WPSL: Top-ranked and Great Lakes Conference champion Columbus Eagles take perfect record into postseason
- Dan Stickradt
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio – There’s something to be said about additional pressure being thrust onto undefeated teams entering the postseason and how they panhandle it.
The Columbus Eagles have taken it in stride.
There’s a certain confidence and swagger when you’re now No. 1 in the nation inside the Women’s Premier Soccer League and a very difficult team to score upon.
It’s really difficult.
Just ask the opposition inside the Greats Leakes Division of the WPSL. The longtime powerhouse Eagles finished a perfect 8-0-0 in the division and outscored the opposition 26-3.
After opening the 2025 campaign with wins over FC Dayton (4-1), Corktown WFC (5-1) and Beadling SC (2-1), the Columbus Eagles have not conceded a single goal since those season-opening three wins.
The side has captured five straight shutouts down the stretch, topping Corktown WFC (4-0), Beadling SC (2-0), Greater Toledo FC (4-0), FC Dayton (1-0) and five straight shutouts down the stretch, topping Corktown WFC (4-0), Beadling SC (2-0) and Greater Toledo FC (4-0).
That’s a 3.25 goals-per-game average offensively this season, while the Columbus Eagles stout defense has compiled a 0.38 goals-against-average with the five straight clean sheets.
The team collected 24 points in the Great Lakes Conference to win handily. FC Dayton and Greater Toledo FC both collected 13 points to finish 11 points behind.
To only allow their first three opponents to break the goal line, goalkeepers Chloe Brecht (Butler University) and Celeste Sloma (Ohio University) have become a brick wall in recent weeks with the five straight clean sheets.
Defensively, Cali Bruce (Ohio University), Sophia Penegort (Miami University-Ohio), Secora Johnson (Eastern Michigan University), Norah Rousch (Ohio University), Megan Miller (Xavier University) and Maia Ransom (Indiana University-Indy) have been leaders on the defensive end and help comprise a lot of that steady and solid back line play as center backs and outside backs.
Forward Nikki Cox (Bowling Green State University) ;leads the team with nine goals, but after that it is wildly spread around. Kaelyn Valleau (Ball State University) is next with three goals, while Ava Watson (Illinois State University), Angela Boyce (University of Akron) and Lexi White (Bowling Green State) all have scored twice this season.
Midfielders and forwards Jaimnason Booker (Ohio University), Emily Hollar (Bowling Green), Maia Kaufman (Ohio University), Alivia Milesky (Ohio University) Cameryn Susey (Easter Michigan), Jazlyn Brooker (Ohio Wesleyan University), Megan Hollar (University of Findlay) and Allie Metcalf (Charlotte University) have added single tallies this season.
Audrey Bear (USC-Upstate), Rylee Mensel (Ohio University), Faith Grisdale (Loyola University-Chicago, Sydney Worthy (Akron) and Audrey Oliver (Bowling Green) have not scored but have assisted on goals on this very deep team of mostly NCAA Division I players.
In the last game of the regular season, the balance tradition continued with four different players garnering goals – Allie Metcalf (57th), Alivia Milesky (52nd), Kaelyn Valleau (45th+2) and Jaimason Booker (29th) all finding the back of the net during a 4-0 shutout over Greater Toledo FC.
The side only had one player score more than three goals all season.
The pathway will become extremely more difficult from here on out, as the Columbus Eagles await their postseason bracket this week. The expectations are still through the roof.
WOMEN’S PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE POWER RANKINGS
TOP 25 RANKINGS
(Though June 30)
1 Columbus Eagles (8-0-0)
2 Oklahoma City FC (8-0-2)
3 Pensacola FC (9-0-0)
4 865 Alliance (7-0-1)
5 Portland Thorns II FC (8-0-0)
6 Decatur FC (7-0-0)
7 Salvo SC (6-2-0)
8 FC Milwaukee Torrent (8-0-2)
9 Sporting CT (7-1-0)
10 California Storm (5-1-0)
11 Northern Colorado Rain FC (7-1-0)
12 Utah Surf (6-0-4)
13 Jacksonville Armada FC (6-1-1)
14 Port City FC (6-0-1)
15 West Florida Flames (6-0-2)
16 Reading United AC (7-0-3)
17 La Roca FC (6-1-3)
18 Clarkstown Soccer Club (7-0-1)
19 PA Classics (5-1-4)
20 Lou Fusz Athletic (7-0-1)
21 Royals AZ (6-1-1)
22 Florida Premier FC (6-1-1)
23 SJEB FC (7-2-1)
24 Nashville Rhythm FC (5-1-2)
25 Minnesota Thunder (6-1-1)
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