RECAP: METROPOLITAN CONFERENCE

Written By:  Ryan Wood | WPSL Correspondent

Three weeks into Metropolitan action and Downtown United Soccer Club (DUSC) has shown no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile, New York Dutch Lions FC made history in more ways than one while STA remained a consistent climber up the conference ladder and New York Athletic Club has quietly gone about its business to take hold of third position in the standings.

DUSC kept its two-year winning streak intact and has yet to allow a single goal this summer following two wins in 24 hours over the weekend. Smith Hunter (Harvard) and Makenzie Rodrigues (New York University) each scored two goals to pace DUSC in its 7-0 win over NJ Wizards SC. Kelsey Burr (Southern Connecticut State) and Natalie Turner-Wyatt (Williams) each scored once while Kat Jordan (Columbia) tallied four assists and Kendall McBride (Columbia) added one assist.

The following day, DUSC got a goal apiece from Burr and Rodrigues in a 2-0 win over SUSA FC. Emilie Cook (Fairfield) and Tessa Weiss (Vermont) tallied assists. Through three games, DUSC enters this week at 3-0, having outscored its opponents14-0.

“Going into the weekend knowing we had a double-header, we knew it was going to be challenging,” Tara Heatley, Downtown United Soccer Club coach, said. “I am proud of the group for being able to get results in both games. Makenzie Rodrigues had a great weekend scoring four goals across the two games for the team, and Kat Jordan getting four assists against the NJ Wizards helped the team's success this weekend.”

A trio of goalkeepers combined to earn the two shutouts for DUSC. Katherine Cornet (Gettysburg College) and Nicole Bidun (Brooklyn Tech HS) earned the clean sheet on Saturday, while Bidun and Erin McKinney (Wisconsin) secured the win Sunday.

In second place, and trailing the conference leaders by the thinnest of margins, is STA, which is level on points with DUSC (9) and sits at 3-1 after a 6-0 midweek win over NJ Wizards SC.

Aoi Kataoka (George Washington) continued her strong summer by scoring twice for STA, while Sofia Black (Indiana) tallied a goal and an assist. Marisa Snee (Richmond) and Kelly Monaco (UCONN) added a goal apiece and Allie Landino (Fairfield) notched an assist. STA enters this week having outscored its opponents, 15-3.

“(It was) a convincing win to keep our momentum going entering the final stages of the league,” Ylon Krauweel, STA coach, said. “We had some trouble in the first half breaking down the opponent’s low block but with some adjustments at halftime, we were able to get our second and third goals really quick. All different goal scorers on the night shows the depth we have as a team, and it was great to see everyone contributing.”

The biggest story of this week has to be New York Dutch Lions FC, which made history in more ways than one. Netherland international Julia Vaas (Felician University) tallied the team’s first goal of the summer in a 1-1 midweek tie with SUSA FC. Vaas’ goal from the penalty spot also held up for the first-ever draw for the Dutch Lions.

“Even though it’s just a point, for us, it means more,” Rogier Schultz, New York Dutch Lions FC head coach, said. “We worked very hard for it during training sessions as a group. It wasn’t just only the starting 11 and the options on the bench, it was also the girls who couldn’t make it to today’s match. It is a group effort from each player of the NYDLFC fam. Again, it was only one point, but from where we came from, this is winning.”

Three days later, there was even more history, despite not getting a result. In the 3-1 loss to New York Athletic Club, new signing Intan Serah (Malaysia Women’s National Team) scored a goal – just a few days after landing in the States.

Sunday afternoon yielded the most impressive result of the week as the Dutch Lions got a stunning goal from Katelyn Herbert (Connecticut State University) off the keeper’s fingertips to give the team its first-ever win in the WPSL. Goalkeeper Ludesha Reynolds, a Guyanese international who plays collegiately for Mississippi Valley State, earned her first win and shutout.

With the win and draw, NY Dutch Lions FC move up to sixth place in the conference. Meanwhile, Daantje Klomp played her final game for the team as she is headed to play for FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie.

New York Athletic Club (2-1-2, third place) impressed with a 1-1 draw with Brooklyn City FC and a 3-1 win over the Dutch Lions on the weekend.

“I feel the team has been improving with time. After a slow start of the season, we have picked up momentum and the girls are performing at a high level,” Juan Gati, New York Athletic Club head coach, said. “A few results from other games put us back into the mix for a spot in the playoffs, and it is all in our hands. We look forward to a strong finish to the season and to continue developing the players for their college seasons.”

Rachel Rouse (Stevens IT) had two goals on the week scoring one in each contest. Abigail Solomon (Yale) and Tia Saade (Stevens IT) also scored in the win.

The Metropolitan Conference returns to action Tuesday night as Downtown United Soccer Club hosts New York Dutch Lions FC at Randall’s Island #10. DUSC returns to that same field the following night (Wednesday) to host Brooklyn City F.C. in a showdown of last year’s first- and second-place Metropolitan Conference teams. Brooklyn City F.C., which lost 1-0 to the Dutch Lions and tied New York Athletic Club 1-1 last week, entered the week at 1-2-1 and in fifth place in the conference.

“We continue to grow as a team but are having trouble finding the goals although we dominated possession in the match,” Kim Wyant, Brooklyn City F.C. head coach, said. “I was pleased with the resilience and determination by the team to play until the final minutes always attacking to try and break down a well-packed and organized Dutch Lions and then having to deal with their counterattacks.”

The weekend is jam-packed with six games. It all kicks off Saturday at 4 p.m. ET when NY Dutch Lions FC hosts NJ Wizards SC. New York Athletic Club welcomes Downtown United Soccer Club, and Brooklyn City FC takes on STA (both games at 7 p.m. ET).

On Sunday, June 25, SUSA FC hosts NYAC (6 p.m. ET), NJ Wizards SC welcome NY Dutch Lions FC to town (7 p.m.), and STA plays host to Downtown United Soccer Club in what could potentially be a match for first place in the division.