Woodland FC finish season with 2-0 win, and a season review

From R to L: Sean Thomson, Alex Tate, and Navid Istanbullu take an end of season photo together. Alex Tate is wished well from his WFC teammates as he finishes his final match for Woodland.

The Royals of Woodland FC ended their 2025 Select League campaign with a 2-0 win over Leawood forest, and a record of 13-4-1 overall (43 pts). Their only loss came on week 4 against eventual champions, Olathe United. But it was ultimately 5 key matches that proved to be the difference in this season that ended in Woodland failing to defend their title.

Let's do a quick overview of the season, and remember the highs and lows of a strong second chapter in our club's history.

Week 1: Woodland 4-0 Crown Villa

Woodland began the year strong, debuting a rebuilt roster, and a renewed defence. Maguire Hardin, Brett Jackson, Steeve Pouna, and Federico Verlicchi would all find the scoresheet, but what would become a season long theme began to rear its ugly head as Naguib Nassir went down injured, and never fully recovered.

Week 2: Woodland 5-1 Lenexa City

The first round of the Tallgrass Derby would go Woodland's way with a resounding 5-1 victory over the visitors. Despite numerous incredible saves by Lenexa's keeper, the Royals would romp to a solid victory. But Sean Thomson would be lost to injury for several weeks.

Week 3: Woodland 4-0 Real Overland Park

The Royals would put together one of their most comprehensive victories of the season as they thrashed Overland Park with goals from Isaac Yang, Federico Verlicchi, Chandler Givler, and Brett Jackson.

Week 4: Woodland 0-1 Olathe

The most anticipated match of the early stages of the season happened in week 4 when Woodland travelled to play Olathe United in a battle of two unbeaten teams. Woodland were without several key players during this match, and it would prove to much to overcome. Despite out-shooting the eventual champions, and having the better of the chances, Woodland would fall to Olathe 0-1 on a late penalty kick. It was the last time Woodland would find themselves top of the table this season.

Week 5: Woodland 3-3 Southside

Woodland needed to get back to winning ways as soon as possible, but Southside would thwart them in their first matchup in an epic showdown that ended 3-3. Woodland continued to struggle with injuries mounting, and players unavailable.

Week 6: Woodland 6-0 Northland

Woodland arrived in Gladstone desperate to get back to form, and found it against Northland. A thorough 6-0 thrashing helped get their legs back underneath them.

Week 7: Woodland 4-3 Antioch

Woodland prepared to face Antioch, a team that was still getting used to life in the Select League, and found themselves up 2-0 after just 10 minutes. But Antioch would fight back 3 times, forcing Woodland to win it late on Spencer Bone's late goal.

Week 8: Woodland 3-1 Liberty

Woodland faced one of the top teams in the league with both of them needing a win to keep pace against Olathe. The standout moment of this match came when Federico Verlicchi beat Liberty's keeper from the midfield line after intercepting the ball. The goal was one of the best of the season in the entire league.

Week 9: Woodland 0-0 Leawood Forest

Woodland were held scoreless for just the 2nd time in their club's history by a resilient and well coached Leawood team. The match saw Woodland frustrated by both the woodwork, and the opposing team. Woodland saw 4 of their shots crash off the post, and a few more cleared off the line by a team that was pragmatic and resourceful. The frustrating match ended scoreless, and Woodland searching for answers.

Week 10: Woodland 2-1 Crown Villa

Woodland entered the 2nd half of the season with a roster that was thread bare at times, and needed to resucitate their season. A revitalized Crown Villa did their level best to make up for their poor showing on opening day, and gave Woodland all they could handle in a difficult match that ended 2-1 in Woodland's favor thanks to a resilient Woodland defense.

Week 11: Hell Week

Woodland faced Antioch, Northland, and Lenexa City over a 72-hour period. They won all 3 matches, and advanced to the final of the State Cup. They would lose to Olathe in the State Cup final.

Week 12: Woodland 2-2 Real Overland Park

Woodland's most frustrating match of the season saw them play against an ROP team that had spent two weeks resting, and two weeks studying match film, readying a plan to beat Woodland. They would execute the plan well, as Woodland had to battle some questionable officiating, and a team that had spent all the time needed to hound the reinging champs. Woodland would fight back to a 2-1 lead, only to concede late on a penalty kick that would all but rip the title from their hands.

Week 13: Woodland 2-2 Olathe

Woodland arrived with a thread bare roster yet again, and would lose another player in this match. This match was a microcosm of their entire season. Playing well, getting a lead, battling injuries, and letting a team back in it. Woodland had the leaders on the ropes with a 2-0 lead after 65 minutes. But after playing 8 matches in 18 days, with almost the same 13 players, Woodland simply ran out of gas, and missed offsides call at the death resulted in a 2-2 tie.

Week 14: Woodland 5-4 Southside

Woodland battled their rivals, Southside, to one of the greatest matches in Select League history. An end-of-your-seat bout that ended 5-4 in favor of the Royals. TJ Mikkelson, Jake Ashford, and Sean Thomson would help claw the Royals back from a 3-1 deficit.

Week 15: Woodland 7-0 Northland

The Royals showed out in front of an impressive PARKED crown in Shawnee, who saw their home team pummel Northland. Federico Verlicchi stole the show with several smart goals, and a total team performance.

Week 16: Woodland 9-2 Antioch

Woodland made no doubt after letting Antioch hang around in the previous matchup. Another complete performance that helped Woodland showcase they were getting healthy yet again.

Week 17: Woodland 6-1 Liberty

Jake Ashford, Chandler Givler, and Sean Thomson brought some impressive firepower to their match vs Liberty as they romped to a resounding win against another Northland area team in quick succession.

Week 18: Woodland 2-0 Leawood Forest

Goals from Elluan Martins Gomes, and Steeve Pouna, and a stingy defense that conceded only a single shot helped Woodland close out their season successfully against Leawood Forest. In league play, Woodland went from week 5-week 18 without suffering a defeat. An impressive run, but unable to match the pace set by Olathe, who suffered a single draw all season, and won all other matches. A staggering amount of success.

Woodland ended the season in 2nd in the Select League, and runners up in the Kansas State Cup. They now prepare to enter the US Open Cup, and begin building their youth academy.

We would love to thank our fans, players, coaches, and admin team who have helped bring about an excellent second season.

Stay tuned for more!

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