MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
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Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group
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KENTWOOD, Mich. – Jonathan Kliewer remembers in his youth when his parents allowed him to give hockey a try.
That didn’t go so well.
“I only played for like one year and I’ll be honest, I don’t think I was very good,” admitted Kliewer of his prowess and ability out on the ice. “I don’t think it was for me.”
By that time Kliewer had already been involved with soccer for a few years, as he began around the age of 6.
“I was always a lot taller than everyone else, so they tired me at goalie,” recalled Kliewer. “I loved it ever since then.”
Kliewer essentially became a one-sport specialist in late elementary school and his love for soccer was never-ending.
He excelled.
And he grew.
And grew some more.
Today, Kliewer is just a few hairs shy of 6-foot-5 – officially registering as 6-4 ½ between the pipes. He is excelling with both for Midwest United FC in the USL-League Two this summer and also at NCAA Division I Missouri State University, where he is one of two quality goalkeepers sharing time on the roster.
“He’s very steady back there,” said Luke Ruff, the head coach for Midwest United’s USL-League Two team. “He’s been a big part of our success. He’s very athletic for his size and very (consistent).”
Kliewer grew up playing club soccer mainly with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Alliance FC. In 2022, Kliewer made the roster at Midwest United FC, switched over to Kalamazoo FC in the USL-League Two in 2023 and back to Midwest United in 2024 – where the program has set all types of records.
Midwest United finished above five-hundred for the first time this year, finishing the regular season with a very respectable 10-3-1 record and in second place in the Great Lakes Division of the USL-League Two. That was enough to garner MU’s first postseason berth in the 128-team league that sprawls across the U.S. and Canada.
The team has outscored the opposition 28-13, posted seven clean sheets and recorded a team goals-against-average of 0.93 playing in a tough division littered with NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA soccer stars. Kliewer has spent over 90 percent of the minutes on the field guarding the goal and making clutch save after clutch save to help his side reach the postseason.
For Missouri State, he notched two wins late last season and will either start or redshirt this fall, as the Missouri State coaching staff doesn’t want both keepers to finish up their college eligibility at the same time come November.
Kliewer graduated from high school in 2020 from Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern. While NAIA Calvin College offered him a spot, no one from major colleges recruited Kliewer, at least from power conferences on the soccer pyramid.
At Forest Hills Northern, he was four-year letterwinner, split time with another keeper as a sophomore and was a full-time two-year starter as a junior and senior. He led his team to three district championships, two regional titles, one state runner-up finish in Division 2 (2018) and one Division 2 state championship (2019). He earned multiple postseason honors, including All-State Third Team as a junior and All-State First Team as a senior and was one of several All-State soccer athletes at Forest Hills Northern his senior season.
Still, not much college interest came in for an agile, talented and highly-successful 6-foot-4 goalkeeper from the northeast side of the Grand Rapids area, a growing hotbed for soccer talent.
He eventually earned a preferred walk-on spot at NCAA Division I University of Detroit-Mercy and took a redshirt in the fall of 2020 (the season was actually played in early 2021). By the fall of 2021, Kliewer worked his way onto the starting 11 for the Titans and more than excelled – he shined. Kliewer not only made the All-Horizon Rookie Team, but also was voted to the All-Horizon League First Team and Goalkeeper of the Year.
Not bad for a keeper that received very little interest from college recruiters just a couple years prior to that.
Kliewer played one more season at UDM in 2022 and still put up big numbers for the Titans but was only All-Horizon Second Team. After that he entered the transfer portal in late 2022.
“I wanted more of a challenge,” he said. “I really wanted a different style, a place where they have their goalies use their feet more. That was one area I really needed to work on. Plus, (Detroit-Mercy) fired their coach, so I was looking for a fresh start.”
Kliewer eventually ended up in the Missouri Valley Conference at Missouri State University, a program with a tradition-rich past in men’s soccer. Missouri State has been one of the top teams in the MVC for years and still is to this day.
Although his MSU team lost in the MVC Tournament finals last year to Western Michigan University, the Bears still reached the NCAA Division I Tournament and finished 1-1, reaching the Round of 32.
