2022 Best of the WPSL: East Region Honors

The WPSL's Best XI and the offensive and defensive players of the year for the Metro Conference have been announced. Congratulations to everyone on their successful 2022 WPSL seasons!

Moving into the big city 🏙️, we've got both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year Awards for @DowntownUtdSC of the Metropolitan Conference! Congratulations to both our winners and our Best XI from the Metro!

The #BestofWPSL Awards are presented by @Select_America. pic.twitter.com/iprzcdevYg

— Women’s Premier Soccer League (@WPSL) August 25, 2022

SJEB captures East Final, advances to WPSL Championship Semifinal

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

SJEB FC's Giovanna Castorina tallied a second-half goal to lead her side to a hard-fought 1-0 victory against VT Fusion on Sunday to win the WPSL East Regional Final in Trenton, N.J. With the victory, SJEB is bound for the WPSL Championship Semifinals and will face Central Regional Champion Colorado Rapids Women on Friday, July 22 (8:15 p.m. CT) in Stillwater, Okla.

For more, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

DUSC, SJEB FC ride 3-game winning streaks into East Regional Playoffs

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

The East Regional Semifinals of the WPSL Playoffs kick off this Saturday, starting with Metropolitan Conference winner Downtown United SC taking on Colonial Conference representative SJEB FC (5:30 p.m. ET kickoff) in Trenton, N.J. Both teams are riding three-game winning streaks to cap off their respective regular seasons.

For more, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

DUSC's up-tempo style and identity breed Metro success

By Charlie Corr
East Regional Contributor

With the WPSL national postseason stage on the horizon for Metropolitan Conference-winning Downtown United SC, it is easy to look at the club's unbeaten record and make the assumption it was smooth sailing the entire summer.

The truth of the matter is DUSC had to fend off quite a few potential, and worthy, playoff hopefuls in conference play to reach this stage.

For more, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

STA coach Kelly Sims garners U.S. international expertise

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

Gaining experience and learning new methods toward someone's craft extends far beyond the players on the pitch. STA head coach Kelly Sims and her role with the U.S. U-15 Girls' National Team is a perfect example.

"I am fortunate enough to work with some really good coaches and people at STA, and they have been my biggest supporters throughout this process," Sims said. "When I learn something new, I always try to think of how I can apply it to STA."

For more, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

WPSL stalwart NYCFC rekindles elite reputation

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

Across 16 seasons competing in the WPSL, the New York Athletic Club's one-win 2021 campaign was a bit of an anomaly. NYAC's 2022, however, is restoring the elite reputation that the renowned club has showcased for years.

Entering the fourth week of Metro Conference play, NYAC is in the middle of the pack with a 2-2-1 record (7 points), and it was the team's 4-4 comeback draw against Downtown United SC this past week that could serve as its defining moment this season.

For more, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

Comeback thrillers dominate Metro's third week of action

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

Brooklyn City FC overcame a two-goal halftime deficit for a win. New Jersey Alliance FC overcame two deficits for a road draw. The New York Athletic Club provided the most dramatic of finishes against Downtown United SC, overcoming a three-goal halftime deficit and slotting home an equalizing penalty kick to end the match.

Needless to say, the third week of the WPSL's Metro Conference had its share of comebacks and late drama as the 2022 season heats up.

For more, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

STA makes Metro statement, Brooklyn City earns first victory

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

New Jersey-based STA turned some heads in the WPSL's Metropolitan Conference this past week, becoming the first club in the conference to earn back-to-back victories to move into the top-3 in the standings following the weekend action.

Elsewhere, expansion Brooklyn City FC had a momentous afternoon by earning its first WPSL win on Saturday.

For the full Metro Week 2 recap, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

Healthier, experienced N.J. Alliance FC primed for improved season

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

New Jersey Alliance FC head coach Danny Mendoza was brought in by his friend and former Alliance FC coach Claudio Fontalvo while the 2021 WPSL season was in progress. Mendoza's task was to provide his opinion and critique on a squad that endured a bevy of injuries within the roster and shortcomings on the scoreboard.

One recent match is difficult to tell an entire story, but Alliance FC's 2022 campaign is already off to an improved start.

"I feel like the chemistry is better, the atmosphere is better, and everybody is driven to try and change from last year," Mendoza said. "There are a lot of positive vibes and determination to do what we initially wanted to do last year."

