A reconfigured conference line-up will shake things up in the 32-team South Region in 2026. Florida-based teams from last-year’s Sunshine Conference join the Gulf Coast Conference while clubs from the Mississippi Delta area move into a conference of their own. WPSL Championships semifinalists, Chattanooga FC return to defend its South Region crown, along with 2025 conference winners DECATUR FC and LA Crewe Rush. Joining the region for inaugural WPSL seasons are District Elite FC, Valdosta FC, Little Rock Rangers SC, while returning clubs NCFC and Arlington Soccer will join Pensacola FC in fielding multiple teams. The Southeast Conference will host the 2026 South Region Playoffs.

The remainder of the article can be found through this link on the National Soccer Network! Most, and eventually all, Southeast Soccer Report articles in full will begin to appear on NSN, with full website merger details arriving at a later date.

EAST RIDGE, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga Red Wolves have appointed Danny McBride as the new Head Coach of their USL W side.

McBride takes over from Luke Winter who in 2025 led the Lady Red Wolves to 4th place in the USL W South Central Division. Last year, the side featured eight current Academy players on the roster, who collectively earned 28 starts and made 28 substitute appearances across 11 USL W matches. These graduates will be well known to McBride, who has worked with the Red Wolves Academy since the franchise’s birth in 2019.

Most recently, he coached the Red Wolves’ 2007/08 Girls side, guiding them to two Tennessee State Championships, a USYS Southern Regional Championship, and back-to-back Final Four appearances at the USYS National Championships. Back in November, he was named Girls Competitive Coach of the Year by the Tennessee State Soccer Association.

Prior to coming to the Red Wolves, McBride held various college coaching roles with UT Chattanooga, Eastern Florida State, and King University (Bristol, TN), and worked with the Chattanooga FC and FC Dallas academies.

As a youth, he was on the books at both Dundee United F.C. and Dundee F.C in his native Scotland. A defender/midfielder, he went on to play one season with Arbroath F.C. in the Scottish Second Division where he represented Tayside Region Select Team and the Scottish Schoolboys U18 National Team. After coming to the United States, McBride played for the King University team and with the Red Wolves’ nearby rivals Chattanooga FC in 2016.

Winter, who leaves the role after five years but will remain Academy Director, hailed his successor’s appointment. “Danny will bring new energy and life to the Lady Red Wolves. He has a genuine care for his players—not only for their immediate performance and competitiveness in games, but also for the long-term direction of their careers and the ways he can help them reach goals. I am extremely excited about this appointment for Danny, for the players, and for the club, and I have no doubt he will continue moving the program forward.”

Red Wolves men’s Head Coach and Club Technical Director, Scott Mackenzie, said, “We are thrilled to have Danny leading our USLW team in 2026. A first-class coach and a long-standing, positive member of our community, Danny brings the leadership and values that align perfectly with our club. We are confident his guidance will be critical as we push toward a conference title in the upcoming season”.

McBride himself commented on his new role with the organization: “I’m really thankful to the Red Wolves for the opportunity to lead our USLW team this coming summer. I am looking forward to the new challenge and committed to bringing pride to the club while developing individual players, playing an exciting brand of football for the fans, and leading the team to success. I am passionate about the growth of the women’s game in this area and hope the community will get behind us this summer”.

Rounding out our coverage of Chattanooga FC’s WPSL campaign, we take a final look at their 2025 season. The Southeast Soccer Report began its coverage of the team with a 2025 Season Preview back in April. In that piece we’d called out Mae Hunt and Annalisa Vincent as the players to watch, and also posed the question: could new Head Coach Juan Hernandez produce the magic? We followed the preview with a sit-down interview with Hernandez and Associate Head Coach Maryn Beutler to discuss the upcoming season, the opening game, and the job of building a squad to challenge for titles and represent their community. We asked them if their impressive off-season recruitment drive was a statement of intent for the year ahead. I think fans saw the answer to these questions on the field.

Chattanooga made history in its 2025 WPSL campaign, seeing the women’s program's best-ever finish. The team ended the season with an 8W-2L-1D overall record and only allowed seven goals in 11 matches. As the South Region Champions, the side advanced to its first ever WPSL Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Facing defending champions California Storm in the Semi-Final, they fell just short 1-0 after a late second-half goal. Let’s unwrap the story of their season.

Summary

Regular season

Pos: 2nd | Won: 5 | Drawn: 1 | Lost: 1 | Goals for: 15 | Goals against: 5

Chattanooga got off to a blistering start in the WPSL Southern Conference Peachtree Division on May 23 with a 5-0 shellacking of UFA Gunners at Finley Stadium. Reese McDermott announced herself to the Scenic City that day. Fresh from helping the Colorado Storm reach the final of the USL W League in 2024, when she tallied ten goals in 15 matches, she scored twice against UFA, the first two of nine she’d net this season. Local Kennedy Ball also got two (including a ridiculous flick), as did returnee Analisa Vincent.

A week later, Georgia Impact were also put to the sword at Finley, with CFC winning 2-1. A comeback win saw Hannah Tillet begin the revival, with McDermott scoring the winner off an Annick Manga Zouma assist.

It was not to be three-from-three at home however, as they then fell to a 2-1 loss to visiting Decatur FC, who would go on to top the Peachtree Division. It was a harsh loss, with a Jordan Crockett own-goal ultimately separating the two sides. The defender was otherwise flawless the whole season. CFC’s goal came from McDermott who headed in a Tillett corner kick for her fourth goal in three matches.

Bouncing back, they beat the UFA Gunners for the second time in the season, winning 1-0 at Denmark High School on June 6. In the 70th minute, Billie Jean Davies found Ball who teed up a shot for McDermott. This was saved but fell to the feet of midfielder Mae Hunt, who dispatched a shot into the top corner for her first goal for the club. A great moment for a player whose technical class often dictated CFC’s wins.

Next came a 2-0 home win over Atlanta Fire United on June 14, with goals from McDermott and Kaylie Smith. Smith took her goal excellently and with confidence resulting in a wonderful strike. Tillett and Brady Livingston provided the assists.

Then there was a come-from-behind 1-1 draw at Georgia Impact on June 18. Ball found the equalizer in the 77th minute with a right-footed shot that found the bottom corner. CFC finished their regular season with a 5-1 victory over Atlanta Fire with McDermott icing the cake through a delightful hattrick. Goals from Ball and Manga Zouma completed the rout.

Their return game against Decatur was never played, due to inclement weather.

Post season

Finish: National Semi-Finalist | Won: 3 | Lost: 1 | Goals for: 7 | Goals against: 3

Finishing second in the division behind Decatur, who declined to participate in the postseason action, Chattanooga were invited to represent the Peachtree Division in the Southeast Conference Championship against Nashville Rhythm (themselves also participating in-place of 865 Alliance). Thanks to an excellent EG Dillard strike, they beat their strong in-state rivals 1-0. A CFC women’s record crowd of 1,231 were there to see them claim glory and the club’s first title since 2018.

Moving on to the South Region playoffs at RavenTek Park in Leesburg, Virginia, CFC defeated Arlington Soccer Blue 3-1, earning a spot in the South Region Final. After Arlington had gone 1-0 up, a Tillett penalty got CFC going before a Manga Zouma double won the day. Manga Zouma was putting on a late-season audition for Athlete of the Year. Grace Ambrose was also instrumental in the win.

The very next day, Chattanooga defeated LA Krewe Rush 4-0 to be crowned the WPSL South Region Champions for the first time in club history. The usual suspects hit the net, including Tillett, Manga Zouma, and McDermott. There was a also a first goal of the season for Academy graduate Regina Campa.

Which brings us to the National Championship Semi-Final and the 1-0 loss to California Storm. California would go on to lose to Sporting CT in the Final.

Individual Highlights

Best Goalkeeper

Maddie Smith

Came with championship winning experience and rarely put a foot wrong. Was #1 in a competitive position for the team and was named in the Peachtree Division Best XI and South Region Best XI and won the Peachtree Division Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Best Defender

Jordan Crockett

Was unlucky with an own goal against Decatur, but the 23-year-old was reliable and composed the entire season. Also came with a strong resume and it showed as she led a defense that only conceded eight goals in 11 games.

Best Midfielder

Hannah Tillett

Her name was mentioned so much in the season summary above, there can be no doubting her impact. Arriving with experience playing in Europe, she was a routine goal factory who also chipped in with three of her own. Named in the WPSL All-National Team.

Best Attacker

Reese McDermott

Came with a lethal goalscoring record in Colorado and repeated the trick with nine goals in 2025. Named in the Peachtree Division Best XI, the South Region Best XI, and the All-National Team.

Best Player

Reese McDermott

See above.

Best Young Player (under 21)

Kaylie Smith

Scored a lovely goal against Atlanta Fire on June 14 that was, in my opinion, the team’s best goal of the year and grew into the season with each game. It’s hard to believe how young she is, given how she played with such confidence. Was also named in the South Region Best XI.

Coach report

Juan Hernandez is a club legend for CFC and an ambassador for the community. He was the assistant coach for this team in 2024. The Spaniard announced his retirement from playing in 2023, and is the club’s all-time mens assists leader, retiring on 127 matches in eight seasons with CFC.

Hernandez and Associate Head Coach Maryn Beutler recruited a strong side. Using their web of contacts in the Southeast (in the case of Hernandez) and the Midwest and West coast (in the case of Beutler), they assembled a squad that balanced youth and experience, local and invitational. The results were there to see. Second only to an outstanding Decatur FC, their side were worthy representatives of the region as they marched all the way to National Championship rounds.

Hernandez has to score an A+ for his efforts this season, and will have raised high expectations about what this side can do in 2026.

Other highlights

A big highlight was the 1,231 strong crowd that showed up for the Southeast Conference Championship match against Nashville Rhythm. It was a great cap on the home season for CFC and a sign that the city was waking up to the exciting footall played by Hernandez’s team and a reminder that there isn’t just one CFC team in town.

Statement signings were made in pre-season that felt like they might bring CFC’s WPSL side to frontiers it had not seen before. These included the likes of goalkeeper Kyleigh Hall and midfielders Hannah Tillett and Mae Hunt who brought professional experience from abroad. Additionally, there was strong recruitment from across lower league women’s soccer with goalkeeper Maddie Smith coming from 2024 WPSL Champions California Storm, as well as a clutch of recruits from 2024 USL W Champions Colorado Storm (Elisa Dean, Jordan Crockett, and Reese McDermott). Statement signings that helped this team make the leap.

And while fans at Finley Stadium were treated to excellent football from eyebrow-raising recruits, there was also some great soccer from local talent. The chances given to Academy graduates was a big part of this season. Academy product and Girls Preparatory School graduate Kennedy Ball finished the season with four goals, the second-most in the side. Other players to have played minutes, made matchday roster appearances, or train with the first team included Regina Campa, Hannah Helms, Brady Livingston, Tori Soutuyo, Kloe Reeves, Kayden Mounce, Ryleigh Ramey, Olivia Newton, and Tallulah Lafferty.

