Lansing United Earn First Point of The Season Against Midwest United FC

Anna Stinson’s equalizing goal in the 74th minute completed Lansing United’s comeback to earn their first point of the season in a 2-2 draw against Midwest United FC on Friday. The Hoops trailed Midwest United 2-0 after one half of play, but found a way to erase the deficit in the second half. The draw improves the Hoops’ record to 0-3-1 while Midwest United FC drops their first points of the season with a 3-0-1 record.

The Hoops lost to Midwest United earlier in the season in Grand Rapids, 4-2, but were able to turn it around in the second matchup at home. The Hoops are now in fourth place in the UWS Midwest Conference standings. Midwest United remains second, ahead of Corktown AFC who are one point behind with a game in hand.

In a back and forth first 20 minutes of play, both teams were fluid in creating chances off of the counter-attack and were finding space to play the ball out to their wingers and forwards. The Hoops midfielders were able to stifle buildup play from Midwest United by intercepting passes in this period as well.

In the 27th minute, Midwest United opened the scoring when Avery Lockwood found Marti Corby who had plenty of space in the center of the box. Corby then turned and placed the ball in the bottom left corner from 15 yards out.

Midwest United controlled a majority of possession for the remainder of the first half, during which Lockwood doubled their advantage. In the 40th minute, Lockwood received the ball just outside the box and then dribbled past four defenders before releasing a shot that found the bottom left corner of the Hoops net.

Midwest United could have scored more before halftime if it wasn’t for a couple of outstanding saves from Hoops goalkeeper and Michigan State Spartan Madison Clem. She had strong hands throughout the game, catching dangerous crosses and saving two shots with a strong right hand in the 28th and 49th minute.

The Hoops found new life in the second half when a cross from the right flank whipped in by Alexandra Thomas found Alexis Mitchell at the near post. Mitchell cleverly flicked it past the Midwest United keeper in the 69th minute for her first goal of the season and the Hoops began to claw themselves back into the game.

The Hoops earned a corner in the 74th minute which bounced around in the box before it fell to the feet of Hoops captain Anna Stinson sitting at the far post. She chipped the keeper from close range to tie the game. That gave the Illinois State Redbird her first goal of the season.

The Hoops ended the game with many opportunities to take all three points. After the 80th minute, a couple of offside calls against the Hoops ignited protests from the Hoops bench and it made for a tense last 10 minutes of the match. The Hoops had a few second half free kicks to squeak out with a game-winning goal but didn’t convert on any of them.

Lansing United will have to travel to play their next game against the Chicago Mustangs on June 4. The Mustangs have yet to play a game this season, their first game will be against Detroit City FC on May 29.