WPSL: Green Bay Glory hoping for more ‘glorious’ moments this season
- Dan Stickradt
- Jun 6
- 4 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
GREEN BAY, Wisc. – Behind a great start, the Green Bay Glory are hoping to pave the way for an even better finish.
The Glory have started 2-0-0 in the WPSL North Lakes Conference-Lake Michigan Division and that includes a 14-1 scoring edge after two games.
The Green Bay Glory opened the campaign with a 10-0 shutout over Milwaukee City AFC and then cruised past Chicago House AC in their second game, 4-1.
“I think we have more experience on this team that we’ve had in the past,” offered Glory head coach Patrick Birder. “We have some older, more experienced players and some of them are in college and some are already out of college but have a ton of experience. I think we’ve seen that (experience) in our first two games. Plus, we have a lot of players who are doing very well in college, girls that we standouts in club (ECNL) or with their high schools. But we have 8-9 players on our (master) roster than are in at least their mid-20s and out of college that agreed to playing for us this summer.”
Goalkeeper Alexis Torhorst (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point) has played a bulk of the minutes in net this season, as the team has posted a 0.50 goals-against-average so far this season. She has one clean sheet so far this season.
Against Chicago House, Ryley Winrich (seventh), Trudy Quidzinski (49th), Quidzinski (62nd) and Emily McCarthy (85th) scored the goals. Quidzinski netted the brace and her second goal came off a second-half penalty kick.
McCarthy, Jenna Bauman and Winrich picked up assists on the first, second and fourth goals, respectively for the Glory.
With 7.00 goals-per-game after two contests, the Glory have shown their increase of talent and experience on the pitch so far this season in the WPSL. They hope to continue their torrid pace, but the schedule will get tougher over the next few weeks.
The team has increased its number of NCAA Division I players on its master roster – players that were highly successful at the ECNL club level and high school level while growing up and are currently enjoying productive collegiate careers.
Baumann, who stands just 5-foot-2, is a speedy and craft goal scorer up top and the University of Wisconsin standout hopes to continuously provide plenty of scoring punch for the Glory. McCarthy, who recently transferred from Marquette to St. Thomas is another in-state product who will be a hard mark at forward. McCarthy prepped at Kimberly High School in northern Wisconsin.
The aforementioned Winrich (Michigan Tech University) is another forward capable of putting the ball into the back of the net.
In the season-opening win, McCarthy netted the brace while eight different players scored single goals for the Glory
Holding midfielder McKayla Legois (Wisconsin-Green Bay grad) is a steady presence and versatile player in the midfield. Trudy Quidzinski is another veteran in the attack, already earning a master's degree from Wisconsin-Green Bay. Jordan Schaden (University of Hawaii-Hilo) previously played at Bemidji State in northern Minnesota but transferred out to the Hawaiian islands. She’ll add to the stacked midfield.
Outside backs Allison Rassch (Wisconsin-Green Bay) and Abby Lom (Wisconsin-Green Bay) and center backs Alyssa Meracle (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) and Lucy Quidzinski (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse) help form a tough unit in the backfield. That is evident of the side only conceding one goal in their first two matches.
There are close to 30 players on the roster ranging from 18-year-olds to mostly players in their 20s to even one player who is in her early 40s.
The Glory will pay visit to North Lakes Conference-Lake Michigan Division arch- and in-state rival FC Milwaukee Torrent Saturday night for a big inter-division clash, as the Torrent won the division crown last season and Green Bay finished second. They are projected to be the top two teams in the league this season and should remain in the Lake Michigan Division title hunt this summer.
“We’re hoping to give them a challenge this season. I think we have the roster to do that,” added Birder. “I think we’ll be one of the top teams in our division for sure. But usually one team from each division reach the (WPSL national tournament) and I really don’t see anyone else challenging the Torrent.”
Since forming back in 2019, the Torrent have either played in the WPSL or the USL W League – the top two women’s soccer pre-professional/amateur leagues in the country. The club has been one of the better teams in their division each season, regardless of which league they compete.
“I think, overall, we’ll be better this season and you should see that in the results (this year),” added Birder.
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