More teams are getting ready to start their Spring 2020 season this weekend within the US Youth Soccer Great Lakes Conference. With more than 60 matches in the conference being played over the next few days, there are several key matchups to keep an eye on in both the newly created Club vs. Club Divisions and the Premier I Divisions as teams look to build on last year’s success and get an early jump on the standings.
Club vs. Club Division
In the Girls Club vs. Club Division, the inaugural season will get underway with Century FC (PA-W) hosting Cleveland FC (OH-N) on Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pa. This matchup between the two clubs will see the 15U, 16U, 17U, and 18U girls teams compete for early positioning in the Club vs. Club Division standings. Cleveland FC 02 (OH-N) won the US Youth Soccer National Championship last year and will be taking on Century V 2002 Gold (PA-W). Century will try to capitalize on last year’s success as the PA West State Cup Champions to give the defending National Champs an obstacle early in this conference season.
In the Boys Club vs. Club Division, Lexington FC (KY) will host two clubs at Frederick Douglas High School in Lexington, Ken., over the weekend. Lexington will face Cincinnati United Premier (OH-S) on Saturday and Javanon FC (KY) on Sunday.
Cincinnati will bring its 15U-19U teams, and things will get exciting when defending State Champion CUP 01 Gold (OH-S) takes on Lexington FC 01 White (KY). CUP 01 also finished in second place in the Premier I Division within the Great Lakes Conference last season and will be looking to build off of last year’s success, while Kentucky State Cup finalist Lexington FC 01 will be looking to stop them in their tracks.
Javanon FC will bring its 15U-18U teams to take on Lexington FC. Going into this matchup, both clubs will have played their first matches of the season and teams will be looking to make moves in the standings. The 16U matchup should be an exciting one, with it being a rematch of last year’s Kentucky State Cup final. Javanon 04 Black defeated Lexington FC 2004 White in their previous meeting, so Lexington will be looking to reverse that result and get an early lead in the conference standings.
Premier I Division
In the 18U Girls Premier I Division, a match to keep an eye on will be when Kentucky Fire Juniors Premier Red (KY) takes on Indy Premier 02 Elite I (IN) in each team’s first match of the conference season. Kentucky earned its place into the Premier I Division this year after an impressive 9-0-0 showing in the First Division Blue during the 2019 Great Lakes Conference season — in addition to being a State Cup finalist. But, Kentucky Fire will have its hands full as it takes on the defending Indiana State Cup Champion, Indy Premier, which is an experienced Premier I Division side. The two teams will meet in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday afternoon.
To follow the results and standings this weekend, click here.