Soccer league
Football league
The Midwest Premier League (MWPL ) is an American amateur and semi-professional soccer league. The league spans primarily the eastern and central portions of the Midwestern United States .
History
The league was founded by four clubs which were all previously members of the United Premier Soccer League Midwest Conference.[1] Following the 2019 UPSL season, the clubs decided that they could create a stable league that would focus on sustainability of the member clubs by sharing ideas, keeping league costs to a minimum, and maximizing the opportunities for all clubs to compete by limiting end-of-season playoffs that often shorten the season for many teams.[2]
The league announced Union Dubuque F.C. as its first member on September 18, 2019, with the other three founding members being announced in the subsequent weeks.[3] RWB Adria joins the MPWL on September 25, 2019.[4] DeKalb County United joins the MWPL on October 2, 2019.[5] Cedar Rapids Inferno join the MWPL on October 9, 2019 making it the fourth member team.[6] And concludes the joining of the founders.
Cliff Conrad has been elected as the league's first president. Conrad is the co-founder and president of Union Dubuque F.C., one of the league's charter members.[7]
After a period with no expansion news, FC Diablos of Normal, Illinois was announced on January 10, 2020, and an expansion continues into March. With expansion side Rockford FC being unveiled shortly thereafter on January 30, 2020.[8] [9] Livonia City FC joins the MWPL on Feb. 29th 2020.[10] Lake St.Clair joins the MWPL on March 2, 2020.[11] BiH Grand Rapids joins the MWPL on March 6, 2020.[12]
The league was set to kick off in spring 2020; however, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States .[13] [14]
The Midwest Premier League appoints Andy Hayes as the league's first commissioner.[15]
On July 27, 2020, the league announced Lansing Common FC from Lansing, Michigan as a new member club.[16] [17]
On September 3, 2020, the MWPL entered a partnership agreement with the National Independent Soccer Association , a USSF Division 3 professional league, which includes pathways for both players and clubs to go fully pro.[18] [19]
November 2020 kicked off another round of expansions for the league. Starting with Edgewater Castle FC on Nov. 27th 2020.[20]
It was announced on March 21, 2022 that the MWPL would have 3 Divisions within it.[21]
The schedule for the second season of the league was announced on April 6, 2022, nearly a month ahead of the first game. With Detroit City U23 gone, there would be a new champion in the East Division. And with a finalized Southern Division, 3 champions were to be crowned at the end of the 2022 season.[22]
A new conference alignment was announced by the league on February 6, 2023. The MWPL confirmed that for the 2023 season, the South Conference would now be known as the Gateway Conference, the West Conference would now be the Heartland Conference and the East Conference would be the Great Lakes Conference, with an East and West Division.[23]
Teams
Team
City
Stadium
Founded
Great Lakes East Division
Aim SC
Dearborn, MI
Fordson High School
2012
Cedars FC
Dearborn, MI
Fordson High School
2019
Detroit Union FC
Waterford, MI
Waterford Mott High School
2021
Inter Detroit FC
Auburn Hills, MI
Evolution Sportsplex
2017
Liquid Football
Detroit MI
University Liggett School
2022
Michigan Jaguars FC
Novi, MI
Walled Lake Central High School
1989
Michigan Stars U23
Washington Township, MI
Romeo High School
1982
Thundercats SC
Chesterfield, Michigan
Troy United FC
Troy, MI
The Hawk
2021
YPSI Yetis FC
Saline, MI
Saline High School
2023
Heartland Division
Bavarian United SC
Glendale, WI
Heartland Value Fund Stadium
1929
