Midwest United FC

Midwest United FC is an American soccer club based in Grand Rapids, Michigan who play in the Great Lakes Division of the USL W League. The team was founded in 2016 as the women's side to the Grand Rapids FC brand. Their first season was in 2017.[1] In December 2019, Midwest United FC assumed ownership of the team and rebranded it under their name.[2]

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Grand Rapids FC.
Midwest United FC
Founded2016 (as Grand Rapids FC)
StadiumMidwest United FC Soccer Complex
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Head CoachLewis Robinson
LeagueUSL W League
2022Great Lakes Division: 2nd
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

History

Grand Rapids FC (GRFC) was started in 2014 by a group of Grand Rapids residents as a community-funded project. The men's team's first season was in 2015 in the newly formed Great Lakes Premier League before moving to the National Premier Soccer League. After two successful seasons that showed average attendance figures over 4,000 each season, the owners announced on November 1, 2016 that they would be adding a women's team to the Grand Rapids FC brand. Their first season was in 2017 in the United Women's Soccer league.[1][3]

The Grand Rapids FC women won the 2017 UWS Championship in their inaugural season [4] on July 22, 2017 at their home stadium, defeating the defending champions Santa Clarita Blue Heat 3 goals to 1.

In December 2019, the Grand Rapids FC brand underwent restructuring. The ownership model was changed and the men's team changed leagues. During this time, the ownership of the women's side was transferred to Midwest United FC and their name was changed to reflect this change.[2][5]

Stadium

The team's current stadium is Midwest United FC Soccer Complex in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team's original home field was at Grandville High School in Grandville, Michigan. They have also played home matches at Aquinas College and Houseman Field.

Record attendance
  • 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

2023 roster

[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

Head coaches
  • England Joe White (2023–present)
  • England Lewis Robinson (2017, 2020–2022)
  • England Chris Allen (2018)
  • England James Gilpin (2018–2019)

Honors

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

References
  1. "GRFC To Field Women's Team in 2017". November 1, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  2. "GRFC Announces Collaboration With Midwest United". December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  3. "Grand Rapids FC launches women's team for 2017 season". November 1, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  4. "Grand Rapids FC beats Santa Clarita, captures United Women's Soccer championship".
  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
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