Month: July 2021

Lansing Common FC will complete their inaugural season in the Midwest Premier League with a game against Livonia City FC at Eastern Stadium on Saturday, July 31, 2021. 

“It has been a great season and a great summer,” said head coach Josh Oakley. “We are really happy with it to this point, but there’s work to do.”

Lansing Common (9-1-3, 28 points in 13 GP) officially clinched second place in the East Division after games against Michigan Stars FC’s U23s and LK St. Clair last weekend. The second-place finish earned the Robins an invitation to the 2022 NISA Independent Cup as the division’s top independent club. 

Livonia City FC (2-3-8, 9 points in 13 GP) is coming off consecutive losses in the 2021 NISA Independent Cup, including a 10-0 defeat at the hands of Detroit City FC’s professional team on Wednesday night. The first meeting between these two clubs ended in a 2-1 victory for Lansing Common on the road after the Robins were able to withstand Livonia’s second-half attack. 

“It was a close match last time, but it maybe didn’t have to be close,” said Oakley. “We eked it out and it became close. Hopefully this time we can get back to those fast starts that we haven’t really seen in the recent past.”

Last Friday against Michigan Stars FC’s U23s, it took the Robins 93 minutes to score, while on Sunday it took 35 minutes for Lansing to find the back of the net. The Robins have not been able to capitalize on early chances recently and have conceded the first goal in three out of their last four games. 

This weekend will provide Lansing with another challenge as the roster will be missing some regular starters due to the upcoming collegiate soccer season. The Robins will be without forward Ty Usiak and defenders Aidan O’Connor and Kyle Scott, who have all since left the team to return to Western Michigan University. Lansing will also be without the services of midfielder Julian Birge.

“Even last week we had a hard situation with the forfeit game, but we kept the game and we played. I can’t say that it was a bad decision. We needed that game,” said Oakley. “Some of our guys that have had very limited minutes to that point for the last month, they got minutes. Some of those guys will be called upon in this last game.”

Though there is still one more game to be played, Thursday’s final training session proved to be the perfect setting to take a moment of reflection on an eventful and productive season. 

“You are never going to forget your first group of guys,” said Oakley. “These guys have been more than special, to be the first group of Lansing Common players, and the first team to have success on and off the field. I couldn’t be happier and I am so proud of them.” 

Kickoff for Saturday’s season finale at Eastern Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Tickets are available for $5 at https://app.gopassage.com/events/lansing-common-jul31

Matchweek Fourteen saw the hunt for second place come to an end when Lansing Common clinched the spot with a perfect weekend. Though the Robins earned six points from the two games they played last weekend, the pressure was on as the teams from West Michigan made their last-ditch efforts. 

Lansing Common’s 93rd-minute winner against Michigan Stars U23s started the weekend off in dramatic fashion. With one point separating second and third place, both Lansing Common and West Michigan Bearings needed victories to keep their hopes for a cup berth alive. After West Michigan dispatched BiH on Saturday, the Robins were awarded three points due to an LK St. Clair forfeit on Sunday to secure second place and a 2022 NISA Independent Cup invitation. 

Five teams will be in action this weekend as the 2021 season comes to a close. With three games in the span of two days, every club that takes the pitch will be looking to end their summer with a victory. 

Here is your Matchweek Fifteen preview for the Midwest Premier League’s East Division. 

Last week’s results 

Lansing Common FC def. Michigan Stars FC U23 (1-0)

Lansing Common kicked off Matchweek Fourteen with a dramatic 1-0 finish at Eastern Stadium on Friday Night. After a 45-minute rain delay, it took the Robins a full 90 minutes plus stoppage time to net the game’s only goal. Midfielder Marco Bernardini’s cross into the penalty area found the foot of forward Shady Omar who blasted the ball into the top-left corner of the goal in the third minute of added time. The win gave Lansing another three points toward their effort to lock up second place in the East Division. 

West Michigan Bearings def. BiH Grand Rapids (3-1)

Saturday’s action began with the second installment of the Grand Rapids Derby when the West Michigan Bearings earned a 3-1 victory in Kentwood. Ian Adams and Bobby McCaw got on the scoresheet to help the Bearings build a 3-0 lead. BiH scored a consolation goal, but the Bearings took the full three points to split the season series between the Grand Rapids sides. 

BiH Grand Rapids def. Inter Detroit (2-1)

BiH handed Inter Detroit their second-consecutive defeat in the final match of the season for the club from Auburn Hills. BiH won the first meeting between these two clubs 3-1, but this time around it took a 90th-minute goal to secure the full three points for the home side. 

