July 2, 2026
Three games in a week is difficult for any team, no matter how deep the roster may be.
Five games over six days borders on suicidal.
But Junction FC not only managed the load, it walked away winning four of the five games spread over the last two match weeks, including all three Week Eight games to earn SOMETHINGINKED Team of the Week Honors.
“It was a challenge, to say the least, but I’m incredibly proud of how much everyone has come together and did what they had to do to get the three wins to close out the season, winning four out of five in six days,” Mark Sikora, director of women’s soccer, said.
Though all three Week Eight games were home games, scheduling issues forced Junction to play in three different venues in and around town.
“I want to mention our staff for pulling it off. Hosting three games in three different places is not something easy to pull off,” Sikora said.
After games the previous Friday and Saturday on the road in St. Louis, Junction FC returned home to face FC Pride on Tuesday to face FC Pride in a game that was originally scheduled to be played the Wednesday before but postponed due to weather. Two weeks earlier Junction fell 4-1 in Indianapolis.
After going down a goal in the 54th minute, Molly Hughes pulled Junction level before Rayna Powers put Junction up 2-1 with eight minutes to play. The goal was Powers’ third on the season to lead the team in scoring.
“Rayna Powers hit her stride, either scoring or contributing with an assist. Her play helped some of the other players up front be successful,” Sikora said.
Twenty-three hours later Junction was back at it, facing the Missouri Rush side against which it soundly beat on the road to kickstart the winning streak.
For the second game in a row, Junction had to chase the game after conceding in the 20th minute. Alyssa White leveled things in the 27th minute with her first goal of the season to make it 1-1 at halftime. Paislee Welge put Junction in the lead in the 67th minute with her first goal of the season, and Joella Livingston removed any doubt that lingered making it 3-1 with 11 minutes to play with her second goal of the campaign and seventh in her WPSL career.
Junction closed out its season with a 2-1 win over Missouri Reign. Powers put Junction in the lead in the third minute with her fourth tally of the season, and the Junction defense held the score just past the hour mark in the match when Aubry Balota made it 2-0. Even with a late Reign goal the match was never in doubt.
On the strength of the incredible stretch, including the three Week Eight wins, Junction FC finished its Gateway Division schedule 5-0-3, which was good for second place, a win and five points back of first.
“This season was about giving the players a chance just to play,” Sikora said. “Everybody got a chance to pitch in. They worked really hard and got some really good results as the season went on. Every week we got better.”
