Women's First Team Finishes Stellar 2025 Season With ISSA Women's Open Cup Win
- Gareth Mullins
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
The Women's First Team played their last game of the 2025 season Saturday at Techny Park in Northbrook, Illinois in the ISSA Women's Open Cup Final, beating DeKalb County United 2-0 and lifting their third piece of silverware this summer.Â
GOALS:
Edgewater Castle FC: Stephens 31' (A C. Sengstock), Hall 36' (PK)
First Half
While every Rook knew the importance of the final, the incoming match meant even more to four players. Four Women's U23 players — Charlotte Simms, Ainsley Christensen, Carolina Carreon, and Stella Sturgill — were called up to compete with the Women's First Team, each eager to help the Rooks win their third final of the season.
Assistant Coach Flower Edington, who last played for the Women's First Team in the 2023 season, also held the game in high regard, returning as a player for this match to help bolster the Rooks’ midfield depth.
DeKalb started the game strong, pressing the Rooks defensive line early. At 4', they nearly scored a goal, but their shot on goal was called offsides by the assistant referee. Shortly afterwards, Lauren Hall, Danielle Boudakh, and Kelsey Hamm all worked together to lock down the Rooks’ defensive third and shift momentum back on the Rooks' side of the ball.
DeKalb would have another opportunity at goal at 20', retrieving the ball from a Rooks corner kick and rushing forward on the right wing. After gaining ground, the DeKalb winger would pass left to a teammate, forcing a one-on-one with Rooks goalkeeper Lucy Clark. However, much like she has throughout the season for ECFC, Clark remained calm and collected, winning the clash and keeping the game at a standstill.
After much pressure from the Rooks' frontline, DeKalb's defense would soon buckle. Working together, Courtney Sengstock would head the ball at 31' to Katharine Stephens, who was in an open position to strike at DeKalb's goal. Stephens would then launch the ball into the bottom right corner, getting the Rooks on the board 1-0.
The Rooks would not let up, leading to another opportunity to score only 5 minutes later. In the 36th minute, Hamm would rush the ball up the left wing, crossing the ball into the box to set up another chance. In the process, however, a DeKalb defender would trigger a handball, setting the Rooks up for a penalty. Hall would take the shot, using her power to deflect the ball off the DeKalb goalkeeper's left hand into the top left of the goal.
Following the Rooks' two goals, a flurry of shots on goal by multiple Rooks players would close out the half, leaving players confident going into halftime.
Second Half
As the second half commenced, DeKalb looked to counter Edgewater's offense with some offensive moves of their own. Clark would save another shot on goal at 49', keeping the game in the Rooks' hands. DeKalb would pile on the pressure early with a slew of corner kicks, but defender Dani Schulgasser held the Rooks goal line firm by landing multiple clearances.
After the first burst of energy by their opponents, the Rooks would close out the second half by showcasing the same skills they have utilized throughout the 2025 season. By maintaining strong possession thanks to the likes of Edington and Kily Egan in the midfield and with the Rooks' defense having clear answers to DeKalb's offensive style of play, the Rooks kept DeKalb from scoring and ran out the clock for their first ever ISSA Women's Open Cup victory.
After the match, head coach Emma Woodley reflected on winning three trophies this season and the future of the Women's First Team.
"[Winning] feels really good," Woodley said. "I'm really proud of the girls, we have a really talented squad. [Our success is] not just a foundation anymore -we've proven ourselves this summer and it's a really good opportunity to build on. We'll just keep it rolling!"
With the Women's First Team's 2025 season concluded, all eyes are on the Men's First Team, who also won the ISSA Men's Open Cup Saturday. Their final match will be against Rockford FC on Thursday, July 31st at 7:30 PM at Hoyne Field.
