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The league called it Derby Weekend, and while there were a few local derbies, most teams still had to travel over one hundred miles to their games. Minnesota United Reserves made the shortest trip; an 18-mile jaunt to Minneapolis to take on the Crows, but Aurora Borealis trekked 283 miles to play Toledo United. Nonetheless, there was plenty of action to take in with seven games over three days.

 

Lorei doubled City’s lead early in the second half, turning and shooting from twelve yards out to fire past United goalkeeper Aaron Perez.

Minneapolis City SC 3, Minnesota United Reserves 0
June 3, 2016
Les Banard Field (Minneapolis, MN)

Minneapolis City came away winners from what was the most local of the Derby Weekend matchups. City’s Isaac Friendt drew his second penalty in as many games, this one coming in just the 5th minute of the match. Andy Lorei converted and Minneapolis City took a 1-0 lead. The remainder of the first half was back-and-forth, with both teams getting several shots on goal. Lorei doubled City’s lead early in the second half, turning and shooting from twelve yards out to fire past United goalkeeper Aaron Perez. The Crows controlled play throughout the rest of the match and put it out of reach in the 89th minute. Isaac Forsgren beat the lone defender and curled a shot past Perez for a 3-0 lead and the win.

Read our full match write-up with interviews by Kyle Eliason.

Up next:
Cedar Rapids Rampage United vs. Minneapolis City SC, June 10
Minnesota United Reserves vs. Madison 56ers, June 12

 

Dane Laird’s 90th minute header found its way past the keeper to give Carpathia its second win in a row.

Carpathia FC 1, Oakland County FC 0
June 3, 2016
L’Anse Creuse (Harrison Charter Township, MI)

Oakland County was handed its first loss of the season by a Carpathia side quietly making its way to the top of the table in the East Division. The two sides nearly played to a 0-0 draw despite many chances on both sides of the pitch. Shawn Sloan sent a rocket of a shot off the crossbar in the 5th minute and Carpathia responded with pressure to control possession for much of the rest of the first half. County reversed that trend in the second half, taking control and gaining the majority of the chances. The visitors were unable to break through however and Dane Laird’s 90th minute header found its way past the keeper to give Carpathia its second win in a row.

Up next:
Carpathia FC vs. RWB Adria, June 18
Oakland County FC vs. Aurora Borealis, June 18

 

The visitors were able to keep up with Adria in the first half, notching a few chances and keeping the scoreline level at 0-0 going into halftime

RWB Adria 4, Grand Rapids Ole SC 0
June 4, 2016
Triton College (River Grove, IL)

A rough start to the season for Grand Rapids continued with a 4-0 loss in the first game of its weekend doubleheader. The visitors were able to keep up with Adria in the first half, notching a few chances and keeping the scoreline level at 0-0 going into halftime. Ten minutes into the second half, Frane Grbesa converted a free kick to give Adria the lead. Just two minutes later a Jelicic through ball found Ermin Gadzo who slammed it home for a 2-0 lead. Adria went up 3-0 in the 65th minute when Tony Aguilar’s cross was headed past the keeper by Alvarez. Close to the final whistle, Jelicic scored a similar goal off a cross from Rashid and the hosts walked away with a 4-0 win.

Up next:
Toledo United vs. Grand Rapids Ole SC, June 17
Carpathia FC vs. RWB Adria, June 18

 

The draw was nearly broken in the 83rd minute when Bavarians were awarded another penalty, but keeper Josh Rhode came up with the save to keep the final score level and further tighten up the top of the standings in the West Division.

Croatian Eagles 2, Milwaukee Bavarians 2
June 4, 2016
Croatian Park (Franklin, WI)

Bavarians left their home park for the first time this season, traveling to Croatian Park for the Milwaukee Derby. The visitors took the lead in the 30th minute off a goal from Logan Andryk. Croatian Eagles drew level a few minutes before halftime when Aaron Cranfill’s pass found Andrew Wiedabach who put it in the back of the net. Shortly after the teams resumed play in the second half, an errant tackle from Alex Tozer gave Bavarians a penalty. Kelmend Islami converted for a 2-1 lead. Amilcar Herrera pulled the hosts level with a deflected shot that wound up getting past Bavarians keeper Jim Jones. The draw was nearly broken in the 83rd minute when Bavarians were awarded another penalty, but keeper Josh Rhode came up with the save to keep the final score level and further tighten the top of the standings in the West Division.

