RECAP: TORRENT SECURES DIVISION WITH 5-0 WIN OVER CHICAGO KICS FC

Written By: Joe Chatz | WPSL Correspondent

Photos By: Edward Borst

FC Milwaukee Torrent won the Lake Michigan Division title in dominant fashion over the weekend with victories by a combined score of 9-0. The division champions continued its celebrations on Sunday, defeating Chicago KICS Football Club 5-0 at Hart Park in the WPSL Central Region Match of the Week.
 

Despite clinching the Lake Michigan Division title with a 4-0 win at Midwest Select SA Muskrats earlier in the weekend, Milwaukee was looking to avenge its lone loss of the season - scoring a consolation goal late during a 2-1 defeat in Chicago on June 18.

Photo By: Edward Borst
 

Chicago had the first great chance of the match in the seventh minute. Josie Bieda (Marquette) made a run from the midfield along the right side all the way to the edge of the Milwaukee penalty area. Bieda played a perfect cross to Mia Dosen (Wisconsin) right in front of the goal, but her left-footed attempt missed high of the net.
 

Milwaukee then took over the match, scoring two bangers of goals, beginning with a goal in the 12’ minute. Sophia Balistreri (Northern Iowa) played a simple pass from the right flank to Adrianna Alberts (Marquette) in a more central location. Alberts took one dribble to her right and ripped a right-footed shot from 22 yards that beat the keeper to the far corner of the net to give her side the early 1-0 lead.
 

It looked like Chicago was going to go into the halftime break only down a goal, but Katie Swenson (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) had something to say about that just before the end of the first 45 minutes. Sydnee Sagal (Western Illinois) dribbled the ball from the right side into the middle of the pitch before playing a seemingly harmless pass to Swenson on the left side. Swenson took two dribbles before taking a strike from 33 yards that floated over the keeper and into the net to put the Torrent up 2-0 at halftime with style.
 

Milwaukee extended its lead to 3-0 in the 69’ minute though it was nearly thwarted by the post. Maddie Celarek (Northern Iowa) brought the ball from the left flank toward the Chicago penalty area before playing a pass to Elsi Twombly (Marquette) near the penalty spot. Twombly turned her defender and ripped a shot that bounced off the post but the rebound fell right back to her and gave Twombly the easy tap-in to add to the Torrent’s Lead.
 

Lola Wojcik (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) made it 4-0 for Milwaukee in the 79’ minute after Chicago was unable to clear the ball away from the edge of its own penalty area. Wojcik collected the loose ball and took a few dribbles to her left before her shot across the face of the goal beat the keeper to the corner.
 

Milwaukee secured the 5-0 win in the 83’ minute when Liesel Odden (Syracuse) found Sofia Miranda (Saint Thomas) in behind the defense and allowed the home side to finally celebrate its division crown.
 

FC Milwaukee Torrent finished the regular season with a 7-1-0 (21 points) record while conceding only four goals all season – none of which were at Hart Park.
 

Milwaukee’s Elsi Twombly’s ten goals in the regular season has her tied for the fifth-most goals scored in the 2023 WPSL regular season to date.
 

The Torrent will take on National Road Division winners Columbus Eagles FC for the WPSL Midwest Conference Championship on July 8. The match will take place at Hart Park and will kick off at 7:00 p.m. CT.