Lansing Common FC def. LK St. Clair (3-0 forfeit)

The final game of Matchweek Fourteen was decided before a ball was kicked when LK St. Clair forfeited their game against Lansing Common due to an insufficient number of registered players. However, LK was able to secure enough players to participate in a friendly against a Lansing team that saw a lot of squad rotation. The ensuing game was all LK as rising Holt High School senior Guershom Sylvain scored four goals to lead St. Clair to a 4-1 victory. Sylvain found himself on the pitch after LK reached out to Lansing-area players in an effort to field a full 11-man squad. Ben Meschke scored the only goal for the Robins, who locked up second place and an invitation to the 2022 NISA Independent Cup due to Detroit City FC’s U23s being ineligible as an affiliate program.

This week’s fixtures

West Michigan Bearings vs. Michigan Stars FC U23 (July 31, 2021, 1:00 p.m.)

The final Matchweek of the 2021 season will begin on Saturday afternoon on the west side of the state when Michigan Stars FC’s U23s take on the West Michigan Bearings. The Bearings are on a three-game winning streak and coming off a 3-1 victory in last weekend’s Grand Rapids Derby. The Stars are coming off a 1-0 loss in Lansing and lost their first matchup against the Bearings 6-2. The Bearings will be looking for a home win to finish their inaugural season on a high note. 

Lansing Common FC vs. Livonia City FC (July 31, 2021, 6:00 p.m.)

The Robins of Lansing Common will conclude their 2021 season when they host Livonia City in Saturday’s nightcap. Lansing has already secured second place in the East Division and will be looking for a good performance in front of their home crowd. Livonia will be coming off a pair of tough losses to FC Buffalo and DCFC’s first team in this year’s NISA Independent Cup. Both teams will be looking to end their season with a victory and an eye towards better things to come next year. 

BiH Grand Rapids vs. Michigan Stars FC U23 (August 1, 2021, 1:00 p.m.)

BiH and Michigan Stars feature in the final game of the East Division when BiH hosts the Stars in Kentwood. BiH won last week’s match against Inter Detroit 2-1, while the Stars have not earned a full three points since the end of May. The two teams drew 1-1 in their first matchup two weeks ago and will be looking to end their respective seasons with a good result. 

Standings

1. Detroit City FC U23 (13-0-1, 39 points in 14 GP)
2. Lansing Common FC (9-1-3, 28 points in 13 GP)
3. West Michigan Bearings (7-3-3, 24 points in 13 GP)
4. BiH Grand Rapids (6-2-5, 20 points in 13 GP)
5. Michigan Stars FC U23 (4-4-4, 16 points in 12 GP)
6. Livonia City FC (2-3-8, 9 points in 13 GP)
7. Inter Detroit (1-5-8, 8 points in 14 GP)
8. LK St. Clair (1-2-11, 5 points in 14 GP)

Matchweek Twelve had a flurry of action with seven matches in five days. Livonia City was the lone club without a league fixture during a busy week.

West Michigan Bearings played two games in one day, while BiH Grand Rapids attempted a similar feat in a losing effort against Detroit City FC’s U23s in Matchweek Twelve’s game of the week. The week brought joy to a few teams, but Matchweek Twelve was not kind to LK St. Clair, who dropped both of their games and conceded 15 goals in the process. 

With the 2021 season winding down, only three teams remain in contention for the East Division crown. DCFC’s U23s remain the front-runners, but will no longer control their own destiny if they fail to pick up points in their final two games. Lansing Common and BiH Grand Rapids kick the week off, with both teams needing to win all of their remaining games, and with five other matches set, there will be no shortage of excitement. 

Here is your Matchweek Thirteen preview for the Midwest Premier League’s East Division

Last week’s results

LK St. Clair drew v. West Michigan Bearings (2-2)

After the initial match date was postponed due to weather, LK St. Clair and the West Michigan Bearings kicked off Matchweek Twelve early Saturday morning with both teams sharing the points. 

It was only the second time this season that LK St. Clair managed to pick up points, while the draw saw the Bearings eliminated from title contention.. 

West Michigan Bearings def. Michigan Stars FC U23 (6-2)

In the second game of their Saturday doubleheader, the West Michigan Bearings dismantled Michigan Stars FC’s U23s on the road, 6-2. Ian Adams earned the first-ever hat-trick for the Bearings while playing on the Stars’ new outdoor turf. The loss dropped the Stars into fifth place in the East Division, while the win propelled the Bearings into third. 

