Week 5 in the East Region brings with it yet another full weekend of action from Massachusetts to Miami. With the completion of two midweek fixtures on Thursday, Friday brings the first of 14 weekend matches.

Friday, June 8

Friday night sees the two Michigan-based WPSL clubs facing each other for the first time. Detroit’s Motor City FC will host Ann Arbor’s AAFC Lumberjills in a match that carries the unique energy of a local derby. These two clubs will play each other only once this season, so the winner of this one gets bragging rights for 2018.

Saturday, June 9

The Metropolitan Conference features two major rivalry matches on Saturday. New York Athletic Club host NJ Wildcats in the first meeting between these two veteran clubs in 2018. While NJ Wildcats have been around for more than 20 years, they only joined the WPSL in the 2016 season. In both matches between the two last season, the result was a 1-1 draw.

The two clubs from Long Island will also play each other for the first time with the Long Island Fury hosting another WPSL newcomer in SUSA FC. Both clubs have been around in some form for more than a decade, and this too could be the start of another great local rivalry in the WPSL.

Legacy W76 hosts the Washington Spirit Reserves in a match that could shake up the Colonial Conference. Both clubs enter with identical records of one win, one draw, but Legacy W76 stands out as the only club in the conference yet to concede a goal. Washington’s undefeated streak incredibly stretches back to its WPSL debut in 2016. This club has never lost in WPSL play.

Torch FC hosts Lehigh Valley Tempest in a bout between Mid-Atlantic Conference leaders. Both clubs sit level on points along with Penn Fusion SA WPSL. Torch FC welcomed Lehigh Valley last May by winning 3-1 and handed the Tempest two of its three losses in its inaugural campaign. Lehigh Valley will be looking for its first win against last year’s conference champion.

AAFC Lumberjills will have a quick turnaround from their shortest road trip of the season, hosting Pittsburgh’s Steel City FC. Steel City will have the benefit of five days of rest following its 4-1 win against Indy Saints FC. 

Saturday ends with Cincinnati Sirens FC hosting FC Pride. Both clubs won big in their most recent matches shutting out their opposition in the process. They will also have fresh legs coming off a full week of rest. 

Sunday, June 10

Motor City FC and Steel City FC will play their second matches of the weekend on Sunday, having both played AAFC Lumberjills in days previous. This will be the fifth match in WPSL history between the two sides, with Detroit prevailing over Pittsburgh every time. If the intensity between the two cities in hockey catches on in WPSL, this rivalry will only grow stronger.

Columbus Eagles FC returns to action following its first loss this season traveling to Indianapolis to play FC Pride. Matches between these two sides have been physical, hard-fought battles ever since the two clubs joined the WPSL in 2014. This is already one of the fiercest rivalries in the league, and this Sunday’s match should be fantastic.

Cleveland Ambassadors will finally play Cincinnati Sirens FC for the first time in the WPSL. The two clubs had previously been separated by conference lines. Cleveland sits atop the Ohio Valley Conference with a game in hand over Columbus, while Cincinnati will have another quick turnaround from Saturday’s match at home.

 The Rhode Island Rogues look to continue their strong debut campaign as they host the Long Island Fury. Rhode Island’s goalkeeper Ashley Collins shut out the NJ Wildcats in her club’s debut, and Mariah Kaiser scored a hat trick the next day against New York Athletic Club. This club is off to an incredible start.

Sunday’s action concludes with Torch FC hosting Hershey SC and SUSA FC hosting NJ Wildcats to close out Week 5 in the East Region. Week 6 will begin on Thursday, June 14 with a midweek match between Lehigh Valley Tempest and Philly Fever.