Berber City FC
Chicago, IL
Illinois Institute of Technology
2013
Chicago City SC
Chicago, IL
Lions for Hope Sports Complex
Chicago House AC
Chicago, IL
DePaul College Prep
2021
Czarni Jaslo
Chicago, IL
Olympic Park, Schaumburg
1998
DeKalb County United
DeKalb, IL
NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex
2017
Edgewater Castle FC
Chicago, IL
CIBC Fire Pitch
2017
Rockford FC
Rockford, IL
Auburn High School
2019
RWB Adria
Chicago, IL
Hales Franciscan High School
1959
Steel City FC
Joliet, IL
Duly Health and Care Field
2021
Great Lakes West Division
1927 SC
Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne Sport Club Fields
1927
BiH Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, MI
Crestwood High School
2018
Futsal Factory Academy
Dexter, M I
Holland Rovers FC
Holland, MI
2016
Lansing Common FC
Lansing, MI
Eastern High School Stadium
2020
Livonia City FC
Livonia, MI
Madonna University
2015
Tulip City United SC
Holland, MI
Holland High School
2020
United West FC
Grand Rapids, MI
Hudsonville's Freshman Campus
2022
West Michigan Bearings
Byron Center, MI
South Christian High School
2020
Gateway Division
AFC Columbia
Columbia, MO
R. Marvin Owens Field
2020
Ajax St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Ajax Fields
Cedar Rapids Inferno [24]
Cedar Rapids, IA
Kingston Stadium
2019
Club Atletico Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO
Iowa Raptors FC
Cedar Rapids, IA
Prairie High School
Santa Fe Wanderers
Kansas City, KS
Avila University
Rockhurst University
1995
Southeast Soccer Academy
Burlington, Iowa
Location map
BiH GR Grand Haven United West Holland Rovers West Michigan Tulip City
Former teams
Seasons
2021 Fall Season
The first season for the MWPL ended on August 1, 2021[26]
The Eastern division contained 8 teams for the 2021 season.
This Western division contained 12 teams for the 2021 season.
Eastern Division Standings
Pos
Team
P
GP
GD
1
Detroit City U23 (C)
39
14
29
2
Lansing Common
31
14
21
3
West Michigan Bearings
27
14
15
4
BiH Grand Rapids
20
14
7
5
Michigan Stars U23
19
14
1
6
Livonia City
9
14
-18
7
Inter Detroit
8
14
-18
8
LK St Clair
5
14
-37
Western Division Standings
Pos
Team
P
GP
GD
1
Milwaukee Bavarian (C)
28
11
24
2
RWB Adria
28
11
21
3
Steel City
20
11
7
4
Berber City
20
11
4
5
Cedar Rapids Inferno
16
11
-2
6
Union Dubuque
15
11
-8
7
FC Diablos
14
11
2
8
Chicago Mustangs
13
11
1
9
Edgewater Castle
12
11
-6
10
Rockford
9
11
-9
11
Dekalb County
7
11
-15
12
Chicago Athletic
4
11
-19
Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;
(C) Champion
2022 season
The first season with 3 divisions in it.
The Eastern division contained 11 teams for the 2022 season.
The Western division contained 12 teams for the 2022 season
The Southern division contained 4 teams for the 2022 season.
Eastern Division Standings
Pos
Team
P
GP
GD
1
Inter Detroit (C)
21
10
5
2
Lansing Common
20
10
10
3
Tulip City United
20
10
10
4
Michigan Jaguars
18
10
9
5
Cedars FC
16
10
0
6
Grand Haven Admirals
14
10
4
7
Michigan Stars U23
14
10
1
8
Livonia City
12
10
-1
9
West Michigan Bearings
9
10
-7
10
Detroit Union
6
10
-17
11
BiH Grand Rapids
5
10
-15
Western Division Standings
Pos
Team
P
GP
GD
1
Milwaukee Bavarian (C)
24
11
23
2
RWB Adria
24
11
21
3
Iowa Raptors
24
11
18
4
Chicago House AC
20
11
18
5
DeKalb County United
17
11
1
6
Steel City
15
11
3
7
Chicago City SC
14
11
-1
8
Rockford FC
14
11
-6
9
Cedar Rapids Inferno
14
11
-14
10
Berber City
8
11
-11
11
FC Diablos
7
11
-24
12
Edgewater Castle
3
11
-28
Southern Division Standings
Pos
Team
P
GP
GD
1
Ajax St. Louis (C)
15
6
2
2
AFC Columbia
12
6
6
3
Santa Fe Wanderers
6
5
0
4
Springfield FC
0
5
-10
Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;
(C) Champion
2023 Season
The first season with 4 divisions.
