Milwaukee Torrent Begins Preparation for 2018 WPSL Season
Milwaukee Torrent will be taking the field for the 2018 WPSL Season as the soccer club expands from its men’s side that competes in the NPSL. The Torrent will soon offer the opportunity for talented players from high schools and colleges in the region to continue their playing career.
WPSL Soccer News: Milwaukee Torrent announced on Thursday that the club will field a Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) side, which will begin play during the 2018 season.
The second-tier WPSL includes more than 100 teams nationwide and is the largest women’s soccer league in the world. Its mission is to provide high-level women’s soccer in America and bring affordable, important family entertainment to its local communities.
The Torrent believe both of the teams will provide Milwaukee’s youth with exposure to a better quality of soccer and provide guidance as they make their way through the ranks.
“It will be great for women to come to the games and see the regional and national competition we will play against,” says Andreas Davi, the owner and head coach of the men’s club.
Wisconsin consists of four NCAA Division 1, one Division II and three Division III women’s collegiate soccer programs, plus many alumni and high school players, which will provide the Torrent with a ranging – and largely untapped – pool of talent. Davi also highlights the possibility of fielding a reserve squad, as he hopes the Torrent will be a “homegrown program.”
“Andreas Davi proved in the past that his projects are all successful, and the Torrent will be a great asset to the Midwest and the league in general,” says WPSL commissioner Jerry Zanelli.
“One of the concerns we’ve heard from local Wisconsin collegiate women’s soccer players is they do not have local options to continue playing high level soccer after they finish their college careers,” says Mark Litton, Goalkeeper Coach, U.S. Men’s Futsal National Team and Assistant Coach/Goalkeeper Coach, Milwaukee Torrent Professional Soccer. “There are only 10 teams in the women’s professional league — so the chances of making one of those teams is extremely limited.”
As the largest women’s soccer league in the world. the WPSL offers a solution to this problem for women all across America.
‘So in conjunction with our successful NPSL team, The Milwaukee Torrent, we have purchase a WPSL franchise, and will begin playing in 2018,” says Litton. “There are over 110 teams nationwide playing in the WPSL, which is considered the next tier down from the NWSL. Since making our announcement yesterday, interest in this new club has been pouring in. The new Milwaukee Torrent Womens’ Soccer team hasn’t even kicked a ball yet and Milwaukee has already welcomed us with open arms. As Head Coach, I am excited to start this new venture into women’s soccer in Wisconsin.”
The NPSL men’s club was founded in January 2015, and played its inaugural season in the 2016 season, which saw the club win its conference.
“When you do something like this, you do it the right way,” says Davi. “To start a program, you need a lot of enthusiasm; but to run it, you need a lot of patience.”
He adds that the plan is to spend one year developing the team and fundraising – he believed he already had some sponsors on board – before beginning competition.
Hart Park in Wauwatosa will be the home field for both the men’s and women’s team. Davi anticipates doubleheaders to be played and intends to offer one season ticket for the two teams.