A successful season for the Sky Blues and one for Chattanooga’s fans to cherish and remember. The Southeast Soccer Report looks forward to covering them again next season.

Full Results

Regular Season:

• 23 May - Chattanooga 5-0 UFA Gunners

  • Scorers: Reese McDermot x 2, Kennedy Ball x2, Annalisa Vincent

• 30 May - Chattanooga 2-1 Georgia Impact

  • Scorers: Reese McDermot, Hannah Tillett

• 3 June - Chattanooga 1-2 Decatur

  • Scorers: Reese McDermot

• 6 June - UFA Gunners 1-0 Chattanooga

  • Scorers: Mae Hunt

• 14 June - Chattanooga 2-0 Atlanta Fire

  • Scorers: Kaylie Smith, Reese McDermot

• 18 June - Georgia Impact 1-1 Chattanooga

  • Scorers: Kennedy Ball

• 24 June - Atlanta Fire 1-5 Chattanooga

  • Scorers: Reese McDermott x3, Kennedy Ball, Annick Manga Zouma

• 27 June - Decatur - Chattanooga (Cancelled)

Conference Championship:

• 3 July - Chattanooga 1-0 Nashville Rhythm

  • Scorers: EG Dillard

Regional Championship:

• 12 July - Chattanooga 3-1 Arlington Soccer Blue

  • Scorers: Hannah Tillett (p), Annick Manga Zouma x 2

• 13 July - Chattanooga 3-1 LA Krewe Rush

  • Scorers: Hannah Tillett, Reese McDermott, Annick Manga Zouma, Regina Campa

National Championship:

• 18 July - Chattanooga 0-1 California Storm

It was eight minutes into a weather delayed second half when Annick Manga Zouma took a lovely pass from Grace Ambrose and slammed the ball into the net, passed a helpless Susan Shobeiri. 3-1 to Chattanooga and a comeback win they were deserving of.

That Ambrose and Manga Zouma should get first mention is fitting. The former was making her debut and constantly put tremendous pressure on Arlington's backline. The Nigerian attacker ultimately won the ball back in a dangerous area before feeding to Manga Zouma for that goal. The latter had already scored in the first half, and her brace was more than the Cameroon youth international deserved for her play.

In the end Chattanooga FC defeated Arlington Soccer Blue by that 3-1 scoreline in Leesburg on Saturday evening and advanced to the WPSL South Region Final for the first time in club history. There was a strong wee contingent of CFC fans who had made their way to the DMV suburbs. Audible and visible on the stream, I am told (thanks Justin Vizaro) there was six at the game, with more expected for Sunday’s Final.

The game was technically free entry, but fans could donate a suggested $5 through a displayed QR code. There was also a rooftop bar and some other concessions available. I mention all this because it’s very positive to see the WPSL ensure that fan-friendly venues and amenities are made available. This is the sort of thing that’s important to a league’s growth and makes spectators want to return. So, credit to the WPSL and VA Revolution Soccer for that.

It was a come-from-behind victory for Chattanooga after a Logan Tongberg penalty in the 18th minute had given Arlington the lead. The penalty was soft, a clipped heel in the box had taken down an Arlington defender. It’s hard to tell judging by the streamed broadcast available, but it looked soft.

Arlington Soccer Blue, confusingly playing in red, managed to hold onto this lead for the better part of 25 minutes before CFC were able to level matters. This, in spite of Chattanooga dominating the early stages of the match with the excellent Manga Zouma nearly equalizing with a header soon after..

A penalty from Hannah Tillett was what evened the score. In the 40th minute, Arlington defender Emma Cordero, in true Luis Suárez fashion, used her hand to intentionally deny Chattanooga on the goal-line. She was given a straight red card and Tillett converted the resulting penalty.

Less than two minutes later, after a recycled corner-kick, CFC would pull ahead when Manga Zouma scored from close range putting her team ahead at that sweet spot just before half-time.

The second half was delayed for about half an hour due to nearby lightning. Chattanooga continued to dominate and soon Manga Zouma would have her second. She came close to a hattrick again on 74 minutes but was a fraction offside. At the other end, substitute goalkeeper Kayleigh Hall made an impressive save from Jocelyn Lohmeyer to keep Arlington at bay.

Chattanooga marches on and are now one of just eight left standing in the nation. They’ll line out at this venue on Sunday evening, July 13th at 6pm (Eastern) to compete in the WPSL South Region Final against LA Krewe Rush.

Next round

Chattanooga now faces fellow visiting side LA Krewe Rush this evening. That the two visiting southern sides put out the host and wildcard sides, both from Virginia and playing at or close to home, is a great achievement for soccer in the south. Linked to Louisiana Krewe FC of the USL League 2, the Lafayette-based team beat hosts McLean Soccer 3-1 in the second of yesterday’s games. A penalty from Hailly Waterhouse and a pair of goals from Maria Portas and Rammie Noel in extra time settled matters.

LA Krewe Rush finished top of the Delta Division in WPSL this summer. They then went on to defeat Pensacola 2-1 to claim the South Region. During the regular season, Salma Elhaimer led the club and division in scoring with 10 goals, the lion’s share of the 21 goals LKR scored over its eight-match regular season schedule. Nine different players contributed to the balance of the club’s regular season goals. Goalkeeper Lauryn Starwood and LKR’s defensive unit led the Delta Basin with nine goals against. Starwood appeared in seven of the club’s eight regular season matches, posting a .71 goal against average and three clean sheets. Starwood played in goal against McLean yesterday, but Elhaimer was not on the team sheet.

Given LA Krewe may be without such an important goalscorer, played longer yesterday and have had less rest since, I’d be backing Chattanooga to have an upper hand in what should be a cracking game.

Match: LA Krewe Rush v Chattanooga FC

Date: Sunday, July 13th, 2025

Time: 6PM EST

Location: RavenTek Park, Leesburg, VA. Capacity: 1,500

Watch: National Soccer Network on YouTube

Head Coaches: John Plumbar (LKR), Juan Hernandez (CFC)

Box Score

Arlington Soccer Blue - Chattanooga FC

WPSL South Region Playoff Semi-Final

Venue: RavenTek Park | Leesburg, VA

Final Score: Arlington 1-3 Chattanooga

Scoring summary:

18' - L. Tongberg (ARL) - penalty
41' - H. Tillett (CFC) - penalty
43’ - A. Manga Zouma (CFC)
53’ - A. Manga Zouma (CFC)

Discipline:

19' - K. Vigil (CFC) - yellow
19' - E. Cordero (ARL) - red
48' - O. Stafford (ARL) - yellow
50' - G. Ambrose (CFC) - yellow
77' - A. Jones (ARL) - yellow
82' - B. Valentine (CFC) - yellow
89' - N. Green-Orset (ARL) - yellow
90+4' - H. Helms (CFC) - yellow

Player of the Match: Grace Ambrose (CFC) - I know that Annick Manga Zouma will get the bulk of credit for her excellent brace, but I was so impressed with Ambrose’s game. Given it was her debut, she was hugely impressive and a constant threat to Arlington’s defense. Her assist for Manga Zouma’s second goal was a peach.

Line-ups:

Arlington Soccer Blue: Susan Shobeiri, Leila Greene, Nora Green-Orset, Allie Jones, Ava Marvin, Annie Faraone, Logan Tongberg, Kylie Emanuel, Jennifer McGuire, Jocelyn Lohmeyer, Olivia Stafford

Subs: Alana Beasley, Ally Griswold, Amelie D'Agnillo, Avery Hallam, Emma Cordero, Gwen Doughty, Phoebe Allan, Halle Thomas, Isabella Johnson

Head Coach: George Hales

Chattanooga FC: Maddie Smith, Jordan Crockett, Kei Yoneda, Grace Ambrose, Bella Valentine, Hannah Tillett, Kasie Vigil, Kaylie Smith, Amelia Neal, Amy Smith, Reese McDermott

Subs: Kyleigh Hall, Annick Manga Zouma, Billie Jean Davies, Elisa Dean, Hannah Helms, Kloe Reeves, Regina Campa, Mae Hunt, Ryleigh Ramey

Head Coach: Juan Hernandez

Match: Arlington Soccer Blue v Chattanooga FC

Date: Saturday, July 12th, 2025

Time: 5PM EST

Location: RavenTek Park, Leesburg, VA. Capacity: 1,500

Watch: National Soccer Network on YouTube

Head Coaches: George Hales (ARL), Juan Hernandez (CFC)

Chattanooga FC marches north to the DMV suburbs this Saturday to take on Arlington Soccer Blue. The WPSL South Region Playoff semi-final kicks off at 5pm (Eastern) at RavenTek Park / Revolution Sports Park in Leesburg, Viginia. The winning team will take on either host side McLean Soccer or LA Krewe Rush in the final. That other semi-final kicks off at 7.30pm at the same venue.

Arlington Soccer Blue (W4; D1; L3; GF28; GA13) finished second in the Atlantic Conference - District Division, nine points behind first placed McLean Soccer, who host these playoffs. This is Arlington’s second season in the WPSL after joining as a 2024 expansion team.

Chattanooga FC ended its regular season (W5; D1; L1) in second place in the Southeast Conference - Peachtree Division. Advancing to the Conference Final after Decatur FC declined to participate; they booked their place in these playoffs after defeating in-state rivals Nashville Rhythm FC 1-0 on July 3rd to become the 2025 WPSL Southeast Conference Champions.

The game will be broadcast live on the National Soccer Network on YouTube.

Arlington Report Card

Led by Head Coach George Hales, Arlington had quite an interesting season. After losing their first three games, against sister-club Arlington Soccer Red (A), bottom side Alexandria Reds (H) and UK FC (A), they went on a magnificent six-game unbeaten run, which included five wins.

A high-scoring team; they banged in 28 goals in eight games, with local duo Jocelyn Lohmeyer and Olivia Stafford each scoring five. The player to watch, if available (an important issue in the WPSL post-season) is attacker Ellie Stokes. The 21-year-old from Alexandria, Virginia scored four goals this season and brings international experience, having been capped by Saint Kitts and Nevis.

While Saturday’s game is at a neutral venue for both teams, albeit much closer to home for Arlington, the Blues’ away record in 2025 stands at two wins and two losses.

Chattanooga Report Card

Juan Hernandez’s Chattanooga come into this game after a regular season in which they scored 17 and conceded five (for a goal difference of +12). Away from home they won two and drew one (with one away game against Decatur being abandoned due to inclement weather).

CFC were without their top scorer (eight goals) Reese McDermott in the game against Nashville Rhythm due to college commitments. She’s not expected to be available on Saturday. Chattanooga native Kennedy Ball is more than capable of filling in, having netted four this year. Goalkeeper Maddie Smith and attacker EG Dillard were recently named as the WPSL South Region Players of the Week. Dillard is one to watch this Saturday. It was her who secured the club’s playoff berth with her first goal of the season coming in the final 10 minutes against Nashville. Thate strike broke the 0-0 deadlock and gave CFC their conference title.

