Midwest United FC

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This article is about Midwest United FC. For For the now defunct Grand Rapids FC, see Grand Rapids FC.
Midwest United FC
Founded1990 (as GRASA)
StadiumMidwest United FC Soccer Complex
Grand Rapids, Michigan
ChairmanLewis Robinson
Head CoachJoe White (USL W) and Luke Ruff (USL 2)
LeagueUSL W League, USL League Two, MLS NEXT, Elite Clubs National League
2022Great Lakes Division: 2nd
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

Midwest United FC is an American soccer club based in Grand Rapids, Michigan that fields youth teams in MLS NEXT and Elite Clubs National League, and senior teams in the Great Lakes Division of USL League Two and USL W League.

Midwest United FC is a youth academy affiliate of Columbus Crew.

History[edit]

The club was founded in 1990 under the moniker GRASA (Grand Rapids Area Soccer Association) and was the first youth select soccer club in Grand Rapids[1]. The initial registration was 60 players from around the area, and it was from these humble beginnings that Midwest United FC has evolved into one of the region's top clubs.

In 1996, Grand Valley Premier SC was formed and was the area’s only premier soccer club for the following 10 years[2].

In 2007, GRASA and Grand Valley Premier merged to form Grand Rapids Crew Ju3333niors, the first junior club affiliate of MLS franchise Columbus Crew. During its time as Grand Rapids Crew Juniors, the club celebrated great success, earning championships at all levels including a National Championship in 2011 for its U17 Boys.

Grand Rapids Crew Juniors rebranded to Midwest United FC in June 2015[3]. The name was chosen as a combination of three concepts: First, ‘Midwest’ represents where we align ourselves, as our top teams compete and win all across the Midwest region. Second, we are a ‘United’ group in our mission, not just a collection of teams. Lastly, the ‘FC’ stands for Football Club, which represents the worldwide sport we play and love.

Midwest United FC won its first national championship since its rebrand in 2016 when its U16 girls claimed the U.S. Soccer Development Academy title.

In December 2019, ownership of the women's side Grand Rapids FC (GRFC) was transferred to Midwest United FC and their name was changed to reflect this change.[4][5]

Midwest United FC now fields men's and women's teams in the Great Lakes Division of USL League Two and USL W League.

Stadium[edit]

The club's current stadium is the Midwest United FC Soccer Complex in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Record attendance[edit]

  • 2,814 - July 2, 2017 vs Toledo Villa FC at Houseman Field (second game of a doubleheader following GRFC men, attendance counted both games)
  • 1,034 - July 22, 2017 vs Santa Clarita Blue Heat (single game record)

Players[edit]

2023 roster[edit]

[6] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
0 GK United States USA Heather Leja
0 GK United States USA Brylee Borgman
1 GK United States USA Isabelle Okoroafo
1 GK United States USA Lauren Boafo
2 MF United States USA Madison Cotta
3 MF United States USA Meredith Vance
4 FW United States USA Stephanie Currie
5 DF United States USA Lindsay Cole
6 MF United States USA Maya Dean
7 FW United States USA Brittney Probst
8 DF United States USA Raegan Cox
8 FW United States USA Katherine Welch
9 DF United States USA Ava Metaj
10 MF United States USA Olivia Dault
11 FW Canada CAN Maeva Lichtensteiger
11 MF United States USA Anna Bennett
No. Pos. Nation Player
11 FW United States USA Jada Burgin
12 MF United States USA Macey Wierenga
13 DF United States USA Matéa Diekema
14 DF United States USA Rachael Wright
15 FW United States USA Sydney Shenk
16 DF South Africa RSA Shakira O'Malley
17 DF United States USA Olivia Albert
18 FW United States USA Olivia Brunink
19 MF United States USA Heidi Thomasma
20 MF United States USA Isabelle Gilmore
21 MF United States USA Ella Onstott
22 MF Japan JPN Sachiko Gamo
23 FW United States USA Elle Otto
24 MF United States USA Jenna Smith
29 FW United States USA Jen Blitchok

Notable former players[edit]

Head coaches[edit]

  • England Joe White (2023–present, Women's Team)
  • England Luke Ruff (2023–present, Men's Team)
  • England Lewis Robinson (2017, 2020–2022)
  • England Chris Allen (2018)
  • England James Gilpin (2018–2019)

Honors[edit]

United Women's Soccer

  • National championships (1): 2017
  • Conference season championships (2)
    • Midwest Conference: 2017
    • Midwest North Conference: 2021
  • Conference playoff championships (3)