BiH Grand Rapids def. Inter Detroit (3-1)

BiH Grand Rapids 3-1 victory over Inter Detroit was what they needed to keep their title hopes alive. Chepe Lopez, Chris Mendez, and Eddie Burdalic scored for BiH, giving them a valuable three points. 

The win kept BiH in the hunt for the division title, while the loss dropped Inter Detroit down to seventh place in the standings. 

Detroit City FC U23 def. BiH Grand Rapids (1-0)

Matchweek Twelve’s Game of the Week was a one-goal nail-biter that saw DCFC remain division title favorites. Keith Larson’s 25th-minute goal gave Le Rouge the lead going into halftime. 

Pushing for an equalizer, BiH had a few chances, but DCFC goalkeeper Sean Ellis maintained the one-goal lead and clean sheet. Le Rouge earned a valuable three points and are now one win away from silverware. 

Lansing Common FC def. LK St. Clair (8-0)

In the first meeting between these two clubs, Lansing Common bagged eight goals from six different goal-scorers, earning a much-needed victory after dropping points earlier in the week. The Robins, coming off a 1-0 defeat to the West Michigan Bearings, scored four goals in eight minutes and took a 5-0 lead into the halftime break. 

After failing to finish chances in the loss against the Bearings, the Robins made the most of their opportunities, including Forwards Ty Usiak and Josh Rosendale, who both bagged two goals. Lansing would net another three and leave Mt. Clemens High School as 8-0 victors. 

Inter Detroit drew v. Michigan Stars FC U23 (1-1)

The first midweek fixture of Matchweek Twelve saw Inter Detroit and Michigan Stars split the points at Evolution Sportsplex. Both teams came into the week eliminated from title contention and have been sliding down the standings as of late. 

Detroit City FC U23 def. LK St. Clair (7-2)

Detroit City entered Matchweek Twelve as title favorites and maintained that position with a 7-2 victory over LK St. Clair at Mt. Clemens High School. Le Rouge’s potent offense went back to work after their defense held strong in their 1-0 victory over BiH. 

Wednesday’s nightcap was the fourth time this season that saw DCFC score four or more goals, while LK became only the second team to score more than one goal against Le Rouge’s U23s. 

This week’s fixtures

BiH Grand Rapids vs. Lansing Common FC (July 16, 2021, 7:00 p.m.)

Matchweek Thirteen kicks off with a matchup between two teams vying for the East Division’s title when Lansing Common FC travels to Western Michigan to take on BiH Grand Rapids. The first meeting between these two teams was a five-goal thriller that saw Lansing come away with a victory at home. BiH is coming off a weekend split, having beaten Inter Detroit 3-1, then losing to DCFC’s U23s the following day. Lansing dismantled LK St. Clair last weekend with six different goal-scorers and will be looking for another strong offensive performance. Both teams need to come away with the full three points, as a loss will officially eliminate the losing team. 

West Michigan Bearings vs. Livonia City FC (July 17, 2021, 3:00 p.m.)

After being eliminated from division-title contention last weekend, the West Michigan Bearings will host Livonia City FC in the final meeting between the two clubs this season. The Bearings opened this year’s campaign in exciting fashion against Livonia, beating them 4-1. However, four consecutive winless games saw their title hopes slip away. Livonia has not had the best of seasons either, but have had some good showings including a 3-0 victory against Inter Detroit just over a week ago. 

Michigan Stars FC U23 vs. BiH Grand Rapids (July 17, 2021, 5:00 p.m.)

In their second game of Matchweek Thirteen, BiH Grand Rapids will go on the road to take on Michigan Stars’ U23 side in Saturday’s nightcap. The Stars will be coming off another 1-1 draw against Inter Detroit and a 6-2 defeat against the Bearings.

The Stars have been eliminated from title contention, while BiH needs to win all of their remaining games and hope for some help. BiH will be looking for a much-needed victory against an inconsistent Stars team that will be looking to play spoiler. 

Detroit City FC U23 vs. Lansing Common FC (July 18, 2021, 1:00 p.m.)

For DCFC’s U23s, the task is simple: Win either of your final two games, and the division is yours. Le Rouge will have two opportunities at the title this weekend, the first of which comes at home against Lansing Common. The first meeting between these two saw the Robins become the first team to take points from the Hamtramck side this season with a 3-0 victory in Lansing. If Lansing gets a win against BiH on Friday, they’ll need another victory on Sunday to keep their title hopes alive, while the race for the top could be over two weeks early if Le Rouge takes all three points. 