Analysis & Predictions

A tough one to call. Arlington enjoys a degree of home advantage and are on strong form, unbeaten in six games. They boast strong goalscorers and some international experience.

Chattanooga are one of the most professionally disciplined sides in the entire league, and enjoyed a near flawless season, losing only once. Against the Rhythm they showed how far they’ve come, finally defeating a long-time rival. And while they didn’t win their division, they’re worthy Southeastern champions.

I’m going for 2-2 and a PK shootout.

The winner will advance to the WPSL South Region final on Sunday, July 13th. The South Region Champion, along with the other three region champions, will move on to the WPSL Championship, which will take place from July 18-20 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

A 79th minute header from EG Dillard helped Chattanooga FC to a win over familiar foe Nashville Rhythm on Thursday evening, as CFC were crowned 2025 WPSL Southeast Conference champions.

A CFC women’s record crowd of 1,231 were there to see them claim glory and the club’s first title since 2018.

Chattanooga will advance to the WPSL South Region Playoffs. Here they’ll enter two rounds of single-elimination bracket play, hosted by McLean Soccer of Leesburg, Virginia. The other clubs taking part will be Louisiana Krewe Rush and West Florida Flames. The semi-finals will take place on Saturday, July 12th and finals on Sunday, July 13th.

The South Region Champion, along with the other three region champions, will then move on to the WPSL Championship, which will take place from July 18-20 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The full playoff bracket for the WPSL South Region Playoffs will be announced on Monday, July 7.

Chattanooga Lineup

Yep, you guessed it. The big gasp around the Scenic City when the team sheet was announced was the glaring omission of Reese McDermott. As can be so common in soccer at this level, she had commitments with her University Athletics program to meet and was thus unavailable. Her eight goals would be missed, but CFC had goalscorers elsewhere, such as Kennedy Ball, who’d netted four this summer.

In stepped Amy Smith, from Fort Collins, Co. The LSU athlete was a last-minute addition fresh from a Mountain Conference - Rockies Division winning season with Northern Colorado Rain. Another new Amy was on the bench, Amy Neal, a veteran Tennessee and Washington State soccer, who would have an enormous bearing on the game. Asked how he got these players into the game so last minute, Head Coach Juan Hernandez explained that these had been existing contacts they were able to draw from.

Outside of this, it was a fairly as expected CFC lineup from Hernandez.

Nashville Lineup

Kendall Curran retained her place in goal after an excellent performance against 865 Alliance to close out the regular season. A notable inclusion in the starting lineup was Izumi Wakatsuki, who has been unavailable for each of Rhythm’s last two games.

Naho Yamamura was unavailable for Rhythm, as she returned to Arizona Western University. Other than this, it was a mostly full-strength lineup for Nashville, with several strong options off the bench as well.

Between the Whistles

As the clock ticked on and we entered the final minutes of play at Finley Stadium, the feeling was that this might be headed for dreaded extra-time and PKs. The record-breaking 1,231 fans, led by the Chattahooligans, had noisily rallied for their team for close to 80 minutes as the sun was setting on a hot Tennessee summer’s evening. It would soon have to set on the season of one of these two teams.

CFC, who had the lions’ share of possession and chances all evening, were pressing. A delicious back-heel from Amy Smith, parachuted into the team due to late-season roster availability issues, found Amy Neal, another late addition, close to the halfway line. Neal took the ball well and beat her marker to glide down the right wing. In the box was EG Dillard, unmarked and alone. Neal floated a pin-perfect cross to Dillard, who’s head rocketed the ball passed Kendall Curran and into the net. It was a great goal from a player who admits to not enjoying heading the ball.

Finley Stadium went wild, and there was a sense that this was it. And it was no more really than the home side deserved. Chattanooga dominated the match and created more opportunities than Nashville throughout the sun soaked game.

Defender Kei Yoneda hit the crossbar with a long-range strike in the first half, while Annick Lolita Manga Zouma and Amy Smith both had big chances in the second half but saw their shots go over the bar. At the back, Maddie Smith in goal had little to do. Her counterpart, Curran was the busier of the two keepers.

While Hannah Tillet had a strong game in the middle of the park, the star of the show was newbie Amy Neal. As well as her excellent assist she menaced the Nashville defense all evening, demonstrating her skill and experience. She nearly got one herself a few minutes later but was thwarted in the box.

In the end, it was Dillard’s goal that settled it. A fine header, worthy of a Championship win.

Analysis

Philip Farrell: I think CFC deserved their win and will make very worthy representatives for the Southeast Region in the next phase of the season. To get a win, when missing their key striker and star player was impressive, as was Hernandez’s ability to bring in strong last minute replacements at short notice.

A good crowd also deserves note, its something that not every team in this league can boast.

Ronan Briscoe: This game perhaps wasn’t quite as close as the scoreboard shows. While yes, both teams had chances they absolutely should’ve put away that are completely indefensible to miss, Chattanooga seemed to have more of them. They used the crowd and the ball to dictate the pace of play, and I think, were deserving winners in the end.

It’s a second consecutive season without a conference title for Rhythm, who, in the future, pretty desperately need an attacker with the kind of ruthlessness in front of goal they’d gotten from the likes of Keito Ido and Yuki Watari in the past.

That seems to have been Rhythm’s biggest issue over the last two years, but, there’s college goalscorers aplenty around the country. It’s just a matter of convincing one to spend a summer in the mid-south.

Box Score

Chattanooga FC - Nashville Rhythm FC

WPSL Southeast Conference Championship

Venue: Finley Stadium | Chattanooga, TN

Final Score: Chattanooga 1-0 Nashville Rhythm

Attendance: 1,231

Scoring summary:

79': EG. Dillard (CFC)

Player of the Match:

Philip Farrell: Amelia Neal (CFC)

Line-ups:

Chattanooga FC: Maddie Smith, Kei Yoneda, Abbey Marak, Kasie Vigil, Jordan Crockett, EG Dillard, Mae Hunt, Kaylie Smith, Hannah Tillett, Amy Smith, Kennedy Ball

Subs: Bella Valentine, Kloe Reeves, Amelia Neal, Annick Lolita Manga Zouma, Brady Livingston, Victoria Soutuyo

Not used: Billie Jean Davies, Ella Attaway, Kyleigh Hall

Head Coach: Juan Hernandez

Nashville: Kendall Curran, Hannah Smoot, Katelyn Toney, Madison Long, Georgia Shields, Grace Morris, Izumi Wakatsuki, Jayden Boelter, Maggie Brzica, Maggie Phillips, Phoebe Lott

Subs: Gracelyn Williams, Aoi Kawabuchi, Faith Adje, Madeleine Hill, Emma Shields,

Not used: Katherine Wood, Mallory Thomas

Head Coach: Scott Davison

Lady Pelicans’ season comes to a sudden end

On paper, Pensacola FC seemed the clear favorite to win the Women’s Premier Soccer League Gulf Coast Conference championship. But cliches become cliches because they’re often true: they don’t play the games on paper.

Louisiana Krewe Rush managed just two shots on goal Wednesday at Lafayette (La.) Christian Academy, but both found the back of the Pelicans’ net. Trailing by two at halftime, Pensacola scored in the 54th minute but couldn’t find an equalizer against the visitors’ tenacious defense.

“The loss is very bitter. In no way do I want to diminish LA Krewe and the result, but I genuinely believe if we play that game 100 times over, we walk away winning 95 of those,” first-year PFC coach Chandler Castleman said Thursday. “I think they fully deserved the result, and it’s a great opportunity for me as an individual and us as an organization to grow moving forward.”

The Lady Pelicans finished the regular season undefeated (9-0-0, 27 points), ranked first in the WPSL South Region and third in the national poll. They outscored their opposition 32-2 and posted seven clean sheets.

Louisiana Krewe Rush won the Delta Basin Division with a record of 5-1-2 — 17 points — and tied their last two matches of the regular season. They scored 21 goals and conceded nine in eight matches; the Krewe ranked 10th in the South Region power rankings released June 25.

Castleman said the Pelicans expected the Delta Basin champs to play for the turnover and breakaway opportunities.

“Yeah, we knew going into the game they were very direct and would look to play on the counter. Both of their chances were clear cut, and LA Krewe absolutely deserved those goals,” he said.

The hosts struck first in the sixth minute when a defender tackled the ball through the Pelicans’ back line and left Salma Elhaimer (McNeese State) alone against PFC keeper Jaidin Kinch (South Alabama). The striker dribbled into position and slotted the ball by the charging Kinch and just inside the far post for her 11th goal in seven appearances for the Krewe.

Brea Bailey (Alabama A&M) blasted a cross from the right flank into the net in the 44th minute after a miscommunication by the Pensacola defenders left her open.

Paige Phillips (Pensacola State College) headed home a Sydney Magliocca (South Alabama) cross in the 54th minute, but the Pelicans couldn’t find another score. The goal was Phillips’ 10th of the season.

“We knew the transition moments were our biggest weakness and their biggest strength, but it’s something we were willing to accept with the way we play,” Castleman said. The Pelicans play proactive, attacking soccer that showcases the players’ technical skills but can be vulnerable against direct, counterattacking sides.

Castleman still was trying to process the loss Thursday.

“Honestly it’s quite an abrupt end to the season,” he said. “The season as a whole was obviously a very good one up until the final. We conceded four goals all year and scored a ton. We played what I hope to the people on the outside was exciting soccer, very expansive and possession-oriented, lots of chances created, high intensity, and I hope the fans who watched us got that feeling watching.”

The title game was played in Lafayette and not in Pensacola because of a rule carried over from the Gulf Coast Premier League, Castleman explained. (The GCPL entered into an agreement with the WPSL and its men’s equivalent, The League for Clubs, to operate the leagues Gulf Coast conferences). The GCPL Eastern Conference winner hosted the championship match a year ago, so this year the game was played at the home field of the Delta Basin Division — the successor to the GCPL Western Conference.

Castleman said the team is planning an end-of-season party, and then “for a lot of these players, it’s straight into their college pre-seasons (or) prep or, for the ones who have graduated, it’s back to the careers they’ve been juggling.”

Louisiana Krewe Rush advances to the WPSL South regional, where it will represent the South Region against winners of the Atlantic, Southeast and Sunshine conferences Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13, in McLean, Va.

The Central, East, South and West regional champions will compete for the national championship July 18-20 in Stillwater, Okla.

LINEUPS

LA KREWE RUSH: Lauryn Starwood; Rammie Noel, Sarah Portis, Hailly Waterhouse, Shealbie Whatley; Amelia Majtczak, Keely McLeod, Sophie Vines; Andi Hughes, Salma Elhaimer, Raegan Latiolais.

