Big weekend in the USL W League with more and more of the country’s divisions getting involved in the action. We take a look at three of the matches from this week and one from the next!

Review

Kings Hammer 2-1 Lexington SC

This match was very much an even one, as both sides had chances on the ball. The opening goal came from Lexington and, coming of back to back wins over St. Charles, probably felt like more of the same. A bad pass on the left side triggered a quick counter attack from the Gals in Green. A series of quick passes ended with a near-side finish for Kailey Utley. Utley played her collegiate ball for West Virginia University before spending several seasons in the WPSL. But the second half would spell trouble for the visiting club.

The equalizer would come after a handball call that was hard to verify from the feed, honestly. Regardless, Lilly Yordy would convert for Kings Hammer and tie the match up. The winner would come just minutes later after a corner was conceded needlessly. The resulting corner kick found Sydney Taylor in the box and she headed it past the keeper. The win for Kings Hammer keeps them viable for the season, now 1-1-1, while Lexington falls to second place behind Indy Eleven in the Valley Division.

Oakland Soul 1-1 Cal Storm

You’d be hard pressed to find a bigger matchup this weekend than this one between two of the heavy hitters in Nor Cal. Soul coming off back to back wins over Marin and Olympic Club while Cal Storm just had a 5-0 win over Academica to inspire some confidence. Of course, in a battle between clubs of this stature, a draw is just as likely as a win. But it didn’t look like that at the start.

Literally seconds (15 to be exact) after the kickoff, Storm’s pressure would pay off as an errant Soul pass fell to Janae Gonzalez who passed to the center of the box where Giana Riley was ready and drilled it home past the Soul keeper. Only complaint is the CR7 celebration, but the play was beautiful. Oakland would find the equalizer 25 minutes later, when a stout midfield defense intercepted a pass and fed a streaking Samantha Tran. Tran couldn’t be caught and put the ball to the keeper’s left, scoring the second goal of the match and drawing it even. And that was it for the rest of the match. Both sides had chances but couldn’t convert and a matchup between two of the best in Nor Cal ends with the teams splitting points.

AFC Ann Arbor 3-1 Cleveland Force

I realize that kit doesn’t matter, but I really like AFC Ann Arbor’s look in this match. Clean white shirt and lovely blue on blue shorts. Love it. Ok, back to the match. Hat trick hero Chiara Premoli did all the heavy lifting for AFC Ann Arbor in this one.

Perfectly placed ball from Chiara!! #ForTheW https://t.co/2zhR7MuM89 pic.twitter.com/M2HFROZa7d
— AFC Ann Arbor (@AFCAnnArbor) May 24, 2024

The first goal would come on a penalty, after a pretty shocking foul call in the box. Certainly didn’t look like a penalty to me anyway, but Premoli stepped to the spot and buried it. 1-0. The second goal was a thing of beauty. Slick passing and a lovely bit of footwork to spin around her defender then score. 2-0. The final goal for Premoli would come off a set piece that came off the crossbar and she headed in. Hat trick. Cleveland would get one back in the second half after starting Ann Arbor keeper Rebecca Przybylo made an aggressive challenge outside her box and was red carded for it. With the backup keeper in and down a person, Cleveland had more chances as the match progressed and Lauryn Contini would get the consolation goal in the 85th.

Preview

Northern Virginia FC vs Richmond Ivy SC

It’s been a mixed back for NoVA so far this season, sitting in fourth position in the Mid Atlantic Division, the team needs a good showing against Richmond. Ivy is off to a quick start, 2-0 in its opening season, lots of hope for a great first year. Love this match up, think it will be a fun one.

- Dan Vaughn