Midwest Premier League

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Steel City FC

2025 Season Preview: Heartland D2

The 2025 Heartland Conference Division 2 season promises to be one of the most competitive yet, with eight clubs vying for promotion and the chance to stake their claim among the league’s elite. Now, entering the second season of the Heartland Conference’s split into Division 1 and Division 2, the stakes are higher than ever. The Midwest Premier League’s long-term goal of creating a more competitive and sustainable league structure is starting to take shape, with promotion and relegation now embedded as key drivers of competition in the Heartland Conference. This structure is part of the league’s broader 2030 Plan, which aims to strengthen club development and foster deeper community ties across the Midwest. The pathway to Division 1 is clear—but narrow. Unlike last season, which saw AFC Roscoe and Green Bay Glory promoted to the top flight, only one club will secure automatic promotion this year. That added pressure leaves no room for error, as every point could mean the difference between glory and another year in Division 2.

Steel City FC enters the season with a point to prove after relegation from Division 1 in 2024. Once a fixture in the top flight, Steel City now faces the challenge of regrouping and finding the consistency needed to bounce back. Meanwhile, Rockford FC came agonizingly close to promotion last season, finishing just two points shy of the mark. With the squad still to be finalized, much of Rockford’s hopes may rest on the potential return of Waleed Shaibi, whose goalscoring prowess made them a serious contender last year.

Edgewater Castle FC continues to build a distinct identity under new head coach Duygu Erdoğan, who made history in 2024 by leading the club’s women’s team to a USASA Region II Championship. That success reflects the club’s growing stature, both on and off the pitch. The Rooks also remain connected to the broader soccer community through its Stone by Stone podcast, which has featured guests like USMNT player Kellyn Acosta. Their city rivals, Berber City FC, have been steadily building since their MWPL debut in 2021. After finishing fourth that year, Berber City has grown into a more well-rounded club, expanding youth programs and competing in the UPSL. This season presents an opportunity for them to finally break through and push for promotion.

Chicago Ghost FC made a solid debut last season and already looks primed to take a step forward in 2025. The club has retained key players like Townes Robertson and strengthened its squad with new signings, including Jonathan Harwood and Sebastian Leon. That continuity and depth could give Las Rosas the edge in the ever competitive matches that fill this division. Strikers Fox Valley FC, entering their second MWPL season, continue to leverage their deep youth pipeline as they look to grow into a competitive force. Their focus on player development could begin to pay off as they settle into league play.

Two new clubs bring fresh energy to Division 2 this year. Chicago City Dutch Lions FC enters the MWPL with the backing of the established Dutch Lions organization, following an agreement involving former MWPL club Chicago City SC. Their arrival adds another layer of intrigue, as the Dutch Lions’ professional structure could make them an immediate threat. Similarly, RKC Third Coast II enters the league with a track record of player development and success. The club, which also competes in USL2, recently celebrated the professional signings of Kajus Kontautas (Zalgiris Vilnius) and Blake Gillingham (Houston Dynamo FC). That history of producing talent suggests RKC could be a dangerous opponent from day one.

With Steel City seeking redemption, Rockford aiming to finish the job, and Edgewater Castle and Berber City pushing to establish themselves at the top, the 2025 Division 2 season is wide open. Chicago Ghost and Strikers Fox Valley have the foundation to challenge for promotion, while Chicago City Dutch Lions and RKC Third Coast II could disrupt the established order. Promotion and relegation have raised the stakes — and every match will count. The single promotion spot this year adds extra pressure, with little room for mistakes over the course of the season.

Feature Interview: Ivaldo Basso (Steel City FC)

As part of this season preview, we spoke with Steel City FC chairman Ivaldo Basso about the club’s relegation, their approach to rebuilding, and what it will take to secure a return to Division 1. His insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Steel City FC — and Division 2 as a whole — set the stage for an exciting campaign.

Photo: Isaac Stipp

Steel City FC’s road to redemption begins now. After suffering the sting of relegation from Division 1 at the end of the 2024 season, the Joliet-based club faces the difficult task of rebuilding — and reclaiming their place in the top flight. Relegation is never easy, but for Steel City, it has served as a catalyst for change. Club chairman Ivaldo Basso shared how the team processed the disappointment of last season, the lessons learned, and the path forward.

