylvania West, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Kentucky.

To follow the Great Lakes Conference results and standings, click here.

Click here for more information on the Great Lakes 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.