FRISCO, Texas (May 4, 2022) — Sunday marked the end of another competitive weekend of games in the USYS Great Lakes Conference. Multiple teams positioned themselves for a successful campaign after earning quality results in their matches.
Teams in the top tier divisions of the Great Lakes Conference are competing for the opportunity to earn berths to the 2022 USYS Midwest Regional Championships and the 2022-23 season of USYS National League P.R.O.
A brief look at some key girls results:
In the 13U Girls age group, FWSC 2009G Dresden (IN) came out victorious in both games this weekend, positioning themselves atop the group’s standings after a dominant showing. They were extremely clinical, scoring eight goals and earning two shutouts, and now have 13 points through six matches played in the Great Lakes 13U Premier I Division.
FWSC’s strong performance over the weekend included an influential 2-0 win against GTFC Impact Girls 09 Premier (OH), which — along with Club Ohio Dayton 09G Elite (OH) — is currently tied with FWSC atop the division standings.
Matthew Lockman, coach of FWSC 2009G Dresden (IN), attributed his team’s success to their togetherness on the field.
“The girls earned a favorable result by playing great team soccer,” Lockman said. “Every girl contributed to and impacted the result of the game. The girls remained connected, committed, and composed all game against a very tough opponent.”
Lockman also shed light on the benefits of playing in the Great Lakes Conference and what it means for his players.
“The Great Lakes Conference competition has been great this season, with every game providing unique challenges, learning and growth opportunities, and hard-fought matches for our girls,” Lockman said. “The girls look forward to facing top notch competition every game. We know that every Great Lakes match this season will help prepare our girls for the short and long term.”
A brief look at some key boys results:
Team Challenger FC B04 Black (OH) continued to distance itself from the pack as it moved to 5-0-0 in conference play after picking up two wins this weekend in the 18U Premier I Division. The Ohio side has an impressive plus-21 goal differential so far, which it improved tremendously after scoring eight goals and giving up none in their two matches this weekend.
Team Challenger capped off its weekend with a hard-fought 2-0 win against SCS United 2004 Boys Black (PA-W) that helped create some separation in the standings. The result marked SCS’s first loss of the season, as it entered the match undefeated and currently sits in second place — five points behind Team Challenger.
Louie Rolko, coach of Team Challenger FC B04 Black (OH), talked about how competing in the Great Lakes Conference has set his team up for success.
“This league really prepares us well,” Rolko said. “I think the competition is strong and each game prepares us well for another challenger that may come our way. In our division, you have teams that are a part of National League P.R.O. Knowing we are going to get that kind of quality in our league will only continue to prepare us moving forward. We have set lofty goals for our team, and in order to achieve them we have to be challenged. We have to be shown different things on the field and know how to respond and react. I think we get that by playing in the Great Lakes Conference.”
Rolko also talked about the competition level of the Great Lakes Conference and the experience his team has had while playing in it.
“The competition level for us has been good. It has really challenged our players in different ways this season,” Rolko said. “We have played against teams that are very well organized, having clear defending and attacking characteristics. We have faced teams with low lines of pressure, teams with a mid-block, as well as teams trying to pressure us high up the field. In addition, teams have been direct in attack, counter attacking teams, as well as teams that like to get the ball wide or are able to break lines through the middle. Going up against such diverse types of teams has forced us to improve every week and take on new tactical concepts and principles.”
A brief look at some key Club vs. Club results:
Michigan Tigers had an active weekend in Boys Club vs. Club, as they hosted Ohio Galaxies FC on Saturday before traveling to Michigan Jaguars FC on Sunday.
The Tigers picked up 3-1 and 2-0 wins against Ohio Galaxies in the 15U and 17U age groups, respectively, while Ohio Galaxies secured a 2-1 win in the 18U matchup. The Jaguars enjoyed a slight edge on Sunday, as they won two games (17U and 18U), while the Tigers earned one victory (15U) and the clubs tied, 2-2, in their 16U matchup.
The Great Lakes Conference is one of 13 conferences in the USYS National League. Action in the Great Lakes Conference will continue this coming weekend with teams inching closer to earning qualification into National League P.R.O. or a spot at the USYS Midwest Regional Championships.
For more information on the Great Lakes Conference, including schedules, scores, and standings, click here.
For more information on all the National League Conferences and the National League P.R.O., click here.