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W League Opening Day Recap: Flint nets five goals, NorCal Division plays inaugural match

By USLWLeague.com Staff, 05/06/23, 9:51PM EDT

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No shortage of goals on match day 1


Oakland Soul with fans at first match of the 2023 W League season

The 2023 USL W League season kicked off today and clubs wasted no time scoring goals. In fact, the fastest goal from today was in the fifth minute by Kalamazoo and Oakland clocked in at just eight minutes. 

Be sure follow along on social media tomorrow for our fifth and final match of the weekend when SF Glens host Academica SC at 4pm ET. 

Check out a quick recap of all four matches from today:

 

They’ve got Soul in Stockton

In the first official match of the season, Stockton Cargo hosted Oakland Soul under a gray sky. It only took Oakland’s Nayeli Diaz eight minutes to find the back of the net and record the first goal of the season. Even down two goals, Stockton wouldn’t go away and goalkeeper Madison Covey-Taylor kept the Cargo in the match with some incredible saves.  

Oakland would go on to win the high-scoring inaugural NorCal match 3-2 and you can expect both of these teams to be tough opponents all season long.  


Allez Kzoo

Two first half goals sealed the victory for Kalamazoo FC in Cleveland. Kzoo struck first in the fifth minute and tacked on another goal in the 39th minute. Cleveland Force SC were able to pull one back in the 83rd minute when Aniya Hartzler  found the back of the net but ultimately, the Force were unable to find an equalizer before full time.  


55-miles on Interstate 23

AFC Ann Arbor welcomed Flint City AFC in front of a great crowd, however the warm welcome cooled after Flint tallied three goals in the first half to Ann Arbor’s one. After halftime, Flint picked up where they left off with a beautiful free kick goal.  

Ann Arbor’s returning forward Angeline Kieh would score the lone goal for the Mighty Oak. Flint City would go on to win 5-1.  


Virginia is for Lovers

Expansion side Virgina Marauders FC hosted NOVA FC to kick their seasons off. The teams played to a scoreless scoreline heading into the locker room at halftime. The Marauders scored their first goal in club history in the 58th minute, which would be the deciding goal, shutting out their interstate rivals 1-0.  


VA Marauders' first-ever starting IV would take the pitch and get the W

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