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MATCHES TO WATCH IN 2025 — EAST REGION

Published May 7, 2025

MATCHES TO WATCH —
EAST REGION

Longstanding rivalries and local derbies are the theme in the East Region this year, as some of the longest tenured clubs in the league look to knock Clarkstown Soccer Club from its lofty pedestal as reigning East Region champs, while expansion clubs in Cleveland, southern and upstate New York, and Connecticut look make the league take notice. Here are some of the most anticipated games in the East Region entering the 2025 season.

WEEK TWO: May 12 - 18

Columbus Eagles FC vs. FC Dayton

Great Lakes Conference – Great River Division

Sunday, May 18

5:30 p.m. (EDT)

Historic Crew Stadium – Columbus, Ohio

After a season-long hiatus, Columbus Eagles FC and FC Dayton resume an intense in-state rivalry that saw them finish deadlocked in division play all the way down to goal differential. After playing in different regions last season, the rivalry reignites in both clubs’ season opener when the Eagles host Dayton at Historic Crew Stadium.

Dayton finished 2025 ranked number three Nationally and number two in the Central Region on the strength of its division-winning performance.

WEEK THREE: May 19-25

RI Rogues FC vs Merrimack Valley Hawks FC

Northeastern Conference

Saturday, May 24

7:30 p.m. (EDT)

Venue TBA

Fresh off a WPSL Championships Semifinal appearance in 2023, the Rogues had topped the Hawks 4-1 in an early season home match last year. The Hawks progress in its expansion season was impressive, playing the surging Rogues to a 2-2 draw in the return match four weeks later.

The two clubs finished two and three in Northeastern Conference play last season with six points separating the two clubs.

WEEK FOUR: May 26-June 1

LVU Rush vs. Hershey FC

Mid-Atlantic Conference – Commonwealth Division

Tuesday, May 27

5 p.m. (EDT)

Gwynedd Mercy University – Gwynedd Valley, Pa.

Both clubs look to rebound after disappointing seasons in this Week Four clash. The Tuesday night matchup will be both club’s second match of the 2025 season.

Hershey won the series in 2024, playing to a 0-0 draw at LVU Rush before earning its only victory of the season at home five days later. LVU enters its second season looking for its first WPSL victory.

Reading United A.C. vs. PA Classics

Mid-Atlantic Conference – Commonwealth Division

Friday, May 30

7 p.m. (EDT)

Alvernia University – Reading, Pa.

The chase for the top spot in the Commonwealth Division heats up in this Week Four clash between two of the division’s contenders in Reading, Pa.

Last season Reading finished a single point ahead of PA Classics thanks to a 3-1 Reading win at home in both club’s final match of the season. After playing to a 1-1 earlier in the season. Both clubs finished 2024 ranked in the top 25 nationally.

Albany Rush vs. Sporting CT

Northeastern Conference

Saturday, May 31

1 p.m. (EDT)

College Park Field – Schenectady, N.Y.

The Northeastern Conference’s two expansion clubs face off. Sporting enters the Week Three clash having the benefit of playing its inaugural home match four days earlier versus the formidable RI Rogues FC. The two clubs face each other in Albany in the Week Four return match.

Niagara 1812 vs. Rochester New York FC

Great Lakes Conference – Lake Erie Division

Saturday, May 31

4 p.m. (EDT)

Niagara University – Niagara University, N.Y.

The top two teams in the Lake Erie Division in 2024 face off for the return leg of a matchup that could have considerable implications on the standings.

The two clubs finished in a dead heat in 2024, seeing Niagara earn the top spot in the division on goal differential. Rochester New York FC held the upper hand in the series last season, winning 1-0 at home in both clubs’ season opener, followed by a 0-0 draw at Niagara ten days later.

SUSA FC vs. Clarkstown Soccer Club

Metropolitan Conference

Saturday, May 31

7 p.m. (EDT)

SUSA Orlin and Cohen Sports Complex – Central Islip, N.Y.

Fresh off a WPSL Championships Semifinal appearance, Clarkstown Soccer Club looks to make waves as the newest member of the always formidable Metropolitan Conference as it kicks off its fourth WPSL Season versus last year’s conference champs, SUSA FC. This Week Four matchup is both club’s season opener.

In 2024, SUSA FC carried its conference title into the East Region Semifinal. Across the bracket, Clarkston won the East Region, falling to California Storm in the WPSL Championships Semifinal. SUSA finished 2024 ranked seventh in the East Conference. Clarkstown’s postseason run helped it reach the number two spot nationally and the top spot in the East Region in the final season rankings.

Corktown WFC vs. Greater Toledo Futbol Club

Great Lakes Conference – Great River Division

Saturday, May 31

7:30 p.m. (EDT)

Wisner Memorial Stadium – Pontiac, Mich.

Great River Division action is on center stage when two sophomore teams square off in Week Four as Corktown WFC hosts Greater Toledo Futbol Club.

The two clubs split the home-and-away series last season, with Greater Toledo winning the inaugural meeting between the two clubs 2-0 at home. Corktown returned serve ten days later, topping Toledo 3-1 in the return match.

WEEK FIVE: June 2-8

Penn Fusion SA vs. SJEB FC

Mid-Atlantic Conference – Colonial Division

Friday, June 6

6 p.m. (EDT)

Penn Fusion Turf Field – West Chester, Pa.

Numbers one and two in 2024 face off for the only time in 2025 in a high-stakes Week Five matchup on the campus of Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J.

Penn Fusion came out on top in the clubs’ two meetings last season. After playing SJEB to a 3-3 draw on the road, Penn Fusion topped SJEB 2-1 at home enroute to its sixth division title, three points clear of SJEB.

WEEK SIX: June 9-15

STA vs. Downtown United Soccer Club

Metropolitan Conference

Sunday, June 15

4 p.m. (EDT)

FDU Hennessy Field

Metropolitan Conference play heats up when perennial conference contenders STA and Downtown United Soccer Club face off in a Week Six showdown with huge implications.

After playing to a 0-0 draw in the two club’s first match at STA, Downtown United came away with a 3-1 return win the next day, carrying that momentum to a second-place conference finish.