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2025 WEST REGION PLAYOFFS PREVIEW

Published Jul 11, 2025

WEST REGION PLAYOFFS KICK OFF SATURDAY

Reigning WPSL Champions California Storm look to take the next step towards a record sixth Jerry Zanelli Cup when the West Regional Playoffs kicks off Saturday in Temecula, Calif. Hosts So Cal Union FC out of the SoCal Conference start things off at 10 a.m. (PDT) against Spokane SC Shadow representing the Pac Northwest Conference, followed by NorCal Conference winners, California Storm, facing El Paso Surf out of the Desert Conference at 2 p.m. (PDT). The winners of Saturday’s semifinals square off Sunday at 4 p.m. (PDT) for the honor of ‘Best in the West’ and a berth in the WPSL Championships July 18 and 20 in Stillwater, Okla.

Saturday, July 12
West Region Semifinal
So Cal Union FC (Postseason 0-0-0) vs. Spokane SC Shadow (Postseason 0-0-0)
10 a.m. (PDT)
Linfield Christian School Stadium
Temecula, Calif. 
Watch live or on-demand on the National Soccer Network

So Cal Union FC, representing the SoCal Conference, make its West Region Playoffs debut Saturday when it faces Pac Northwest Conference representative, Spokane SC Shadow at 10 a.m.

So Cal Union FC are coming off its best WPSL regular season in the club’s seven-season WPSL tenure, with only a loss and two draws to blemish its 2025 SoCal Conference record.

So Cal Union is riding a balanced attack into the postseason, led by Selena Hernandez (University of California Riverside 2023- ) and Ciara Caringal (Westmont College 2024- ) each have four goals on the season, while another nine players have contributed at least a goal to the side’s 18 total goals this season.

The So Cal Union defense is backed by goalkeepers Gia Kiesling (UC Davis 2024- ) and Elizabeth Ludwig. Ludwing earned National Defensive Player of Matchweek Four for her play in the club’s 1-0 shutout road win over Rebels Soccer Club. The goalkeeping duo earned a combined four clean sheets over the course of the 10-match season.

Spokane SC Shadow returns to the West Region Playoffs for the second straight year looking to earn its first trip to the WPSL National Championships.

Spokane finished the season rattling off three consecutive wins including an impressive 3-0 road win at Westside Metros FC.

On the offensive side, Spokane is led by club and Pac Northwest Conference leading scorer Delani Walker (Eastern Washington University 2022- ) with seven goals in eight appearances.

Goalkeepers Kamryn Willoughby (Eastern Washington University 2022- ) and Karlee Roderick (Whitworth University 2025- ) combined for three clean sheets on the season.

The winner of Saturday’s semifinal advances to the West Region Final on Sunday at Linfield Christian School Stadium in Temecula, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PDT).

Saturday, July 12
West Region Semifinal
California Storm (Postseason 0-0-0) vs. El Paso Surf (Postseason 0-0-0)
2 p.m. 
Linfield Christian School Stadium
Temecula, Calif. 
Watch live or on-demand on the National Soccer Network

Desert Conference representative El Paso Surf have the unenviable task of trying to stop the reigning WPSL champs, California Storm, from a shot at its sixth WPSL title.

Storm kicked off the defense of its six WPSL title and second in three years with five consecutive wins, with the only blemish on its otherwise perfect record with a 1-0 road loss to Lamorinda United. Storm rebounded with a pair of shutout wins to close out its eight-match schedule five points clear at the top of the NorCal Conference table.

Storm is led on the offensive end of the field by West Region Offensive Player of Matchweek Nine, Lauren Hunter (Santa Clara University 2024- ), who led the conference with five goals in six appearances this season, followed by Sarah Foley (University of Illinois 2022- ) with four goals in four appearances.

Storm led the conference on the defensive end allowing only five goals over eight games earning defender Anna Emperador (Saint Mary’s College 2022- ) West Region Defensive Player of Matchweek Two honors. The Storm goalkeeping corps led by Abbie Faingold earned four clean sheets—including two in the final two matches of the season.

This is the first postseason venture for El Paso Surf since the club joined the WPSL in 2021.

El Paso’s success in the Desert Conference this season has very much been a team effort. West Region Offensive Player of Matchweek Five, Yesenia Cisneros (University of Texas El Paso 2025- ), Emily Torres, and Damaris Cisneros (University of Texas El Paso 2025- ) co-lead the club in scoring with three goals each.

The winner of Saturday’s semifinal advances to the West Region Final on Sunday at Linfield Christian School Stadium in Temecula, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PDT).