Inter Detroit vs. LK St. Clair (July 18, 2021, 5:00 p.m.)

LK St. Clair will look to taste victory for the first time this season against the team directly above them in the standings, Inter Detroit. St. Clair is coming off consecutive defeats, conceding a combined 15 goals in the process, while Inter is coming off a surprise 1-1 draw against the Stars. Both teams will be looking to earn a win in their penultimate game of the season. 

BiH Grand Rapids vs. Detroit City FC U23 (July 21, 2021, 8:00 p.m.)

Matchweek Thirteen will conclude with what could be a pivotal game for the East Division title when BiH Grand Rapids hosts DCFC’s U23s Wednesday night. Last week’s meeting between these two ended 1-0 with Le Rouge earning the victory. Detroit City could clinch the division title with a win if they fail to pick up points against Lansing Common on Sunday, while a win for BiH could force Le Rouge to wait to see if they will become champions. 

Standings

1. Detroit City FC U23 (11-0-1, 33 points in 12 GP)
2. Lansing Common FC (6-1-2, 19 points in 9 GP)
3. West Michigan Bearings (5-3-3, 18 points in 11 GP)
4. BiH Grand Rapids (5-1-2, 16 points in 8 GP)
5. Michigan Stars FC U23 (4-3-3, 15 points in 10 GP)
6. Livonia City FC (2-3-7, 9 points in 12 GP)
7. Inter Detroit (1-5-6, 8 points in 12 GP)
8. LK St. Clair (0-2-10, 2 points in 12 GP)

Standings (points per game)

1. Detroit City FC U23 (2.75)
2. Lansing Common FC (2.11)
3. BiH Grand Rapids (2.00)
4. West Michigan Bearings (1.63)
5. Michigan Stars FC U23 (1.50)
6. Livonia City FC (0.75)
7. Inter Detroit (0.67)
8. LK St. Clair (0.17)

Lansing Common FC returns to action this weekend with two games on the road against BiH Grand Rapids on Friday, July 16, and Detroit City FC U23 on Sunday, July 18. A little over two weeks ago, the Robins captured victories over both sides at home, but with a title race on the line, these could be two of the most challenging fixtures for the Robins this season. 

Lansing (6-1-2) will play its second consecutive weekend with multiple away games. Last week, the West Michigan Bearings handed Lansing its second loss of the season in a 1-0 outing at South Christian High School. Then, the Robins traveled to Mount Clemens where they defeated LK St. Clair 8-0 with goals from Joshua Rosendale (2), Shady Omar, Munir Sherali, Ty Usiak (2), Adain O’Connor, and captain Julian Birge. 

Both Usiak and Rosendale scored two goals apiece and cemented Lansing’s largest win margin this season.

BiH Grand Rapids (5-1-2) sits in 4th place in the league and has the best defensive record, having conceded only six goals. Lansing grabbed a 3-2 win over BiH on June 26 without regular starters like Omar, Sherali, and goalkeeper Zac Kelly. 

BiH Grand Rapids forwards Chris Mendez and Ojani Perez were on the scoresheet for the Kentwood-based club against Lansing, and they will look to add more goals to their tally.

Lansing midfielder Noah Canlas registered two assists from set pieces in that victory and earned the Man of the Match award. 

BiH Grand Rapids recently defeated Inter Detroit 3-1 on July 10 at Evolution Sportsplex but then fell to DCFC 1-0 the next day. BiH has the opportunity to be level on points with Lansing in the East Division standings with a win on Friday.

Lansing will then travel to Keyworth Stadium on Sunday to face DCFC for the second time this season. The Robins handed Le Rouge their first and only Midwest Premier League loss at Eastern Stadium, where it ended 3-0 with goals from Canlas, Birge, and O’Connor. 

Head coach Josh Oakley praised his teams’ ability to keep a clean sheet against the most potent attacking side in the league as well as being clinical in front of goal. 

While there were a few missed chances from Lansing early on, their persistence and determination to score multiple goals ended in a positive outcome on the Fourth of July in front of their home crowd. 

DCFC (11-0-1) is coming off a 7-2 victory over LK St. Clair earlier this week on July 14. Le Rouge also obtained important points in a close contest against BiH Grand Rapids where forward Keith Larson secured a 1-0 victory for DCFC. 