For more, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

Metro's DUSC, NYAC jump out to strong opening-week starts

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

Downtown United Soccer Club earned four points out of its first two matches and the New York Athletic Club impressed with a nine-goal performance to highlight strong opening-week starts in WPSL Metropolitan Conference action.

For the full Week 1 Metro Recap, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

Downtown United, SUSA look to follow up 2021 perfect campaigns

By Charlie Corr

East Region Contributor

Downtown United Soccer Club (8-0-0) and SUSA FC (7-0-0) were atop the Metro-South and Metro-North, respectively, a season ago, but only one can potentially achieve a spotless campaign in this season's seven-team and one-division conference field.

For more, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

STA Kicks Off Metro Slate, Hosts N.J. Alliance FC

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

For second-season WPSL side STA, the club feels it is in a much more advanced stage heading into its 2022 campaign. STA will find out for certain how much progress it has made when it hosts New Jersey Alliance FC on Wednesday, June 1, to kick off the Metropolitan Conference 2022 schedule at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J.

"They look like a really strong roster this year," Kelly Sims, STA head coach, said following the first full week of training. "We have a lot of returning players who are STA alumnae, as well as a few new faces that have been really good. I think they're going to buy in quickly, and it's going to be a really fun summer season."

For more, visit www.WPSLsoccer.com.

2022 WPSL Preview: Metro Conference Capsules

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

The Women's Premier Soccer League's 2022 campaign in the East Region will certainly have a different feel, particularly in the newly adjusted Metropolitan Conference. The seven-team group features two expansion clubs and two teams that went undefeated in their respective 2021 conference slates, making for an intriguing mix of newcomers and league staples battling it out this summer.

For the full team-by-team breakdown and season preview, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

Metro Expansion Sides Brooklyn City, Dutch Lions Look to Make Impact

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

The word "diversity" is a fitting depiction of the two expansion clubs joining the WPSL's Metropolitan Conference this season. Whether that means the diverse collegiate experience up and down the Brooklyn City FC roster or the diverse international framework within the New York Dutch Lions group, both newcomers face the challenge of meshing these backgrounds to go up against a highly-touted East Region conference.

For more, visit WPSLsoccer.com.

WPSL Metropolitan Conference Preview: 2022 Matches to Watch

By Charlie Corr
East Region Contributor

Metropolitan Conference action for the 2022 Women's Premier season gets underway in only a matter of weeks, and there are a number of highly anticipated matches to look forward to this summer. Longtime WPSL member New York Athletic Club, heading into its 16th season, already has one matchup circled on the calendar - a late-season July 2 showdown at SUSA FC.

"It's always between SUSA and us; it's always us fighting for that spot, finishing first and second ... first and second ... first and second," Juan Gatti, NYAC head coach said. "Last year was a little off for us, and the plan for this year is to get back into that one-two fight.

"That's a game we always look forward to."

For the seven most noteworthy matches among the seven Metro teams, check out the breakdown at WPSLsoccer.com.

Three Red Stars earn All-WPSL First Team accolades for 2011 campaign

Jackie Santacaterina - Chicago Red Stars

By Chicago Red Stars and WPSL Communications

The Women's Premier Soccer League announced Friday that Chicago Red Stars forward Michele Weissenhofer (Naperville, Ill.), midfielder Amanda Cinalli (Cleveland, Ohio) and defender Jackie Santacaterina (Geneva, Ill.) have been named to the All-WPSL First Team. All three players were named to the WPSL All-Midwest Conference Team on Thursday.

Weissenhofer led the Red Stars in points (30) and assists (10), and tied for the team lead in goals (10) in 13 games played. Cinalli had 10 goals, two assists and 22 points in 13 matches. And Santacaterina contributed a goal and anchored a Red Stars defense that allowed only seven goals in 13 games, including a six-game shutout streak heading into the WPSL Semifinals.

Read more at WPSL.info.

Red Stars' Weissenhofer named WPSL Midwest Co-Player of Year

By Chicago Red Stars and WPSL Communications

Chicago Red Stars forward Michele Weissenhofer (Naperville, Ill.) was named the Women's Premier Soccer League Midwest Co-Player of the Year, and Red Stars Head Coach Rory Dames was named WPSL Midwest Coach of the Year after guiding Chicago to a runner-up finish in the 2011 WPSL National Championship on July 31 at Benedictine University.

