Chattanooga FC was on a mission coming into the 2025 season. 

 

After finishing the last three seasons well out of postseason contention, Chattanooga FC made wholesale changes to its women’s soccer program, bringing a new coaching staff well-versed in the intricacies of playing in the WPSL, along with a much re-vamped roster stacked with players familiar with what it takes to succeed in the league. 

 

“We began the season with an entirely new roster and coaching staff, which encouraged the group to get to know one another’s qualities on the field,” Maryn Beutler, Chattanooga FC associate head coach, said. “We trained hard and intentionally to cover key moments of the game to ensure we were in coordination with one another when the competition began.”

 

 

 

Photo by Jason Taylor

 

The work Chattanooga put in paid immediate dividends, opening the season in front of a home crowd with a 5-0 win over UFA Gunners, followed by a 2-1 win, again at home, over Georgia Impact a week later. 

 

The club faced its first true test in Matchweek Five when DECATUR FC rolled into Finley Stadium. An early lapse in concentration saw Chattanooga go down two goals in the first fifteen minutes of the match. By the time Reese McDermot put Chattanooga on the board in the 60th minute it was too late. 

 

McDermot led the club and the division in scoring, tallying eight regular season and one in the post season for nine goals with nine goals in 10 appearances on the season. 

 

 

 

Photo by Jason Taylor

 

“She is an unstoppable force in front of the goal, with an unmatched work rate and desire to succeed,” Beutler said of McDermot. 

 

The loss stung, but Chattanooga rebounded three days later with a 1-0 road win over UFA Gunners, followed by a home win the following week over Atlanta Fire. But a midweek draw at Georgia Impact in Matchweek Seven all but killed Chattanooga’s chances of winning its first Peachtree Division title. 

 

Chattanooga FC finished the regular season 5-1-1, in second place, five points out of the top spot. With division winners DECATUR FC opting out of the postseason, Chattanooga FC’s second place finish qualified the club for its first postseason appearance as Peachtree Division representatives versus Nashville Rhythm FC out of the Pioneer Division for the Southeast Conference title at Finley Stadium. 

 

 

 

Photo by Jason Taylor

Chattanooga FC gave its fans a treat. For 79 minutes the two heavyweights traded blows before EG Dillard, South Region Player of the Week from Matchweek Nine, nodded home the matchwinner off a cross from Amelia Niel to put Chattanooga through to the South Region Playoffs.  

 

As big as Dillard’s goal was, it was Chattanooga’s inspired defense that stood out most on the night, led by defenders Jordan Corckett (South Region Defensive Player of the Week from Matchweek Four), Kaylie Smith (South Region Defensive Player of Matchweek Six), and goalkeeper Maddie Smith, who earned South Region Defensive Player of the Week from Matchweek Nine for her shutout performance of Nashville. 

 

The win over Nashville in the conference final earned Chattanooga a berth into the South Region Playoffs semifinal versus Arlington Soccer Blue out of The District Division. Chattanooga went down a goal early after conceding a penalty kick. But the game changed when Arlington defender Emma Cordero was shown a straight red card for handling a header into the upper corner off a set piece that would have otherwise scored. 

 

Hanna Tillett finished the resulting penalty kick, and Annic Lolita Manga Zouma added a brace to put Chattanooga through to the South Region Playoffs Final, where it ran roughshod over Gulf Coast Conference winners, LA Krewe Rush 4-0 behind goals by Tillett, McDermott, Manga Zouma, and Regina Campa.

 

Now Chattanooga must face reigning WPSL champions, California Storm in the nightcap of Friday’s WPSL Championships semifinal matches. Storm enters this year’s WPSL Championships playing for its sixth title, and to be the first to lift the Jerry Zanelli Cup in back-to-back seasons. 

 

“California Storm has a long history of success in the WPSL. We believe this is the matchup of the summer and CFC is ready for it,” Beutler said. “From the beginning of our recruiting journey to our pre-season meeting and beyond, we had the goal and desire to win the national championship. There was not a day that we did not address our season goals of bringing the Jerry Zanelli Cup back to Chattanooga.” 

 

Chattanooga faces California Storm in the WPSL Championships Semifinal opening match at Neal Patterson Stadium on the campus of Oklahoma State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. (CDT), with the winner advancing to the final on Sunday at 7 p.m. (CDT). Watch all the action on the National Soccer Network live or on demand.