Keyworth Stadium has been a fortress for DCFC this season, and the Robins will be looking to end Le Rouge’s home winning streak. Detroit can clinch the East Division title with a win, while Lansing will need two victories this weekend to stay in contention.

Lansing Common FC will kickoff against BiH Grand Rapids at 7 p.m. on July 16, and the match against Detroit City FC U23 will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 18.

Even though it was short, Matchweek Eleven was full of fireworks on and off the pitch as the week started with some Fourth of July festivities. 

In the East Division game of the week, Lansing Common FC defeated Detroit City FC’s U23s in their first meeting of the season behind two goals in the final five minutes of the first half. The action continued a few days later when Livonia City took down Inter Detroit and the West Michigan Bearings defeated Lansing Common to keep their division title hopes alive. 

Matchweek Twelve has a busy slate of seven matches spread across five days that could see yet another team eliminated from division title contention. All eyes will be on Sunday’s match between BiH Grand Rapids and DCFC’s U23s in the first meeting between the two clubs. With another six matches on the Matchweek Twelve platter, there should be no shortage of glee, glory, and goals. 

Here is your Matchweek Twelve preview for the Midwest Premier League’s East Division. 

Last week’s results

Lansing Common FC def. Detroit City FC U23 (3-0)

Matchweek Eleven kicked off with Fourth of July fireworks at Eastern Stadium when Lansing Common FC defeated Detroit City FC’s U23s 3-0, behind two late first-half goals. After DCFC started the game dominating possession, Lansing earned a penalty in the 37th minute that was saved by DCFC goalkeeper Sean Ellis. The penalty spurred an 11-minute spell of possession that saw Lansing score twice in five minutes, including a 30-yard strike from Julian Birge’s just before the halftime whistle. 

Detroit would start the second half needing two goals to draw level, but they would ultimately give up the third goal in the 77th minute when defender Aidan O’Connor’s header passed by Ellis and into the back of the net. The Robins earned a valuable three points against the division leaders, while also handing Le Rouge their first loss of the season. 

Livonia City FC def. Inter Detroit (3-0)

In a surprising result, Livonia City FC defeated Inter Detroit on Wednesday night in the nightcap of Matchweek Eleven. After entering halftime scoreless, Livonia would score three times in the final 20 minutes to hand Inter their fourth consecutive defeat. 

Matt Versteeg scored the game’s opening goal in the 70th minute off a Kyle Breitmeyer cross and five minutes later Livonia would double their lead behind a strike from Thomas Dono. Breitmeyer would add a goal in the 87th minute and Livonia kept the clean sheet with a penalty save in stoppage time. For Livonia, their second win of the season saw them jump their opponents in the standings, while Inter’s lackluster effort saw them fail to pick up points for the fifth time this season. 

West Michigan Bearings def. Lansing Common FC (1-0)

In the final matchup between these two clubs, the Bearings took all six points from the season series, taking down Lansing Common 1-0 in Byron Center. Jordan Hooker’s strike in the opening 15 minutes of play was enough to earn three points as West Michigan was able to hold off Lansing’s attack for the remainder of the game. 

The Robins offensive attack was unable to solve the puzzle that was Carter Selvius. The Bearings net-minder came up with crucial saves in the final fifteen minutes of play after being tested continuously and earned a much-needed victory and clean sheet for his club. The win also kept the Bearings alive in the division title race for another week, while handing the Robins their first loss in over a month. 

This week’s fixtures

LK St. Clair vs. West Michigan Bearings (July 10, 2021, 11:00 a.m.)

Matchweek Twelve will have an early kickoff when the West Michigan Bearings travel to Eastern Michigan to take on LK St. Clair in Mt. Clemens. After staving off elimination from division-title contention on Wednesday, the Bearings will look to take a full three points from their first of two games on Saturday. LK is coming off a 3-1 loss against DCFC and is still looking for its first win of the season. Both teams will be fighting for a much-needed victory in the first of three matches on Saturday. 

Michigan Stars FC U23 vs. West Michigan Bearings (July 10, 2021, 6:00 p.m.)

After taking on LK St. Clair in the morning, West Michigan Bearings will travel to take on Michigan Stars FC’s U23 side in Washington. The Bearings need all six points from their Saturday doubleheader if they want to keep their division title hopes alive, while the Stars will be looking to get a full three points for the first time in over a month.

Inter Detroit vs. BiH Grand Rapids (July 10, 2021, 7:00 p.m.)

