METUCHEN, NJ - The race for the conference title in the Midwest may end this weekend, but not for the postseason. United Women’s Soccer (UWS) has officially announced the procedure to determine the UWS National Championship representative from the Midwest Conference. There will be a four-team playoff on the weekend of July 14-16 with the conference champion slated to host: #1 vs. #4, #2 vs. #3 with the winners facing off in the 2017 Midwest Final. The UWS Championship is slated for July 21-22 with further details to be announced very soon.
FRIDAY, JUNE 30
Grand Rapids FC Women vs. Fort Wayne United Gryphons
7:00 PM EDT - Grandville H.S. (Grandville, MI)
This weekend does not get any bigger for the Grand Rapids FC Women (5-1-1 East), as they host two important home games in their effort to become the regular season champions. If they are victorious in both, Grand Rapids will capture the Midwest crown and host the four-team conference playoff over the weekend of July 14-16. This weekend’s games against the Fort Wayne United Gryphons (2-4-1 Midwest) and Toledo Villa FC (2-3-1 Midwest) will wrap up a four-game home stand before GRFC finishes the regular season on the road on Saturday, July 8th with against Indy Premier SC (1-5-1 Midwest).
In the first game of the season between these two sides on Saturday, May 27th, the GRFC Women pulled out an important 1-0 win on the road against Fort Wayne at Warrior Athletic Field. Grand Rapids bent the Gryphons defense in the first half and the hosts would eventually break, as forward Maddie Pogarch tallied the game-winning goal in the 40th minute off an assist from midfielder Anna Stinson. The combination of Lorah Pund and Hannah Parrish made 11 total saves in goal for Fort Wayne in the loss.
Indy Premier SC vs. Michigan Legends FC
7:00 PM EDT - Park Tudor School (Indianapolis, IN)
Michigan Legends FC (2-2-3 Midwest) are undefeated in their last three matches (1-0-2) and that has raised them up into fourth-place in the conference race. That run of good form has put them into consideration for the four-team Midwest playoff and they have a chance to solidify that position on Friday with a big road match at Indy Premier SC (1-5-1 Midwest). In the first encounter between the two sides this season, Michigan hosted IPSC on Friday, May 26th at the indoor confines of the Legacy Center. Forward Tori Singstock notched the lone goal of the match in the 58th minute and Victoria Norris (two saves) got the shutout in goal to propel MLFC to the 1-0 win. That game-winner was good enough for Singstock’s first appearance on the UWS Team of the Week, and she now leads the team in goals scored (five).
SATURDAY, JULY 1
FC Indiana vs. Toledo Villa FC
2:00 PM EDT - Newton Park (Lakeville, IN)
After three straight wins in early June to push them up the table in the Midwest Conference, FC Indiana (4-4 Midwest) have gone 1-2 in their last three games but still remain in third place - which is currently good enough for a spot in the four-team conference playoffs. Saturday’s home finale against Toledo Villa FC (2-3-1 Midwest) will give them not only a chance for a vital victory in the playoff race but an opportunity to salvage their campaign at home, where they’ve posted a 1-3 record this season.
The two teams faced off on Sunday, June 4th and FC Indiana notched their first victory of 2017 in a 2-1 win at Toledo. After two home losses to start their campaign, forward Ashley Johnson scored the first goal of the FCI season in the seventh minute off an assist from midfielder Yo Tachibana. Once the Villa Women thought they had a foothold in the match, FC Indiana converted on a free kick in the 39th minute as midfielder Jennifer Munoz tucked away forward Gabby Veldman’s effort. Toledo pulled a goal back in the 55th minute with thanks to forward Skylar Fleak’s bending strike but their push for the equalizer came up short.
SUNDAY, JULY 2
Detroit Sun FC vs. Fort Wayne United Gryphons
4:00 PM EDT - Ultimate Soccer Arenas (Pontiac, MI)
With a 4-1-3 record and two games remaining in the regular season - both at home - Detroit Sun FC are in rock solid position to qualify for the four-team Midwest playoffs. And Detroit will have an advantage over the Fort Wayne United Gryphons going into Sunday’s game as it will be the visitor’s second game of the weekend. The two teams battled it out to a 2-2 draw earlier this season, as the Sun traveled to face the Gryphons on Friday, June 9th. It was an exciting back-and-forth match, with Fort Wayne scoring first via a Hannah Tillett goal in the 66th minute. Detroit’s Dani Evans equalized the score at 1-1 in the 73rd minute before Elizabeth VanWormer’s goal two minutes later put the Gryphons up again. Madison Schupbach rescued the draw in the 80th minute for the visitors.
Grand Rapids FC Women vs. Toledo Villa FC
4:15 PM EDT - Houseman Field (Grand Rapids, MI)
This will be the first match-up between Grand Rapids and Toledo this season. It will be the regular season home finale for the GRFC Women while it will be the second of four consecutive road games to finish 2017 for the Villa Women. After starting the campaign on a 2-1-1 run, Toledo has dropped their last two matches and fallen back into fifth place. They are currently out of Midwest playoff contention and all of their opponents in their end-of-season road trip are in the race for the four-team postseason tournament: Friday’s opponent FC Indiana, Sunday’s opponent Grand Rapids and than they finish out with games at Michigan (Friday, July 7) and Detroit (Sunday, July 9).
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 UWSPress@gmail.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.
Tag(s): News | Detroit Sun FC Indiana Fort Wayne Gryphons Grand Rapids FC Indiana Union Michigan Legends Toledo Villa