FiftyFive.One

The second week of play in the Premier League of America featured four matches, including season openers for Aurora Borealis SC, Madison 56ers, and Minneapolis City SC. If offense was the theme of week one, it was defense in week two. Three teams kept clean sheets, with Milwaukee Bavarians and Minneapolis City playing to a 0-0 draw, while Toldeo made an early statement by defeating RWB Adria, last year’s Great Lakes Premier League champion.

 

Madison 56ers 1, Cedar Rapids Rampage United 1
May 20, 2016
Breese Stevens Field (Madison, WI)

Madison 56ers started their PLA season at home by hosting Cedar Rapids, as the two played to a 1-1 draw. The pattern for the visitors from Iowa seemed to be missed opportunities. The match was scoreless for nearly all of the first half despite an open goal chance to score for Cedar Rapids. Just before the halftime whistle blew, Alex Bradley scored a bicycle-kick goal for Madison, and the home team went to the locker room up 1-0. A few minutes into the second half, Cedar Rapids were awarded a penalty. Gordy Gurson sent keeper Noah Heim the wrong way and the visitors equalized. Madison was shown red with 20 minutes to go, but Cedar Rapids squandered a chance late to capitalize on the advantage, missing a sitter and ending the game at 1-1.

Up Next:
Madison 56ers at Milwaukee Bavarians, May 27
Cedar Rapids Rampage United v. Minnesota United Reserves, May 28

 

Milwaukee Bavarians 0, Minneapolis City SC 0
May 21, 2016
Bavarian Soccer Park (Glendale, WI)

Minneapolis City SC played its first competitive match in club history, hitting the road to face Milwaukee Bavarians and playing the hosts to a 0-0 draw. City had early chances to score, including a corner that was headed just wide by Kevin Hoof in the 11th minute. City was able to hold possession for much of the match, with Bavarians content to strike at the Crows from the counter. The the contest ebbed back and forth until the hosts pushed hard in the closing minutes. Milwaukee shots found goalposts in each half—including the final shot of the match—and the visitors were happy to see the match end with each side taking a point.

Up Next:
Milwaukee Bavarians v. Madison 56ers, May 27
Minneapolis CIty SC v. Croatian Eagles, May 28

Carpathia FC 2, Aurora Borealis SC 1
May 21, 2016
L’Anse Creuse (Harrison Charter Township, MI)

In another contest featuring a club opening its season, Carpathia FC bounced back from a loss at the hands of RWB Adria to beat Aurora Borealis SC by a score of 2-1. Good chances for both sides and even play defined the first half, but the action came in the second. The newcomers scored first when midfielder Jesse Ortiz struck home a 51st minute volley. Carpathia’s Colin Helmrich found the bottom corner and equalized in the 62nd minute. Ryan Williams—who was substituted on for Helmrich—assisted on a Dane Laird goal in the 84th minute to give the hosts the lead. Carpathia saw out the rest of the match to claim its first points of the season.

Up Next:
Aurora Borealis SC v. RWB Adria, May 27
Carpathia FC v. Oakland County FC, June 3

 

Toledo United 1, RWB Adria 0
May 21, 2016
Springfield (Holland, OH)

Toledo United recorded an impressive 1-0 victory over RWB Adria on Saturday night. Toledo was looking to prove its big win in the first week was not a fluke, and did so by handing a loss to defending champion Croatians. Kyle Breitmeyer made it three goals in two games with his 21st minute strike to put the hosts ahead. Toledo controlled possession and set the pace for nearly the entire contest, and Breitmeyer had two more one-on-one chances stopped by the 63rd minute. The opportunity for Adria to pull itself back into the contest came in the 76th minute. Kenny Hewitt was shown his second yellow card of the match, and Toledo was reduced to 10 men. However, the visitors were unable to take advantage. With the victory, Toledo joins Oakland County as the only teams in the PLA to have taken the maximum possible points from their matches this season.

Up Next:
Toledo United v. Oakland County FC, May 28
RWB Adria at Aurora Borealis SC, May 27