Midwest United FC explained

Midwest United FC is an American soccer club based in Grand Rapids, Michigan that fields 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 Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew.^[1]

History

Midwest United FC was founded in 1990 under the moniker GRASA (Grand Rapids Area Soccer Association) and was the first youth select soccer club in Grand Rapids.^[2] The initial registration was 60 players from around the area.

In 1996, Grand Valley Premier SC was formed and was the area's only premier soccer club for the next 10 years. GRASA and Grand Valley Premier merged in 2007 to form Grand Rapids Crew Juniors, the first junior club affiliate of MLS franchise Columbus Crew. During its time as GR Crew Juniors the club earned a National Championship in 2011 for its U17 Boys.

Grand Rapids Crew Juniors rebranded to Midwest United FC in June 2015.^[3] The U16 Girls team earned the title of US Soccer Development Academy National Champions in 2016.

In 2019, the ownership of the women's side Grand Rapids FC was transferred to Midwest United FC.^[4] Originally competing in United Women's Soccer, the club has since moved to USL W League. A men's team was added in 2022 to compete in USL League Two.

In 2024, the men's team qualified for the USL League Two playoffs for the first time since it joined the league.

Home Facility

The team's current home facility is the Midwest United FC Soccer Complex in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Players

Notable current & former players

• Bethany Balcer (2017) now with Seattle Reign FC and called up to the United States national team
• Maddie Pogarch (2017) now with Utah Royals and called up to the United States national U-23 team
• Maia Perez (2018–2021) formerly with Angel City FC
• Riley Tanner (2019–2022) now with Washington Spirit and called up to the Panama national team
• Dylan Sing (2023) now with Crown Legacy FC
• Brad Dunwell (2024-) formerly with Houston Dynamo FC, Oklahoma City Energy, Detroit City FC, Charlotte Independence

Head coaches

• Joe White (2023–present, USL W League)
• Luke Ruff (2023–present, USL League Two)
• Lewis Robinson (2017, 2020–2022)
• Chris Allen (2018)
• James Gilpin (2018–2019)

Honors

USL League Two

• • Playoffs Qualifiers: 2024

United Women's Soccer

• National championships (1): 2017
• Conference season championships (2)
  • Midwest Conference: 2017
  • Midwest North Conference: 2021
• Conference playoff championships (3)
  • Midwest Conference: 2017, 2018, 2021

Minor competitions

• UWS Stadium Showcase: 2020

Year-by-year

Year	Tier	League	Regular Season	Playoffs
2017	2	UWS	1st of 7, Midwest (8–1–1)	bgcolor=gold	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[5]
2021	2	UWS	1st of 5, Midwest North (9–0–1)	National semifinal
2022	4	USLW	2nd of 8, Great Lakes (7–3–2)
2023	4	USLW	4th of 6, Great Lakes (5–5–2)
2024	4	USLW	3rd of 7, Great Lakes (7–5)

Historic record vs opponents

Legend
0–0–0	Win–loss-draw
0–0	Win–loss
	No games played

Opponent	League	Playoffs		Played	Total				Win %
AFC Ann Arbor	3–2–1			6	3–2–1	9	11	–2	.583
Chicago KICS	1–0			1	1–0	3	1	+2	1.000
Cleveland Force SC	1–1			2	1–1	2	2	0	.500
Connecticut Fusion		0–1		1	0–1	1	2	–1	.000
Corktown AFC	2–0	0–0–1 (1–0 PKs)		3	2–0–1	11	7	+4	.833
Detroit City FC	6–0			6	6–0	17	6	+11	1.000
Detroit Sun FC	4–2	1–0–1 (1–0 PKs)		8	5–2–1	15	11	+4	.688
FC Indiana	2–0	1–0		3	3–0	16	1	+15	1.000
Flint City AFC	1–3–1			5	1–3–1	14	13	+1	.300
Fort Wayne United FC	4–0			4	4–0	19	1	+18	1.000
Genesee FC	1–0			1	1–0	7	0	+7	1.000
Indiana Elite FC	1–0			1	1–0	12	0	+12	1.000
Indiana Union	3–1–1	0–1		6	3–2–1	31	14	+17	.583
Indy Eleven	0–1			1	0–1	0	1	–1	.000
Kalamazoo FC	3–1–1			5	3–1–1	13	7	+6	.700
Kings Hammer FC	1–0–1			2	1–0–1	3	0	+3	.750
Inferno Rush		0–1		1	0–1	3	4	–1	.000
Lansing United	1–3–2	2–0		8	3–3–2	18	15	+3	.500
Long Island Rough Riders		0–0–1 (1–0 PKs)		1	0–0–1	2	2	0	.500
Michigan Legends FC	2–0–3			5	2–0–3	14	7	+7	.700
Motor City FC			0–1	1	0–1	1	3	–2	.000
Muskegon Risers SC	2–0			2	2–0	8	2	+6	1.000
Racing Louisville FC	0–1			1	0–1	2	3	–1	.000
Santa Clarita Blue Heat		1–0		1	1–0	3	1	+2	1.000
St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC		1–0		1	1–0	3	1	+2	1.000
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.

Player records

Goals

Rank	Player	Goals	Years
1	Marti Corby	29	2017–2022
2	Bethany Balcer	19	2017
	Stephanie Currie		2019–
4	Avery Lockwood	12	2017, 2020–2022
5	Jen Blitchok	11	2019–
6	Cindy Lay	9	2018
7	Riko Sagara	7	2017, 2019
	Grace Labadie		2017–2021
	Elle Otto		2021–
10	Jordian Morris	6	2018
	Kendra Longoria		2018–2020
	Anna Bennett		2021–

Appearances

Rank	Player	Apps	Years
1	Marti Corby	54	2017–2022
2	Grace Labadie	36	2017–2021
3	Stephanie Currie	35	2019–
4	Clare Carlson	33	2017–2019, 2021
	Macey Wierenga		2020–
6	Sadie Misiewicz	32	2017–2020
7	Avery Lockwood	31	2017, 2020–2022
	Jen Blitchok		2019–
9	Paige Eli	29	2017–2022
10	Olivia Albert	28	2019, 2021–

• Note: Table includes all competitive matches and does not include friendlies.
• Updated to end of 2023 season
• Reference:^[6]

External links

• Official team site

Notes and References

1. Web site: ColumbusCrew.com . Columbus Crew Announce New Affiliate: Midwest United FC Columbus Crew . 2024-05-30 . ColumbusCrew.com . en.
2. Web site: https://midwestunitedfc.com/club/mission . 2024-05-30 . midwestunitedfc.com.
3. Web site: https://midwestunitedfc.com/club/mission . 2024-05-30 . midwestunitedfc.com.
4. Web site: PR . UWS . 2019-12-24 . GRFC Announces Collaboration With Midwest United . 2024-05-30 . United Women's Soccer . en-us.
5. Web site: UWS Provides Update on 2020 Season. June 11, 2020.
6. http://whatifitrains.net/stats/2017/women.php What If It Rains - All Time Stats