Minor competitions

  • UWS Stadium Showcase: 2020

Year-by-year[edit]

Year Tier League Regular Season Playoffs
2017 2 UWS 1st of 7, Midwest (8–1–1) UWS champions
2018 2 UWS 2nd of 7, Midwest (7–1–2) National semifinal
2019 2 UWS 4th of 6, Midwest (3–5–2) Conference final
2020 2 UWS Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic[7]
2021 2 UWS 1st of 5, Midwest North (9–0–1) National semifinal
2022 4 USLW 2nd of 8, Great Lakes (7–3–2) DNQ
2023 4 USLW 4th of 6, Great Lakes (5–5–2) DNQ

Historic record vs opponents[edit]

Legend
0–0–0 Win–loss-draw
0–0 Win–loss
* No games played
Opponent League Playoffs MI Cup Played Total GF GA GD Win %
Michigan AFC Ann Arbor 3–2–1 * * 6 3–2–1 9 11 –2 .583
Illinois Chicago KICS 1–0 * * 1 1–0 3 1 +2 1.000
Ohio Cleveland Force SC 1–1 * * 2 1–1 2 2 0 .500
Connecticut Connecticut Fusion * 0–1 * 1 0–1 1 2 –1 .000
Michigan Corktown AFC 2–0 0–0–1 (1–0 PKs) * 3 2–0–1 11 7 +4 .833
Michigan Detroit City FC 6–0 * * 6 6–0 17 6 +11 1.000
Michigan Detroit Sun FC 4–2 1–0–1 (1–0 PKs) * 8 5–2–1 15 11 +4 .688
Indiana FC Indiana 2–0 1–0 * 3 3–0 16 1 +15 1.000
Michigan Flint City AFC 1–3–1 * * 5 1–3–1 14 13 +1 .300
Indiana Fort Wayne United FC 4–0 * * 4 4–0 19 1 +18 1.000
Michigan Genesee FC 1–0 * * 1 1–0 7 0 +7 1.000
Indiana Indiana Elite FC 1–0 * * 1 1–0 12 0 +12 1.000
Indiana Indiana Union[B] 3–1–1 0–1 * 6 3–2–1 31 14 +17 .583
Indiana Indy Eleven 0–1 * * 1 0–1 0 1 –1 .000
Michigan Kalamazoo FC 3–1–1 * * 5 3–1–1 13 7 +6 .700
Kentucky Kings Hammer FC 1–0–1 * * 2 1–0–1 3 0 +3 .750
Pennsylvania Inferno Rush * 0–1 * 1 0–1 3 4 –1 .000
Michigan Lansing United 1–3–2 2–0 * 8 3–3–2 18 15 +3 .500
New York (state) Long Island Rough Riders * 0–0–1 (1–0 PKs) * 1 0–0–1 2 2 0 .500
Michigan Michigan Legends FC 2–0–3 * * 5 2–0–3 14 7 +7 .700
Michigan Motor City FC * * 0–1 1 0–1 1 3 –2 .000
Michigan Muskegon Risers SC 2–0 * * 2 2–0 8 2 +6 1.000
Kentucky Racing Louisville FC 0–1 * * 1 0–1 2 3 –1 .000
California Santa Clarita Blue Heat * 1–0 * 1 1–0 3 1 +2 1.000
Missouri St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC * 1–0 * 1 1–0 3 1 +2 1.000
Ohio Toledo Villa FC 1–0 * * 1 1–0 4 0 +4 1.000
Total 39–15–10 6–3–3 (3–0 PKs) 0–1 77 45–19–13 231 114 +117 .700
  • Note: Table includes all competitive matches and does not include friendlies.
  • Updated to end of 2023 season.
  1. ^
    B Indy Premier SC was renamed Indiana Union in 2019.

Player records[edit]

  • Note: Table includes all competitive matches and does not include friendlies.
  • Updated to end of 2023 season
  • Reference:[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ midwestunitedfc.com https://midwestunitedfc.com/club/mission. Retrieved 2024-05-24. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ midwestunitedfc.com https://midwestunitedfc.com/club/mission. Retrieved 2024-05-24. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ midwestunitedfc.com https://midwestunitedfc.com/club/mission. Retrieved 2024-05-24. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ "GRFC Announces Collaboration With Midwest United". December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  5. ^ "Grand Rapids FC makes move to a new league". December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  6. ^ "USL W Roster". Midwest United FC. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "UWS Provides Update on 2020 Season". Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  8. ^ What If It Rains - All Time Stats

External links[edit]

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