MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group
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FLINT, Mich. – Fort Wayne FC worked some serious overtime Friday night. It’s reward is living another day in the USL-League Two North American Tournament.
Fort Wayne played 90 minutes of regulation, 30 minutes of overtime periods and a combined nine minutes of stoppage time before going to six rounds of penalty kicks before escaping with a 1-0 victory over Midwest United FC in the USL-League Two Central Conference quarterfinals at Kettering University’s historic Atwood Stadium near downtown Flint, Michigan.
FWFC posted a 5-4 edge on penalties after Fort Wayne made its sixth attempt and Midwest United misfired on its sixth attempt.
It also came down to a promise made by goalkeeper Aurie Briscoe.
The standout Rutgers University goalkeeper and USL-League Two 2023 Regular Season Golden Glove winner, Briscoe came through with two saves in the shootout.
“After our center back (Tiago Dias) missed his penalty over the goal, I told him, ‘I got you. I’ll make some stops,’” offered Briscoe. “I was able to save a couple. My team needed me to step up.”
After Dias missed Fort Wayne’s second shot, Briscoe stopped Midwest United’s fourth and sixth shooters, respectively, including diving to his left to stop Chidiebere Nnolim for the game-winning save.
Anthony Hernandez (first), Alberto Anaya (third), Chris Bley (fourth), Michael Tselios (fifth) and Joshua Erlandson (sixth) converted their shots from the penalty spot for Fort Wayne (13-2-2, 9-2-2 USL-League Two).
Giuseppe Barone (first), Jonathan Kliewer (second), Vitalis Takawira (third) and Badley Dunwell (fifth) made their shots in the shootout for Midwest Unbited FC.
Aurie recorded four saves in open play, two in the first half, one in the second half and one in the first overtime period, for Fort Wayne.
Kliewer registered just three saves before the shootout, two in the second half and one in the second overtime session.
Midwest United FC outshot Fort Wayne FC 20-13 overall entering the shootout, but both teams struggled to put very many shots on target throughout the match. Midwest held a 4-3 edge with shots on goal Midwest also held a 4-3 edge on cornerkicks.
While Fort Wayne’s defense did its part, Briscoe more than stepped up in the clutch with the two shootout saves. That doesn’t surprise Fort Wayne coach Mike Avery at all.
“He’s incredible. He had a couple of really big saves during the game and even though there’re weren’t many greats (shots) during the contest, Aurie came through then and again on penalties,” said Avery, whose team has only conceded 10 goals in league play all season. “We knew if he faced enough shots (in the shootout), he would make a save or two. Congratulations to him. He’s one of the hardest-working guys on this team and it shows. He goes a little under the radar most of the time, but I love to see these moments. I think he’s a really good goalie.”
Fort Wayne FC Will face home-standing Flint City Bucks (12-1-3, 11-1-3 USL-League Two) at 5 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Atwood Stadium in the Central Conference semifinals. Fort Wayne reached the postseason last year for the first time in its four-year history in the USL-League Two, but came up empty-handed with a 3-2 double-overtime loss to Flint City.
“We only have two (regulars) back from last year, but as a club I feel like we’ve taken another step,” added Avery. “Last year we qualified for the playoffs (a first time) and now we’ve won a round in the playoffs. We are in the Round of 16 for the first time. Everything is a step. I’m really proud of these guys. It wasn’t our best game, but a lot of credit to Midwest United. We also had a couple of guys that were out, one for an injury and one for a card suspension. We should get those guys back for Sunday.”
USL-LEAGUE TWO CENTRAL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS-GROUP A
(July 19-21 at Atwood Stadium, Kettering University, Flint, Mich.)
Friday, July 19
Game 1 – Fort Wayne FC 1, Midwest United FC 0 (2OT, SO, 5-4 on penalties)
Game 2 – Flint City Bucks 1, Cleaveland Force 0
Sunday, July 21
Game 3 – Flint City Bucks vs. Fort Wayne FC, Central Conference Semifinals, 5 p.m.
