The 2020 Women’s Professional Soccer League season is on hold for the time being, but we thought we could take a look back at previous winners to see where they came from and to gauge who’s on track to once again challenge for that top spot. For this week’s Spotlight article, we reached out to 2017 WPSL Champions, Fire & Ice Soccer Academy and their WPSL Head Coach and Academy Club Director, Lindsay Eversmeyer was kind enough answer our questions.

The League was founded over two decades ago - but when was Fire & Ice SC founded and have you been in the WPSL since then?

Fire & Ice was founded in 2013 and we have been in the league ever since. We have a WPSL all-time record of 53-16-7, 185 Goals For, 65 Against, and 33 Shutouts. We have won 1 National Championship, 2 Final Four Appearances, 2 Central Region Championships and 3 Conference Championships.

There are five levels in your development pathway, so clearly fielding a WPSL club is not your primary objective; what is the mission of the organization and has that changed over time?

Actually, our academy just started in 2019. So, the primary mission started as providing college players with a high-level playing environment during their off seasons and for players out of college to continue playing to possibly reach the professional level. Now that we have expanded to have a youth academy underneath, our mission is to guide and empower young women through soccer while providing a complete pathway.

They’ve changed their badge since then, but nothing will change the fact that they won it all in 2017.

Having multiple tiers within the club, the younger players have a built-in and clear-cut development funnel; how important is that to young girls - to see that they can have a future in soccer if they want to and that they get to see examples of what their grit and determination gets them?

It is VERY important. It is the main reason that I started the academy to begin with. Having myself, alongside former USWNT Captain Lori Chalupny, provides these young girls and women with realistic role models as well as a great sounding board for how to reach the highest level of the game.

In the league's twenty-plus years there have been a handful of teams who have won multiple titles, and if they weren't winning, they ended up as runners-up; after winning in 2017 do you have what it takes to push for another title?

This league's competitive level continues to grow each year, which is amazing! With that being said, I think that every year our team has what it takes. We always have talented players. Sometimes the ball falls our way, and sometimes it doesn't. That's what makes soccer such a beautiful game. In 2017, we played teams that on paper looked like they could smash us, and I'm sure those teams felt that way when they saw our roster. But as the saying goes, "Hard work outdoes talent, when talent doesn't work hard." So, it really depends on our mentality going into the season, making sure everyone stays healthy, playing with the most heart and making the fewest mistakes on the field!

WPSL has done an amazing job of preparing student-athletes for their jump to the professional ranks - do you have any players or coaches of note who have been drafted into the NWSL or made it to the next-level internationally?

YES! We have two players that played for us that went on to play in the NWSL, Tessa Gavilsky (now Florio) played for the Houston Dash, and Rachel Tejada was drafted to the Chicago Red Stars. We've currently had 6 others go on to play overseas. Should be a couple more added to that soon, however, they haven't made an announcement yet, so I can't confirm. I've attached the link if you want more information on each of them.

https://www.fireandicesoccer.com/page/show/4736740-wpsl-to-the-professional-league

One of the most enjoyable parts of soccer is fan support and rivalries, does Fire & Ice have a derby? What about supporters - is there a core group of fans who make an atmosphere of note?

Yes, we have a derby against a team from Missouri called the St. Louis Lions. They came into the league a couple years ago. We have THE BEST group of soccer fans in St. Louis. One is called the St. Louligans and the others are the American Outlaws STL Chapter. They both eat, sleep, and breathe soccer and have done an amazing job of promoting our team since the beginning. They show up to our games, make noise, and completely support us. We are very fortunate to have them in our corner.

For more information about Fire & Ice Academy Soccer: https://www.fireandicesoccer.com/home

For more information about the WPSL: https://www.wpslsoccer.com/