Kicking Off

For the past two years, Port City FC has built up semi-pro men’s soccer in Wilmington, and now they’re expanding with a women’s team.

Port City FC plans to launch a Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) expansion team this summer, embarking on an exhibition season with six to eight matches.

The team is stacked with experienced leadership to bring the first semi-professional women’s soccer team to the Port City.

JENNIFER LUDEMANN is the assistant coach. As a young player, she played club soccer for the Greensboro Twisters Soccer Club in Greensboro, followed by the collegiate level at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Ludemann played professionally in Finland and semi-professionally for the Charlotte Eagles. She coached youth and college soccer for Charlotte Soccer Academy, Tennessee Soccer Club, Trevecca Nazarene University, the Wilmington Hammerheads Youth FC, and UNCW. CHAD MEDCALFE serves as head coach.

HAVEN LEWIS, (above) the new team’s general manager, started playing soccer with Pleasure Island Soccer Association when she was three years old.

“From there I’ve never stopped,” she recalls.

She played at Ashley High School as a striker and went on to play on the collegiate level at Cape Fear Community College as a defender. She is actively playing in a local adult soccer league and coaches a youth travel team under the club she grew up with. “Complete full circle for me,” she says.

Lewis plans to be a resource for coaches, players, and fans for the fledgling team. She is responsible for overseeing how the team operates, making sure players and coaches have a plan to perform at their best. She is a behind-the-scenes administrator, handling player contracts and promoting the club brand.

“Communication is a major key to our success. This is my main responsibility across the board,” she says.

Having a WPSL team in Wilmington is significant, says EION DOCKERY, vice president and general manager of Port City FC.

The men’s team this year becomes part of the National Premier Soccer League, after being a part of the United Premier Soccer League.

Involved in soccer since he was five years old and a player through high school and college, Dockery will collaborate closely with Lewis as the women’s team grows.

“It will provide a platform on the national stage for local supporters and players pursuing their soccer dreams and grow relationships with local business owners,” Dockery says.

The Port City FC Women’s Team aims to advance players to higher professional levels, fostering competition and community growth, while inspiring youth and fueling passion for the game through the opportunity to witness competitive soccer.

Passion collided with the ball at the first tryouts earlier this year.

“During tryouts, I looked for technical skill, control of the ball, field IQ, and a positive body language. I looked for high-intensity experience and saw a lot of it all around. I could see a good depiction of what each potential player had to offer on the field in their respective position,” Lewis says.

After round two of tryouts in March, twenty-five women are expected to be named to the team.

Both Lewis and Ludemann are looking forward to coaching and mentoring these athletes. Ludemann describes her coaching style as super relational and individual focused.

“I encourage but hold a standard and push players to achieve their best,” she says. Most of the players are former college teammates or former club teammates. “I think it will feel like a reunion of friends. And most players are local. They have a love for Wilmington and the soccer culture we are building.”

Ludemann is most excited about forging a new path. “Doing it for the first time is always exciting, and I think we will have a great pool of talent, a great group of players and staff,” she says.

Lewis is eager to watch the cohesion among the range of players grow. “To see older, more experienced players complement younger players’ playing styles is exciting. Watching the camaraderie build into the field and off will be really exciting.”

For both Lewis and Ludemann, the team goes well beyond the field. Ludemann says, “The game of soccer takes you to some amazing places, and you build lifelong friendships. It’s worth everything you put into it.”

Lewis adds, “Soccer teaches you that there is always something worth getting up for. It teaches dedication, perseverance, how to be a team player, and how to navigate within responsibility bigger than yourself. Soccer is a universal language with a translation into everything. And everything that you put in, you will get out in a multitude of ways throughout life.”

WPSL practices begin in April, and games run May through July at Legion Stadium. Info: facebook.com/portcityfcwilmington

To view more of photographer Terah Hoobler’s work, go to terahhoobler.com.

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