“Make no mistake, relegation stands as the ultimate measure of failure and finality in football. It’s a verdict from which there is no immediate escape. Days after last season’s final whistle, our staff looked inward with unflinching honesty and committed to changes. We have retooled how we evaluate our player pool week-to-week and foster greater competition for first-team spots. We believe we are heading down the road to redemption.”

Part of that shift involves building a stronger infrastructure around the club. “We set in motion, even before last season started, several broad initiatives — many of which require time to truly take root,” Basso explained. “These include forming an academy, re-imagining our reserve team into Steel City NXT, and hiring both a Director of Coaching and a Goalkeeper Coach.” For Steel City, relegation has not just been a setback — it has been a wake-up call.

Every point matters. Every match matters. We’ve built a team that knows how to fight — now it’s time to show it on the field.

– Ivaldo Basso (Chairman, Steel City FC)

When asked about the differences between Division 1 and Division 2, Basso pointed out that the gap may not be as wide as it seems. “If we were to put aside the two heavyweights of Division 1 — RWB Adria and Bavarian United SC — we believe there isn’t a significant difference. Division 2 has two expansion teams this year, RKC Third Coast II and Chicago City Dutch Lions. Those are expansion teams in name only — both organizations are well-rooted in the minor league soccer circuit.” The quality of competition in Division 2 will be intense — and with only one promotion spot up for grabs this year, the margin for error is razor-thin.

“This promotion push will be a brutal slog,” Basso admitted. “Only one of eight Division 2 teams claws its way out. With a lean 10-game season, every point matters.” But Steel City has built a squad designed to handle the pressure. “We are proud of having high-character teammates that value the collective over themselves. Those are the people you want in the trenches with you when the going gets tough.“

Continuity will also play a major role. Steel City retains its experienced coaching staff — Nigel Dillard, Vincent Mkhwanazi, and Mark Powell — who have been with the club since its inception. On the field, club legend Jake Lysik remains the foundation. “Jake continues to add to his legend — he’s our all-time leader in appearances, goals, and assists,” Basso said. “We’ve also added ‘The Missile,’ Hans Haenicke, this year after he was in Europe last season. No player hits harder or plays with more chaos in his veins than Haenicke.” The squad’s biggest new addition is Christian Baumgartner — nicknamed ‘The Train.’ “He’s a DePaul Blue Demon. Joliet loves its tough guys, and Baumgartner steamrolling opponents is going to make him a fan favorite.“

Despite the pressure to win, Basso maintains that success for Steel City goes beyond the standings. “The season is already off to a wildly successful start. Our corporate partnerships are up 35% before we’ve kicked a ball. Our season ticket and group sales are the briskest they’ve ever been.” On the field, the goal is simple: “The coaching staff is focused on us playing good football and entertaining our fan base, while earning promotion to Division 1.“

Steel City FC’s journey back to Division 1 begins with the hard lessons of relegation. With a focused squad, strong leadership, and a clear identity, they are poised to be a formidable contender in the 2025 Division 2 season. But with only one promotion spot available, the challenge is steep — and Basso knows it. “Every point matters. Every match matters. We’ve built a team that knows how to fight — now it’s time to show it on the field.“

Adnan Bašić: MWPL 2024 Season Recap

Hello, my name is Adnan Bašić, and welcome to the third and final Midwest Premier League whiparound of the year!

It feels like the 2024 MWPL season only kicked off the other day, but we’ve already come to the conclusion of each and every conference. There were some big winners, some disappointing seasons, and a whole lot of narrative at the end of the day

So, what exactly took place? Let’s find out. 

A tour of the standings

There’s no need to do a tour of the standings at this point because all the winners will be mentioned in their own sections anyway. This article’s long enough already.

Job Done

The last time we checked in on the Cedar Rapids Inferno, they were on the verge of securing the Gateway Conference title thanks to their superb start to the season.

They did not bottle it, and a draw on the road against AFC Columbia was enough to be crowned champions with two matches to spare. 

“It was cool to do it at home. We would’ve liked to do it with three points, but that’s whatever. It was nice to see how dominant the season was, and maybe it even would’ve been nice to have a bit more of a challenge at the end,” said club owner and head coach Kenan Malicevic. “The good thing is it let me play some of the younger players during the final stretch. Columbia is a good team, and even though it was a tie it still felt like a win because we won the championship.”

