GRAND RAPIDS FC WOMEN 3, DETROIT SUN FC 0

GRANDVILLE, MI - Grand Rapids FC Women (5-1-1 Midwest) returned home to Grandville High School for the first time in a month with a pair of games this past weekend, hosting FC Indiana (4-3 Midwest) on Friday evening and Detroit Sun FC (3-1-2 Midwest) on Sunday afternoon. Two strong performances from the Girls In Blue saw a 2-1 victory on Friday and a 3-0 win on Sunday vault Grand Rapids into first place in the Midwest Conference. On Sunday, strong defense from both GRFC and Detroit saw a tightly contested match-up through the first hour of play. Detroit had a few looks on goal in the first half, pushing a shot just wide off a free kick in the 29th minute then hitting the woodwork in first half stoppage time.

In the second half, GRFC pushed forward, trying to find the breakthrough goal. After two unsuccessful scoring chances, the third time proved to be the charm for midfielder Bethany Balcer in the 74th minute. Midfielder Annie Steinlage made a run into the box and slipped a pass into Balcer in the center of the box who hit a rocket into the left side of the net for the 1-0 lead. Balcer extended the score to 2-0 in the 87th minute, taking a Detroit turnover and using her speed to dribble past the defense and slot the ball into the bottom right corner. In stoppage time, Balcer completed the hat trick as midfielder Riko Sagara played a perfectly weighted through-ball between the two centerbacks to her and she again beat Detroit goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem (three saves) on a 1v1 to cap off the 3-0 victory.

INDY PREMIER SC 1, FC INDIANA 2

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FC Indiana swept the inaugural Indianapolis Derby with a 2-1 victory over Indy Premier SC (1-5-1 Midwest) on Sunday afternoon at the Park Tudor School. FC Indiana followed their 2-1 win at home on Friday, June 9th with a similar verdict on the road in the rubber match of their season series. A late goal in the 86th minute by substitute Samantha Kambol decided the outcome. Indy Premier goalkeeper Claire Graves (four saves) picked up the loss in net while FCI’s Tarah Hobbs made six saves in the win. Indy Premier started off the match in bright fashion, with a trio of scoring chances early in the match.

In the 10th minute, forward Brady Riley forced a great save from Hobbs and nine minutes later, Emma Dwenger’s attempt was just off frame. In the 21st minute, the third corner kick for IPSC forced another save from Hobbs. The visitors got into the match with a pair of chances to end the first half, as Ashley Johnson’s recycled shot off a corner kick hit the crossbar in the 43rd minute. A defensive breakdown brought about the first goal of the match in the 50th minute, as Yo Tachibana picked off the ball and beat Graves for the 1-0 score. The hosts pressured for the equalizer and got it in the 74th minute, as Riley picked off a back pass and placed her shot nicely past Hobbs. Heartbreak ensued for IPSC four minutes from full time, as FCI’s Annelie Leitner split the defense and sent in Sambol for the game-winner.

TOLEDO VILLA FC 1, INDY PREMIER SC 2

SYLVANIA, OH - In the fourth match of their epic five-game homestand on Friday night, Toledo Villa FC (2-2-1 Midwest) bent the Indy Premier SC defense but it would not break at Northview High School. In the end, a late goal by defender Kirsten Timmer would give the visitors their first victory of the 2017 Midwest Conference campaign. A goal and an assist from forward Brady Riley and four saves from goalkeeper Claire Graves powered IPSC in this match, while the Villa Women offense can bemoan their lack of efficiency in front of goal, as they squandered a number of scoring chances. Toledo put immediate pressure on Indy Premier as defender Kirsten Rettig put her shot over the crossbar within the first two minutes of the game.

That pressure would pay off in the 10th minute, as Villa’s leading scorer Veronica Zaciek drove to the end line and put a ball across the face of the goal. Forward Skylar Fleak tucked the ball home from the early 1-0 lead. But that advantage would be short-lived, as IPSC were awarded a penalty kick in the 19th minute after midfielder Olivia Young’s misguided tackle. Riley stepped up and fired home from the spot past Toledo keeper Kathleen Duwve (one save) to even the score at 1-1. The second half saw the Villa Women increase pressure on the IPSC defense. Defender Kirsten Catloth’s bid beat Graves but caromed off the inside of the post. And than on Indy Premier’s first corner kick of the match, Riley found the head of Timmer and she tucked the ball home for the game-winner.

GRAND RAPIDS FC WOMEN 2, FC INDIANA 1

GRANDVILLE, MI - On Friday night at Granville High School, Grand Rapids had the majority of the possession early in the match against FC Indiana and pressured the visitor’s defense with a number of shots on goal. First half strikes from forward Marti Corby and midfielder Bethany Balcer put the GRFC Women ahead and they would hold back a late FCI rally in the 2-1 victory. The home side came right out of the gates looking for a goal and in the 11th minute, midfielder Riko Sagara had a shot on frame that was just tipped wide by the visiting keeper. Minutes later, a sliding shot from forward Maddie Pogarch from the center of the box flew just over the bar.

GRFC finally broke through in the 28th minute, as Corby received a throw in near the left touchline, made a few dribbles and cut the ball onto her left foot. She created enough space to rip a shot past FCI goalkeeper Tarah Hobbs (six saves) inside the far post netting for the 1-0 lead. Less than ten minutes later, Grand Rapids doubled the lead. A shot by Corby was tipped by Hobbs that bounced off the crossbar and streaking in from her midfield position, Balcer beat her defender to the ball and tapped home the rebound for the eventual game-winning goal. In the second half, FC Indiana cut the lead to 2-1 in the 73rd minute as forward Marie Ashley Johnson found the back of the net on a left-footed rocket from the top of the box past GRFC keeper really Ott (three saves).

About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at Press@UWSSoccer.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.