Richmond will be well-represented when the TSS FC Rovers play their first-ever game tonight at Newton Athletic Park in Surrey.
The Rovers are an expansion entry in the seven-team Northwest Conference of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and will see a steady diet of Washington and Oregon based teams in the regular season. It starts Thursday against UBC before the Rovers host FCM Portland a week later (Friday, May 25), also in Newton.
Home games will also be played at Mercer Stadium in New West and at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby as part of a doubleheader with the Rovers’ men’s team in the USL Premier Development League.
The Rovers represent the top talent that have come through the Total Soccer Systems Academy program as the Richmond-based organization provides a greater stage for young Canadian players to continue their development.
The inaugural roster features four players from Richmond who have come through TSS.
Defender Ellie Reid has gone on to enjoy a productive collegiate career at Wilfred Laurier University where she was named the team’s top rookie in her freshman season and followed that up with All-Conference First Team honours.
Striker Natalie Cooke is re-united with her TSS teammates following her freshman season at the University of Nebraska.
Joining her in Lincoln next fall is midfielder Dakota Chan who is fresh off being named Richmond’s Female High School Athlete of the Year as a multi-sport standout at McMath Secondary.
Rounding out the local contingent is midfielder Maya Alibudbud — a Grade 12 student at McRoberts Secondary headed to Georgia Gwinnett College in September.
Corner kicks…
Richmond is also represented on the Rovers’ men’s team by midfielder Patrick Metcalfe and forward Riley Pang. Both spent time with the Whitecaps FC Residency Program.
For ticket information on both teams visit tssrovers.com.
