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NEWS: THE DISTRICT DIVISION WINNER CROWNED

Published Jun 25, 2025

Photo by Jason Taylor

MCLEAN SOCCER CLAIMS THE DISTRICT DIVISON TITLE

Advances to Atlantic Conference Final

While the rest of The District Division teams took turns beating each other in the early weeks of the season, McLean Soccer earned three shutout wins. After a tough loss in Matchweek Five, McLean showed its true character, picking up three straight wins to run away with The District Division title in one of the most unpredictable divisions in the entire league.

A pair of Matchweek Seven road wins: 3-1 at Arlington Soccer Red and 6-2 at Alexandria Reds earned McLean (7-0-1) the division title with a match to play against the only team to beat it this season, Arlington Soccer Blue.

“Winning the division is a tremendous achievement and is a reflection of the commitment, dedication, and hard work by the players and staff,” Tati Korba, McLean Soccer head coach, said. “A large percentage of our players came through McLean Youth Soccer and developed here, so this championship isn’t just for the WPSL program, but for McLean Youth Soccer as a whole. It shows our younger players that they can continue developing and play at the next level.”

McLean, playing in its second WPSL season, led the cutthroat District Division statistically at both ends of the field, tallying 21 goals, while conceding only eight in a division that produced tight results all season.

U.S. Youth international, Carolina Helfrich (University of Virginia 2025- ) leads the club with five goals on the season with one game remaining, followed by Isabella Yousefi (George Mason University 2024- ) with four and Evelyn Javers (Columbia University 2025- ) with three.

“We have spread out the goal scoring through several different players this season, no matter who is on the field,” Korba said. “Even though the level of play in our division is high, we have been able to score a lot of goals and give up very few throughout the season.”

The league-leading defense is led by a goalkeeping corps of Charlotte Shapiro (Washington University in St. Louis 2023- ) with two starts Aislinn Wright (High Point University 2023- ) with four starts, and Victoria Coninck (George Mason University 2022- ) with one start, posting collectively a goal against average of 1.14, the lowest in the division.

After Thursday’s regular season finale at Arlington Soccer Blue, McLean will host Carolinas Division winner, Port City FC, in the Atlantic Conference Final next week. In 2024, McLean advanced to the Atlantic Conference Final as The District Division representative, falling to eventual WPSL runners-up, Charlotte Eagles 1-0. The winner advances to the South Region Playoffs July 12 and 13 hosted by the Atlantic Conference winner. The four regional winners will meet at the WPSL Championships in Stillwater Okla. July 18 and 20.