GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (September 22, 2021) — Another busy weekend took place in the Fall 2021 season of the USYS Midwest Conference, with over 200 games played involving 240 teams taking place across the Midwest Region.

While many teams were playing their first games of the Fall 2021 Conference season, many others are past the halfway point of their season and will have a better idea of their prospects of qualifying for the 2022 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships, earning a berth into the 2022-23 season of National League P.R.O. and earning promotion to the top tiers of the Conference.

This weekend also saw the first-ever conference-hosted weekend played at the Rantoul Sports Complex. Close to 50 teams made the trip to central Illinois to play their games on the pristine turf fields in Rantoul, Ill., with the bulk of the games being played as part of the Premier I divisions.

Some notes from the Rantoul conference-hosted weekend:

• Chicago Magic 2008 MCL (IL) had a successful weekend in the 14U Boys Premier I Division, as it secured two wins from two, with Saturday’s 5-0 win over LFA Blue Star Premier 2008B (MO) counting toward the National League P.R.O. standings.
• MFJ 06G Elite (MI) won both of its games in the 16U Girls Premier I Division, which gives it a perfect 2-0-0 start to the fall season. While the season is still young, the Michigan side remains three points off the summit of the table, where KC Athletics Academy Premier 06G (KS) has a 3-0-0 record.
• Strikers FV 03/04 Premier (IL) won its only game at the Rantoul conference-hosted weekend, defeating MI Burn 03 Black (MI) 3-1 on Saturday. This win, coupled with their Sunday win in a one-off with Nationals Genesee 03 Girls Black (MI), means Strikers have only dropped points in one game this season and sit atop the 19U Girls Premier I standings.
• Two teams had great weekends in the 13U Boys Premier Black Division as SLSG MO B 2009 Elite (MO) won all three of its games to extend its perfect start to four games, while MO Rush 2009B United (MO) began its season with two wins and a draw in Rantoul.
• KC Fusion Academy 08 (KS) played three games at the Rantoul Sports Complex, winning two and drawing the other to extend its unbeaten start to the season to five games in 14U Girls Premier I.
• Kingdom SC 05 Red (MI) and KC Blaze Academy Gunners (MO) both got their seasons underway with big victories over Liverpool Central 05 G Academy (MI). They tied each other in their head-to-head matchup, meaning they both sit five points behind first place having played a game less than their opponents in 17U Girls Premier I.
• The race for first place in the 18U Girls Premier I Division is already close as the top five teams are all within four points of each other. KCSG Elite 04 G (KS)’s win in its lone game at Rantoul, along with Team Chicago SC 2004 Elite (IL) winning one and drawing the other, mean the two of them are on seven points at the top of the table with a third of the season played.

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

• Michigan Rush Northville 09G (MI) won both of its games at a club-hosted weekend in Michigan, doubling its point tally in the process. Rush has a perfect 4-0-0 record and plus-17 goal differential in the 13U Girls Premier Black Division.
• Polonia '07 Red Eagles (WI) rebounded from a loss in their opening game of the season last weekend to win both of their games against MFA Revolution 07G Black (MI) and MI Stars 07G Elite (MI). This leaves them a single point behind group leader 2007 Ela Elite 1 (IL) in the 15U Girls Premier I Division.
• Three teams are tied on six points at the top of 19U Girls Premier II White, thanks in part to Kopion 2003 Academy (IL) winning its game, 6-2, and REAL WC Elite 2003/2004G (MO) winning both of its games, including a victory over fellow first-place team Synergy 03 Girls Premier (IL).
• Action in 14U Girls Premier II White saw Evolution SC 08 Girls Mercurial (IL) claim two wins over the weekend, lifting it to second in the standings with its sights set on promotion to Premier I for the Spring 2022 season.
• KC Legends 2009 Academy (KS) and Southwest MO Rush Azul 2009 (MO) had near identical starts to the season, with both teams tying each other, 1-1, and winning two other games by large margins, putting them tied atop the standings for 13U Boys Premier Blue.
• WIUFC 2006 Girls Premier (WI) continues its perfect start to the season in 16U Girls Premier II White, adding two more wins to their record to sit at 5-0 with zero goals conceded.
• LFA Lange 2005G (MO) and AFA Fillies ADRENELINE 2005 (MO) won two games apiece this weekend, meaning both teams are 3-0-0 with only two remaining as they fight to secure a promotion slot from 17U Girls Premier II Blue.

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

• Teams from Galaxy SC (IL) had a perfect road trip to start their season, as they won all of their games against Lou Fusz Athletic (MO) on Saturday and Sporting St. Louis (MO) on Sunday. Those results put all five Galaxy teams in first place to start the season, as they all aim to earn qualifying slots for the 2022-23 season of National League P.R.O. and the 2022 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships.
• SC Wave (WI) and Chicago FC United (IL) split their series on Saturday, with SC Wave winning in the 15U and 17U age groups and Chicago FC United winning in the 16U and 18U age groups, while the 19U matchup ended in a 1-1 tie.
• Evolution SC (IL) won each their series on their trip to Missouri, winning three games in the 15U, 16U and 19U age groups against Sporting St. Louis (MO) on Saturday, and winning the 15U and 19U matchups versus Lou Fusz Athletic (MO) on Sunday.
• North Shore United hosted Madison 56ers in an all-Wisconsin matchup, with the hosts claiming wins in the 15U, 17U and 18U matchups, while drawing the 16U game.
• SC Wave (WI) capped off its trip to Illinois with wins in the 15U, 17U and 18U age groups over Greater Libertyville FC (IL), with the hosts winning the games in the 16U and 19U age groups.

What they’re saying:

While having to balance conference games with their participation in National League P.R.O., KC Fusion Academy 08 (KS) are enjoying their success so far this season in the 14U Girls Premier I Division.

“We really love the atmosphere, energy and buzz around the conference-hosted weekends,” said Brian Hoffman, coach of KC Fusion Academy 08 (KS). “With teams from all over the Midwest, it has the feel of a Regional Championship tournament and has a way of giving the players that extra boost.”

“It has been a busy and hectic last couple of weeks with our recent Premier I schedule in the Midwest Conference,” said Hoffman. “The fact the girls were able to find different ways to get results and take points out of each of the five games so far is no easy task in this league. With that, they also know that the hill will continue to get steeper and there is still much work to be done, but their spirits are high and mentality is good.”

Despite this being the team’s first season in Midwest Conference play, MO Rush 2009B United (MO) is enjoying its play in the 13U Boys Premier Black Division.

“Playing against different competition provides for new challenges and gives us the experience we need to become the successful team we are striving to be,” said Brian Watts, coach of MO Rush 2009B United (MO). “We’re feeling confident after playing against some strong competition. The boys are working to carry the momentum into the next weekend and produce similar results.”

The Midwest Conference is one of 13 Conferences under the USYS National League in the multi-state tier, 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.