Since the Inferno had been so good, they were able to enjoy themselves during the final few games and not have to worry about picking up any points. That also allowed them to send away some of their star players while rewarding their lesser-used talent with minutes on the field.

“It was a wonderful feeling as a coach to start younger players, high school players who don’t usually have that experience of starting games,” said Malicevic. “I got to rest some of the older guys who we leaned on, and for the first time I was able to tell the guys to go on vacation. They now have time to rest up before they go back to college, and it was all really nice.”

The Greatest in the Lakes

The battles for the Great Lakes East and West divisions were both exciting ones, which set the stage for a thrilling finale.

In the end it was the representatives from the east who picked up the title, as Cedars FC defeated Northern Indiana FC 3-1 in a fun affair.

Cedars had to fight until the final day to win the East Division. They were involved in a really tight race with Michigan Stars U23, which meant they went into their final two division games knowing they’d have to win both of them. They did just that, and in style too.

The penultimate fixture was a 5-1 win at home against Thundercats SC. That set the stage for a final away day against Troy United FC that resulted in another four-goal victory and the division championship.

“It was good to see the performance the boys put together on the final day to secure the top of the table. We knew going into our last three games that we would need nine points out of nine to secure the division,” said Salvatore Piraine. “Not only did we achieve that goal, but we did so by scoring 10 goals and only conceding 2. It was a masterclass performance from the group.”

That was only step one. Then came the match for the Great Lakes Conference championship, which was an especially tough test for a Cedars team that had to get the job done on the road.

“Going into the final match vs Northern Indiana FC, we knew that it would be a massive challenge. Playing away on a massive grass pitch is something that we were not accustomed to. We gave very specific instructions to the boys before the match on how we want to address our opponents and the pitch size,” said Piraine. “It took us a bit to get acclimated to the opponents, but once we drew the score to 1-1, we knew we had a great chance of imposing our game and frustrating our opponents. The second half was a great team performance, and the last 10 minutes were very exciting, which is exactly what a championship match should be like!”

While those 90 minutes in particular were what won them the conference title, it was simply a culmination of all the hard work they put in as an organization.

“The support from our fans, board members, players and coaching staff is massively important to me. This championship was achieved because of all those things mentioned above and bringing it all together in the very end,” said Piraine. “We set a goal in the beginning when I got hired in, and that was for us to believe in the players that are attending training and committed to the group despite not always being chosen for the 18. We used a large player pool to achieve this and I would not have it any other way.”

How do you say “remontada” in Croatian?

For most of the campaign, it felt like this section would be highlighting Chicago House AC or Bavarian United SC. Those two clubs had been leading the way in the Heartland Conference’s Division 1, and things seemed set for a two-horse race.

Then RWB Adria locked in.

They lost to the Bavarians on matchweek three, and two games later they were held to a draw against DeKalb County United. This put them firmly behind the eight ball, especially with how well House had been doing.

Adria needed to win all five of their next games to have any real hope of stealing the title, with two of those matches against Chicago. And that’s exactly what they did.

RWB Adria’s road began with a victory on the road against House, and it concluded with a home win versus the same opposition. Technically speaking, Adria only needed to not lose by two or more goals on the final day to finish in 1st, but they still beat Chicago regardless, sealing a remarkable comeback story in the process.

“It was a tough game, it went how we expected. They’re a great team, we won 1-0 against them before, and they’re a good opponent. Five games ago we knew we needed to win all of them, we were playing five finals,” said coach Julio Rosales. “The kids here do a great job, it was very impressive because of how hard the guys were working in practice, giving it 100% every day. They deserve this.”

“It means a lot. We’ve been in the league since the beginning, and we’ve always been the bridesmaid, but now we’re the bride. We’re not the prettiest group, but we’re the bride now,” said team president Ante Loncar, who also shouted out a helping hand. “Us and DeKalb were the two hottest teams to end the season. I got to give them credit, they scalped House away, they took a point from Bavarians, and they took a point from us. That opened the title race and made it interesting.”

Speaking of DeKalb, they had a solid season, especially compared to what many were expecting. They were viewed as real relegation candidates, but they ended the year in 4th and were seven points clear of the drop.