Inter Detroit will host BiH Grand Rapids in Saturday’s nightcap as both teams will look to get back to winning ways. Inter Detroit is coming off a surprise 3-0 loss to Livonia and have not tasted victory since May 15. BiH is playing catch-up in the standings, having played the fewest matches of any team so far this season. The Kentwood-based club is coming off a 3-2 loss to Lansing Common two weeks ago and will be looking to make the most out of their games in hand.

Detroit City FC U23 vs. BiH Grand Rapids (July 11, 2021, 1:00 p.m.)

The most important game in the East Division will take place Sunday afternoon when DCFC’s U23 side hosts BiH Grand Rapids in the first meeting between the two clubs. BiH will be playing their second game in as many days, while DCFC will be fresh off a week’s rest. Both teams are coming off losses to Lansing Common FC and a four-horse race has developed at the top of the East Division. A win for DCFC will officially eliminate the West Michigan Bearings from title contention, while a BiH victory will open the door for others to inch closer to the division leaders. 

LK St. Clair vs. Lansing Common FC (July 11, 2021, 4:00 p.m.)

After hosting the West Michigan Bearings the day before, LK St. Clair will host Lansing Common FC in Sunday’s nightcap. Lansing Common is coming off a 1-0 loss to West Michigan Bearings, who completed the double on the Robins. LK St. Clair enters the weekend without a win and will try to spoil Lansing’s prospects of challenging for the title. Lansing will need a victory if they want to keep pace with DCFC, who play earlier in the afternnoon. Both teams will be looking for a much-needed win: LK for pride, and Lansing for survival. 

Inter Detroit vs. Michigan Stars FC U23 (July 13, 2021, 7:00 p.m.)

Inter Detroit will host Michigan Stars FC’s U23s on Tuesday night in Auburn Hills in the penultimate game of Matchweek Twelve. For both teams, it will be the second game in four days after Inter hosts BiH and Stars host the West Michigan Bearings on Saturday. The first meeting between these two clubs ended in a 1-1 draw, but since then, both teams have been trending in different directions. The Stars will be looking to continue bridging the gap between themselves and DCFC, while Inter will be searching for an elusive second victory. 

LK St. Clair vs. Detroit City FC U23 (July 14, 2021, 7:30 p.m.)

Matchweek Twelve caps off with a battle between two teams who enter the week in polar opposite positions in the East Division standings. LK St. Clair will finish off their three-game homestand when they host DCFC’s U23 squad Wednesday night. For LK, it will be their third game in five days, while DCFC will be playing their second in four. In the busiest matchweek to date, DCFC could inch closer to winning the East Division with a perfect week, while LK will be playing for pride as their season winds down with no chance of silverware. 

Standings

1. Detroit City FC U23 (9-0-1, 27 points in 10 GP)
2. Lansing Common FC (5-1-2, 16 points in 8 GP)
3. Michigan Stars FC U23 (4-2-2, 14 points in 8 GP)
4. West Michigan Bearings (4-2-3, 14 points in 9 GP)
5. BiH Grand Rapids (4-1-1, 13 points in 6 GP)
6. Livonia City FC (2-3-7, 9 points in 12 GP)
7. Inter Detroit (1-4-5, 7 points in 10 GP)
8. LK St. Clair (0-1-8, 1 point in 9 GP)

Standings (points per game)

1. Detroit City FC U23 (2.70)
2. BiH Grand Rapids (2.17)
3. Lansing Common FC (2.00)
4. Michigan Stars FC U23 (1.75)
5. West Michigan Bearings (1.56)
6. Livonia City FC (0.75)
7. Inter Detroit (0.70)
8. LK St. Clair (0.11)

After defeating the Midwest Premier League East Division leaders Detroit City FC U23 in an electric 3-0 victory at home, Lansing Common FC will travel to South Christian High School in Grand Rapids to face the West Michigan Bearings on Wednesday, June 7.

The Bearings (3-2-3) are the only MWPL team to beat Lansing this season. Kyle Scott and Leutrim Shefkiu were the goal-scorers for the Robins in a 3-2 defeat on May 22. Josh Oakley’s team has since gained valuable experience and a strong run of form after that season-opener, going unbeaten in their last six games of league play.

The Bearings haven’t played a league game since June 15, when they lost to Detroit City FC U23 3-0. Their last match was a victory over UPSL side Grand Haven Admirals 3-1 in a friendly. 