“That was cool experience,” said Kliewer of the 2023 season. “We made the conference finals and also got an at-large to the NCAA (Tournament) and won a game there against Omaha.
“This year I’ll be fighting for a starting spot but if I don’t get it I’ll likely redshirt so I’ll have another year (of eligibility) to be a starter,” added Kliewer, who already has his bachelor’s degree in Physics and is working on his Master’s Degree.
Kliewer would love to climb the professional ranks one day.
“If that happens and there are some opportunities, then I’ll pursue it,” he said. “But that’s not what I’m worried about now.”
Kliewer is trying to help Midwest United have a strong showing in this weekend’s USL-League Two Central Conference playoffs. One of 35 teams in the postseason, Midwest United will face Fort Wayne FC at 4 p.m. Friday at Atwood Stadium in Flint, Michigan, in the Central Conference quarterfinals – again his team’s first USL postseason game.
After the season is over, it’s off to Missouri State to conclude the final chapters of his college career.
“I am grateful for all of the opportunities that have been given to me,” added Kliewer.
“I hope we can (have some success) coming up,” he continued. “We’ve had a great season and we hope tow in some games (in the postseason).”
And just think, Jonathan Kliewer could have stuck with hockey and not soccer. It looks like he’s made the right choice.
USL-LEAGUE TWO CENTRAL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS-GROUP A
(July 19-21 at Atwood Stadium, Kettering University, Flint, Mich.)
Friday, July 19
Game 1 – Midwest United (10-3-1, 10-3-1 Great Lakes Division) vs. Fort Wayne (12-2-2, 8-2-2 Valley Division)
Game 2 – Cleveland Force (5-2-5, 5-2-5 Valley Division) vs. Flint City Bucks (11-1-3, 10-1-3 Great Lakes Division)
Sunday, July 21
Game 3 – 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 (9-1-2) vs. Bavarian United SC (6-3-3), 3:30 p.m.
Game 2 – Peoria City SC (8-1-3) vs. Thunder Bay Chill (8-3-1), 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 21
Game 3 – Central Conference Semifinals, 3 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.)
CENTRAL CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS—GROUP A … AT A GLANCE
CLUB: Flint City Bucks
HEAD COACH: Paul Doroh, second season
2024 RECORD: 11-1-3, 10-1-3 USL League Two Great Lakes Division (first)
LAST FIVE LEAGUE GAMES: Kalamazoo FC (W, 4-3); AFC Ann Arbor (W, 2-1); Oakland County FC (T, 1-1); Union FC Macomb (L, 3-1); Michiana Lions (W, 10-0)
LEAGUE STATS: 39 goals, 16 against; five shutouts.
HISTORY/FAST FACTS: Over the last 29 years, the Bucks have become one of the most storied programs in league history. The Bucks began as the Mid-Michigan Bucks in Saginaw in 1996 and later became the Michigan Bucks in 2004 before moving to Flint and rebranded as the Flint City Bucks before the 2019 campaign. They own four North American championships (2006, 2014, 2016, 2019), finished as the runner-up three twice (2000, 2007) and reached the semifinals three other times (1997, 2022, 2023) along with several other postseason berths and runs. In fact, the franchise has a record 26 postseason berths in its illustrious history. The Bucks missed in 2009, 2018 and 2020 when there was no season due to the Covid restrictions. The team played a six-game exhibition schedule that August and September of 2020. This year FCB defended its Great Lakes Division title while the Bucks have earned 16 regular season divisional titles and nine times advanced to the league’s postseason Final Four.
