Shining in the Summer – Chowan Soccer Makes National Statement in USL League Two

This is the continuation of a series of Body, Mind & Soul stories that highlights member student-athletes, coaches and administrators of Conference Carolinas.

“Our guys were applauded off the field. That says a lot.”

That statement, obviously, seems pretty common, but Lionsbridge FC head coach Chris Whalley was not talking about a win. 

His thoughts came on the heels of the narrow 2-1 loss to Ballard FC (Seattle, Washington) for Lionsbridge FC in the USL League Two final at Starfire Stadium. 

Lionsbridge FC and Ballard FC were the final two teams of the well over 100-team pre-professional league that is home to college soccer players and amateur soccer standouts in the summer. USL League Two is much like the famed collegiate summer baseball leagues, such as the Cape Cod Baseball League and the Coastal Plain League. 

USL League Two separates the country through four conferences (Eastern, Southern, Central and Western). The conferences are then separated even further into 16 divisions with Lionsbridge FC competing in the Chesapeake Division. The club is located on the Virginia Peninsula, which comprises the cities of Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, York and James City counties.

Lionsbridge FC and Ballard FC were tied at 1-1 entering the final minutes of the USL League Two final, but Ballard was able to find the winner on a set piece in the third minute of extra time. 

It was a tough way to lose, but it did not dampen what had been an amazing summer for Lionsbridge FC. 

The applause by the Ballard FC fans as Lionsbridge FC was departing the field was justified and the almost 3,500 fans in attendance for the final knew they had witnessed something special. 

“We worked hard to build this team together,” Whalley, who is entering his 10th year as head men’s soccer coach at Chowan in 2023, said. “We had a group that wanted to work hard. It was special. We were able to find guys who stuck it out all of the way of the season. They were committed.”

Chowan was a huge reason for that commitment. In fact, Lionsbridge FC featured five individuals as either a coach or a player on the team from Chowan men’s and women’s soccer.

“It's amazing,” said Lionsbridge FC co-founder Mike Vest. “It's hard to have a coaching staff and group of this caliber and depth. We are extremely grateful. They have a level of commitment to our club that is reflective on and off the field.”

Vest and Kevin Joyce started Lionsbridge FC from scratch in 2018. 

“Chris, Tennant McVea (who was recently named the head coach of Old Dominion after Alan Dawson retires at the conclusion of the fall 2023 season) and everyone involved from Chowan have worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to instill a culture in our community,” Vest said. “We know our fans by first name. It feels like family when we play.”

One of the former Chowan players playing for Lionsbridge FC this past summer was former standout Sam Hall, who has been coaching and playing while working on another Master’s Degree. Hall picked up an undergraduate and graduate degree from Chowan, but is tying in his experiences and background, presently, by working on a Master’s Degree in education and coaching from Lake Erie College. 

“This year was an unbelievable contrast to last season,” Hall said. “Last year we had a fantastic season, but went out in the knockout round. This season we had a little bit of a dry patch during the season, but we came together for a strong run to the championship. We faced every single situation during the regular season. It's like life. You have the peaks and valleys and it's how you respond.”

Chowan men's soccer graduate assistant coach Josh Baker played for Lionsbridge FC this past summer and, like Hall, he was pivotal in the run to the championship match. In fact, Baker scored in both the semifinal and final. It was Hall, after a long throw from Lionsbridge FC teammate Coleman Jennings, who utilized a deft flick header to put Baker into position to score and tie the match at 1-1 in the 80th minute in the final. 

Obviously Ballard FC would eventually find the winner, but Baker's efforts continued to show the resolve of a Lionsbridge FC squad that battled all season. 

A former standout for Whalley and the men’s soccer program, Chowan women’s soccer head coach Fernando Zuniga has been an assistant coach for Lionsbridge FC for the past six seasons. He, again, fully embraced the opportunity to work and learn from the men’s game this past summer. He knows the experience can only continue to help him in the women’s game.  

“There are obviously nuances, but I definitely bring some new things to the table and I can definitely take things back to the women's game,” Zuniga said “It's a nice balance.”

That unique perspective will only make Chowan men’s and women’s soccer better, particularly after working with a Lionsbridge FC group that was so committed. 

“The bulk of the team was new,” Zuniga relayed. “They bought into what we were doing and it obviously showed. They had a true winning mindset. They had a want to win.”

Vest is thankful that Chowan is so committed to growing the beautiful game in an area so close to Murfreesboro, North Carolina, but he also knows it's bigger than that. 

“We've had a ton of success with coaches and players from the Chowan men's and women's soccer programs,” Vest pointed out of the Chowan depth involved in Lionsbridge FC that also included Lee Wattam. “The success we have had with them guiding our club speaks to the quality of the conference and Chowan.”

Hall also believes the summer programs available are key to success for all college soccer players. 

“My advice to college soccer players is that it's so important to play in these summer leagues,” Hall noted. “It prepares you for so much and so many positives come with it leading into the college season and into life.”

Bob Rose, Associate Commissioner for External Relations Brian Hand and the entire Conference Carolinas office collaborate to help tell the stories of the tremendous student-athletes, coaches and administrators in Conference Carolinas. 

**All photos provided by Lionsbridge FC**