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.
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. 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. 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. 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 YearTierLeagueRegular seasonPlayoffs20172UWS1st of 7, Midwest (8–1–1)UWS champions20182UWS 2nd of 7, Midwest (7–1–2)National semifinal20192UWS 4th of 6, Midwest (3–5–2)Conference final20202UWSCanceled due to COVID-19 pandemic20212UWS1st of 5, Midwest North (9–0–1)National semifinal20224USLW2nd of 8, Great Lakes (7–3–2)20234USLW4th of 6, Great Lakes (5–5–2)20244USLW3rd of 7, Great Lakes (7–0–5)20254USLW4th of 6, Great Lakes (2–4–4)20264USLW2nd of 5, Great Lakes (4–3–3)
Historic record vs opponents Legend 0–0–0Win–loss-draw 0–0Win–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 1.000Total 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 RankPlayerGoalsYears 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 RankPlayerAppsYears 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:What If It Rains - All Time Stats
References
External links