July 5, 2026
WPSL 2026, FC Milwaukee Torrent (photo by FC Milwaukee Torrent)
By Andrew Mosier, WPSL Communications
FC Milwaukee Torrent is well acquainted with what it takes to win in the WPSL.
Divisional titles from 2022-2025, and the Lake Shore Conference title in 2026 has put the club among the winningest in league history.
And as special as every title is, the fact that FC Milwaukee Torrent was even able to compete for it was just short of a miracle.
“We weren’t sure if we would even be able to play this season,” Andreas Davi, FC Milwaukee Torrent head coach, said. “We basically had to start over with everything.”
Last August, FC Milwaukee Torrent’s home ground and headquarters, Heart Park, which sits picturesquely on the banks of the Menomonee River, was destroyed when 13 inches of rain fell over the span of a few hours causing the river to flood. The synthetic turf playing field was destroyed, along with the club’s training equipment, uniforms, merchandise, medical supplies, and just about everything else.
“I really want to thank the WPSL for helping us through this disaster,” Davi said. “The league stepped up and made sure we got what we needed to be able to play this season.”
And play this season it did, extending its title streak to six regular season titles, the longest in league history.
It all came down to the final game of the season when Torrent hosted crosstown rival, Bavarian United SC at the newly restored Hart Park. Going into the match, Torrent sat a single point ahead of Bavarians at the top of the table.
Three weeks earlier the two sides played to a 3-3 draw at Bavarian Soccer Park. Two goals from Lola Wojcik bookended a goal by the club's leading scorer, Layla Kelbel, to make it 3-0 with just under a quarter of an hour to play before Bavarians made a stunning comeback, scoring two of its three goals in added time. Kelbel finished the regular season with 10 goals, finishing the regular season tied for third in the Golden Boot race.
Torrent kicked off the season with a younger roster than in previous years, relying heavily on its academy sides as the side’s more senior players returned from college commitments.
“This was a transitional year for us. We lost a few of the players who were with us the last few years. Lainey Higgins who is playing in the Champions League for a team in Cyprus, and a few others who moved on. We played with more young players this year than we have in the past.”
Torrent got off to a difficult start. Fielding what Davi called an incredibly young team, Torrent fell 4-0 to a much-improved Chicago House AC side to open the season.
“That game in Chicago broke a long regular season winning streak for us,” Davi said. “We knew there was a lot of rebuilding we still had to do.”
Torrent responded to the loss with three consecutive wins, first over crosstown foe Milwaukee City A.F.C. and by Chicago KICS Football Club at home, followed by Green Bay Glory on the road.
After the stunning 3-3 draw at Bavarians, Torrent got back to its winning ways with wins in the return matches with Milwaukee City and Chicago House, a controversial win at home over Green Bay Glory that ended with a Torrent goal moments before the stadium lights went out, and Chicago KICS, setting up the Week Nine clash with Bavarian United SC for the conference title.
This time it was Torrent scoring in added time to draw the game level. After going down a goal in the 16th minute, Petring equalized for Torrent in the 77th minute, only to see Bavarians take the lead again with four minutes to play in regulation. In the 90+2 minute, Petring tallied her second of the game and fifth goal of the season to level the score at 2-2. The point was all Torrent needed.
“The entire season has been a team effort. All season long we have shown that we are able to come back and get the results,” Davi said.
As Lake Shore Conference champions FC Milwaukee Torrent advance to the East Region Playoffs July 11 and 12 in St. Paul, Minn.