Substitutes: Ashley Manning, Audrian Cruz, Brea Bailey, Larae Breaux, Maria Portas,
Olivia Gautreaux

PENSACOLA FC: Jaidin Kinch; Aila Swinton, Ava Matherne, Bailey Erwig, Emma Beltz, Isabela Labovic, Jillian Thompson, Paige Phillips, Rainey Niles, Sydney Magliocca, Zivana Labovic.

Substitutes: Addison Smith, Elexia Nelson, Emily Smith, Hunter Wallace, Olivia Quiroz, Rhiannon Tkac.

WPSL Gulf Coast Conference

Final regular season standings

DELTA BASIN DIVISION

1. LA Krewe Rush, 5-1-2, 17 points, +12

2. Hattiesburg FC, 4-2-2, 14 points, +6

3. Mississippi Blues SC, 2-3-3, 9 points, +4

4. Shreveport United, 3-5-0, 9 points, -12

5. Baton Rouge United, 0-7-1, 1 point, -12

THIRD COAST DIVISION

1. Pensacola FC, 9-0-0, 27 points, +35

2. Gulf Coast United, 4-4-2, 14points, -6

3. PFC Academy, 3-4-3, 12 points, -10

4. Florida Roots, 3-5-2, 11 points, -2

5. TLH Reckoning, 3-5-1, 10 points, -3

6. Union 10 FC, 3-7-0, 9 points, -12

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Chattanooga FC and Nashville Rhythm FC will compete this evening for the WPSL Southeast Conference Championship at Finley Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7:00 pm EST/6:00 pm CST.

Philip: Oddly enough, neither side was expected to be here. Chattanooga (5-1-1) was due to conclude its WPSL regular season schedule at Decatur FC on June 27th, however the match was cancelled due to inclement weather. Decatur finished the season as Peachtree Division champions, however declined participation in the national playoffs. As runners-up in the division, CFC has taken their place.

Ronan: Nashville Rhythm have had a bit rockier season than they’re used to in WPSL’s Southeast Conference. The club that won the conference in three straight seasons from 2021-2023 will be looking to add a fourth trophy to the collection this evening, but as mentioned, their path wasn’t as solid as it had been in the past.

Rhythm finished the regular season with a 5-2-1 record, their only defeat coming on the road at 865 Alliance. Two draws at home to TN Tempo FC and 865 Alliance also left blemishes on the club’s 2025 record.

If you’re still wondering why two clubs who didn’t finish atop their divisions are contesting for the conference title, read this piece further explaining the matter.

Match Details

Match: Chattanooga FC v Nashville Rhythm FC

Date: Thursday July 3rd, 2025

Time: 7PM EST (local), 6PM CST (Nashville)

Location: Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, TN. Capacity: 20,412

Watch: National Soccer Network on YouTube

Tickets: Chattanooga FC website

Head Coaches: Chris Nugent (CFC), Scott Davison (NSH)

Chattanooga Report Card

Chattanooga comes into this game on a 5-1-1 (WDL) record from its regular season in which they scored 17 and conceded five (for a goal difference of +12). At home they won three and lost one (with a goal difference of +7). And while their only loss (to Decatur) came at home, it’s the advantage of playing tonight’s game at Finley Stadium, in front of their own large crowds, that CFC will hope to give them the edge.

Chattanooga’s player to watch is Reese McDermott. Having arrived at the club from Colorado Storm, with whom she reached the final of the USL W League last season, scoring ten goals in 15 matches; she netted eight in seven regular season games for CFC this year and was the Peachtree Division’s leading goalscorer.

Chattanooga native and former Girls Preparatory School star Kennedy Ball also enjoyed a strong campaign with four goals. Keep an eye on Mae Hunt in midfield too. The former Reading player has experience in the Women’s Super League in England and is a technically gifted player. CFC’s Head Coach is club legend and former-captain Juan Hernandez who is in his first season in the role after serving as the assistant coach for the team in 2024.

Nashville Report Card

Nashville Rhythm come into this game in a weird spot. They’re 5-2-1 (WDL) yes, and they’ve scored 22 goals to just ten conceded, for a +12 differential, but… they haven’t scored since June 18th following a forfeit win over Jackson Ignite and a 0-0 draw in the final regular season game against 865 Alliance.

There’s a couple players to look out for. In midfield, the pairing of Naho Yamamura (Arizona Western University) and Aoi Kawabuchi (Navarro College) has been the engine for the last few games, while in my opinion wingers Gracyn Becker (Miami OH) and Gracelyn Williams (Centennial HS, Houghton University) have been excellent options off the bench of late.

Katie Toney (Tennessee Tech), Jayden Boelter (University of the Cumberlands), and Maggie Phillips (Oregon), and Georgia Shields (East Tennessee State) have also been incredibly important to Rhythm’s chance creation in recent weeks as starters.

Analysis & Predictions

Philip Farrell: With an on-fire Reese McDermott in their ranks, you’d bank on CFC to score this evening. How many they score and how many they concede are the unknowns. While they have an inferior record against Nashville from back when these teams shared a division, the 2025 edition of Chattanooga FC is very different to what came before. There’s an undoubtedly more professional air to this team now, demonstrated by the quality of their player acquisitions and their regular season showing.

With both sides coming into this as runners-up in their divisions, it makes for fun predicting. I’m going for a home win and the raucous Chattahooligans extracting the best this team has to offer. I think both sides will score, 2-1 to CFC.

Ronan Briscoe: In previous years, Nashville Rhythm has almost always gotten the best of Chattanooga, including a 4-1 win for Rhythm in Finley Stadium on May 24th last year.

But this doesn’t appear to be the same old Rhythm, nor the same old Chattanooga. These teams haven’t met since that game in May of last year, and both teams have changed in the year plus since.

I think this will be a very tight game, and will be decided very, very late. Give me Nashville, just so we don’t pick the same team, which is less fun. 2-1, I couldn’t tell you who the goalscorers will be with WPSL’s unlimited subsitutions.

The winner will advance to the WPSL Playoffs, which consists of two rounds of single-elimination bracket play. The Southeast Champion will move on to the South Region Playoffs, which will be hosted by the Atlantic Conference Champions (winner of McLean Soccer vs Port City FC), with the semi-finals taking place on Saturday, July 12th and finals on Sunday, July 13th. The South Region Champion, along with the other three region champions, will move on to the WPSL Championship, which will take place from July 18-20 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Nashville has reached the Region Championship on multiple occasions, including a three-year run from 2021-2023 that saw Rhythm reach the National Semifinal in 2022. Most recently, Rhythm hosted the South Region Championship in 2023, where they fell 5-4 in the Final to eventual national champions Charlotte Eagles.

A win in the other direction would send Chattanooga through to the Region Championship for the very first time.

If you have a look at the respective tables for the Pioneer and Peachtree divisions in WPSL’s Southeast Conference, you’ll see two clubs sitting atop the standings.

However, if you look at who is playing in Thursday’s Southeast Conference Championship, you’ll notice it’s not the same two clubs.

This year, 865 Alliance and Decatur FC each grabbed the Pioneer and Peachtree Division titles for the first time respectively, though it’s the two clubs situated in second behind them, namely Nashville Rhythm FC and Chattanooga FC, who will play for the right to call themselves 2025 Southeast Conference Champions.

Why is this?

The answer for this is fairly simple, though requires some explaining. Each WPSL season, every club is given the option to opt in or out of conference and national playoffs. There’s a number of reasons a club may opt out, be it the expectation of roster attrition, travel costs, any number of things.

In 2024, 865 Alliance originally opted into potential playoff participation, before roster attrition forced them to back out after the deadline to make that decision had passed, resulting in a fine and a one-year suspension from further playoff participation, which of course excludes them from this year.

We understand that Decatur FC chose to opt out this season, under the expectation of roster attrition as well.

It’s important to remember that even if a club can manage to keep a roster put together into deeper parts of the summer than is usual (many of these players have college commitments, after all), the club must also cover any travel and logistics on their own, out of pocket.

Many clubs in WPSL are very young, and are still forging the financial partnerships necessary to fund things like this, and some years the numbers just don’t add up. For instance of what this can look like, Nashville Rhythm’s run to the National Semifinals in 2022 required a GoFundMe to be supported by soccer fans across the mid-state just to get the team to and from Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Thus, it’s up to the second place teams in each division to crown a conference champion. In this case, that’s the aforementioned Rhythm and Chattanooga.

They meet on Thursday in the Scenic City at 7PM EST. Check back here for a preview of that game a little later.

Match: Decatur FC v Chattanooga FC v Atlanta Fire United

Date: Friday, June 27th, 2025. 19:00 (Eastern)

Venue: Decatur High School Stadium, Decatur, GA. Capacity: 4,100

How to watch: National Soccer Network

Tickets: Decatur FC Website

Decatur FC and Chattanooga FC see out the Peachtree Division of the WPSL when they meet this evening at 7pm (Eastern). Decatur is the only club to have defeated CFC this season. A Dylan Driver strike and a Jordan Crocket own-goal were the difference in a 2-1 victory on June 3rd in Tennessee. Divisional top-scorer Reese McDermott got one back for CFC.

First place Decatur FC has already claimed the Peachtree Division crown, earning a perfect 7-0-0 record so far. Undoubtedly the strongest force in the division, they’re ranked 6th nationally of the 150 team WPSL. The team clinched the division with a 2-0 win over Georgia Impact on Friday, June 20, in front of over 2,000 fans.

Defender Jazmin Ferguson in the player to watch for Decatur. She was named the South defensive player of the week this week after she helped secure the team’s sixth win with a header in stoppage time before half-time a couple of weeks ago. She is a student at Louisiana State University where she transferred from East Carolina University in 2024. At LSU, Ferguson started in 20 games, played 1,550 minutes and scored two goals.

Second place Chattanooga FC still has a chance at a playoff spot but require a victory on Friday to guarantee it. They've beaten every team in the division, except Decatur and enjoy a 5-1-1 record. The Sky Blues are determined to ruin Decatur’s undefeated regular season and close out their campaign on 18 points.

CFC’s player to watch is Reese McDermott. Having arrived at the club from Colorado Storm, with whom she reached the final of the USL W League last season, scoring ten goals in 15 matches; she has netted eight in seven so far in 2025 and is the division’s leading goalscorer. Decatur’s Maggie Wadsworth trails her on six goals.

A big crowd is expected for Friday's match that's been dubbed the National Match of the Week for the WPSL. Decatur has enjoyed strong crowds all season, and CFC will be expected to bring a strong travelling contingent as usual. Decatur High School is located at 310 N. McDonough Street in downtown Decatur. For information about tickets, click here.

Analysis and Predictions

While this may seem like a dead rubber for Decatur, given they’ve already secured first place and a post-season shot; they’ll still be keen to end their season with a perfect record and in front of their strong local support (They’re averaging about 2,400 fans per home game). Don’t expect them to sleepwalk through this one.

