GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 2, 2021) — Just 13 games remain in the Spring 2021 season of the US Youth Soccer Great Lakes Conference following another exciting week of action. Many of the games this past weekend helped determine division winners, as well as teams clinching National League P.R.O. slots and berths in the 2021 USYS Midwest Regional Championships.
Out of the 53 divisions holding competition in the spring season of the Great Lakes Conference, only two division titles are still available, with the remaining games determining the teams who will get promoted and relegated ahead of next season.
Only two automatic qualifying slots are still up for grabs for the inaugural season of National League P.R.O. following this week’s action, with two teams joining the 46 other Great Lakes Conference sides that already clinched their automatic qualifying slots.
Some notes from the weekend’s Team vs. Team action:
- Nationals Union 07 Boys Black (MI) clinched first place in the 14U Boys Premier II Division with a 2-1 win over Michigan Rush Northville 07B (MI).
- Two wins over the course of the past week saw Club Ohio 2006G Green 1 (OH-S) shoot up the 15U Girls Premier I Division standings to first place, clinching them a National League P.R.O. slot and a berth to the 2021 USYS Midwest Regional Championships thanks to their perfect 7-0-0 record.
- Fort Wayne United 06G Academy (IN) completed a perfect season of its own in the 15U Girls Premier II Division with a 1-0 win over NWI Lions United 06G Yellow (IN).
Some notes from the weekend’s Boys Club vs. Club action:
- Nationals (MI) played against Michigan Jaguars (MI) in Club vs. Club, with Nationals winning the series, 3-2. Three of the games had huge implications on the standings, as the Jaguars’ wins in the 16U and 19U Boys matchups clinched them the division, and Nationals’ win in the 15U matchup wrapped up a perfect season. All three teams are rewarded with automatic berths for the 2021 USYS Midwest Regional Championships and next season’s National League P.R.O.
What they’re saying:
Only needing one point from its last two games to win the division and get a National League P.R.O. slot, Club Ohio 2006G Green 1 (OH-S) won both games to add a berth in the 2021 USYS Midwest Regional Championships to its accomplishments.
“Needless to say, our players are excited, and having coached a team in the National League previously, I know first-hand what a great experience it will be for our players and am thrilled for them,” said Costa Kalorides, coach of the Club Ohio team. “It was impressive to see the resiliency of our players as they bonded together as a team to claim a spot in the US Youth Soccer National League P.R.O. for the 2021-2022 season.”
Michigan Jaguars (MI) had a lot to celebrate as their 16U and 19U Boys teams clinched automatic berths to both the 2021 USYS Midwest Regional Championships and the 2021-22 season of National League P.R.O. thanks to their wins over Nationals (MI) on Friday.
“Once the game began after a shaky couple of first-minute nerves, you could see how well prepared all the players were as we executed our game plan excellently to win 2-0 and clinch the league title,” said Martin Clegg, coach of the 16U Michigan Jaguars team. “You could see how much this meant to all of them. I am very proud of their achievement, and I am looking forward to their push to the USYS National Championships through the 2021 USYS Midwest Regional Championships.”
The 19U team, coached by Dan Trosper, were equally as excited as they look to conclude their youth soccer careers on a high.
“The boys were highly motivated to compete after a successful weekend prior in State Cup,” said James Renton, Director of Coaching at Michigan Jaguars. “The boys were mentally and physically ready to go under Coach Trosper knowing that a tie or win would be enough to clinch the Club vs Club title. A solid 3-1 victory allows them to go back to the USYS Midwest Regional Championships and reclaim the title that they won in 2019.”
The Great Lakes Conference is one of 13 Conferences under the USYS National League in the multi-state tier, and it consists of teams primarily from New York West, Pennsylvania West, West Virginia, Ohio North, Ohio South, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Kentucky.
To follow the Great Lakes Conference results and standings this weekend, click here.
Click here for more information on the Great Lakes Conference. For more information on all of the National League Conferences, the National League Showcase Series, and National League P.R.O., click here.
