LANSING, Mich. — Coming off a strong showing in its Midwest Premier League opener, Lansing Common FC will look to carry its momentum into its first road match of the season against Midwest United FC U23. 

The Robins currently sit third in the Great Lakes West standings with three points and a goal differential of plus-two after one game, a 2-0 win over Tulip City United SC on May 17. 

It was a win that LCFC head coach Brent Sorg felt was well deserved after a competitive 90 minutes. 

“I thought we were the better side,” Sorg said. “I thought it was a well-deserved three points, and we obviously created more chances (to score).” 

It is a step in the right direction for a club trying to meet a standard that Sorg says is evolving as the season progresses. 

“The standard is we’re going to keep moving the bar because we want these guys to perform at their absolute highest level,” Sorg said. “That’s our responsibility to just keep pushing them to try and reach that level. So, our standards are going to just continue to drive higher and higher.” 

There are plenty of unknowns surrounding Midwest United, which will make its MWPL debut against LCFC on Friday. 

It is unclear what level of play to expect from the club, but as one of Michigan’s premier youth academies, Midwest United is expected to field a deep pool of talented academy products. 

The roster will feature players born in 2008 and earlier, meaning ages 16 and older, as the squad serves as a developmental pathway to the club’s USL League Two team. 

Even though Sorg is unfamiliar with what players Midwest United will put on the pitch, he knows the talent will be there. 

“They have a fairer [talent] pool to choose from on that side of the state,” Sorg said. “Hopefully I can get eyes on them and have a scouting report for the guys.” 

Kickoff between LCFC and Midwest United is set for 7 p.m. Friday at the Midwest United FC Soccer Complex in Grand Rapids as the Robins aim to start their 2025 Midwest Premier League campaign with back-to-back wins.