For Chattanooga FC, a victory is needed to give them a shot at playoff soccer. They’ll be keen to come away with three points, likely thanks to their red-hot goalscorer McDermott. They’ll also bring a crowd with them to DeKalb County and will throw everything at the home side.

This will be a cracker! I’m going for a 2-1 win for Chattanooga FC who are on-form and have more to play for. Either way, be sure to tune in on the National Soccer Network if you can’t attend in person.

On an extremely hot and humid afternoon, Birmingham Legion WFC powered through to end the season strong.

Despite temperatures nearing 100F, the Three Sparks showed energy to get ahead early, continue to push and ultimately win 4-1 in their final home game of the season at Dunnavant Valley Fields.

“I think we took advantage of what was in front of us today,” Nathan Archard, Legion WFC head coach, said. “A lot of motivation with the last home game, wanting to play well and wanting to put everything together. It’s been a while since we’ve had two consistent halves of playing well together, but I think we did that today.”

Despite having six home games on the schedule, Legion WFC only played three at Dunnavant Valley this summer. Two took place at Veterans Park, in Alabaster, while the most recent saw a last-minute switch to Briarwood Christian School.

Wednesday’s win meant that, despite having only a 50% win rate at home, the team went perfect on the Legion training fields with three wins from three.

Game Recap

The Three Sparks got off to a perfect start, opening the score just three minutes into the game.

Lauren Lucero found space down the left flank and send in a deep cross. Mary Frances Symmes picked it up at the opposite end, drove forward and blasted the ball into the top of the net from a tight angle.

“It’s very important to set the tone early, especially in this heat,” Symmes said, after describing playing in that heat and humidity as “horrible.”

Despite her struggles with the extreme temperatures, the midfielder was a livewire in the early exchanges. Symmes found herself at the center of multiple Legion WFC attacks, driving forward at will.

A mazy run through the heart of Tennessee’s midfield in the 7th minute ended with a slightly overhit pass to Ali Howard. Eight minutes later, Symmes came close to grabbing her brace when Sydney Soehn’s cross found her at the back post. Her shot bounced off the inside of the opposite post before being cleared by the defense.

The game stopped for the first of four water breaks immediately after the play, but Legion WFC didn’t have to wait long after the restart to get their second.

Lucero pressed high and won the ball off Tennessee’s right back in the 19th minute. After alrady assisting the opener, the midfielder drove down the left wing again before sending a cutback towards the edge of the box. Kate Smith ran on to it, took a touch to settle herself and nestled a low shot inside the post to double the lead.

“We highlighted [starting quick] in the pre-game talk,” Archard said. “If you start fast, especially with the heat, before we tire out, before they tire out, just get on top of the game, get multiple goals early, then it’s going to be a lot easier for us to settle in and get a rhythm and just tire them out.”

The Birmingham girls continued to dominate the game for the rest of the half, but had to wait until the 37th to add a third.

Symmes was involved again, driving at the TSC defense once more. After overhitting her pass to Howard half-an-hour earlier, this time she made no mistake. The weight of it was perfect, and Howard’s finish clinical, driving it into the bottom corner for the 3-0.

The pair combined again in the second half as Howard got her brace 10 minutes after the restart.

Symmes sent in a dangerous corner from the left side, and though the initial ball was cleared, it fell to Howard on the edge of the six-yard box. The forward spun and powered her second goal of the game into the bottom corner.

“Coach was just saying ‘third goal, and then we start rolling,’” Howard said. “It was good. Good ball in by [Symmes], and I was just in the right spot and finished well.”

Howard did not get a chance at a hat-trick as she was substituted off only a few minutes later. With the Tennessee team flailing — the visitors had no substitutes available to them — Archard made mutltiple changes to try and keep his team fresh and on the front foot.

Legion WFC had a couple more chances as a result, though failed to add on to their four-goal lead. Lucero had two attempts fly straight at the opposition’s goalkeeper as she looked to add on to her two assists, while second-half subs Sofia Sasan and Addison Soehn both had decent chances of their own.

“It was good,” Archard said. “They’re going to have to try to chase the game at some point, so gaps and things are going to open up by them stepping up and pushing a bit more forward. So us having a couple goals allows us to just sit back and just play a little bit of a slower pace, just drawing them out and then we can capitalize on chances behind them.”

It was however Tennessee SC who got the game’s final goal, a late consolation in the 87th minute with their first shot on target.

It made no difference to the outcome, with the result already settled much earlier in the afternoon.

“Feeling good,” Symmes said. “It’s overdue. We finally got a lot of points on the board.”

“Good team win, overall,” Howard added. “I think we all just connected well. And it was a hot one, so we pushed through.”

While the win did not lift Legion WFC off the bottom spot in the USL W League’s South Central Division, the Three Sparks are now tied for points with 5th-place Tennessee and 6th-place One Knoxville on 10 points.

Every team has one game left in the season, with Legion WFC traveling to third-place Southern Soccer Academy Saturday.

“Glad the girls have worked hard,” Archard said of the season. “Obviously we’ve had some bumps along the way but at the same time we want to finish the season strong and put everybody in a good mindset going into their preseasons for college and where they’re going next.”

Game facts

Birmingham Legion WFC starters (4-2-3-1): Mac Titus; Peyton Free, Langston Lilly, Kierson McDonald, Sydney Soehn; Mary Frances Symmes, Tatum Ahlemeyer; Kate Smith, Avery Berryman, Lauren Lucero; Ali Howard.

Substitutes: Annie McBride (45’ for Berryman), Addison Soehn (45’ for Kate Smith), Laine Minnich (45’ for Titus), Sofia Sasan (59’ for Howard), Imani Hamilton (63’ for Lilly), and Torri Botthof (66’ for Free).

Goals: Symmes (3’, assisted by Lucero), Smith (19’, assisted by Lucero), Howard (37’, assisted by Symmes) and Howard (55’).

Apologies for the lack of proper match recaps, a bit harder to do those for road games, and since we last spoke to one another, Nashville Rhythm FC have played a whole lot of those.

Last time we looked at the club, they’d just played out a 2-2 draw with TN Tempo FC at home to open the season. Since, they’ve played four more, and on Saturday, they’ll play their penultimate fixture of the season at home against Jackson Ignite FC.

First up after that home draw in the opener, on June 1st, Rhythm grabbed a 4-3 win on the road at FC Birmingham. After going up 3-0, a hat trick from Birmingham’s Rebecca Sierra leveled the scores, but an almost instantaneous reply to Birmingham’s third from Nashville’s Aoi Kawabuchi gave the visitors all three points.

Then, another road trip, this time to 865 Alliance on June 8th, would not see the same outcome. a brace from Alivia Stott and a third from Jayla Blue could only be bookended by Nashville’s Jayden Boelter, giving Alliance the win, and the leg up in the race for the Pioneer Division title.

Since then, it’s been all good news for Rhythm. a 7-1 win at Jackson Ignite on June 14th would be followed up the very next day with a 5-1 Father’s Day home victory over FC Birmingham.

Then, backs against the wall in one final road trip to TN Tempo, Naho Yamamura and Gracelyn Williams provided the difference for Rhythm in a 2-0 dispatching of the home Tempo in Murfreesboro.

Now, only two games remain. Saturday, Rhythm host Jackson Ignite, a fixture they seem incredibly likely to win by a large margin. Then, in the final game of the season on June 28th, Rhythm will host 865 Alliance in what could be a de-facto Division Championship Game.

For that to happen, Rhythm will be keeping their eye on how Alliance performs over the next 48 hours. This weekend it’s Alliance’s turn to play back-to-back, with a road trip to FC Birmingham on Saturday followed by a home bout with TN Tempo on Sunday.

To set up a title decider, Rhythm will be hoping that Alliance pick up no more than four of their maximum of six points from these fixtures.

If it does come to pass, it could be quite the scene in Mt. Juliet on the 28th. But, for Rhythm, first things first, they need to take care of business against Jackson Ignite on Saturday.

We’ll talk again for a recap of the Jackson Ignite game soon, see you then!

Paige Phillips, who played for Milton High School and Pensacola State College, scored three goals to lead Pensacola FC’s undefeated senior women’s team to a 7-1 win Wednesday against PFC’s Academy side. CREDIT: Pensacola State College

Race’s end surprises Pelicans’ coach

Sometimes you really don’t see the forest for the trees. That was the case for first-year Pensacola FC senior women’s team coach Chandler Castleman when he learned the Lady Pelicans had clinched first place in their division.

“I’m a game by game person,” Castleman told Southeast Soccer Report on Friday. “So much so, I was completely unaware that we had won the (division) when we did.”

The Pelicans (7-0-0, 21 points) protected their undefeated record Wednesday at Ashton Brosnaham Stadium with a 7-1 win against PFC’s Academy side (2-3-2, 8 points). Meanwhile, about 60 miles east at Choctawhatchee High School’s Joe Etheredge Stadium in Fort Walton Beach, the Florida Roots routed TLH Reckoning 6-1 to claw its way into the playoff race and ensure the team from Tallahassee can finish no better than second.

How PFC clinched the division

The Pelicans, ranked third in the most recent Women’s Premier Soccer League South Region power rankings, have scored 25 goals and conceded only twice this season; with three points for each of their seven wins, Pensacola already has 21 points earned. Both Roots and Reckoning have 10 points, but the Roots (3-4-1) have played one game more than the Reckoning (3-3-1); at best, these teams can earn 16 and 19 points, respectively.

Castleman chalks Pensacola’s performance up to talent and hard work.

“I firmly believe in being a successful coach you need great players, and we have those in abundance. I can without a doubt say a large part of our success is down to their ability and the commitment they’ve shown to us this summer,” he said. “I think so much of it is down to the sacrifices and commitment that everyone within the organization has made, from the players, to the coaches, owner, backroom staff, managers, video, announcers, etc.”

Race for second

The race for second in the six-team Third Coast Division of the WPSL’s Gulf Coast Conference could come down to the last match of the regular season.

The Reckoning must be the favorites, but if they falter, Roots and Gulf Coast United (2-3-1, 7 points with four matches remaining) are likely replacements. PFC Academy (2-3-2, 8 points, three matches remaining) is a contender but Union 10 FC (2-5-1, 7 points with just two games left to play) has to be considered a long shot.

The Lady Pelicans will host the Delta Basin Division’s runner-up in the conference semifinals. LA Krewe Rush (4-2-0, 12 points before Friday’s match at Shreveport United (2-3-0, 6 points) leads the conference’s western division, with Mississippi Blues SC (2-0-3, 9 points) in second and Hattiesburg FC (2-1-2, 8 points) third. Only Baton Rouge United, with one point from its first five matches, seems unlikely to challenge for a playoff slot, but they aren’t yet eliminated from contention.

“I honestly haven’t looked that far ahead,” Castleman said when asked about the playoffs. “Whoever we play, we will do our best to win; our ultimate goal is to be back at nationals, so just one step at a time for us at this point.”