TOP PLAYERS: Jakub Grzesiak, G (Oral Roberts University); Jonas Buechte, D (University of Akron); Malik Henry, D/M/F (University of Akron); Josemir Gomez, F (Butler University); Colin Innes, M (Boston University); Dyson Clapier, F (University of Akron); Landon Fisher, M (Western Michigan University); Palmer Ault, M (Butler University); Schinieder Mimy, D (Oral Roberts University); Brock Pickett, F (Wright State University); Woodi Pondeca, D (Mercer University); Abdul Al-Rashed, M/F (Spring Arbor University); Jelldrik Dallmann, F (Southern Methodist University); Daire O’Riordan, M (Davenport University); Scott McLeod, D (Virginia Commonwealth University); Pierre Lurot, D (University of Michigan; not available for postseason); Barzee Blama, F (Mercer University); Kai Phillip, F (University of Evansville); Pasha Dashin, F (Southern Methodist University); Nolan Miller, D (University of Michigan; not available for postseason); Sam Harshe, D (Yale University); Micah Sonnenberg, D/M (Oakland University); Deryn Armstrong, F (Coastal Carolina University); Barzee Blama, F (Mercer University); Baraka Tarleton, M (University of Evansville); Carson Shene, G (Michigan Jaguars MLS Next Academy, youth player); Pasha Dashin, M (Southern Illinois-Evansville University); Hugo Tavares, M (New Jersey Institute of Technology); Eskil Gjerde, M (Drake University); Ashton Kamdem, D (University of Akron); Blake Gillingham, G (Creighton University); Mitch Budler, G (University of Akron); Joost de Schutter, M (Butler University); Matthew Fisher, D (University of Michigan; injured, unavailable for remainder of season)
CLUB: Cleveland Force
HEAD COACH: Nick Taljan, second season
2024 RECORD: 5-2-5, 5-2-5 USL League Two Valley Division (second)
LAST FIVE LEAGUE GAMES: Fort Wayne FC (L, 2-0); Toledo Villa FC (T, 3-3); FC Buffalo (T, 2-2); Fort Wayne FC (W, 2-1); Toledo Villa FC (T, 0-0)
LEAGUE STATS: 22 goals, 19 against; three shutouts
HISTORY/FAST FACTS: First time postseason berth. The Force are on a four-game unbeaten streak and are 1-1-3 in their last five games entering the Central Conference Tournament. This is the first time the Force and Bucks have played during the past two seasons. The Force has scored 1,84 goals a game but have conceded 19 goals and have a team goals-against-average of 1.59.
TOP PLAYERS: Jack Roman, F (University of Akron); Zsombor Onodi, F (Ohio State University); Gavin Csiszar (Malone University); Marko Rimac (Cleveland State University); Zach Glesius, G (Virginia Tech University); Zoltan Nagy, G (Duquesne); Kyle Cusimano (Bowling Green State University); Grant Blake (no college roster); Jacob Bergin (Bowling Green State University); David Kolar (Notre Dame College); Cole Parete (Georgetown University); Marco Valentic (University of Connecticut); Collin Folds (Bellarmine University); Cole Werthmuller (Wright State University); Jaxon Ervin (Duquesne University); Kyle Folds (Cleveland State University); Nathan Trickett (Xavier University); Justin Shreffler (Indiana University); Bryan Wolanski (youth player); Braden Lamb (Malone University); Jack Roman (University of Akron); Josip Rimac (Cleveland State University); Carter Hancock (University of Mount Vernon); Bissafi Dotte (Campbell University); Owen Sullivan (University of Pennsylvania); Ryan Sandborn (Bowling Green State University); Aiden Ptacek (Bowling Green State University); Theo Jackson (Malone University); Sam Cipriano (Baldwin-Wallace University); Alex Hoover (Malone University); Kael Richards (Keiser University); Ryan Betts (Ohio Wesleyan University); Andrew Nachtwey (Denison University); Kabi Ramadhani (University of Mount Union); Connor Hain (Robert Morris University); Adam Kalvitz (University of Mount Union); Grant Glorioso (Robert Morris University); Will Wagner (Cleveland State University); Daniel Lacerda (Cleveland State)
CLUB: Fort Wayne FC
HEAD COACH: Mike Avery, fourth season
2024 RECORD: 12-2-2, 8-2-2 USL-League Two Valley Division (first)
LAST FIVE LEAGUE GAMES: Cleveland Force (W, 2-0); Dayton Dutch Lions (W, 3-1); Cleveland Force (L, 2-1); Dayton Dutch Lions (W, 1-0); Kings Hammer (W, 2-0)
LEAGUE STATS: 20 goals, 10 against; five shutouts
HISTORY/FAST FACTS: This is the second postseason berth for Fort Wayne on the strength of back-to-back Valley Division championships. Last year Fort Wayne lost in double-overtime in the Round of 32 to eventual North American semifinalist Flint City Bucks. Two years ago, the program finished third by a point and just missed qualifying for the postseason. Fort Wayne was set to enter the USL-League Two in 2020 but the season was cancelled due to Covid restrictions and had to settle for a 2021 debut campaign. This year might be the best for the program, which finished 8-2-2 inside the Valley Division and 12-2-2 overall. Inside league play, FWFC has a team goals-against-average of 0.84 and five shutouts and has not yielded a high-volume of scoring chances to the opposition. The team does field a star-studded lineup featuring NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NAIA college players.
