Vlora FC’s UPSL women’s team has gotten to work this spring, already playing two games as the season starts to settle into rhythm. While Vlora are still waiting for their first win, there has been plenty to check out already.
Granite City
Vlora began their 2026 regular season with an away trip to Granite City in Saint Cloud. The hosts started the game well and gave Vlora, down 2-0, work to do late in the game. Vlora, however, found a response. Two goals from Lauren Vacek and Lila Endo, including one open play goal and one penalty kick, saw Granite City’s lead disappear with some time to spare.
Vlora went for more, but were unable get the third goal as the game concluded at 2-2, earning Vlora a valuable point on the road.
Eden Prairie
Vlora then returned home for their first home game on May 17, hosting new league-members Eden Prairie. Eden Prairie arrived off the back of a 12-1 win over Minnesota Bliss, showing some real potency up front.
Vlora lined up wth Brianna Thompson, Keira Olabode, Ingrid Lienke, Sienna Latta, Andrea Cuenca-Medina, Sam Poeschl, Allison Larson, Marissa Wentland, Haley Gschrey, Lizzy Jaraczeski, and Halima Bigirindavyi.
Eden Prairie started the game strong, winning a pair of corner kicks and forcing Thompson into a busy starting marshaling the defense and collecting the ball. Some big moments for Bigirindavyi deep in the midfield, as well as Olabodi and Jaraczeski on the left side, kept Eden Prairie from an early goal, but the visitors had set a tone. Eden Prairie eventually opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a nice run of passes leading to a crisp shot.
Vlora responded to the goal well, kicking into another gear offensively. Chances began to stack up for Vlora, particularly as Latta, Lienke, and Cuenca-Medina found connections with Gschrey, playing as a center forward. Gschrey was able to create multiple chances, including Vlora’s most notable shot, but the Eden Prairie defense and keeper stood firm to keep their lead intact.
A diving save by Thompson in the 35th minute delayed it, but Eden Prairie did find their second goal in the 42nd minute, providing a new obstacle for Vlora to consider heading into halftime.
Vlora made a few changes in the second half, including introductions for goalkeeper Claire Acker, Megan McAllister, and Liv Hagner, but any potential comeback was cut short after lightning paused the game in the 70th minute, before the officials then decided to call the game after a mixed start that saw Eden Prairie start well, but remain just 2-0 ahead.