Up next:
Croatian Eagles vs. Minneapolis City SC, June 11
Milwaukee Bavarians vs. Minnesota United Reserves, June 19

 

Alex Bradley scored the lone goal of the first half with a 45 yard strike in the 4th minute and the 56ers went into halftime with a lead.

Cedar Rapids Rampage United 3, Madison 56ers 2
June 4, 2016
Clark Field (Cedar Rapids, IA)

Madison’s winless start to the season continued despite an early golazo. Alex Bradley scored the lone goal of the first half with a 45 yard strike in the 4th minute and the 56ers went into halftime with a lead. Cedar Rapids drew level shortly after the second half kicked off with a goal from Alex Megson. It was then the hosts’ turn to score a long-range goal. Charlie Bales converted a free kick from 35 yards out to give Cedar Rapids the lead. Bales made it a brace less than 20 minutes later with another free kick goal. Madison pulled one back in the 84th minute when Taylor Pill slotted a penalty home, but time ran out and Madison were left with another loss.

Up next:
Minnesota United Reserves vs. Madison 56ers, June 12
Cedar Rapids Rampage United vs. Minneapolis City SC, June 10

 

Toledo had several late chances to steal a point, but the Aurora defense held and earned its first three points of the season.

Toledo United 0, Aurora Borealis 1
June 4, 2016
Springfield (Holand, OH)

After starting the season with two big wins, Toledo has now lost two in a row, this time it was a 1-0 loss to Aurora Borealis SC. A 5th minute corner found Patryk Ruta who put the ball on goal. The official called it a goal despite protests from Toledo that the ball never actually crossed the goal line. Aurora was in control of the match from then on, creating chances and maintaining the majority of possession. Jorge Alvarez had a chance to double the visitors’ lead midway through the second half but was denied by the crossbar. Toledo had several late chances to steal a point but the Aurora defense held and earned its first three points of the season.

Up next:
Aurora Borealis vs. Toledo United, June 12

 

The hosts took a 3-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, with the first goal coming from Tommy Catalano in the 9th minute.

Carpathia FC 3, Grand Rapids Ole SC 1
June 5, 2016
L’Anse Creuse (Harrison Charter Township, MI)

Both teams played two games over the weekend but with opposite fortunes. Carpathia won both and Grand Rapids lost twice, getting outscored 7-1 in the process. The hosts took a 3-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, with the first goal coming from Tommy Catalano in the 9th minute. Catalano then assisted on Joey Tinnion’s goal at the 15 minute mark. It was Tinnion’s turn to assist on a goal in the 34th minute. His cross found the head of Colin Helmrich for a 3-0 lead. A goal from Jonathan Vega in the 63rd minute wasn’t enough to spark a comeback from Grand Rapids, and it fell to 0-0-4 on the season.

Up next:
Toledo United vs. Grand Rapids Ole SC, June 17
Carpathia FC vs. RWB Adria, June 18

 

East Standings

Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GD	Points
RWB Adria	4	3	0	1	9	9
Carpathia	4	3	0	1	1	9
Toledo United	4	2	0	2	3	6
Oakland County	3	2	0	1	1	6
Aurora Borealis	3	1	0	2	-3	3
Grand Rapids Ole	4	0	0	4	-11	0

West Standings

Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GD	Points
Milwaukee Bavarians	4	2	2	0	7	8
Minneapolis City	3	2	1	0	4	7
Cedar Rapids Rampage	4	2	1	1	2	7
MNUFC Reserves	3	1	0	2	-2	3
Croatian Eagles	3	0	1	2	-4	1
Madison 56ers	3	0	1	2	-7	1