The busy soccer summer is upon us. Amateur leagues and professional clubs are gearing up to make Cincinnati and the surrounding area a hive of soccer. We here at Cincinnati Soccer Talk are looking to keep you in the loop on all the action outside of TQL Stadium this summer.
Before we jump in I’d like to share a personal note. Soccer In Our Area is truly my passion as a writer. I love being able to cover this vibrant and competitive soccer culture with our region. This week was a tough one for me. I struggled looking down at my keyboard to get started. There were so many great storylines and incredible results that I want to share, but I have writer’s paralysis. Even after 16 years of sports writing I still fall into this trap. I would like to apologize to the clubs and individuals competing this week as this will undoubtedly fall short to the spotlight you deserve. But I hope you will understand that I still want to publish and inform our audience.
Looking Back
No Doubt
Kings Hammer FC (W) had an astronomically difficult schedule this past week. Facing Indy Eleven on the road over the weekend and a midweek match against Racing Louisville is about as difficult as it comes schedule wise no matter what level of soccer you play. Nonetheless, KHFC slayed both Valley Division titans. With a high paced 3-2 victory over the Eleven and a grind it out 1-0 late winner over Racing, KHFC planted themselves at the top of the table and, I suspect, will crack the top 15 in all of USL-W.
The Goal to give them 1st 🙌
A HUGE Three Points at home! https://t.co/FLiBgMofww pic.twitter.com/iTl8t0danq
— Ethan Herzog 🎙️ (@herzog_sports) June 4, 2025
Here are links to full match reports provided by KHFC.
Indy Eleven 2 – Kings Hammer 3
Kings Hammer 1 – Racing Louisville 0
Cincinnati To Cary
Emmanuel “Manu” Ledesma took a break from his academy club to compete in the annual The Soccer Tournament (TST). Manu is rostered on former NFL player and sports media personality Pat McAfee’s club CONCAFA. In their opening match of the tournament against AFC Bournemouth, Manu scored an all too familiar pivotal goal to secure the win. Safe to say Manu is enjoying himself on his work trip in Cary, NC. Manu has two goals in three matches with a 100% shots on goal percentage. CONCAFA has advanced in the competition and will be playing 5:30 pm Friday on ESPN+.
TARGET SCORE TIME WINNER FOR @ConcafaPod!
Emmanuel Ledesma's ROCKET of a strike gives Concafa the win! pic.twitter.com/dzoSTQcIMd
— TST (@TST7v7) June 4, 2025
Emphatic Opening
Northern Kentucky Nitro started their OVPL season in impressive fashion. Both of their opening matches were on the road against Bootleggers AC and QST Men’s Academy. After a combined scoreline of 9-1, the Nitro are now squarely at the top of the OVPL River Division table. Andrej Novakovic recorded five goals in the two fixtures and Ben Oliver was credited for 5 assists. Nitro normally are a load to deal with in the OVPL season and it looks like 2025 will be no different.
@ovplsoccer action between @bootingit and @NorthKentuckyFC pic.twitter.com/ezpScLtX5v
— Queen City Football Club (@OfficialQCFC) May 30, 2025
Possessive Possession
Fusion FC NKY Frauengiest made their season debut with a 1-1 draw against Bootleggers AC (A) this past Saturday. During the midweek, their match against Cincy SC needed to move and with quick action the Lexington SC Academy match was bumped up to accommodate. A possession rich affair in favor of Frauengiest resulted in a 5-3 win. Brooklyn Pickens, the University of Kentucky forward, no doubt felt right at home bagging a brace in the match.
Report Cards Submitted
There are several collegiate soccer teams within our area. While the seasons don’t begin until the fall, the playing surface in the classroom is ever competitive. Here is how our local men and women performed in that arena this spring.
