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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club announced the first six members of its inaugural United Soccer League (USL) W League squad Monday, with each addition pending league and federation approval.

The six players named kicked off the Club’s “W League Week” in which it will release the entire roster over the span of five days.

Brooke Dawahare, Kaela Dickerman, Sarah Gorham, Tameir Grosvenor, Marz Josephson and Kailey Utley make up Monday’s roster announcements.

The USL W League is the nation’s premier pre-professional women’s platform, and Lexington SC’s roster will feature top collegiate and prep players from across the country. Alan Kirkup serves as Lexington’s USL W League head coach.

The inaugural match is May 10 from Toyota Stadium in Georgetown, Ky. Fans can purchase tickets to support the USL W League here.

More about each player can be found below:

Brooke Dawahare – Midfielder

Social media: Instagram – brooke_dawahare | Twitter – brookedawahare

Hometown: Lexington, Ky.

Previous Team: Lexington Sporting Club

Dawahare is currently a junior at Lafayette High School in Lexington, Ky., and is already committed to play collegiate soccer. She has accumulated many accolades across her career including being a part of the United States U16 Youth National Team player pool and being named to the KHSAA All-State First Team in 2021 and declared 2021 11th Region Player of the Year. Dawahare is most excited about having the opportunity to compete against some of the best pre-professional players in the country and from around the world. She said she couldn’t think of a better environment to prepare her for the next level than to be trained by Alan Kirkup and take part in the competitive USL W League.

“It’s special because I know the amount of effort Michelle Rayner and Alan Kirkup are putting into making a successful team of players and it is such an honor to be among the first W League signings for this team.”

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Kaela Dickerman – Forward/Midfield

Social Media: Twitter, Instagram – kkdick

Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Previous Team: Cincinnati Sirens

Dickerman played NCAA soccer at the University of Louisville, starting in all 16 games in 2016 for the Cardinals. She also played for Afturelding (Ungmennafélagið Afturelding) in Iceland, FF Lugano in Switzerland and most recently the Cincinnati Sirens of the Premier Arena Soccer League. Dickerman herself is most excited about training and playing at a high level for the upcoming USLW League season at Lexington. She was excited by the prospect of surrounding herself with other motivated players who are looking at honing their craft daily and seeing the group and club grow from the beginning of their first season until the end, saying it’s going to be an incredible journey.

“I’m super grateful to get to continue playing at a competitive level with Lexington SC! After talking with Coach Kirkup, I feel like the club has all the right pieces to be successful, and I’m excited to be a part of that. I can’t wait to see how we continue to grow this team prior to the season!”

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Sarah Gorham – Midfield

Social Media: Instagram – iamsarahgorham

Hometown: Lexington, Ky.

Previous Team: Rayo Vallecano (Spain)

Gorham was at Western Kentucky at the NCAA Division-I level for five years where she scored 10 goals. She also played for Lidköpings FK in Sweden, Nea Salamina Famagusta FC (Nea Salamis) in Cyprus, Santa Teresa CD in Spain and Rayo Vallecano in Spain. Gorham said she is most excited to get to know her new teammates and continue to grow soccer in the Lexington area.

“I grew up playing soccer in Lexington and am excited to get involved with the community here again. I look forward to helping Lexington SC in its first USL W League season as I am always grateful for another opportunity to keep playing the game I love.”

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Tameir Grosvenor – Forward

Social Media: Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat – thetameir

Hometown: Desoto, Texas

Previous Team: Texas Wesleyan Rams (NAIA)

Grosvenor played six seasons for Texas Wesleyan University at the NAIA level of college athletics, starting in every game she played for the Rams and scoring 96 goals. She also played for the Sting and Texans of the Elite Clubs National League. Grosvenor said she is most excited about playing at a higher level than college and being in an unfamiliar place to meet new people.

“It means a lot to be amongst the first USL W League additions for Lexington SC. I’m very excited to meet my teammates. It’s such a great opportunity and I am blessed to be on this team. All thanks goes to God.”

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Marz Josephson – Goalkeeper

Social Media: Twitter – Marzjosephson | Instagram – krazykeeper

Hometown: Apex, N.C.

Previous Team: University of Kentucky

Josephson spent four years at the University of North Carolina, playing at the NCAA Division-I level before transferring to Kentucky in the offseason, where she will play in the 2023 Fall season. She also played at Wake FC in the USL. Josephson expressed excitement about her signing, citing great interactions with the club and saying she can’t wait to meet the team and staff in person and get to work.

