ANOTHER UNDEFEATED SEASON FOR PENN FUSION ADDS TO ITS WPSL POWERHOUSE STATUS

Written By:  Samantha Patterson
             East Region Contributor

As the 2022 WPSL regular-season winds to a close and with only a couple of matches remaining in the Colonial Conference, many teams across the league have their eyes set on the WPSL postseason that is finally returning after a two-year pause.
 

The newest member of the Colonial Conference, Penn Fusion SA concluded its regular season campaign Sunday after securing a win on the road against defending conference champions, Washington Dutch Lions FC.
 

The 2021 Mid-Atlantic Conference Champions may have met 2022 with a new conference and new opponents but it continued its winning ways from seasons before. The WPSL veteran finishes its sixth season undefeated again with a clean 7-0 sweep while outscoring its opponents 32-3.
 

Penn Fusion’s roster depth proved to be too much for its Colonial challengers as 17 players contributed to its 32 goals. Among this list of playmakers is Georgetown University forward, Gia Vicari who recorded five goals and six assists on the season – last season Vicari tallied three goals and three assists.
 

Other playmakers included University of Pennsylvania’s Janae Stewart (five goals, one assist), and Elizabeth Lawton (three goals, four assists) and Boston College’s Alison Heckman (four goals, three assists). Lawton and Heckman contributed to seven goals for Penn Fusion last season.
 

Aside from its roster depth and WPSL experience, Penn Fusion’s success can also be credited to the influence of its coaching staff. Led by Susan Barr, who has been with the club since 2016 and has seen the Pennsylvania powerhouse tally a 45-4-7 overall WPSL record and earn four conference titles. Barr is also accompanied by fellow coaches, Scott Bissett, Maddy Evans, and Darian McCauley. 

Penn Fusion demonstrated poise and consistency throughout the 2022 season while showing the Colonial conference a different rhythm and pace from the previous season. This may have come as no surprise to fans or the club’s opponents from past seasons. Even so, Penn Fusion has established itself as a WPSL powerhouse and one of the league’s heavyweights for seasons to come.