WPSL STAFF

 

With play in full swing across the WPSL, the Week 3 Matches of the Week highlight some of the top teams and bitterest of rivalries the new season has to offer. 

The Week 3 Match of the Week previews are brought to you by Hudl.

 

EAST REGION

Real Central NJ vs Delaware Ospreys

Two veteran WPSL clubs square off Friday when Real Central NJ (0-0-1) plays host to the Delaware Ospreys (0-0-0) at Rider University in Lawrence Township, N.J. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT. Watch the match on WPSL TV. 

This is the first meeting of the two clubs. Real Central NJ finished third (5-3-2) in the Keystone Division in 2023. Delaware went 3-5-2, finishing 2023 in fourth place in the Colonial Division. 

Real Central NJ kicked off its 2024 campaign at home, playing West-Mont United to a 2-2 draw. Fifteen minutes into the match Victoria D’Imperio pulled Real Central level at 1-1 with a run onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Kaylin Johnson from her own side of midfield. D’Imperio cut the ball across her defender and buried her shot to the far post. Jade Vieira put the hosts up a goal in the 26’ minute, finishing from inside 12 yards off a heel flick from Bella Miller. The lead held until the hour mark, when Went-Mont found an equalizer. The draw left the two sides level at the top of the Colonial Division table with one point apiece. 

Friday is the Delaware Ospreys opening match of the season. This is the Osprey’s fifth season in the WPSL. The Wilmington-based club is 14-6-6 all-time as it enters its fifth WPSL season. The Osprey’s only Colonial Division title came in 2019. 

 

SOUTH REGION

Austin Rise FC vs #20(7) Houston Aces

The action—and the temperatures—are heating up in the Lone Star Conference as the seventh ranked team in the South Region, Houston Aces (1-0-0) travel to the capitol to face second-year club, Austin Rise FC (0-1-0). Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM CDT at House Park in Austin, Texas. Watch the match on WPSL TV. 

This is the third all-time meeting between the two clubs in WPSL play. The clubs split the home-and away series in 2023, with the home sides winning both matches. Houston won the inaugural match between the two sides 4-2 at Campbell Road Sports Park. Austin won the return match 2-1 at House Park two weeks later. 

Austin Rise FC traveled to San Antonio to open the 2024 season, falling 2-0 to Classic Elites SA. After surrendering a goal in the opening minute of play, Austin spent the rest of the match chasing the game, conceding a second goal ten minutes before the halftime whistle. 

In Houston’s opening match versus visiting SouthStar FC, Kennedy Baquero opened the scoring in the 47’ minute with a looping ball to the far post. Dariana Recarte doubled the lead nine minutes later, cutting the ball back on her defender inside the penalty area and finishing to the far post. With eight minutes to play SouthStar pulled a goal back. Then Madison Bowers made it 3-1 in added time, beating the goalkeeper to the ball at the near post. 

 

CENTRAL REGION

St Croix Legacy vs #11(3) Salvo SC

Northern Conference play kicks off Friday when St. Croix Legacy (0-0-0) hosts 2023 WPSL Championship finalist Salvo SC (0-0-0) at Stillwater Area High School in Stillwater, Minn. Salvo SC is currently ranked third in the Central Region and 11th in the National Power Rankings. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM CDT. Watch the match on WPSL TV.

This is the second meeting between the two clubs in conference play after St. Croix joined the WPSL in 2023. Salvo topped St. Croix 2-0 at Reynolds Field in Roseville, Minn. to earn its first win of the 2023 season after drawing its opening match. 

St. Croix Legacy finished 2023, its first WPSL season, forth while going a respectable 5-4-0.

After finishing second standings race with 6-0-2, Salvo SC rode a wave of momentum into the postseason off its wildcard berth into the Central Region Playoffs. Salvo took FC Milwaukee Torrent to penalty kicks in the regional semifinals after playing to a 0-0 draw in regulation. Salvo then shocked the No.1 ranked team in both the Central Region and National Power Rankings, the Colorado Rapids Women, 2-0 in the regional finals and earned a trip to the WPSL Championship series in Stillwater, Okla. There, Salvo cruised past West Region winners, SC del Sol, 2-0 in the semifinals before falling to the Charlotte Eagles in the championship match. 

 

WEST REGION

MISS KICK FC vs Beach Futbol Club

With play getting underway across the West Region, MISS KICK FC (1-0-0) and Beach Futbol Club (0-0-0) take center stage in the West Region’s Match of the Week. This is both of the Coastal Division clubs’ return to the WPSL fold after hiatuses from the league. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PDT at Irvine Valley College. 

This is the first meeting between the two clubs. 

MISS KICK FC played the Southern California Eagles to a 1-1 draw at Irvine Valley College last Sunday in its return to the WPSL after sitting out the 2023 season. Peyton Leonard pulled the hosts level in the second half after going down a goal. The Los Angeles-based club first joined the WPSL for the 2022 season going 4-1-3 before taking a hiatus for the 2023 season. 

Beach Futbol Club joined the WPSL in 2012, beating fellow MOTW team, Houston Aces in the 2014 WPSL Championship match, 1-0, in Long Beach, Calif. Beach Futbol Club went 3-8-1 in 2019, the club’s last season in the WPSL before its hiatus, and is 56-18-8 all-time.