The defending Women’s Premier Soccer League Plymouth Division champion San Diego Strikers kicks off its season against Parceiro Ladies on Saturday, May 21, at Mission Bay High School Stadium.
The Strikers look to repeat the feat from last season going undefeated in all six regular-season games finishing 6-0-0 while outscoring its opponents 19 to 1 over that span.
“We set a high standard last year and the goal is to repeat it,” said San Diego Strikers head coach Ray Taila. “So the expectations are high as we have the majority of the players returning. The goal is to reach the finals this year since we did not have playoffs last year.”
The league canceled the previous postseason games due to COVID travel restrictions just like it did for all of 2020 with no national champion being crowned for either season. Among the players returning to play for Strikers this season are last year’s All-Conference honors goalkeeper Kelcie Brodsky, defender Rachel Sadowski, and forward Cassie Callahan who had an impressive collegiate career playing for the UC San Diego Tritons where she recorded 23 goals and 18 assists.
The Strikers played its inaugural WPSL season in 2021 while Parceiro Ladies last played in 2019 with their final match of that season being a home victory at Madison High School over ASC SC.
“This is the first matchup between the two teams,” Taila added. “I think in the beginning both sides will try to figure each other out. Style of play, players, strengths, weaknesses, but feel we have the talent to win the game if we stick to our plan.”
After the opener against Parceiro Ladies, the Strikers travel to take on Breakaway FC on May 27, returning home to face So Cal Union FC on May 29, and a rematch with Breakaway FC on June 5. The team then plays back-to-back road games versus So Cal Dutch Lions FC in Fallbrook on June 11 and So Cal Union FC in Temecula on June 18.
San Diego Strikers plays its last regular-season home match against So Cal Dutch Lions on July 1 before facing Parceiro Ladies on the road on July 3.
Photo courtesy: David Frerker