Gateway Division Standings
Pos
Team
P
GP
GD
1
Ajax St. Louis (C)
22
10
19
2
Cedar Rapids Inferno
19
10
8
3
Iowa Raptors FC
16
10
1
4
AFC Columbia
14
10
-3
5
Club Atletico Saint Louis
12
10
0
6
Southeast Soccer Academy
3
10
-25
N/A
Santa Fe Wanderers
Great Lakes West Division Standings
Pos
Team
P
GP
GD
1
1927 SC (C)
27
12
21
2
West Michigan Bearings SC
27
12
20
3
Lansing Common FC
24
12
18
4
Tulip City United SC
20
12
9
5
Livonia City FC
20
12
3
6
BiH Grand Rapids
10
12
-11
7
Futsal Factory Academy
8
12
-4
8
Holland Rovers FC
6
12
-40
9
United West FC
4
12
-35
Heartland Division Standings
Pos
Team
P
GP
GD
1
Czarni Jalso (C)
23
10
14
2
RWB Adria
19
10
15
3
Chicago House AC
18
10
23
4
Bavarian United
16
10
9
5
Dekalb United
16
10
8
6
Chicago City SC
15
10
12
7
Edgewater Castle FC
14
10
2
8
Steel City FC
14
10
-3
9
Berber City FC
11
10
-6
10
Indy Boyz FC
7
10
-35
11
Rockford FC
2
10
-39
Great Lakes East Division Standings
Pos
Team
P
GP
GD
1
Inter Detroit FC (C)
28
12
37
2
Liquid Football
26
12
9
3
Thundercats SC
19
12
5
4
Michigan Stars FC U23
19
12
2
5
Detroit Union FC
18
12
-3
6
Cedars FC
17
12
-3
7
Troy United FC
16
12
-9
8
Michigan Jaguars FC
13
12
-1
9
Aim SC
4
12
-20
Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;
(C) Champion
Division Winners
Great Lakes Conference Winner
Note: Formerly the East Division
Season
Winner
Runner-up
2021
Detroit City U23 [27]
Lansing Common
2022
Inter Detroit
Lansing Common
2023
West: 1927 SC East: Inter Detroit
West: West Michigan Bearings East: Liquid Football
Heartland Conference Winner
Note: Formerly the West Division
Gateway Conference Winner
Note: Formerly the South Division
Season
Winner
Runner-up
2022
Ajax St. Louis
AFC Columbia
2023
Ajax St. Louis
Cedar Rapids Inferno
Golden Boot winner
The golden boot winners were announced on September 15, 2021.[29] [30]
East Division Winner
Season
Team
Winner
Goals
2021
Lansing Common
Shady Omar
10
2022
West Division Winner
Season
Team
Winner
Goals
2021
FC Diablos
Jordan Walker
15
2022
Steel City FC
Shea Bechtel
9
South Division Winner
Season
Team
Winner
Goals
2022
Notable Players
The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for a Midwest Premier League team:
Shady Omar , Lansing Common FC - 2021, played professionally at Ittihad El-Shorta (Egypt) 2015-2017 and Al Hilal Matruah (Egypt) in 2022
Damon Almazan , Steel City FC - 2020, played professionally at Chicago House AC for a season (2021).
[32]
References
^ Erik Long, "Sustainability and Responsible Growth , Protagonist USA , 9 October 2019
^ "Midwest Premier League Announces Formation - Midwest Premier League" . September 16, 2019.
^ "Union Dubuque F.C. Joins Midwest Premier League - Midwest Premier League" . September 18, 2019.
^ "RWB Adria Becomes Second Team To Join Midwest Premier League - Midwest Premier League" . September 25, 2019.
^ "DeKalb County United Joins Midwest Premier League - Midwest Premier League" . October 2, 2019.
^ "Cedar Rapids Inferno Becomes Fourth Midwest Premier League Club - Midwest Premier League" . October 9, 2019.