Keeping the gang together

Most summer “pre-professional” leagues face the same challenge as seasons wind down and playoffs begin: many of their players are student athletes on summer break and must return to campus, sometimes as early as mid-July.

Castleman said he hopes to keep the Pelicans together as long as possible.

“As everyone does, we might lose a few here or there,” he said, but, “We expect our core group to be with us and ultimately all these other clubs are in the same boat as us. Thankfully, we have a lot of local kids who probably won’t be leaving as early to their colleges as players who aren’t from here would be.”

The Gulf Coast Conference regular season ends Saturday, June 28. Unofficially, conference playoffs will be the first weekend in July, with the regional and national tournaments played July 12-13 and July 18-20, respectively.

The WPSL national tournament will be played at Neal Patterson Stadium on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

‘Coastal Clash’

Pensacola’s senior and Academy teams both host matches this weekend. The division champs kickoff against Gulf Coast United at 4 p.m. at Ashton Brosnaham Stadium, the first of a senior teams doubleheader billed as “Coastal Clash.” The Pensacola men’s senior team, which leads its division in The League for Clubs’ Gulf Coast Conference, hosts Gaffa FC at 7:15 p.m.

Adult tickets for the doubleheader are $10 each; Coastal Rush member families will be admitted free. Concessions, including beer, will be available and the club plans several activities throughout the day to celebrate soccer in the First City.

The PFC women’s Academy team will play Roots at 5 p.m. Sunday at Ashton Brosnaham.

WPSL Gulf Coast Conference

DELTA BASIN DIVISION

1. LA Krewe Rush, 4-2-0, 12 points, +8

2. Mississippi Blues SC, 2-0-3, 9 points, +9

3. Hattiesburg FC, 2-1-2, 8 points, +2

4. Shreveport United, 2-3-0, 6 points, -10

5. Baton Rouge United, 0-4-1, 1 point, -9

THIRD COAST DIVISION

1. Pensacola FC, 7-0-0, 21 points, +23

2. Florida Roots, 3-4-1, 10 points, +1

3. TLH Reckoning, 3-3-1, 10 points, -1

4. PFC Academy, 2-3-2, 8 points, -11

5. Gulf Coast United, 2-3-1, 7 points, -4

6. Union 10 FC, 2-5-1, 7 points, -16

WEEK 7 MATCHES

(Times CDT)

DELTA BASIN DIVISION

Tuesday, June 17

• LA Krewe Rush 2, Baton Rouge United 0

Wednesday, June 18

• Mississippi Blues SC 0, Hattiesburg FC 0

Friday, June 20

• Shreveport United vs. LA Krewe Rush, 7:15 p.m., Lee Hedges Stadium, Shreveport, La.

Saturday, June 21

• Baton Rouge United vs. Hattiesburg FC, 7:15 p.m., Olympia Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.

Sunday, June 22

• Shreveport United vs. Mississippi Blues SC, 5 p.m., Lee Hedges Stadium, Shreveport, La.

THIRD COAST DIVISION

Tuesday, June 17

• Union 10 FC vs. Gulf Coast United, ppd.

Wednesday, June 18

• Florida Roots 6, TLH Reckoning 1

• PFC Academy 1, Pensacola FC 7

Saturday, June 21

• Union 10 FC vs. TLH Reckoning, 3 p.m., Village Park, Daphne, Ala.

• Pensacola FC VS. Gulf Coast United, 4 p.m., Ashton Brosnaham Stadium, Pensacola, Fla.

Sunday, June 22

• PFC Academy vs. Florida Roots, 5 p.m., Ashton Brosnaham Stadium, Pensacola, Fla.

WEEK 8 MATCHES

(Times CDT)

DELTA BASIN DIVISION

Tuesday, June 24

• LA Krewe Rush vs. Mississippi Blues SC, 6 p.m., Lafayette Christian Academy, Lafayette, La.

Wednesday, June 25

• Shreveport United vs. Baton Rouge United, 6 p.m., Lee Hedges Stadium, Shreveport, La.

Saturday, June 28

• Baton Rouge United vs. Mississippi Blues SC, 4:30 p.m., Olimpia Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.

• Hattiesburg vs. LA Krewe Rush, 7:15 p.m., Tatum Park, Hattiesburg, Miss.

THIRD COAST DIVISION

Friday, June 27

• Pensacola FC vs. Union 10 FC, 7 p.m., Ashton Brosnaham Stadium, Pensacola, Fla.

Saturday, June 28

• TLH Reckoning vs. PFC Academy, 11:30 a.m., Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla.

• Gulf Coast United vs. Florida Roots, 4 p.m., Herbert Wilson Stadium, Gulfport, Miss.

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Match: Georgia Impact v Chattanooga FC

Date: Wednesday, June 18th, 2025. 19:00 (Eastern)

Venue: Tommy Baker Field, Canton, GA. Capacity: 4,000

How to watch: National Soccer Network

Tickets: Georgia Impact Website

Second-place Chattanooga FC (4-0-1) head south on I-75 this Wednesday night for a midweek match-up with third-place Georgia Impact (2-0-3) in the WPSL Southeast Conference - Peachtree Division.

The Impact sits in third place and without much to play for beyond pride as we head into the last games of the regular season. Stuck on six points, they’re six behind Chattanooga and 12 behind leaders, Decatur FC. While their season did improve after a slow start, last Sunday’s 4-0 beating at home by Decatur showed how far they are behind the divisional best and confirmed their status as a mid-table side for this season. Of their last three games, which includes Wednesday’s tie with CFC, two are against the top two sides in the division, and two are away from home.

Chattanooga is the only side that can still catch runaway leaders Decatur. They visit Decatur on the last day of the regular season (Friday 27th) and currently trail them by six points but have a game in-hand. Realistically, they need to win in Canton, and score goals, to keep themselves in the hunt, as Decatur doesn’t look like dropping many points. On Saturday, CFC were 2-0 winners over a stubborn Atlanta Fire United after second half goals from Reese McDermott and Kaylie Smith.

Georgia and Chattanooga most recently met on 30 May at Finley Stadium where CFC came from behind to win 2-1. Lydia Robertson opened the scoring for the Impact on 7 minutes before player-of-the-match Hannah Tillett and McDermott gave Chattanooga the lead before half-time.

Report cards and lineups

Georgia Impact

A rather indifferent season so far for Georgia. They started slow but then managed to pick up two wins on the bounce against fourth-place Atlanta Fire. Last weekend saw their heaviest defeat of the season when Decatur came to Tommy Baker Field and swept four unanswered goals passed them. The Impact’s home record for the season stands at 1 win, 2 losses, 3 goals scored and 6 conceded (-3).

Head Coach Rob Roddie appears to favor some variant of a 3-4-3, with slight variations. Generally, he seems to play three center backs and looks to play with width in the middle and final third.

Madison Hook and Anna Weir are the team’s joint-top scorers this season, with two goals each. The Impact’s roster is entirely made up of college-age athletes recruited largely from local communities.

One player to watch is Grace Eatz. As a junior, the Roswell, GA-native played in all 16 matches for East Tennessee State last year, making 15 starts. She led her team with four goals scored to go with an assist for a team-best nine points. She also led ETSU in shot attempts (31) and shots on goal (16) and finished the season with 1,050 minutes played on the pitch. Eatz already has one goal this season for Georgia Impact.

Chattanooga

This is only CFC’s second away fixture of the season. Their only prior road trip resulted in a 1-0 win at UFA Gunners. However, Wednesday evening’s match-up marks the start of a three game away stand to close out the regular season for Chattanooga. While as yet largely untested on the road, they’re nonetheless strong enough to be confident of a win at Georgia Impact, especially with an expected horde of travelling fans behind them.

Given that WPSL games see a plethora of substitutions and players coming in-and-out of the game, a distinct starting XI may not be too important. The above is what I feel might be CFC’s strongest XI, currently.

While goals have come from across the team, including one each from Annalisa Vincent, Kaylie Smith, Mae Hunt, and Hannah Tillett, and two from Kennedy Ball; CFC’s primary threat is Reese McDermott. The 22-year-old is my player to watch again this week. Having arrived at the club from Colorado Storm, with whom she reached the final of the USL W League last season, scoring ten goals in 15 matches; she has netted five in five so far in 2025 and is the division’s leading goalscorer. Expect her to be on the scoresheet on Wednesday also, should CFC win.

Analysis and Predictions

For Georgia there really isn’t much to say. They’re playing for pride and, while that can be an important factor in any performance, it’s not something predictable nor tangible enough to hang your hopes on. CFC have everything to play, and win, for and that, plus their visible strengths over the Impact, make them favorites.

What this will mean for the divisional crown though, has yet to be seen.

• If CFC loses at Georgia, then Decatur only needs a point from its last two games (both at home) to win the division.

• If CFC ties at Georgia, then Decatur only needs two points from its last two games to win the division. Although, a point would likely still do, as CFC’s goal difference is inferior.

• If CFC wins at Georgia, and maintains pressure on Decatur, then all bets are off. They’ll be only three points behind, albeit with an inferior goal difference, with two games to play.

It will be tricky as Decatur looks unstoppable right now, and unless CFC can start putting more balls in the net and narrowing that goal difference, then it might not matter if they’re only three behind come final day, as they’d have too much of a difference to make up. Ideally, CFC needs Decatur to slip up somewhere between now and then.

First though, they need to handle their own business and win in Canton on Wednesday. I think they can, and should, do so. 2-1.

A spirited comeback effort was not enough for Birmingham Legion WFC Tuesday in their USL W League encounter with Southern Soccer Academy.

In a game both delayed and relocated due to weather, Birmingham’s semi-pro women’s team conceded two early goals they never recovered from. Despite halving the lead before the break, Legion WFC never found the equalizer and ultimately fell 2-1.

Originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the Dunnavant Valley Training Facility, the game moved less than an hour before kickoff due to severe weather in the area. The new location and start time were Briarwood Christian School and 4:15, but the game did not actually kick off until 5 p.m.

Once it did get underway, however, it was Southern Soccer Academy who immediately went on the front foot.

Just eight minutes into the encounter, an attack down the left side resulted in a perfectly weighted chip over the head of WFC goalkeeper Mac Titus and into the back of the net.

The Three Sparks nearly responded immediately off a deep free kick. Kierson McDonald sent it into the box for Avery Berryman to knock down, but Addison Soehn’s ensuing shot was straight at the keeper.

Not even a minute later, the other Soehn — Sydney Soehn — was making a great last ditch slide tackle to prevent a SSA forward going through for a one-on-one.

Sydney, the defender, ended up much the busier of the Soehn sisters for the next few minutes as Legion WFC endured repeat attacks from the visiting team. The Three Sparks struggled to retain possession in the center of the park, with Lauren Lucero often left isolated at the base of the midfield and unable to get things going attacking-wise.

Only resilient defensive work from Sydney, McDonald, Langston Lilly and Ava Mills prevented a second goal, but it could not last forever.

