2019 WPL Expert Picks – Week 6
Top team matchups vying for conference command
The Eastern Conference seems to be anyone’s for the taking, especially after this week, while the Western Conference leaders will face off head-to-head for an exciting Week 6.
Kicking off the second half of the Women’s Premier League season is East’s top of the table, Atlanta (3-1) at home versus the challenging Beantown (2-2) side. Though the Harlequins are top of the table for record and points (15) there is a two-way tie for 2nd place with New York and Twin Cities, both 2-2 records with 10 points a piece. Beantown does have a 2-2 record, but they are in 3rd place due to points (9), and with a much needed win and hopeful bonus point, could see them into a potential two-way tie for 2nd place in the East. Other than Life West (4-0), Atlanta is one of the hottest teams of the season riding a three game winning streak, only after losing their opening game to this Beantown side. The Harlequins will be soundly prepared in facing off against a tough Boston club, who provided them their only loss of the season so far.
The Berkeley All-Blues (2-2) will host ORSU (0-4) in Northern California, where these West Coast clubs will be aiming to ramp up their efforts in gaining momentum moving forward. Berkeley is headed into this week’s matchup coming off a home victory against San Diego in Week 5, and will be looking to replicate the outcome against an ORSU side who is striving to find their footing within the 2019 season.
In the other Eastern Conference game, the Twin Cities Amazons (2-2) will have home field advantage against Chicago North Shore (1-3), in the solo Sunday matchup. Seeking to avenge their season opening loss against North Shore, the Amazons will surely have their hands full in stopping the passionate Chicago side. Following last week’s stellar performance against New York, Twin Cities are intending to repeat the outcome and even the score on their head-to-head matchup with the conference rival. Chicago has had an impressive defensive front giving up a season average of only 18.25 points per game, while the opposite can be mentioned regarding their offensive points per game, an 11.5 average seemingly heightened by the 31 points scored in the opener.
To wrap up this week’s preview, we present the Match of the Week with Overall record and points leader, Life West, at home versus the West’s 2nd ranked team, Glendale Merlins (3-1). The Merlins are riding a three game win streak after their first, and only, loss to the Gladiatrix in the season opener. This will be the last time these two clubs face-off in the regular season, with the Merlins traveling to the West Coast for the second week in a row in hopes of toppling the top team of the season, thus far. Life West has been unreal in their first four matches, averaging a massive 43.5 points per game, while only conceding an average of 15.5 points to their opponents. Glendale has been the team to score the most points against Life West this year so far, and may have the secret formula in breaking their stellar defensive front.
Teams on Bye-Week: San Diego Surfers & New York Rugby Club
