The Columbus Eagles began the team’s sixth Women’s Professional Soccer League season by welcoming rivals Cincinnati Sirens to Otterbein Memorial Stadium on Sunday evening. The match allowed both teams to renew an increasingly tense rivalry and marking the first meeting in league competition since the Sirens forfeiture last season. Unfortunately for the home side, things would not go the Eagles way, as the Sirens returned to Cincinnati with a 3-2 win.
Both teams began the match looking to establish a physical edge. Hard fouls and crunching tackles were the norm throughout the first 15 minutes. Columbus almost claimed an early lead 20 minutes into the contest when midfielder Brooklyn Pritt found Cameron Shedenhelm with a well-placed cross on the back post but the Sirens keeper made a tough save.