MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group
CELL PHONE: (248) 884-1051
BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – As if one national title wasn’t enough, the Michigan Jaguars FC Pro women’s soccer team is going after another.
Already an undefeated side in the United Women’s Soccer circles, the Jaguars went 8-0-1 in the UWS-Midwest Conference and followed that up with a 4-1 triumph Saturday night over Indiana Union at Trinity Sports Park in the Midwest Conference finals in Noblesville, Indiana.
“We’re going back and try to win it again,” beamed Jaguars head coach Doug Steinard, who led his star-studded team to the UWS National Tournament championship in 2023. “We have played really well all season and all we need is two (more wins).”
That victory sends the Jags into the UWS Final Four this weekend (July 19-21) in Buffalo, N.Y. All games will be played at the Buffalo Robert Rich Senior High School Stadium with national semifinals taking place at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on July 19 and the national finals set for July 21 at a time to be determined.
The Jaguars (9-0-1) will face the New England Mutiny (10-0-0) in the 5 p.m. game Friday with FC Buffalo (7-1-1) facing off with the Santa Clarita Blue Heat (8-0-0) in the second semifinal. The Jaguars defeated the Blue Heat in last year’s national title game.
OUSTING INDIANA UNION, PUTTING UP BIG NUMBERS
The Indiana Union did not put up much resistance to the Jaguars’ potent offense. Amalia Villarreal, a freshman-to-be at the University of Texas, scored a pair of goals, while Shannon Brown (Oakland University) and Natalie Kocsis (University of Rochester-New York) also scored for the Jaguars.
Batoul Reda (University of Dayton) made five saves in six chances for the Jaguars, while Kyra Karfonta (University of Dayton) and Alex Williams (Grand Valley State University) helped anchor the back again as they have all season.
Forwards Shannon Brown (Oakland University) and Dani Wolf (University of Michigan/Oklahoma University) and midfielders Natalie Kocsis and Emerson Sargeant (Michigan State University) have also been key forces for this deep and talented team. The Jags Pro have a first and second team as a way to rotate players and give both seasoned veterans and younger players chances to play for quality teams in the summer.
There are 15 players on the 33-woman roster set to travel with the team this weekend to try to win a national championship.
“Our defense has been really strong all season,” said Steinard. “Sure, we’re scoring a lot of goals which is fun. But defensively, we’ve only given up a small handful of goals and we don’t give up much.”
After tying Troy City WFC 1-1 in the second game of the season on June 2, the Michigan Jaguars Pro have gone on an eight-game win streak and head into the national semifinals on a torrid tear.
The Jags will head into the UWS Final Four outscoring the opposition 41-6 on the year with five shutouts. Only five teams have even scored on the Jaguars defense and only Nationals SC scored pre than one goal and that was in the season opener back on May 28 – a 6-2 Jaguars win.
In four games the Jaguars have scored at least five goals. They also boast a plus-35 goals differential and have averaged around 4.1 goals a game while boasting a team goals-against-average of 0.60.
“We’ll have another shot at it,” said Steinard. “I think when we won it last year it really starts to attract good players from the area (and Midwest) to want to play for the Jags-Pro team. A lot of them are alumni with the Jags or played for other good clubs in the area. But overall, it’s just a special group of players.”
BUFFALO-BOUND … MEET THE JAGUARS
Hannah Becker (Grand Valley State University)
Noel Blain (University of Dayton)
Amanda Brittain (Central Michigan University)
Shannon Brown (Oakland University)
Lydia Case (Loyola University-Chicago)
Sydney Chura (Savannah College of Art and Design)
Olivia Darnell (Oakland University)
Peyton Delongchamp (University of Findlay)
Amanda Feury (Tiffin University)
Mary Grimes (Eastern Michigan University)
Brianna Harshe (University of Michigan)
Taya Hjorth (University of Kentucky)
Ella Janz (Michigan State University)
Kyra Karfonta (University of Dayton)
Natalie Kocsis (University of Rochester-New York)
Grace Koski (Cleveland State University)
Leila Lanier (University of Detroit-Mercy)
Gabi Nelson (Lawrence Tech University)
Maddie O’Farrell (Eastern Michigan University)
Emma Pompo (Cleveland State University)
Batoul Reda (University of Dayton)
Kayla Rollins (University of Milwaukee)
Emerson Sargeant (Michigan State University)
Ellie Thallman (Michigan State University)
Erica Toupin (University of Detroit-Mercy)
Libby Vanwagnen (Central Michigan University)
Maggie Vanwagnen (Central Michigan University)
Amalia Villarreal (University of Texas)
Mairin Wessner (University of Dayton)
Alex Williams (Grand Valley State University)
Andie Wolfe (Michigan State University)
Dani Wolfe (University of Michigan/Oklahoma University)
Dema Elder (Columbia University)
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
Comments