Day: May 31, 2025

WER 2025 – RD 11: Twin Cities Gemini v Chicago Tempest

The Chicago Tempest travel south to face the TC Gemini at TCO Stadium in a midwestern melee during Round 11 of WER’s inaugural season!

This match sees the two teams at the bottom of the WER standings scrap to pick up valuable table points. The TC Gemini sit with a 2-5 record following their most recent match, a 31-22 road loss against the New York Exiles. The Chicago Tempest are desperate for a victory, sitting with a 0-7 record and only a single point in the standings. They fell 49-12 to the Boston Banshees in their last game. These teams have met once in the past, during WER’s opening weekend when the Gemini fought hard for a 15-20 victory in Chicago.

It was another low scoring, tight affair in the second meeting between these sides. The Tempest took a 7-10 lead thanks to a 61st minute Vanessa Ciappetta score on debut, and were within 8 minutes of their first victory before KJ Johnson bagged her 2nd of the game in the 73rd minute to take a slender 12-10 advantage. The Tempest could not respond and the Gemini escape with their 3rd win of the season in the lowest scoring game of WER to date!

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2025 – RD 16: Chicago Hounds v NOLA Gold

The NOLA Gold travel to Illinois to face the Chicago Hounds for an Eastern Conference clash at SeatGeek Stadium! The Hounds are coming off of a road victory over Anthem RC where they clinched a playoff spot for the 2nd season in a row, and are not fighting for home field advantage. The Gold’s comeback attempt fell just short against the Utah Warriors last week, and need a victory here to keep their slim playoff chances alive. A Miami Sharks win would eliminate NOLA, but they need a victory for any chance of making it.

These teams have met 5 times in the past and split the all-time regular season series 2-2, but the Hounds hold the lead thanks to their big post-season victory last year. Chicago extended their all-time season series lead with a 38-17 bonus point victory over the Gold in this one. Although the scoreline looks comfortable, the Gold took a 7-0 lead in the first 10 minutes through a JP du Plessis try and held this until the half hour mark, when Ollie Devoto struck for the Hounds to even things up. Oti Pifeleti doubled up the Hounds score just before half time, and Chicago never looked back. With 8 points in this game, Chris Hilsenbeck’s 2025 total now sits at 84pts. This is a new Chicago Hounds single season scoring record!

The Hounds take the lead in the Eastern Conference and will be hoping that the Free Jacks slip up against Seattle tomorrow. The NOLA Gold, already eliminated, now have one last chance to play for pride this season.

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2025 – RD 16: Old Glory DC v Rugby FC LA

Rugby FC LA travel to the nation’s capital to face Old Glory DC in a cross-conference clash at the Maryland Soccerplex! The California club have an opportunity to clinch their first ever playoff berth with a bonus point victory here, and are entering this game on a 3-game win streak and undefeated in 4. Old Glory DC have already locked up a playoff spot in the East, but are in a 3-way battle with Chicago and New England for 1st place and home advantage. The Flags are entering this game on a 4-game win streak of their own and are fresh off of a huge road victory over their rivals, the New England Free Jacks.

These teams have met twice in the past, with LA taking 1 game and the other ended in a draw. The broadcast cut out after roughly 30 minutes following a power outage in the area around the stadium, so fans watching from home had to rely on text updates from the league and teams. These updates informed us that the game was a back-and-forth affair, with Rugby FC LA eventually securing a 43-32 victory to clinch their place in the 2025 post-season. Old Glory DC picked up a try BP, but with a Chicago Hounds victory, have lost ground in the hunt for 1st in the West. The Flags will have to hope that the Free Jacks slip up tomorrow.

 

**Due to the power outage, exact substitution information for this game is unknown.**

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WER 2025 – RD 11: Boston Banshees v Bay Breakers

The Boston Banshees host the Bay Breakers during Round 11 of WER’s inaugural season in a cross-country Battle of the B’s!

The Bay Breakers continue their road trip after defeating the New York Exiles in Round 10, and looks to sweep the East Coast with a victory here. The 2nd placed Boston Banshees are coming off of a heavy defeat at the hands of the Denver Onyx last week, and need a win here to both stay in the race with the Onyx, and stave off both the Breakers and New York Exiles, who sit 2 and 3 points behind, respectively. These teams have met once before, when the Banshees handed the Breakers a big 28-49 loss in their own backyard.

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