Midwest Premier League

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Great Lakes East

Liquid Football’s Atoumane Dia Crowned 2024 Gil Heron Golden Boot Winner

In a season defined by precision and flair, Atoumane Dia of Liquid Football has been crowned the 2024 Gil Heron Golden Boot Award winner, solidifying his place as the top goalscorer in the Great Lakes Conference with an impressive tally of 11 goals. This achievement also marks Dia as the leading goalscorer in the entire Midwest Premier League this season.

Dia’s contribution was pivotal to Liquid Football’s success, as he played a key role in the Detroit-based team’s offensive lineup. His partnership with teammate Dehane Gnonrou proved to be a formidable force, with the duo accounting for 19 of the 27 goals Liquid Football scored this year. Their combined efforts were instrumental in securing a 4th place finish for Liquid Football in the highly competitive Great Lakes East division.

Reflecting on his achievement, Dia expressed his gratitude, saying, “I just want to thank my teammates, the coaching staff, and the club’s staff for this year. We will come back stronger this season.“

Liquid Football’s Head Coach Javier Bautista also praised Dia’s accomplishment and highlighted the prolific partnership with Gnonrou. “We were very lucky to have two of the most dangerous players on our team at the same time. Their friendship helped push the competition between them. Atou was always in the right spots, the team did a good job finding him and he was clinical with his finishing this year. Dehane was a fantastic 1v1 player, we knew getting him the ball in an isolated situation would create goals. They had a great year, and we look forward to them scoring even more next season.”

Rounding out the top goalscorers in the Great Lakes East were Jake Kunnath of Livonia City FC, Timmy Allos of Thundercats SC, and Salvadore Thomson of Troy United FC.


In the Great Lakes West, the race for the top goalscorer was equally competitive. Piero Sabroso of Northern Indiana FC led the way with 8 goals, playing a crucial role in his team’s successful campaign that saw them crowned division champions. Sabroso’s sharp instincts and ability to find the back of the net under pressure made him a constant threat to opposing defenses.

Chasing Sabroso were a group of talented players who also made significant impacts for their teams. Noah Brumels of Tulip City United, Abraham Kadri of 1927 SC, and Daniel Arellano of Holland Rovers each finished the season with 6 goals, showcasing their consistency and knack for scoring in critical moments. These players were instrumental in their respective teams’ pushes for the top positions in the conference and were key figures in the overall competitiveness of the Great Lakes West division.

Cedars FC claims 2024 Great Lakes Conference Championship

Photo: Dylan Lewis

Cedars FC from Dearborn, Michigan, captured the 2024 Great Lakes Conference championship following a 3-1 victory over Northern Indiana FC last night in South Bend, Indiana.

The championship game featured the winners of the Great Lakes East and Great Lakes West divisions. Cedars FC (8W-0D-2L) traveled to face Northern Indiana FC (9W-1D-0L). Northern Indiana FC took an early lead in the 7th minute when defender Martin Von Thun scored with a header from a corner kick. Cedars FC responded in the 40th minute when forward Hasan Daoud scored after a service to the far post, equalizing the match at 1-1 by halftime.

In the second half, Cedars FC increased their offensive pressure. Forward Andrew Schwartz scored in the 58th minute, giving Cedars FC the lead. The team extended their advantage in the 77th minute with a goal from Nour Aoude, who executed a notable individual play down the wing. Northern Indiana FC applied late pressure and scored in the 86th minute with a goal from Kevin Vidana after a set piece. Despite the efforts from The Travelers, the Indiana-based team was unable to equalize, and Cedars FC secured the win and the Great Lakes Conference championship after an impressive team performance.

This victory marks Cedars FC’s first Great Lakes Conference championship in their third year in the league, bringing the title back to Michigan after a one-year absence. Northern Indiana FC, in their debut season, completed an undefeated regular season before reaching the championship game.

Cedars FC’s Club Director Mo Salman, shared his thoughts on the recent Championship game: “Truly a Championship game pitting the 2 top teams in the GL conference in a fiesta atmosphere. Sincerest gratitude to NIFC players, coaches, management, and their awesome fans for making us feel welcome.” while Assistant Coach Haider Alzyadi praised his teams efforts after the first 30 minutes of the game and added “Heading into the final, we didn’t know much about our opponents. After some adjustments, we began playing our brand of soccer. Hasan Daoud off the bench breathed life into us. Our boys dominated the second half. Massive credit to NIFC for a well-fought game. We were able to neutralize their long ball efforts and advance the ball quickly to the attacking 3rd, forcing them to defend us. With players like Nour, Youseff, Kinan, Schwartz, Massar, and Hasan in the Cedars attack, goals were bound to come.”

:astly, Head Coach Sam Piraine, had this to say after claiming the Great Lakes Championship in his first season at the helm “Going into this final, we knew we were up against a massive challenge. Playing at their place, we had to weather the storm early. After tactical adjustments, we implemented our plan: defend together, transition quickly. Couldn’t be happier for this group and thankful for the support from the Cedars staff and board members“