(Winner advances to the USL-League Two North American Central Conference finals next week on a date, location and time to be determined.)
USL-LEAGUE TWO CENTRAL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS-GROUP B
(July 19-21 at Shea Stadium, Peoria, Illinois)
Friday, July 19
Game 1 – Des Moines Menace 2, Bavarian United SC 0
Game 2 – Peoria City SC 2, Thunder Bay Chill 0
Sunday, July 21
Game 3 – Des Moines Menace vs. Peoria City SC, 1:30 p.m.
(Winner advances to the USL-League Two North American Central Conference finals next week on a date, location and time to be determined.)
USL-LEAGUE TWO POWER RANKINGS
(Through July 13)
1. Asheville City SC
2. Seacoast United Phantoms
3. Western Mass Pioneers
4. Little Rock Rangers
5. Flint City Bucks
6. Long Island Riders
7. Ventura County Fusion
8. Ocean City Nor’Easters
9. Corpus Christi FC
10. Lionsbridge FC
11. Virginia Beach United
12. Des Moines Menace
13. United PDX
14. Peoria City
15. FC Motown STA
NOTE: There are a record 128 teams spread over 18 different divisions in the USL-League Two in the United States and Canada.
USL-LEAGUE TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
(formerly USISL Premier League; USISL Premier Developemntal Soccer League, USL- Premier Developemntal League)
YEAR NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONS RUNNERS-UP
USISL Premier League
1995: Richmond Kickers San Fransisco United
1996: Central Coast Roadrunners Richmond Kickers
USISL Premier Developemntal Soccer League
1997: Central Coast Roadrunners Spokane Shadow
1998: San Gabriel Valley Highlanders Jackson Chargers
USL-Premier Developmental League
1999: Chicago Sockers Jackson Chargers
2000: Chicago Sockers Mid-Michigan Bucks
2001: Westchester Flames Calgary Storm
2002: Cape Cod Crusaders Des Moines Menace
2003: Cape Cod Crusaders New Orleans Shell Shockers
2004: Central Florida Kraze Chicago Fire Reserves
2005: Des Moines Menace Orange County Blue Star
2006: Michigan Bucks Laredo Heat
2007: Laredo Heat Michigan Bucks
2008: Thunder Bay Chill Laredo Heat
2009: Ventura County Fusion Reading Rage
2010: Portland Timbers U23s Thunder Bay Chill
2011: Kitsap Pumas Fresno Fuego
2012: Forest City London Michigan Bucks
2013: Austin Aztex Thunder Bay Chill
2014: Michigan Bucks Des Moines Menace
2015: K-W United FC Michigan Bucks
2016: Michigan Bucks Calgary Foothills FC
2017: Charlotte Eagles New York Red Bulls U-23
2018: Calgary Foothills FC Des Moines Menace
USL-League Two
2019: Flint City Bucks Des Moines Menace
2020: No season, cancelled due to Covid restrictions
2021: Des Moines Menace North Carolina Fusion U23
2022: Ventura County Fusion Long Island Rough Riders
2023: Ballard FC Lionsbridge FC
2024: To be determined
MOST NORTH AMERICAN/NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
4 – Flint City Bucks/Michigan Bucks
2 – Des Moines Menace
2 – Ventura County Fusion
2 – Cape Cod Crusaders
2 – Chicago Sockers
2 – Central Coast Roadrunners
1 – Ballard FC
1 – Calgary Foothills
1 – Charlotte Eagles
1 – K-W United FC
1 – Austin Aztex
1 – Forest City London
1 – Kitsap Pumas
1 – Portland Timbers U23
1 – Thunder Bay Chill
1 – Laredo Heat
1 – Austin Aztex
1 – Central Florida Kraze
1 – Westchester Flames
1 – San Gabriel Valley Highlanders
1 – Richmond Kickers
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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