US Youth Soccer Great Lakes Conference teams play 64 games on busiest weekend of season

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The US Youth Soccer Great Lakes Conference saw its busiest weekend of the Spring 2021 season to date on March 19-21, with 64 games played across 31 divisions.

The 14U Girls Premier I Division saw five teams get their seasons underway, while two other teams continued their seasons after getting their first games played earlier in the year. CWSC G07 Academy Elite (OH-S) played two teams on Saturday, defeating Ft Wayne United 07G Academy (IN), 3-0, before losing, 4-0, to Indy Premier SC 07G Elite I (IN) in its afternoon game.

Elsewhere in the division, Team Challenger FC G07 Black (OH-N) got a last-minute win against with GTFC Impact Girls 07 Premier (OH-N) on Saturday night before Sunday afternoon saw CUP 07 Gold (OH-S) edge Cleveland Force 07G (OH-N), 3-2, to wrap up an action-packed weekend for the 14U Girls. Club Ohio Dayton G07 Green (OH-S) remain on top of the Premier I Division after winning one and drawing another of the first two games played earlier in the season. However, with five other teams having already registered a win, this division is sure to stay close over the course of the season.

On the Boys side, the first games of the season were played in the 16U Boys Premier II Division. Five games were played within the division, with each of the teams competing for promotion to next year’s Premier I Division. UFC 05B-GR (MI) was the big winner of the weekend, winning both of its games, 5-0 and 3-0, against Barcelona United Academy 05B (OH-S) and Team Challenger FC South 05 (OH-N), respectively. Barcelona United Academy 05B (OH-S) overcame that with a 3-2 win over Carmel FC Boys 05 Gold (IN), who in turn defeated Barca Academy CLB Blue 05B (OH-S) the next day, 2-1. Barca Academy CLB Blue 05B (OH-S) got a win itself, defeating DCFC West 05 Maroon (MI) 3-1, meaning of the six teams to play over the weekend, four teams managed to get a win on the board.

Greg Perkins, coach of UFC 05B-GR (MI), was excited about his team’s start to the Spring 2021 season.

“With the hunger we have all had, just to get back on the game field again, really showed this weekend in the results,” Perkins said. “Our togetherness as a group has always been a key factor in maximizing our performances and this weekend was no different.”

The Club vs. Club Divisions saw action for both genders, with 16 games played across the divisions. On the girls’ side, Cincinnati United (OH-S) made the trip north to Empire United (NY-W), with Cincinnati United gaining an edge in the close contests with two wins to Empire United’s one. Each of the three games were decided by a single goal.

• CUP 06 Gold (OH-S) won, 2-1
• CUP 05 Gold (OH-S) won, 1-0
• Empire United Girls Elite 2004 (NY-W) won, 1-0

The Boys Club vs. Club Divisions got the ball rolling on their season, with three different matchups taking place on Sunday. Cincinnati United (OH-S) teams got their season started against neighbors Kings Hammer Academy (KY), with the 15U and 16U games ending in draws. The 17U-19U matchups all ended with Cincinnati United as the victors.

• CUP 06 Gold (OH-S) tie KHA B06 Red (OH-S), 0-0
• CUP 05 Gold (OH-S) tie KHA B05 Red (OH-S), 2-2
• CUP 04 Gold (OH-S) won, 8-1
• CUP 03 Gold (OH-S) won, 5-1
• CUP Elite 2002 (OH-S) won, 2-0

Javanon FC and Lexington FC played out an all-Kentucky matchup in the 15U-18U age groups, splitting the series with two wins apiece. Lexington won the morning matchups in the 15U and 16U age groups, while Javanon won the afternoon games in the 17U and 18U age groups.

• LFC 06 Boys White (KY) won, 4-0
• Lexington FC 05 Boys White (KY) won, 2-0
• Javanon 04 Boys Black (KY) won, 4-1
• Javanon 2003 Boys Black (KY) won, 1-0

In the final Boys Club vs. Club matchup played over the weekend, Beadling SC (PA-W) hosted Team Challenger FC North (OH-N) in the 15U-18U age groups. The hosts won three of the four games, with Team Challenger FC North winning the 17U matchup.

• Beadling 2006 Boys Showcase (PA-W) won, 3-1
• Beadling 2005 Boys Showcase (PA-W) won, 4-2
• Team Challenger FC B04 Black (OH-N) won, 8-0
• Beadling 2003 Boys Showcase (PA-W) won, 4-0

“We know that each game in the Club vs Club Division will present us new challenges and new opportunities for learning, as well as provide our players high level competition,” said Rob Fabean, Director of Club Administration for Beadling SC. “For the players, it creates a sense of pride while watching and supporting their club mates, while also getting an opportunity to play in front of them, as well.”