FC Monmouth Women’s set to make WPSL Home Debut
Written by Chris Dailey
FC Monmouth is set to make history this weekend as the women’s team hosts its first official Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) matches at home. The Blue and Gold will play SJEB FC at 7 PM on Saturday and Fever SC at 5:30 PM on Sunday.
FC Monmouth will be eager for a win after drawing with the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals Liberty in a fiery 3-3 game away from home on May 21. Allie Serlanga, Kianna Barber, and Reece Paget each found the back of the net for the Blue and Gold.
Following the frustrating result, the team is prepared to truly come together following several intensive practices. With it being many of the players’ first time playing with one another, head coach Lou Santa Cruz has repeatedly emphasized building chemistry amongst the squad. Santa Cruz saw flashes of his team coming together against the Nationals and he aims to build on that momentum.
“We have not been together long and haven’t had the opportunity to train a whole lot,” noted Santa Cruz. “Continuous improvement is what we’re focusing on – every half. We did that in the first game. In the first half, we came out slow. Players didn’t really know each other as well. As we got to know each other a little better, the second half looked much better. We want to continue on that and get better each half.”
FC Monmouth’s biggest task ahead of them this weekend is building the team chemistry Santa Cruz seeks to construct with two intense 90-minute matches in less than a 24-hour span.
“I think you’ll definitely see some different players Saturday and Sunday. It’s based on availability. I think part of the trick is trying to keep the core group together as much as we possibly can, but unfortunately, kids are working - trying to make money for school, and taking vacations with family. We’ll figure out who is on the roster for both days, see what their availability is, and go from there,” said Santa Cruz.
Regardless of the challenges that lie ahead, the team is ecstatic for the opportunity to play in an official league game at home. The FC Monmouth women’s team had several home fixtures in 2024, but they were technically only friendly matches.
“Everyone is super excited for the opportunity to play at home in front of our fans and be a part of this league. We are extremely excited about it. We are looking forward to the competition this weekend,” stated Santa Cruz.
The Blue and Gold will look to rely on Serlanga at the forward position to find pockets of space to exploit. In the middle of the park, Paget has become the heartbeat of FC Monmouth’s attacking efforts. Nelly Bianchi-Nagle will be in goal on Saturday, holding down the fort between the sticks.
Both days will be a joyous celebration of the immense women’s soccer talent in Monmouth County. To buy tickets, visit fcmonmouth.com/tickets. To follow along with all things FC Monmouth on social media, follow @wearemonmouth.