Coming into the season, there were more question marks for St. Croix Legacy head coach, Marcos Rodriguez, than anything. Rodrigues and his staff were trying to figure out how to replace the core of the team that had been with the club since it joined the league in 2023.
“We added 13 new players into our group for this season, with nine of them just finishing up their first year in college,” Rodrigues said. “It was a challenge to have such a new group, finding the balance between getting them ready for the next college season but also working towards the goals for the club and the team.”
It was apparent early on that the club found the balance for which it was looking in what has proven to be a season of firsts. On Friday, with conference and region titles in hand—all firsts for the club—St. Croix Legacy takes on East Region winner, Sporting CT in the WPSL Championships semifinal in Stillwater, Okla.
Photo by Paris Moua
After a 4-2 home win over Joy A.C. to open the season, St. Croix made history with a 2-1 win over the preseason favorites to win the Land of the Lakes Division, Salvo SC. The win sent shockwaves through the division that continue to reverberate as St. Croix heads to Stillwater, Okla. for the WPSL Championships. The midweek win was St. Croix first ever over the division powerhouse since joining the league in 2023. Stella Nielson’s 22nd minute goal was the first St. Croix had scored against Salvo before Tatum Trettel scored the game winner in second half stoppage time.
After picking up a midweek win over MN Bliss FC to kick off Matchweek Five, St. Croix stumbled on the road against Minnesota Thunder, followed by a 1-1 draw—at home—to Minnesota Dutch Lions FC. Rodriguez credits the resilience and work rate of the squad.
“What stood out to me this season was our ability to adapt to any situation,” he said. “We had some games where we found ourselves down but battled back. The group as a whole has a great mindset and work rate that allows us to play at a high level. The consistency of that level on the field grew as we progressed through the season and is a big reason we were able to get this far.”
Photo by Paris Moua
After closing out Land of the Lakes Division play to go 6-1-1, finishing in a tie at the top of the division table with Minnesota Thunder with 19 points—the tiebreaker for the top spot in the division going to Minnesota based on head-to-head results. But with Minnesota opting out of the postseason, St. Croix advanced to the North Lakes Conference final versus four-time Lake Michigan Division winners, FC Milwaukee Torrent, erasing a two-goal deficit behind goals by the club’s leading scorer, Amara Smith, and then Wren Van De Walker with just over 20 minutes to play in the second half to draw St. Croix at two. The match was marred by weather delays. By the time Van De Walker leveled the match it was already past 11 o’clock. With an 11:30 p.m. venue curfew, it was decided the conference title would be decided by kicks from the mark. Emily Heinz hit the winner in the seventh round of kicks to give St. Croix its first conference title and a berth into the Central Region Playoffs.
Smith picked up where she left off in the Central Region Playoffs Semifinal, scoring two first half goals as St. Croix rolled past Union KC 3-1 for a place in the Central Region Final versus Oklahoma City FC. Played on OKCFC’s home ground outside of Oklahoma City, Smith, who Rodriguez said “found a new level this playoff run and is a big part of our success,” surprised the hosts with a quick counterattack as both teams were working to establish some sort of rhythm. Smith drew the OKCFC goalkeeper off her line and put her first-time shot on frame to put St. Croix up 1-0. An Oklahoma City FC penalty drew things level before Brooke Nelson won a penalty kick in the 85th minute.
“Brooke [Nelson] came alive for us during this past weekend’s games. She stepped up and had two big time assists in Saturday’s game and drew the game winning penalty kick on Sunday,” Rodriguez said.
Photo by Paris Moua
Smith buried the penalty kick for her ninth goal on the season and to send La Croix through to the WPSL Championships in Stillwater.
As impressive as St. Croix was on the offensive end, Rodriguez points out to the work the side put in on the defensive end was essential to the club’s success, including goalkeeper Hadley Johnson and center back, Hinze.
“Hadley Johnson has been massive for us down the final stretch to get us into the WPSL Championships. She came up big in the conference playoffs and kept us alive in the regional playoffs as well,” Rodriguez said. “Emily Hinze has anchored our backline all season. Her experience and three college championships has shown on the field and in pressure situations.”
Awaiting St. Croix in Stillwater is East Region winners, Sporting CT. With the short turn-around, Rodriguez has only begun to dissect one of the most potent attacks in the league racking up an astounding 64 goals this season so far.
“We will watch some games to help us prepare. I do know they have scored quite a few goals this year so we look to see how we can defend against them,” Rodriguez said.
Even as the club prepares for the biggest match in club history, what St. Croix Legacy has accomplished this season is not lost on those who have played important roles throughout.
This is an incredible opportunity for our team to compete against other high-level teams and extremely talented players from around the country,” Smith, the club’s leading scorer said. “We played with heart all summer and defied all odds allowing us to advance to this point. We hope to carry that hard work into the WPSL Championships which represents the capstone of our season together.”
St. Croix Legacy faces Sporting CT in the WPSL Championships Semfinial at Neal Patters Stadium on the campus of Oklahoma State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CDT), with the winner advancing to the final on Sunday at 7 p.m. (CDT). Watch all the action on the National Soccer Network live or on demand.