^ "Cliff Conrad Elected As Inaugural President - Midwest Premier League" . September 28, 2019.
^ "FC Diablos Joins Midwest Premier League - Midwest Premier League" . January 11, 2020.
^ "Rockford FC Joins Midwest Premier League - Midwest Premier League" . January 31, 2020.
^ "Livonia City FC Joins Midwest Premier League - Midwest Premier League" . February 29, 2020.
^ "LK St. Clair Joins East Division - Midwest Premier League" . March 2, 2020.
^ "East Division Adds BiH Grand Rapids - Midwest Premier League" . March 6, 2020.
^ O'Connor, Larry. "Midwest Premier League cancels 2020 soccer season" . The Detroit News . Retrieved September 3, 2020 .
^ "Member Clubs Vote To Cancel 2020 Season - Midwest Premier League" . March 27, 2020.
^ "Midwest Premier League Appoints Andy Hayes As League Commissioner - Midwest Premier League" . June 2, 2020.
^ Friend, Phil. "How a group of fans created Lansing Common Football Club, a team owned by its supporters" . Lansing State Journal . Retrieved September 3, 2020 .
^ Saliby, Sophia (July 28, 2020). "A Year After Lansing Ignite Folded, Lansing Common FC To Step In As Community-Run Team" . www.wkar.org . Retrieved September 3, 2020 .
^ "NISA Grows Amateur Affiliations in Partnership with Newly-Minted Midwest Premier League" . www.nisasoccer.com . Retrieved September 3, 2020 .
^ "MWPL Joins Forces with NISA" . Midwest Premier League . Retrieved September 3, 2020 .
^ "Edgewater Castle FC Joins West Division - Midwest Premier League" . November 28, 2020.
^ "Midwest Premier League 2022 Conference Alignment - Midwest Premier League" . March 21, 2022.
^ "2022 MWPL Schedule Announced - Midwest Premier League" . April 6, 2022.
^ "2023 Conference Alignment - Midwest Premier League" . February 7, 2023.
^ Douglas Miles, "Cedar Rapids Inferno Joins New Midwest Premier League" , Cedar Rapids Gazette , October 9, 2019
^ "LETTER FROM THE UNION BOARD OF DIRECTORS" . Union Dubuque FC . February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022.
^ Midwest Premier League [@midwestpl] (August 4, 2021). "With our first official season in the books, here are the final league standings! How'd your team finish? https://t.co/xBfrrrb53w" (Tweet ). Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2022 – via Twitter .
^ Midwest Premier League [@midwestpl] (August 2, 2021). "Now, let's make it official☑️ Your 2021 #MWPL East Division Champions: @DetroitCityFC U23 👑 https://t.co/tMIZEUmScZ" (Tweet ). Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022 – via Twitter .
^ Midwest Premier League [@midwestpl] (August 2, 2021). "It took until the final match day, but your 2021 #MWPL West Division Champions are @BavarianSC_Mens 👑 https://t.co/m587nDJo07" (Tweet ). Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022 – via Twitter .
^ Midwest Premier League [@midwestpl] (September 15, 2021). "The 2021 East Division Golden Boot Winner 🥾 Shady Omar from @lansingcommonfc had 10 goals this season which helped Lansing to a 2nd place finish in the #MWPL East https://t.co/X0Iz0ntScS" (Tweet ). Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022 – via Twitter .
^ Midwest Premier League [@midwestpl] (September 15, 2021). "The West Division Golden Boot Winner 🥾 Jordan Walker from @ILProSoccer finished the season with 15 goals and is now in the #MWPL record books for most goals in a single season. https://t.co/abYOPlZ66Z" (Tweet ). Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022 – via Twitter .
^ Detroit City FC's George Chomakov goes distance with upbeat outlook, nose for business [1] , Detroit News , April 13, 2020
^ Detroit City FC re-signs Benedek Tanyi on a short-term deal [2] , Detroit City FC , April 18, 2022
^ Albaraa Alsoufi is Finding Meaning in Heritage [3] , NISA Network , April 18, 2022
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