Weissenhofer, Red Stars midfielder Amanda Cinalli (Cleveland, Ohio) and Red Stars defender Jackie Santacaterina (Geneva, Ill.) were named to the All-Midwest Team.

Weissenhofer shared the Midwest honor with FC Milwaukee Nationals forward Sarah Hagen. Weissenhofer had 10 goals and 10 assists during the 2011 campaign, and she factored into all of the Red Stars' goals during the WPSL Semifinal and Championship.

Read more at WPSL.info.

Red Stars fall short in title game

The Red Stars' Julie Ewing (right)
and Orange County's Brittany Klein

Chicago Red Stars Communications

LISLE, Ill. -- The Chicago Red Stars (11-2-0) and Orange County Waves (13-1-0) provided plenty of drama. In the end, it was Tanya Taylor's 101st-minute goal that proved to be the difference as the Waves won, 2-1, in overtime to earn the 2011 Women's Premier Soccer League National Championship on Sunday at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex.

The Waves appeared to have the title wrapped up in regulation with a 1-0 lead. But Red Stars midfielder Julie Ewing scored a dramatic game-tying goal in the 88th minute to send the match into two 15-minute overtime sessions. Michele Weissenhofer had the setup with a flip throw-in from the right side. The ball juggled around in the middle of the box and Ewing converged to tie the match at 1-1.

Read more at WPSL.info.

Red Stars advance to title match

Red Stars Michele Weissenhofer, Julie Ewing

Chicago Red Stars Communications

LISLE, Ill. - The Chicago Red Stars fended off a pesky Tampa Bay Hellenic side and earned a 2-1 victory on Saturday in the second Women's Premier Soccer League National Semifinal played at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex. The Red Stars (11-1-0) face the Orange County Waves (12-1-0) in Sunday's WPSL National Championship, which kicks off at 1 p.m. The Waves defeated defending WPSL champion Boston Aztec (8-3-3) by a 3-0 score in the first National Semifinal.

On Saturday, Red Stars forward Michele Weissenhofer had a goal and assisted Chicago's second and game-winning tally from Julie Ewing. For Hellenic, Tatiana Mathelier netted a goal to cut Tampa Bay's deficit to 2-1. But the Red Stars held on the rest of the way.

"We were trying to find our rhythm a little bit, and we never really found our rhythm today," Red Stars Head Coach Rory Dames said. "We're going to need to show up [against Orange County] and play better than we did today. [OC Head Coach] Abner [Rogers] always does a good job with his teams. They'll get the ball down, they'll play some sort of three-front [formation], they'll try to find seams and try to do a lot of service into the box. We're just going to have to be intelligent enough to play where we have the numerical advantages and break them down."

Read more at WPSL.info.

Red Stars gear up for WPSL semis

Sammy Scofield -- Chicago Red Stars

Chicago Red Stars Communications

CHICAGO -- The 2011 Women's Premier Soccer League Championship field is set, with four organizations making their way to the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex out of a 62-team field.

The host Chicago Red Stars face Tampa Bay Hellenic in the second semifinal match this Saturday at Benedictine (3 p.m. kickoff). The defending WPSL champion Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves open the tournament against the Orange County Waves at 1 p.m. On Sunday, the semifinal winners square off in the 2011 WPSL National Championship at 1 p.m. at Benedictine.

The host Red Stars (10-1-0) won the Midwest Conference and take on Tampa Bay Hellenic (10-1-1), the winner of the Sunshine Conference. Chicago joined the WPSL this season after two campaigns in Women's Professional Soccer, and needless to say the Red Stars are currently the hottest team in the league with a 10-game winning streak.

The Red Stars are led by Michele Weissenhofer, who has nine goals, eight assists and 26 points; and Amanda Cinalli, who leads Chicago with 10 goals while also contributing an assist and 21 points. The Red Stars have been dominant both offensively and defensively all season. During Chicago's past six matches, the team has outscored its opponents by a staggering 30-0 margin. For the year, the Red Stars have an incredible 43-4 scoring advantage.

CLICK HERE for the live webcast for both semifinal matches.

Read more at WPSL.info.