“I am extremely excited to be among the first USL W league signings for Lexington SC. I just moved into the Lexington community and have loved it so far. It’s a privilege to be part of the first members of the club’s USL W League team and help set the initial foundation for the club to build upon.”

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Kailey Utley  – Forward

Social media: Instagram – kaileyutley

Hometown: Saint Louis

Previous Team: Fire & Ice SC (WPSL)

Utley played collegiate soccer at West Virginia University for two seasons, scoring 17 goals for the Mountaineers in 45 starts. After leaving WVU she also played for both Fire & Ice SC and Pacific Northwest SC of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). Outside of soccer she graduated Optometry School and was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. Utley is most excited to continue competing with and against high level athletes and to build relationships within the team and community.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to be part of the club and I’m looking forward to serving as a role model for younger female soccer players.”

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Stay tuned throughout the week as more Lexington SC players are announced.

About Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer). Launching its inaugural professional season in 2023, the men’s first team is the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems, a pre-professional women’s team beginning in 2023 in the USL W League and is in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club will host its second consecutive home game at Toyota Stadium Saturday against South Georgia Tormenta FC. The match marks Lexington’s fourth fixture of the season.

Lexington SC (0-2-1, 1 point) is in search of its first competitive win of the season after earning its first point of the season in last week’s home opener against Forward Madison FC.

Tormenta FC (2-2-0, 6 points) stands as the reigning USL League One champions, outlasting the Chattanooga Red Wolves in the final in Statesboro, Ga. The club finished the 2022 regular season 12-9-9 (45 points), third on the table.

Tickets to the match are available here.

TUNE IN

• The match will be streaming on ESPN+
• For in-game content, follow Lexington SC on Twitter and Instagram
• For in-game stats, head to the Match Center

MATCH NOTES

Entering the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Tormenta FC defeated USL Championship squad Rio Grande Valley FC 2-1 in Statesboro to advance into the third round.

The club has seen three different players score four goals in league play, with Mukwelle Akale scoring the club’s first two goals of the season and Jackson Khoury and Pedro Fonseca adding one each in the club’s win over Greenville Triumph SC.

Lexington SC has had two players, Don Smart and Khalid Balogun, score goals in league play.

The 0-0 draw against Forward Madison last Saturday marked Lexington SC’s first point and first shutout in Club history. Goalkeeper Austin Causey earned his first clean sheet, as well.

Left back Terique Mohammed was placed on the USL League One Team of the Week Bench for his performance against the Flamingos.

About Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer). Launching its inaugural professional season in 2023, the men’s first team is the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems, a pre-professional women’s team beginning in 2023 in the USL W League and is in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.

TAMPA, Fla. – Terique Mohammed earned USL League One Team of the Week honors for his performance in Lexington Sporting Club’s match against Forward Madison FC on Saturday, the league office announced Tuesday.

In a 0-0 draw Mohammed played all 90 minutes, creating three scoring chances and recording a shot attempt, an interception and two clearances.

Lexington SC will look to build from the point in its second home match of the season against South Georgia Tormenta on Saturday, April 15, in Toyota Stadium.

Fans can purchase tickets to the match through the link here.

About Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer Third Division Men’s Professional Soccer League). Launching its inaugural professional season in 2023, the professional team is the pinnacle of the soccer eco-system in Lexington and features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems, a pre-professional women’s team beginning in 2023 in the USL W League and is in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.

Lexington Sporting Club drew Forward Madison in a 0-0 final at Toyota Stadium in Georgetown, Ky., earning the first point in club history on Saturday while celebrating the home opener.

The draw also marked the first ever clean sheet for Lexington Sporting Club and goalkeeper Austin Causey.

“I think it’s important, I think that’s the one thing we wanted to work on as a group to cut out the little mistakes especially on set pieces,” Causey said. “I think we did what we needed to do today defensively, we didn’t get many fouls in the box. Now we just go forward.”

The home team entered the game in a grueling stretch that saw it play three games in seven days, taking on North Carolina FC on Saturday, April 1, Louisville City on Wednesday and finally Forward Madison on April 8.

On a chilly and windy night in Georgetown, 3,029 fans packed into Toyota Stadium for the inaugural home game for the club, with Lexington SC quickly putting up the first shot attempt in the sixth minute courtesy of Ates Diouf.

It would be the visitors who would put up the first shots on target in the 21st and 26th minutes, both of which were expertly saved by Causey.

Lexington SC put up a shot on target of its own thanks to Nico Brown, but both clubs entered the halfway point deadlocked.