The Bearings struggled against teams like Inter Detroit and BiH Grand Rapids after early wins over Livonia City, LK St. Clair, and the now-surging Lansing Common.

Lansing (5-1-1) has since climbed up the table and currently sits in second place with 16 points. Forward Shady Omar has become the club’s goal-scoring talisman with five goals and added a crucial assist against DCFC. 

Another emerging player for Lansing is midfielder Leutrim Shefkiu, who has become instrumental to both defense and offense. He has played almost every minute of the last four games and become the club’s unsung hero in the midfield. 

Shefkiu’s crafty dribbling skills and elite passing ability make him one of the toughest players to confront in the MWPL.

Lansing’s win over Detroit City showed its ability to stand tall after missed chances and keep a clean sheet against a high-pressing opponent. 

Both teams will be looking to earn a crucial three points, and Lansing Common FC hopes to extend their unbeaten streak in the MWPL. Kickoff for Wednesday’s game is set for 7 p.m. 

Lansing Common FC brought Fourth of July fireworks to Eastern Stadium’s pitch when they took down MWPL East Division Leaders Detroit City FC U23 3-0. First-half goals from midfielders Noah Canlas and Julian Birge helped lead the Robins to victory.

Lansing Common FC and Greater Lansing Open Soccer are excited to announce that the first-ever Robin Classic will take place July 24 at Eastern Stadium. The Robin Classic will feature a 4v4 coed soccer tournament with prizes of $300 for the tournament champion and $150 for runner-up.

“We’re excited to partner with Greater Lansing Open Soccer on what should be a great day of soccer,” said Lansing Common president Eric Walcott. “GLOS is a fantastic, community-focused organization like we are, and many of our board members and supporters have enjoyed playing in their leagues this summer, so we look forward to seeing everyone out for a fun tournament.”

Registration information and tournament rules are available on the GLOS website at www.GLOSoccer.com/robin2021. The registration deadline for the tournament is July 18.

Greater Lansing Open Soccer (GLOS) is the official community recreational soccer organization of Lansing Common FC. GLOS provides the Greater Lansing area with the highest quality social and competitive soccer leagues and tournaments. The GLOS staff is entirely comprised of active players from the Lansing area and like Lansing Common FC, is a community-centric organization that is dedicated to bringing soccer to the people.

Matchweek Ten was full of electricity, both on and off the pitch, as some games were postponed due to inclement weather while others were played with thunderstorms nearby. 

Detroit City played the most games and increased their division lead with three victories. The only match that did not involve Le Rouge was played on a stormy night in Lansing where Lansing Common FC hung on late against BiH Grand Rapids to hand the Kentwood-based side their first loss of the season. 

Matchweek Eleven has only three games, but it includes an exciting Fourth of July matchup between the division-leading DCFC U23s and Lansing Common FC. This season’s first meeting between these two teams will have a big impact on the East Division table heading into the final month of play. 

Here is your Matchweek Eleven preview for the Midwest Premier League’s East Division. 

Last week’s results

Detroit City FC U23 def. LK St. Clair (3-1)

The division leaders once again used a second-half showcase to put away an opponent, scoring two in the final 45 minutes and dispatching LK St. Clair 3-1. Le Rouge went into the halftime break up 1-0 after Brady Walker scored off a corner kick in the 36th minute. LK St. Clair made the game interesting 10 minutes into the second half when they cut into DCFC’s two-goal lead to make it 2-1. 

Forward Zion Beaton put the game away for Le Rouge in the 88th minute to give the Hamtramck side a 3-1 victory. The win kicked off another perfect weekend for DCFC and increased their division lead to nine points. 

Detroit City FC U23 def. Inter Detroit (4-0)

After tossing aside LK St. Clair, DCFC dominated Inter Detroit 4-0 and completed the season sweep, outscoring the Auburn Hills side 8-1 on aggregate. Kellen Landefeld opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Le Rouge nearly doubled their lead before the halftime break. 

Bosh Tanyi’s free-kick strike in the 52nd minute gave Detroit a 2-0 advantage. Tanyi,  Michigan’s 2020 Mr. Soccer award winner, would bag a brace in the 73rd minute to give DCFC the 4-0 victory and secure a perfect weekend for Le Rouge. The loss officially eliminated Inter Detroit from division title contention. 