- University of Cincinnati – 3.83 GPA
- Xavier University (W) – 3.81 GPA
- University of Dayton (W) – 3.77 GPA
- Wright State University (M) – 3.66 GPA
- Wright State University (W) – 3.58 GPA
- Miami University – 3.49 GPA
- Xavier University (M) – 3.43 GPA
The highest women's team GPA in the department. 👀
📝: https://t.co/b79WFAcPvJ pic.twitter.com/giTKSgnxn7
— Cincinnati Women's Soccer (@GoBearcatsWSOC) May 23, 2025
Standings Check
per UPSL.com
From uslleaguetwo.com
per uslwleague.com
OVPL Men’s River Division
per ovpl.com
Other Scores in Our Area
Bootleggers AC (M) 3 – Danville Locomotive 3 | OVPL
Indy Saints FC 1 – Valhalla FC 0 | OVPL
Cincy SC (M) 2 – Pro FC 2 | OVPL
Dayton Dutch Lions (M) 0 – Kings Hammer Cin (M) 0 | USL–2
Fort Wayne FC 3 – Kings Hammer Cin (M) 1 | USL-2
Kings Hammer Cin (M) 0 – Lexington SC (M) | USL-2
Dayton Dutch Lions (W) 1 – Lexington SC (W) 7 | USL-W
FC Pride 1 – Lou Fusz Athletic 1 | WPSL
Indy Gladiators 10 – Magica Sokker Acad. 0 | UPSL
United Stars SA 0 – Columbus Astray 3 | UPSL
South Indiana Guardians 2 – Manu Ledesma Ac. 1 | UPSL
Charlotte Independence 2 – Lexington SC (M) 2 | USL-C
Lexington SC (W) 3 – DC Power FC 3 | USL-S
Looking Forward
USASA Benchmark
Valhalla FC will be continuing their USASA Region II campaign with a matchup against Michigan Stars (U23). This quarterfinals match marks the pinnacle for the club. If they win Saturday, they will be on the cusp of a US Open Cup birth.
View this post on Instagram
Painted Passion
The USWNT supporter group ‘American Outlaws’ are painting a tifo ahead of the matchup with Ireland in TQL Stadium. Come join the family-friendly fun and try your hand in painting the beautiful tifo.
Chiseled In Stone
Kings Hammer (CIN) invites you to participate in the naming of their rivalry with their sister club Kings Hammer FC (COL). The infamous ‘Hell is Real’ derby was named by the fanbases, so too will this feud be.
The rivalry is real: Columbus vs. Cincinnati 🔥
You submitted the names — now it’s time to decide.Rate your favorites and help us name the official Kings Hammer rivalry!
👉 Vote now: https://t.co/CKuBQ0W9gt pic.twitter.com/10TxcAYX9r— Kings Hammer FC (@kingshammerfc) June 2, 2025
Freshen Up Your Wardrobe
You can now get a shirt with the iconic Cincinnati city flag pattern. Queen City FC have release a limited kit that will be sure to turn heads in the region. Price is $40 before shipping cost and you can even get a custom name and number on the jersey.
Get ready for a summer of soccer with a Queen City take on the Waldo 🧡💙
Even includes FREE customization!https://t.co/qN3HfH9R4C pic.twitter.com/slXLfxzHrm
— O&Y (@olive_york) June 6, 2025
Match Schedule
Saturday 6/7:
- 2PM | Frauengiest vs Hoosier Futbol Club | Boone County PWAA
- 3PM | Manu Ledesma Ac. at Indy Gladiators SC
- 6PM | Kings Hammer (M) at West Virginia United | Stream
- 6PM | Dayton Dutch Lions (W) at Racing Louisville | Stream
- 7PM | Dayton Dutch Lions (M) at Fort Wayne FC | Stream
Sunday 6/8:
- 4PM | Valhalla FC vs QST Men’s Academy | Charity J Lucas Stadium
- 6PM | Bootleggers AC (M) at Danville Locomotive
- 6:30PM | Bootleggers AC (W) at Lexington SC Academy
Wednesday 6/11:
- TBD | Cincy SC (W) vs Ohio Galaxies FC | Riverside Park
- 4PM | Valhalla FC vs Northern KY Nitro | Charity J Lucas Stadium
- 6PM | Cincy SC (M) at Indy Saints FC
- 7PM | Kings Hammer (M) at KHFC Columbus | Stream
- 7PM | Kings Hammer (W) vs Indy Eleven | Tickets / Stream
- 7:30PM | Bootleggers AC (M) vs Pro FC | Scott High School
Previous Newsletter
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