Khalid Balogun nearly gave the home fans their first ever goal at home in the 60th minute, but Forward Madison goalkeeper Bernd Schipmann made the save.

The home side put on the pressure late into the game with Terique Mohammed, Diouf and a debuting Drew Patterson all putting up valiant efforts to score, but a goal was simply not in the cards for either side as the teams finished the match 0-0.

“I thought it was a fantastic opening night game tonight and the boys worked extremely hard,” head coach Sam Stockley said. “Full credit to Forward Madison and everything they threw at us today, I’m really pleased with how our boys performed, happy with the result and more happy that we finally got this off the ground and all the supporters are out here supporting us.”

Forward Madison controlled the possession in the match, holding the ball 58.5% of the time and finishing with a 0.85 to 0.64 advantage in expected goals.

Next up for Lexington SC is the club’s second consecutive home stand against South Georgia Tormenta on Saturday, April 15.

Fans can purchase tickets to the match through the link here.

About Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer Third Division Men’s Professional Soccer League). Launching its inaugural professional season in 2023, the professional team is the pinnacle of the soccer eco-system in Lexington and features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems, a pre-professional women’s team beginning in 2023 in the USL W League and is in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting will host its inaugural home opener at Toyota Stadium in Georgetown Saturday against Forward Madison FC at 7 p.m.

The match marks the third USL League One fixture of the season for Lexington (0-2-0) and the second for Forward Madison (0-0-1).

Lexington SC is coming off a narrow 1-0 defeat at USL Championship side Louisville City FC in the U.S. Open Cup this past Wednesday.

Parking lots open at 5 p.m. and the gates follow at 5:30 p.m. Custom match day posters, commemorative tickets and rally towels are all available while supplies last to fans in attendance. Check out the “Know Before You Go” section before heading to Toyota Stadium.

TUNE IN

• The match will be streaming on ESPN+
• For in-game content, follow Lexington SC on Twitter and Instagram
• For in-game stats, head to the Match Center

MATCH NOTES

Forward Madison finished 9th in the USL League One last season with a record of 7-12-11 (33 points). The club defeated Cleveland SC of the NPSL in its first match of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup before being defeated by Minnesota United of the MLS in its second match.

The club was led in 2022 by Jeremiah Streng, who scored 7 of the team’s 34 goals in the season. He was followed by Matheus Cassini and Nazeem Bartman, who scored five each. Cassini and Bartman both returned to Madison for 2023 but Streng joined SJK of the Finnish Veikkausliiga.

Lexington SC, on the other hand, is still in its first season and, thus far, have seen two players, Don Smart and Khalid Balogun, score goals in league play.

Lexington SC has two former Forward Madison players on the roster including Cesar Murillo Jr. and Smart, who was Madison’s first ever signing in 2018.

About Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer). Launching its inaugural professional season in 2023, the men’s first team is the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems, a pre-professional women’s team beginning in 2023 in the USL W League and is in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club fell by a 1-0 final at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Ky., against Louisville City FC in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Wednesday.

The loss saw Lexington SC bow out in its cup debut while Louisville City advanced into the third round to face an opponent that has yet to be determined.

Starting things off with a weather delay due to severe thunderstorms in the area, both teams took the pitch on a chilly and wet night in Louisville.

With the rain pouring down, neither team was able to record a shot until 25 minutes into the game, and the first shot on target, which was saved by Austin Causey in impressive diving fashion, didn’t come until 11 minutes later.

With the weather and strong defense keeping shots to a minimum, both teams entered the halftime locked in a 0-0 tie.

The visitors nearly took the lead early in the second half when Terique Mohammed sent one at Louisville City goalkeeper Oliver Semmle, but the German keeper was able to make the save.

Louisville City managed to break the tie in the 69th minute off a header by Sean Totsch that was sent into the box by Paolo DelPiccolo. The score would go on to stand as the only goal of the match, despite the best efforts of Lexington SC.

“I thought it was a really positive performance against a top quality team who have been very successful over a number of years,” said head coach Sam Stockley. “We keep saying we’re very close, but we’ve just got to tidy up those dead ball situations and really focus on moving forward.”

Louisville City controlled the possession in the match, holding the ball 58% of the time and finishing with a 1.34 to 0.14 advantage in expected goals.

“We haven’t got time to dwell on it (the loss),” Stockley added. “We will debrief it, we’ll analyze it like we do and we’ll set the team up for success on Saturday. It’s another huge game but the boys are getting used to that now. Now, we’re coming together for our home opener.”