Lansing Common FC def. BiH Grand Rapids (3-2)

After inclement weather forced kick-off to be delayed for 90 minutes, Lansing edged out previously-unbeaten BiH Grand Rapids 3-2. BiH’s Chris Mendez opened the scoring in the 13th minute, but Lansing would respond with a corner-kick goal off an Aidan O’Connor header in the 15th minute. The teams would go into the halftime break tied at 1-1.

Kyle Scott and Julian Birge would score for the Robins in the second half to give the home side a 3-1 lead with just over 10 minutes to play. Lansing Common goalkeeper Andrew Nicholsen’s penalty save in the 80th minute would prove to be vital as BiH would bag a goal in stoppage time, but it would not be enough as the Robins held on for the 3-2 victory and handed BiH their first loss of the season. 

LK St. Clair v. West Michigan Bearings [Rescheduled: July 10, 2021, 11:00 a.m.]

Inter Detroit v. Michigan Stars FC U23 [Rescheduled: July 13, 2021, 7:00 p.m.]

Detroit City FC U23 def. Michigan Stars FC U23 (2-1)

Detroit City continued their winning ways when they survived a late comeback effort from the Michigan Stars and escaped with a 2-1 victory on a rainy afternoon in Hamtramck. Forward Keith Larson scored first for Le Rouge in the 33rd minute under threatening skies that would eventually force the game to be delayed due to inclement weather. 

After a short weather delay and an abbreviated halftime break, DCFC would continue to create chances in the second half. Zion Beaton gave Detroit a 2-0 lead in the 77th minute, but Michigan Stars would answer back 5 minutes later, cutting the lead to 2-1. After the goal, a skirmish ensued and two red cards were issued, including one to DCFC’s starting goalkeeper Hunter Morse. Le Rouge would ultimately hold on to the 2-1 lead and finish their home stand with a third straight victory. 

This week’s fixtures

Lansing Common FC v. Detroit City FC U23 (July 4, 2021, 2:00 p.m.)

Lansing Common will host East Division leaders Detroit City FC for a Fourth of July matchup in the capital city. Lansing Common, after handing BiH Grand Rapids their first loss of the season, will look to end Detroit’s unbeaten streak when Le Rouge comes to Lansing. DCFC will be coming off another impressive performance, a 2-1 victory over Michigan Stars U23 that completed a season sweep. The result of this match could have championship implications, so expect to see early afternoon fireworks at Eastern Stadium. 

*Note: Lansing Common defeated Detroit City FC U23s 3-0 on Sunday, with goals from Noah Canlas, Julian Birge, and Aidan O’Connor. Goalkeeper Zac Kelly kept the clean sheet at Lansing Common moved into second place in the MWPL.

Livonia City FC v. Inter Detroit (July 7, 2021, 7:00 p.m.)

After their division title hopes were erased last week, Livonia City hosts Inter Detroit in a midweek matchup that will conclude a short Matchweek Eleven. Livonia will begin the month of July on a three game losing streak while Inter has not won a game since May 15 and has also been eliminated from title contention.. Pride will be on the line when both teams attempt to make the most out of their remaining games. 

West Michigan Bearings v. Lansing Common FC (July 7, 2021, 7:00 p.m.)

Matchweek Eleven will conclude with another matchup that could have a serious impact on the East Division table when the West Michigan Bearings host Lansing Common FC in a midweek nightcap. These two clubs have been trending in different directions after they met on May 22.. The Bearings’ 3-2 victory over the Robins was the last time they recorded a win, while Lansing Common went unbeaten in the month of June. Both teams will be looking for a crucial three points when they try to keep pace with division-leading DCFC, who have yet to drop points this season.

Standings

1. Detroit City FC U23 (9-0-0, 27 points in 9 GP)
2. Lansing Common (5-1-1, +9 GD, 16 points in 7 GP)
3. Michigan Stars FC U23 (4-2-2, 14 points in 8 GP)
4. BiH Grand Rapids (4-1-1, +12 GD, 13 points in 6 GP)
5. West Michigan Bearings (3-2-3, 11 points in 8 GP)
6. Inter Detroit (1-4-4, 7 points in 9 GP)
7. Livonia City FC (1-3-7, 6 points in 11 GP)
8. LK St. Clair (0-1-8, 1 point in 9 GP)

Standings (points per game)

1. Detroit City FC U23 (3.00)
2. Lansing Common FC (2.29)
3. BiH Grand Rapids (2.17)
4. Michigan Stars FC U23 (1.75)
5. West Michigan Bearings (1.38)
6. Inter Detroit (0.78)
7. Livonia City FC (0.55)
8. LK St. Clair (0.11)