Women’s team
Starting XI: Claire Acker, Andrea Delius, Kiera Olabode, Sisley Wessel, Abby Strasser, Ava Thomas, Alyssa Freeman, Tina Million, Emma Olson, Hannah Hagman, Halima Bigirindavyi
Vlora Women earned a hard-fought 1-0 win last Wednesday, beating the Tonka Fusion at home to secure their first clean sheet and second overall win of the 2025 season. The Fusion entered the game with a 5-1-1 record and 14 goals scored in seven games.
A back-and-forth following a Vlora throw-in resulted in Emma Olson picking up the ball a few yards from the halfway line. Olson showed good instincts, quickly lobbing a ball deep into Tonka territory to find the run of Sisley Wessel. Wessel drove the ball a few yards short of the edge of the 18-yard box before letting loose with a looping shot that soared over the keeper but then dipped to find the back of the net and make it 1-0.
Claire Acker led the defense as Vlora looked to defend their new-found lead for the remaining 70 minutes of play. With Olabode, Strasser, Million, and Hagman supporting the space ahead of Acker, Vlora defended Tonka Fusion team that looked determined to score a goal and stay in the race for a high finish in the Midwest West (North) standings. Vlora, who had a few more attacking chances but did spend much of the game defending, made it work and secured the win.
Men’s team
The Vlora men’s premier team ensured their spot in the 2025 conference playoffs earlier this week with a 4-3 win at Granite City. Ignacio Gonzalez, Suad Suljic, Ciro Ottado, and Benjamin Pena all scored in a tense game in St. Cloud, MN. Gonzalez’ goal, a wonderful direct free kick, was the pick of the bunch.
The win ensured that Vlora took fourth in the premier division, guaranteeing a playoff spot for this season after navigating a difficult middle stretch of games this spring. 18×26 Academy placed third, while St. Croix took second and the Blackhawks took first.
This means that Vlora will travel to play the St. Paul Blackhawks, who previously beat Vlora 1-0, in the first round of the upcoming playoffs.