Next up for Lexington SC is the club’s home opener against Forward Madison on Saturday, April 8, at Toyota Stadium in Georgetown, Ky.

Fans can purchase tickets to the home opener through the link here.

About Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer). Launching its inaugural professional season in 2023, the men’s first team is the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems, a pre-professional women’s team beginning in 2023 in the USL W League and is in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Clubs continues to make history in 2023, adding the next chapter of its inaugural campaign with its first appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Wednesday at Louisville City FC.

Kick from Lynn Family Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. With inclement weather in the forecast, fans should stay tuned to any updates via the Club’s Twitter page.

The U.S. Open Cup is a knockout competition open to all professional leagues sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, including Major League Soccer (MLS), United Soccer League (USL) Championship and League One divisions, National Independent Soccer Association and MLS Next Pro, as well as amateur clubs that qualify through regional competitions.

The winner of the Cup earns an automatic spot into the CONCACAF Champions League. Lexington SC and LouCity will start their Cup runs in the second round.

This season, LouCity has started 2-2-0 after winning its first two games and dropping its last two games in league play. Lexington SC enters with a 0-2-0 record, falling it each of its previous two USL League One matches by identical 2-1 scores.

TUNE IN

• The match will be streaming on B/R Football YouTube
• For in-game content, follow Lexington SC on Twitter and Instagram

MATCH NOTES

Lexington’s Khalid Balogun earned USL League One Team of the Week honors after scoring a goal in Saturday’s match at North Carolina FC. It came in the fifth minute off an assist from Tate Robertson, and was the fastest goal scored in the league thus far this season.

LouCity finished first in the East of the USL Championship last season, ultimately falling short in the title match, with a record of 22-6-6 (72 points). The club recorded three wins in the U.S. Open Cup before it was defeated by Nashville SC of the MLS in the Round of 16.

LouCity has scored four goals, all of which were scored by different players, in its first two games before being shut out by a combined 8-0 in its last two.

About Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer). Launching its inaugural professional season in 2023, the men’s first team is the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems, a pre-professional women’s team beginning in 2023 in the USL W League and is in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.

TAMPA, Fla. – Khalid Balogun earned USL League One Team of the Week honors for his performance in Lexington Sporting Club’s match against North Carolina FC on Saturday, the league office announced Tuesday.

In a 2-1 defeat, Balogun played all 90 minutes, scoring the club’s first ever non-penalty goal in the fifth minute while also blocking a shot and recording two clearances.

The placement marked Balogun’s first USL Team of the Week honors.

Lexington SC looks to rebound from the defeat in its inaugural Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against Louisville City on Wednesday, April 5, in Lynn Family Stadium.

About Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer). Launching its inaugural professional season in 2023, the men’s first team is the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems, a pre-professional women’s team beginning in 2023 in the USL W League and is in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.

CARY, N.C. – Lexington Sporting Club fell by a 2-1 final Saturday evening at North Carolina FC in the second USL League One match of the season.

The loss drops Lexington SC to 0-2-0 while North Carolina FC earns its first win to improve to 1-1-0.

Khalid Balogun put Lexington ahead in the fifth minute, converting the first chance of the evening off a cross from Tate Robertson in the fastest goal scored thus far in the USL League One season.

The lead was short-lived, however, as an own goal allowed North Carolina FC to pull level in the 13th minute.

A flurry of opportunities late saw Robertson, Terique Mohammed, Owen Green and Nico Brown each threaten a goal, although the score remained 1-1 at the break. Lexington SC did not allow a single shot on target through the first half.

North Carolina FC moved ahead in the 73rd minute when Rafael Mentzingen tucked away his first goal of the season off an assist from Oalex Anderson.

That proved to be the difference, as the hosts kept Lexington without a shot on target for the remainder of the match.

North Carolina maintained 54% of the possession throughout the match, finishing with a 1.26 to 0.62 advantage in expected goals.

Up next for Lexington SC is the first U.S. Open Cup match in Club history, meeting Louisville City FC Wednesday, April 5, at 7 p.m. inside Lynn Family Stadium.

Lexington SC opens its home schedule next Saturday, April 8, hosting Forward Madison FC. Fans can purchase tickets to that match through this link.

About Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer Third Division Men’s Professional Soccer League). Launching its inaugural professional season in 2023, the professional team is the pinnacle of the soccer eco-system in Lexington and features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems, a pre-professional women’s team beginning in 2023 in the USL W League and is in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.