WC Wisconsin News

The anticipation surrounding amateur soccer in Eau Claire was so high that there needed to be two teams to satisfy the demand, a February WQOW report said. 

The newest team played their first game on May 22, and their energy earned the team a win against their former teammates.

"Having two teams here inspires and encourages other players that are still out there to step up and join the team and grow the heart of playing soccer in our community of Eau Claire," Union Eau Claire FC coach Herbert Engop told WQOW this week. 

The new amateur soccer team was started in Eau Claire in August of 2021 by past members of Bateaux FC, the other amateur soccer team in the area; the February report said. The supply of interested athletes was too great for only one team, which has won the past two Wisconsin Primary Amateur Soccer League (WPASL) championships. Thus, former members started the Union Eau Claire FC team to give more people an opportunity to play in the league. 

Union played its first game on May 22 at their home field of Bolinger Fields and beat the Barron soccer team 2-1. Despite going into halftime trailing 1-0, Union was determined to start their program with a win and made two goals in the second half without allowing another by the opposition. 

The 25-player roster comes from the excess of talent in the area, and the new team hopes to rival the reigning champions and earn themselves a title, possibly even in their first season; the recent WQOW report said. But first and foremost comes the joy of the game and the excitement of playing in the league.