TOP PLAYERS: Aurie Briscoe, G (Rutgers University; last year’s USL-League Two Golden Glove winner); Tiago Diaz, D (Albany University/Indiana Tech University); Anthony Hernandez, M (Bowling Green State University); Shotaro Kino (Monroe College/St. Leo University); Josh Erlandson, CB (Bowling Green State University); Rodrigo De Castro, D (Bethel University); Gaku Nishimura, M (University of California-Berkeley); Alberto ‘Beto’ Anaya, M (Bowling Green State University); Aaron Sanchez, M (Franklin-Pierce College); Ethan Giwa-McNeil, F (Bethel University/Houston Christian College); Chris Bley, F (France); Mikey Ketteman, M/F (Oakland University); Namik Mehic, F (Northrop High School, Ind.); Rood Schnaider Beaubrun, F (Spring Arbor University); Aboubacar Traore, F (University of North Carolina/Florida Atlantic University); Flavio Cruz, D (Grace College); Thomas Lamailie, D (St. John’s University); Trey Theard, D (Purdue-Fort Wayne); Aitor Cuenca, D (Franklin-Pierce); Aleksander Mihov, F (Indiana Tech); Michail Tselios, F (University of Indianapolis); Gijs Hovius, F (Missouri State University); Brandon Bermingham, F (University of Rhode Island); Junior Seydou Kone, F (University of Nebraska-Omaha); Noak Wike, M (Grand Canyon University); Nduduzo Kheswa, D (South Africa); Joe O’Shaughnessy, G (England); David Anderson, G (St. John’s University)
CLUB: Midwest United FC
HEAD COACH: Luke Ruff, third season
2024: 10-3-1, 10-3-1 USL League Two Valley Division (second)
LAST FIVE LEAGUE GAMES: Oakland County FC (W, 4-0); AFC Ann Arbor (L, 3-0); Flint City Bucks (L, 3-0); Lansing City FC (W, 5-0); Michiana Lions (W, 3-1)
LEAGUE STATS: 28 goals, 13 against; seven shutouts
HISTORY/FAST FACTS: This is the third year of the club having a team in the USL-League Two and by far the best team produced. This is the first time MUFC has qualified for the postseason and first time over the five-hundred mark, going from … Team has posted a 0.93 goals-against-average.
TOP PLAYERS: Jonathan Kliewer, G (Missouri State); Brad Dunwell, M (Wake Forest University alum); Gabe Villagomez, F (signed with Western Michigan University); Jonathon Stout (M/F, Michigan State University; out of lineup), Vitalis Takawire (F, Davenport University), Roni Sylejmani, F/M (Western Michigan University; currently injured); Ben Adamson, F/D (Saginaw Valley State University); Giuseppe Barone, F (Michigan State alum); Ezra White, M (College of Charleston); Christian Shannon, D (Western Michigan University); Joshua Clemitson, D (Aquinas College); Jesunifemi Ojutalayo, F (Aquinas College); Alan Lemus, M/F (Saginaw Valley State University); Joe Lockey, D (Aquinas College); Connor Burkett, D/F (Western Michigan University)
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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