URBANA, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY) – The Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) announced today that Junction Futbol Club will join the WPSL field this summer for the 26th season. With the announcement, the league confirms that Junction FC in Urbana will face off against five teams from Dayton, Indianapolis, Evansville, and St. Louis in the Gateway Division of the Midwest Conference.
“We feel like it is the perfect time to expand and promote the game, especially on the women’s side, and the WPSL’s standards of professionalism and excellence were too good to pass up,” stated Mark Sikora, Junction FC’s co-president and general manager.
Entering its first season of establishment, Junction FC is a community-based, non-profit organization that strives to combine top-tier soccer opportunities with community outreach programs – specifically for those who strive for female empowerment both on and off the field. The team practices in Urbana and will compete home games at Urbana High School.
“We are excited to bring this high level of women’s soccer to our part of the country that will provide a pathway for players in our community to compete regionally and nationally,” Sikora said. “Soccer has been growing leaps and bounds and we believe we can play a part in helping it grow to even greater heights.”
“My love of soccer and the C-U community runs deep, from playing Park District and being on one of the first Illini Futbol Club teams to coaching both boys and girls soccer programs at Champaign Centennial, partial ownership of Soccer Planet, being a “soccer dad”, and my current position as the men’s soccer coach at Parkland College. I have always tried to promote the game that has meant so much to me in my life, so the chance to build a pre-professional women’s team here was simple. It is our intention at Junction FC to continue to bring our extremely diverse community together around soccer, to make it a shining example of what a sporting community can truly be,” Sikora explains.
Kip McDaniel has been named to lead Junction FC as head coach for its debut WPSL season. Josh Stebbins and Noy Radanavong complete the coaching staff as assistants. The talent roster will be available soon.
” I am very excited to be a part of Junction FC and bring this level of talent to the Champaign-Urbana community,” says head coach, Kip McDaniel. “This is an incredible opportunity to provide players a platform to showcase their talent at the highest level locally and nationally. I am in line with WPSL’s commitment of advancing the women’s game and creating more opportunities for growth, development, and competition for female athletes. “
A native of Champaign, Kip’s passion for soccer began at a young age while playing for Little Illini Soccer Club. Excelling in the sport through adolescence, he had a successful high school career with Champaign Central as the team captain, starting sweeper and achieving All-Conference and All-Area Player of the Year awards.In college, he was the
team captain and starting sweeper for Illinois State University and the Assistant Head Coach of the Denver Kickers in Colorado. Returning to Illinois, Kip went back to his roots and coached multiple Little Illini Soccer Club teams including U11, U14 and U17 – with some of those athletes moving on to professional careers. He most recently coached the girls soccer team at The High School of St. Thomas More.
Kip’s approach to the game begins with a positive mindset. As an athlete, he appreciates quality technique and strives to have fun every time he’s on the field.
Assistant Coach Josh Stebbins explains, “We have a great soccer culture already established in the community that I have been fortunate enough to be involved with since 2010. Playing with others from different backgrounds allowed me to move into a Head Coaching role with Judah Christian High School and from there a coaching role with The High School of Saint Thomas More as both Assistant/Head Girls Soccer Coach. I think this organization is the natural next step forward to growing all aspects of soccer within CU but also my own personal growth. Additionally, through coaching girls’ high school soccer, it has really opened my eyes just to how few opportunities there can be for these young ladies here in central Illinois. Having a daughter of my own has just amplified the need for something of this stature. I want her and future generations to benefit from what we are building now.”
The expansion into Urbana will also allow Junction FC to host clinics and workshops for area youth, encouraging girls of all ages and experience levels to play soccer.
The Gateway Division will host the Midwest Conference Championship after an 8-to-10 unbalanced, regular season schedule. The season runs from May–July and the schedule will be posted on the website when available. Games are ticketed and the public is encouraged to attend and cheer on these semi-professional female athletes in what will be highly competitive matches