“Staying up helps validate the fact that you’re doing things the right way. It feels great, and it’s a cool thing that the league is doing pro/rel,” said DeKalb president John Hall. “We were top five the last two seasons, so it’s technically an improvement. Ultimately it’s a credit to the coaches and the players and their commitment. We’re keeping the ball rolling in the right direction, and those late-season wins get everyone excited for next season already.”

Sinking Steel

As lovely as promotion and relegation is to have, there’s always going to be the one major drawback to it. Someone’s going to get their heart broken. Someone’s got to be the one to get sent down.

That ultimately proved to be Steel City FC.

While they only picked up four points from their 12 games, they were far from being the punching bag of the division. They started the season with a classic match against Chicago House AC, but failed to get any sort of result from the contest. 

That was pretty much the story of their season. Only two of their losses were by more than two goals, and each of their final three contests ended in a 2-1 defeat. Their last stand was also their most devastating, as they had the lead in a relegation battle versus Czarni Jaslo, and a win would’ve been enough to secure safety. They just couldn’t hold on, though.

That means they’ll be in the 2nd division next campaign, but there’s still genuine hope and excitement for the future. 

“This season was all about us not finishing our chances and not closing games out,” said head coach Nigel Dillard. “Based on our talent on paper, we were just as talented as anyone in the league. Sometimes things just didn’t go our way. We’ll learn from it, especially because our average age was about 21, we’ve had a lot of young players. I believe next season we’ll come out strong.”

“Everyone was pretty upset when we were relegated, but we’re a strong and resilient bunch. I don’t let things affect me as a coach, I don’t feel like a failure because I’m always trying to get better and improve the team. The attitude of the boys reflects that,” said Dillard. “We’re excited to try and get promoted next year.”

One of the best things about Steel City has been the work they do off the pitch, specifically their social media accounts.

Plenty of lower league teams struggle to capitalize on the potential social media has, and it’s enough for many of them to simply post the team’s score and schedule. Steel City does so much more.

They tell stories. If you see one of their posts before or after a game, it’s closer to a short essay than it is a statement of fact. It’s well-written, it draws the emotion out of their matches, and it’s a joy to read every time. As a journalist myself, real recognizes real.

“The social media work is just a part of the club’s overall ethos. It’s all kind of tied together, and it comes back to what we’re trying to accomplish,” said chairman Ivaldo Basso. “The creation of the club was to try and be like a minor league baseball team. Those teams have thousands of fans, and they look and feel like a legitimate family product. They have a loyal following that cares about the team, the players, and the stories.”

“There’s not enough stories being told at this level. We watch sports because of the stories. American football is really popular, but a new league that’s not the NFL always fails because no one wants to watch a team or league that they know nothing about. If there’s no storyline, they won’t care,” said Basso. “Only a few take the time to tell these stories that people can get attached to. It’s a lot of fun, especially at this level with the players and the stories they have. They all have jobs and work hard. We love to pay them back for their work and highlight their accomplishments.”

While it will be sad to see Steel City FC depart the first division, they’ll certainly add a level of talent and excitement to the second division.

Up and Up

There will be two teams replacing them in the first division, and those teams are AFC Roscoe and the Green Bay Glory.

The two sides made hot starts to the season. Green Bay scored 12 goals in their three matches, and they won every game until they came up against Roscoe, who went on a run of six straight victories after an opening day draw.

Roscoe never really slowed up, losing only once during their campaign. That led to them storming to the league title, which is an added bonus on top of securing a spot in the first division.

“It’s huge for us. Our goal was promotion to start the year, and after the first few games our new aim was to win the division,” said Adam Nijhawan. “It was a big moment. We put a big focus on recruiting in the offseason, and we had a large group of players that all contributed to this. It’s a testament to the hard work the board members have done, and the winning culture is contagious, and were looking to build on it. It was a real group effort.”

One of the big reasons for their success was the efforts of Morais Lee, who led the way with nine goals over the course of the year, winning the Golden Boot in Heartland Division 2.

“It was my first season with the team, and it was only possible because of them. I took things one game at a time, and that really helped me focus and put everything together by the end of it,” said Lee. “I am a passionate player, and I wanted to make sure they were a team that had a drive to improve when I joined. We’re a competitive team, and everyone there played with a passion and a purpose. We played as a team that wanted to win something, and that made us strive toward the future.”

