NORTHEASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW

Written By:  Tyler Lewin | WPSL Correspondent

With the 2023 season almost underway, Vermont Fusion will aim to become back-to-back conference champions after clinching the 2022 regular season title.  Head coach and 2022 Northeastern Conference Coach of the Year, John O’Connor, will lead the charge.  With the return of Grace Pinkus (Massachusetts), the Fusion will not be short of goalscoring opportunities.

The Rhode Island Rogues, being the most tenured team in the conference with four seasons under its belt, will aim to win its first conference title in the club’s history.  Finishing in third during the 2022 season, the Rogues picked up three All-Conference player selections in Taylor Chianese (Massachusetts-Lowell), Paige Forster, and Jordan Restivo (Johnson and Wales University).  To see greater success, the Rogues will need to show consistency on its back line in the 2023 season after posting two clean sheets in eight games during the 2022 season.

Clarkstown Soccer Club looks to build off the momentum from its inaugural WPSL season after averaging 2.875 goals per game.  With a 3-3-2 record, Clarkstown managed to net 23 goals in eight games and will look to continue its goalscoring run of form this season. Ole Miss transfer, Kelly Brady, returns after leading Clarkstown with nine goals and two assists last year.

The Northeastern Conference will see the introduction of two newcomers this year with expansion sides Kingston Capitals and Force FC New York.  The Kingston Capitals, located in Kingston, NY, will be led by head coach Eileen Cancro who comes into the league with 26 years of coaching experience.  The Capitals most notable signing is Amanda Caldarelli, a senior and team captain at Marist College, earning All-MAAC Second Team awards in her junior year last season. 

Force FC New York is an addition to the already existing youth club that has both men’s and women’s teams. It’s building its roster around NCAA Division I athletes in Boston College goalkeeper-commit Olivia Shippee, University of Albany sophomore Casey Stowell, who recorded 334 minutes in 16 games last season, and Manhattan College second-year, Amaya Hill, who recorded 178 minutes in 10 games in 2022.

Conference play opens on May 13^th at 6:00 P.M. ET with a battle between the 2022 second and third place teams, the New York Shockers vs. the Rhode Island Rogues. Matches can be streamed on Eleven - the WPSL’s official live-stream partner.