In the 21st minute, SSA’s dominance paid off again.

A forward made a good run in behind into the space between the left centerback and left back, and despite the acute angle lofted the game’s second chipped attempt into the back of the net.

Barely over 20 minutes into the game, the score read 2-0 to the visitors with Legion WFC yet to truly trouble the opposite goalkeeper.

The second goal did have an effect on the Birmingham women, however, who grew into the contest from there on out.

In the 28th minute, Mary Frances Symmes cut in from the right and let fly, but her left-footed effort was just over the bar. It showed growing attacking intent by the hosts, and it paid off with a corner five minutes later.

Addison sent the right-sided corner to the back post, where McDonald and Sydney combined to send it back across goal. Taylor Leib rose highest to meet the second ball and sent it crashing into the back of the net to reduce SSA’s lead.

An Addison free-kick nestled on just the wrong side of the post as the half wore out, sending the players into the break with the score 2-1 to the visitors.

Legion WFC continued their push for an equalizer in the second half, but it was not to be. Despite good combination play and movement to get into SSA’s final third, the final pass always seemed to be lacking for the young women.

Possibly a result of the wet turf field, the final ball more often than not was sent in with too much weight, evading the attacking players and going out for a goal kick.

SSA threatened to restore their two-goal lead late in the half as well, first with a shot across goal in the 76th minute.

Then, in the 81st, SSA sent a header crashing onto the bar from point blank range. The second ball fell back into the box, and only miraculous work from the surrounding defenders and goalkeeper Kacey Powell, subbed on at halftime, prevented it crossing the line.

Up the other end, Legion WFC’s best chances came from Symmes down the right flank.

Second-half substitute Sofia Sasan did well to win a aerial battle in the 86th minute which Symmes kept alive and carried to the byline. But the ensuing cross was claimed at the second attempt by SSA’s goalkeeper.

A similar situation lent itself to the final chance of the game deep in stoppage time as Symmes once again raced down the wing. This time, the midfielder lofted her cross, and whether purposefully or by accident it veered towards goal. But though it looked at one point as though the ball might fly into the net, it bounced off the crossbar instead and out for a goal kick.

There were to be no more chances for either side, and the game ended 2-1 to Southern Soccer Academy.

Birmingham Legion WFC are now bottom of the W League’s South Central Division, albeit with a game in hand on second-to-bottom One Knoxville. The Three Sparks head to second-place Greenville Liberty next at 7 p.m. Friday.

Legion WFC return home next week for their final home game of 2025 at 4 p.m. June 25, taking on Tennessee SC. They close out the season with a rematch with Southern Soccer Academy in Georgia June 28.

This one came alive after an hour. A stodgy first-half, marked by some excellent link-up play in the middle third by Chattanooga and some wonderful saves by Atlanta Fire United’s Emily Dorfman, had bled into the second half. While CFC were dominating possession and chances, there was the air of a 0-0 draw hanging over Finley Stadium like a specter.

A draw, though, wasn’t what Chattanooga FC’s coaches, players, fans, and club officials were looking for. They’d come into this game six points off division leaders Decatur FC, albeit with a game in-hand, and knew that wins and goals were needed to stay in a title fight.

And the goals, when they came, along with some other events, were worth the wait. After 70 minutes, a long ball from CFC’s Jordan Crockett found its way into the box where Hannah Tillett was the first to meet it. Chesting it down carefully, she then caressed the ball toward the center of the goal beyond a scrambling Dorfman. Reese McDermott was there, unmarked, to finish into an empty net. Scrappy and a tap-in, but they all count. This takes nothing away from the build-up play through a wonderful Crockett long-ball and some very skillful control by Tillett. This was a team goal, and the first of two CFC would score. It was also McDermott’s fifth goal of the season, in five games.

Not that Atlanta weren’t trying themselves. The sibling duo of Taylor and Danielle Lewin caused Chattanooga problems through some clever and physical play but never had the support to make it count. Ultimately, CFC goalkeeper Kyleigh Hall would have very little to do.

Things got weird fifteen minutes after McDermott’s goal. I mentioned physical play already, and the Fire were quite physical. The referee didn’t have to issue too many cards, but did give plenty of cautions. One particularly physical player on the Atlanta side was Sophia Martelli who saw red on 84 minutes when she shoulder-charged Kasey Vigil. There was some debate on this in the press box, but having watched it back, I think it merited a red card. Martelli was chasing possession but was beaten to the ball by Vigil who booted it away. Martelli not only followed through to body-check Vigil, but from my viewing looked to deliberately turn her left shoulder inward when making contact, off the ball and with no itention of getting the ball. It was unnecessary and dirty.

A strange few minutes ensued. The referee took no time nor consultation to make his decision and immediately approached Martelli with a card. But it was a yellow, followed straight away by a red. This may look as though Martelli was receiving a second yellow, leading to a red. But she, to my knowledge, hadn’t been carded before. So, what was the yellow about? Was it a mistake? Was he giving a yellow to a teammate of hers? Barely had we time to figure it out when another red was shown, this time to Martelli’s coach, Dominic Martelli, who was sent-off for encroaching onto the field in protest.

Initially going to sit on the bench, the Martellis eventually walked off the playing area to cheers and jeers from the Chattahoooligans. They took it well however, smiling and waving as they made their way to the changing room. I am unsure whether Sophia and Dominic are related, but I suspect they might be. If so, then in 32 years of watching soccer, this would be my first time seeing family members get sent off together. That’d be one for the books!

Atlanta’s assistant coach was also yellow carded earlier in the game, to add to an interesting day for the club.

With only 10 women on the field, the Fire appeared to go into damage limitation mode and used up every sub on the bench. Matters were settled for good on the stroke of 90 minutes with some good build-up play and passing from Crockett and Brady Livingston. The latter fed a delicious back-heel to find Kayleigh Smith who shot from the corner of the box, first time with her weaker left foot and send it flying past Atlanta’s defenders and into the goal. A fine strike for any occasion and a goal she’ll be proud of.

A dominant win from CFC. Standout performances came from Crockett who was involved in both goal build-ups, Tillett and Livingstone for a pair of fine assists, and Smith and McDermot for their goals. Mae Hunt had a superb game in the middle of the park for Chattanooga, even if she was not involved in either goal. For Atlanta, Emily Dorfman can take a lot of pride in her performance in goal, especially in the first half, as can the Lewins sisters who deserved better for their tireless efforts.

Fans and club officials certainly had one eye on Sunday’s clash in Canton where the Georgia Impact will host top-of-the-table Decatur FC. CFC will be hoping the Impact can do them a favor by stripping points off lethal Decatur, handing them a lifeline. That game kicks off at 6pm.

Box Score

Chattanooga FC - Atlanta Fire United

WPSL

Venue: Finley Stadium | Chattanooga, TN

Final Score: Chattanooga 2-0 Atlanta Fire

Scoring summary:

70': R. McDermott (CFC)
90': K. Smith (CFC)

Discipline:

4': D. Lewin (AFU) - yellow card
62’: Assistant coach (AFU) - yellow card
84’: S. Martelli (AFU) - red card
84’: D. Martelli (AFU) - red card

Player of the Match: Kaylie Smith (CFC) - took her goal excellently and with confidence resulting in a wonderful strike. One of a number of candidates for this award, as this was a team win, not an individual one.

Line-ups:

Chattanooga FC: Kyleigh Hall, Abbey Marak, Kei Yoneda, Jordan Crockett, Kaylie Smith, Kasie Vigil, Rine Yonaha, Mae Hunt, Hannah Tillett, EG Dillard, Reese McDermott

Subs: Bille Jean Davies, Kloe Reeves, Brady Livingston, Annalisa Vincent, Ella Attaway, Bella Valentinw
Not used: Maddie Smith, Hannah Helms, Ryleigh Ramey

Head Coach: Juan Hernandez

UFA Gunners: Emily Dorfman, Chandler Browning, Danielle Lewin, Emma Pethel, Weslee Istone-Haupt, Kayleigh Hilton, Lydia Lewis, Gabriella Plaia, Sophia Martelli, Taylor Lewin, Taylor Youmans

Subs: Madelyn Allen, Yazmeen Vargas, Leila Alvarez, Kaitlin Cook, Eva Martin. Zoey Elliott
Not used: none

Head Coach: Dominic Martelli

Next Games

• June 18th, 19:00 (ET): Georgia Impact v Chattanooga FC, Cherokee High School, Canton, GA (WPSL)

• June 20th, 19:00 (ET): UFA Gunners v Atlanta United Fire, Great Dane Stadium, Alpharetta, GA (WPSL)

Match: Chattanooga FC v Atlanta Fire United

Date: Saturday, June 15th, 2025. 19:00 (Eastern)

Venue: Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, TN. Capacity: 20,412

How to watch: National Soccer Network

Tickets: Chattanooga FC Website

Fourth-place Atlanta Fire United (1-0-4) head north on Saturday night for a tough match-up with second-place Chattanooga FC (3-0-1) in the WPSL Southeast Conference - Peachtree Division. In what is forecasted as a rainy evening in the Scenic City, the hosts will be looking to keep pace with first-placed Decatur FC and go out with a bang in what will be its final regular season home match of the season. CFC is coming off a 1-0 away victory over bottom-side UFA Gunners

For Atlanta Fire, they come into the tie off a four-match losing streak going back to Matchweek 2 of the season. Unimpressive both home and away, they most recently fell 4-1 at home to Georgia Impact and have conceded 17 goals, more than any other side in the division.

While the temperamental weather conditions may impact attendance in the stands, what effect they’ll have on the game remains to be seen. Will we see a free-flowing goal fest in front of a raucous home crowd, or will it be a slogging battle amidst the deluge?

Report cards and lineups

Chattanooga

CFC comes into this game with a 2-0-1 home record, their only loss at Finley Stadium being to top-of-the-table Decatur FC. They’ve scored eight goals in those three home matches, and conceded three. Far from invincible on home soil, they’re nonetheless strong enough to be confident whenever they play in front of their fans.

Head Coach Juan Hernandez has been fairly consistent with many of the players he selects to start games. Reese McDemott, Mae Hunt, Kei Yoneda, and EG Dillard started all four games thus far, so we can expect them to do so tonight. While I had expected to see more rotation in the CFC goal, Maddie Smith has nailed down the starting berth, having lined out in three of the side’s four games.

While goals have come from across the team, including one each from Annalisa Vincent, Mae Hunt, and Hannah Tillett, and two from Kennedy Ball; CFC’s primary threat is Reese McDermott. The 22-year-old is my player to watch. Having arrived at the club from Colorado Storm, with whom she reached the final of the USL W League last season, scoring ten goals in 15 matches; she has netted four in four so far in 2025 and will surely be instrumental if CFC is to win this evening.

Atlanta Fire

A tough season so far for the Fire. Second-from-bottom and with only one win in five, they’ve conceded a division worst 17 goals, thanks mainly to heavy losses at Georgia Impact (3-0 and 4-1) and Decatur (twice losing 5-2). Having only scored six, their goal difference is -11. Away from home, they’ve played two and lost two, scoring two and conceding eight.