Green Bay slowed down a bit towards the end of the campaign, but their work had pretty much been done already. They secured the number two spot in the standings, which also gave them promotion.

“Securing promotion in our inaugural season is a monumental achievement for Green Bay Glory. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of everyone involved with the club, from the players and coaching staff to the supporters and community,” said co-founder Kerry Geocaris. “This achievement brings immense pride to the club and our community, solidifying our place among the top teams in the league.”

“Considering the short amount of time we had to pull everything together, the way this group has bonded and performed is truly special. We had players from various soccer backgrounds, but what stood out was their character and dedication. This group quickly became a family, unified by a shared goal and an unbreakable spirit,” said co-founder Kerry Geocaris. “Despite challenges like rain at every home game, balancing jobs, and 6am practices, with some of our guys driving an hour or two to make it, everyone showed up with incredible commitment. The support from the community has been overwhelming, and we’re incredibly grateful for it. This season has laid a strong foundation, and we’re excited to see how our team and community can grow together from here.”

That nod to the future is an important one. Making it to the first division is one thing, but staying there is going to be another challenge altogether. Both clubs are ready for the fight, though.

“The offseason will be crucial for both our players and the organization,” said Geocaris. “For the players, it’s a time to recharge and focus on their individual goals, whether that’s gearing up for their college seasons or navigating the next phases of their lives. As an organization, the offseason is a time for us to plan and strategize for the future. We’re focused on expanding our mission of serving the community and creating opportunities for success through soccer. The groundwork we lay now will be essential for sustaining the momentum we’ve built and taking Green Bay Glory to new heights.”

“It’s a huge offseason. We have a solid core now, and recruitment will be as important as ever,” said AFC Roscoe’s Nijhawan. “We’re looking at opportunities for our players to help them build their careers, and were finding smaller pieces to fill some holes and add to the team. We’re excited for it.”

A note from the writer

Heyo, Adnan here, the dude who wrote this whole thing. 

I just wanted to leave a quick thank you for everyone that’s supported my coverage of the league these past few months, and thank the league for allowing me to write these recap articles. It means a lot.

I hope to see everyone again next summer.
Take care. 

Featured Article Image: Denise Allen Photography

Steel City FC becomes the first ever relegated club in the Heartland Conference

Photo: Miles Whitworth

In a dramatic and heart-wrenching match, Joliet, IL-based Steel City FC became the first team ever to be relegated from the Heartland Conference to Division 2 after a 2-1 defeat to Czarni Jaslo. This historic game determined the fate of both clubs, as they were tied in points with only two games left in the season. The winner of this match would likely secure their Division 1 survival, given that head-to-head points are the league’s primary tiebreaker.

The match was a true battle for survival, with both teams fighting fiercely to maintain their position in Division 1. Steel City FC appeared to be on the path to victory when Tre Adams scored in the 74th minute, giving his team a crucial lead. The Steel City fans were on the edge of their seats, hoping that their team could hold on for the win.

However, the tide turned in the final minutes of the game. Czarni Jaslo, the Heartland Conference champions of 2023, displayed their resilience and determination by scoring two incredibly late goals. The equalizer came in the 87th minute, and the decisive goal followed shortly after in the 91st minute, breaking the hearts of Steel City FC and their supporters.

The relegation of Steel City FC marks a significant moment in the Heartland Conference history. The club’s journey this season has been filled with challenges, and despite their efforts, they could not avoid the drop to Division 2. The unexpected involvement of Czarni Jaslo in the relegation battle, especially after their championship win last season, added an extra layer of intensity to this critical match. Earlier this year, the league implemented a two division Heartland Conference in 2024, assigning one relegation spot and two promotion spots in this first season, as plan of the league’s 2030 Plan.

Ivaldo Basso, Steel City FC Chairman, reflected on the match and the broader implications for the league, stating, “Semi-professional soccer won tonight. When the final whistle blew, one end of the field erupted in elation while the other slumped to a low somberness. Pro/rel did that. Historically, a late season game between two bottom teams would be a pedestrian exercise. Kudos to the MWPL brass for boldly pushing pro rel.

As Steel City FC prepares for their new chapter in Division 2, they will undoubtedly reflect on this season’s lessons and aim to return stronger and contest for a promotion spot next year.