The Fire are another side with a consistent back-bone having started Abigail Kilman, Emma Pethel, and Kayleigh Hilton in all of the team’s games so far. Savannah Sabo has retained her place in goal in all but one game, in spite of how many goals she and Kayleigh Hilton’s defense have shipped. Local player Weslee Istone-Haupt came into the side late, but has established herself in the team, even scoring a goal.

The side’s goals though have mainly come from Danielle Lewin and Ivey Crain who have two each for the season. Lewin is my player-to-watch. Another Georgia-native, she represented the Bulldogs from 2021 to 2024 and was named to the SEC All-Freshmen Team in 2021, playing in 19 matches. She was third on the team in goals and shots on goal and was fourth in points and shots as a freshman. In her time at Georgia, she scored eight goals and notched an assist. Earlier this year, she moved to Western Kentucky University. She was also invited to play with the Jamaican National Team in preparation for the 2020 U17 Women's World Cup.

Analysis and Predictions

Although CFC stumbled in their recent outing against Decatur, that was against the division’s strongest side, something the Fire are a long way away from being. Chattanooga’s home form (P:3 W:2 D:0 L:1) is a daunting prospect for any visiting side and gives them a distinct edge when it plays in front of its noisy fans at Finley Stadium.

Atlanta Fire’s road form (P:2 W:0 D:0 L:2) is abysmal to be honest and they have a knack for heavy beatings away (3-0 and 5-2). Given these diametrically different home and away records, the record between these two sides, and Chattanooga’s superior place in the table, I can see no other outcome than a home win. 3-0.

Pensacola FC is clearly the best team in their division, having won their four matches by a combined score of 13-1. The Lady Pelicans lead the WPSL Gulf Coast Conference’s Third Coast division by four points despite playing fewer matches than any of its opponents.

Jillian Thompson scored the first goal in Pensacola FC’s 3-0 win Saturday at Gulf Coast United. CREDIT: Pensacola FC

But being the team to beat comes with its own set of challenges. First-year coach Chandler Castleman said Gulf Coast United “played with a level of aggression that, at times, crossed into recklessness” during PFC’s 3-0 win Saturday in Gulfport, Miss.

“Given our position at the top of the table and the reputation that now follows this group, I believe it’s essential moving forward that referees are made more aware of the way some teams are approaching these matchups,” Castleman said earlier this week. “While we welcome competitive games, player safety must remain a priority. I’ll be addressing this proactively before future matches.”

Pensacola (4-0-0, 12 points, +12 goal differential) plays the first of those future games with a 5 p.m. kickoff today against last-place Union 10 FC (1-4-0, 3 points, -7) in Daphne, Ala.

Pensacola FC 3, Gulf Coast United 0

The hosts came out playing a low-block 4-4-2 in the first-half trying to neutralize Pensacola’s wingers, Castleman said, but the Pelicans still managed to create several chances.

Jillian Thompson flicked a Rainey Niles’ free kick into the net in the 30th minute to start the scoring. Addison Smith got the second goal in the 43rd minute after Emma Beltz dribbled through several defenders and passed the ball back across the face of goal for an easy finish.

Gulf Coast changed to a 5-3-2 defensive formation in the second half, but the sisters Labović combined for the Pelicans’ final goal in the 88th minute. Bella played the ball to Zivana, who flicked the ball over the Gulf Coast United keeper’s head and into the net with her first touch.

“The team’s energy, effort, and attitude throughout the match were excellent,” Castleman said. “We dictated the rhythm of the game and managed to stay composed even when the opposition became increasingly physical.”

Castleman singled out playmaker Emma Beltz for her “driving the team forward and creating goal-scoring opportunities” and noted the efforts of Zivana Labović and Ava Matherne in their returns to the squad.

Sydney Magliocca, a Quebec native who plays forward for South Alabama, made her debut and impressed Castleman with her “composure and work rate.”

The backline of Bela Labović, Bailey Erwin and Aila Swinton — who, along with goalkeepers Mia Ferkranus and Jaiden Kinch, have held opponents to a single goal in four matches — “continued their consistent form and remained organized throughout the match,” he added.

Despite the positive result, Castleman said the Pelicans need to be more patient in building their attack.

“We were a bit too direct at times and missed opportunities to shift the opponent and break them down more methodically,” he said. “In all, this was a strong team performance with valuable contributions across the board and signs of continued growth.”

THIRD COAST DIVISION STANDINGS

• Pensacola FC, 4-0-0, 12 points, +8*

• Gulf Coast United, 2-2-2, 8 points, -3

• PFC Academy, 2-2-2, 8 points, -4

• TLH Reckoning, 2-2-1, 7 points, + 3

• Florida Roots, 2-3-1, 7 points, -3

• Union 10 FC, 1-4-0, 3 points, -7

*WPSL caps goal differential at +8; PFC has scored 12 goals more than its opponents).

SCORES

WEEK FIVE

Wednesday, June 4

• PFC Academy 1, Union 10 FC 0

Saturday, June 7

• PFC Academy 2, TLH Reckoning 2

• Gulf Coast United 0, Pensacola FC 3

• Roots 1, Union 10 FC 2

Sunday, June 8

• Florida Roots 2, Gulf Coast United 2

UPCOMING MATCHES

WEEK SIX

(Times CDT)

Wednesday, June 11

• Union 10 FC vs. Pensacola FC, 5 p.m., Village Park, Daphne, Ala.

Saturday, June 14

• TLH Reckoning vs. Gulf Coast United, 2 p.m., Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla.

• Union 10 FC vs. PFC Academy, 5 p.m., Village Park, Daphne, Ala.

• Pensacola FC vs. Florida Roots, 7:15 p.m., Ashton Brosnaham Stadium, Pensacola, Fla.

It was all Port City FC on Saturday night in Irmo as the visitors scored two quick first-half goals in the 21^st and 24^th minutes to break open the match versus Soda City FC in route to all three points in this WPSL South Atlantic Carolinas Conference match up.

Port City again scored two quick goals, this time in the second half, in the 69^th and 73^rd minutes to leave no doubt as to the result. Soda City enjoyed some spells of possession in both halves but just were unable to find the final ball to unlock the very organized Port City defense and really trouble the Port City keepers. Morgan Hobbs and Reagan Donnelly combined for the shutout in the Port nets.

Ella Johnson was played a long, direct ball up and over the Soda back line in the 21^st minute where she collected the long pass before driving into the Soda penalty area where she roofed her shot up and over the Soda keeper for the 1-0 lead.

Port City dialed up the pressure and scored another goal in the 24^th minute as Avery Barr broke free at the back post on a corner kick to nod the ball down past the Soda keeper to increase the advantage for the visitors.

The match settled into more of a midfield duel for possession until Julia Hellenkamp scored the third Port City goal in the 69^th minute. Just four minutes later, a trip in the Soda box led to Port’s fourth goal on the evening as Cassidy Oldham guided in a PK just out of the reach of the Soda keeper low into the bottom left corner of the net.

The final minutes of the match were played just before a strong line of thunderstorms rolled into the area and Port City took all three points back to Wilmington, North Carolina with the 4-0 victory.

Port City FC climb into first place in the WPSL South Atlantic Carolinas Conference (3-0-0; 9 points) while Soda City FC slip into fourth place (1-4-0; 3 points) in conference play. Port City will host NC FC in their next match on June 11. Soda City will also host NC FC in their next match on June 21.

The Pensacola FC Academy women’s team beat Union 10 FC 1-0 Wednesday at Ashton Brosnaham Stadium. The Pelicans’ starters are pictured above. CREDIT: Pensacola FC

Academy gaining confidence

Pensacola FC’s academy teams are younger and less experienced than the senior sides; when they compete in the same leagues, the “academy” tag may cause opponents to take them less seriously than the older Pelicans.

That’s fine with academy women’s coach Austin King.

“We know that we can play and compete with most teams that we play,” King said Thursday. The Lady Pelicans beat Union 10 FC 1-0 the night before, moving them — at least temporarily — into third place in the six-team Third Coast Division of the WPSL Gulf Coast Conference. “We also know that the other squads will typically be more experienced than we are but that just gives us a chip on our shoulder, not a monkey on our back.”

PFC Academy tied Gulf Coast United and lost by a goal to the Florida Roots to start the season; a 6-0 loss to the Lady Pelicans’ senior team May 28 left them with a 0-2-1 record and one point.

King wasn’t concerned.

“After losing 6-0 to the senior Pelican squad, some might have thought we were not going to be able to win any games,” he said. “However, I think even in that match we played better than we did last season. I am really proud of the ladies for winning back-to-back games and looking forward to the potential of the rest of the season.”

Against Union 10, from Daphne, Ala., Norah Petermann earned a penalty kick in the eighth minute and Jezlyn Nelson made converted the ensuing kick for the match’s only goal.

“The rest of the first half was a back and forth affair, but to be fair Union 10 probably had the better run of things,” King said. “In the second half, we created three clearcut chances with 1-v-1 opportunities (two for Petermann and one for Michelle Melancon), but were unable to convert them.”

King said the team — especially Avril Clark, Taylor Kerle and goalkeeper Remy Redmon — played great defense down the stretch with Union 10 pushing hard for an equalizer. Redmon finished with eight saves.

The Academy (2-2-1, 7 points) will try for its third-straight win Saturday when it hosts TLH Academy (2-2-0, 6 points) in the first match of an academy doubleheader. The women’s match is set to kickoff at 3 p.m. at Ashton Brosnaham Stadium.

Pensacola FC Academy’s men’s team (2-2-1, 7 points) will play Gaffa FC (2-4-0, 6 points) from Jackson, Miss., at 6:30 p.m.

THIRD COAST DIVISION STANDINGS

• Pensacola FC, 3-0-0, 9 points, +8*

• Gulf Coast United, 2-1-1, 7 points, 0

• PFC Academy, 2-2-1, 7 points, -4

• TLH Reckoning, 2-2-0, 6 points, + 3

• Florida Roots, 1-3-0, 3 points, -3

• Union 10 FC, 1-3-0, 3 points, -5

*WPSL caps goal differential at +8; PFC has scored nine goals more than its opponents).

SCORES

• PFC Academy 1, Union 10 FC 0

UPCOMING MATCHES

(Times CDT)

WEEK FIVE

Saturday, June 7

• PFC Academy vs. TLH Reckoning, 3 p.m., Ashton Brosnaham Stadium, Pensacola

• Gulf Coast United vs. Pensacola FC, 4 p.m., Herbert Wilson Stadium, Gulfport

• Florida Roots vs. Union 10 FC, 7:15 p.m., Joe Etheredge Stadium, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Sunday, June 8

• Florida Roots vs. Gulf Coast United, 3 p.m., Joe Etheredge Stadium, Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.