Lancaster Inferno FC
Soccer club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lancaster Inferno is a top level amateur women's soccer club based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2008, the club fields a first team that plays in United Women's Soccer (UWS), a national pro-am league at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, and a U23 team that competes in UWS League Two.
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| Full name | Lancaster Inferno FC | ||
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| Nickname | Inferno | ||
| Founded | 2008 | ||
| Stadium | Penn Medicine Park | ||
| Head Coach |  Francisco Cleaves | ||
| League | United Women's Soccer | ||
| Website | http://www.lancasterinferno.com | ||
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Timeline
- 2008: PA Classics starts Lancaster Inferno, a women's team playing in the WPSL (Women's Premier Soccer League),[1] along with a men's team playing in the National Premier Soccer League, also called the Lancaster Inferno.[2] The women are coached by Doug Harris.[3] The home field is Hempfield High School's athletic stadium in Landisville.[3]
- 2009: The men's team folds, but the women continue to compete.[4]
- 2011: Inferno is no longer under the PA Classics umbrella, and plays under the sponsorship of the Penn Legacy Soccer Club. The team's name is changed to "Penn Legacy Inferno".[5]
- 2013: Inferno becomes independent, no longer associated with PA Classics or Penn Legacy. The team's name reverts to its former name, "Lancaster Inferno".
- 2014: Lancaster Inferno is sold to Francisco Cleaves, who also begins operations as head coach.
- 2015: Inferno changes its home field to Millersville University's Pucillo Field in the Lancaster suburb of Millersville.
- 2016: Lancaster Inferno leaves WPSL and joins United Women's Soccer (UWS).[6]
- 2018: The team enters an agreement with Rush Soccer, to be recognized as the club's top level women's team.[7] The team's name was changed to Inferno Rush, branding under the Rush Soccer brand, along with the USL's Penn FC. The Inferno became both the UWS East Conference Regular Season Champions, as well as beating the Connecticut Fusion to become the East Conference Playoff Champions.[8] The Inferno went to the UWS National Championship held in Grand Rapids, Michigan and defeated Grand Rapids FC in the semi-final match.[9] In the final match, Inferno faced the Houston Aces and lost 1-0 in extra time.[9][10]
- 2019: The agreement with Rush Soccer was terminated and the team reverted to its former name, "Lancaster Inferno".
- 2025: The Inferno plays 5 games at the Lancaster Stormers' artificial turf stadium, Penn Medicine Park. Lines on the field can be removed using water for baseball games. The new mascot, Fern, first appears at Inferno home games and was created by Keystone Mascots.
Players
2021 First Team
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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2021 U23 Team
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former and present players
Kelly O'Brien: Lancaster Inferno (2017–2019) Diósgyőri VTK of the Hungarian Női Nemzeti Bajnokság
Sonia Rada: Lancaster Inferno(2019), EN Thoi Lakatamia (Cyprus) 2018-2019, FF Lugano 1976 Lugano, Switzerland (2017-2018),- Emily Armstrong: Sundsvalls DFF (Sundsvalls damfotbollsförening), Sweden (present); IBV, in league Úrvalsdeild Kvenna, Iceland (2018); Medkila IL, Norway (2017); Lancaster Inferno (2016)
- Sydney Blomquist: Lancaster Inferno (2014 & 2016), Västerås BK30 (2016), Åland United (2017), Sporting CP (2019–present)
- Emily Dolan: Real Betis Balompié (Liga Iberdrola), Spain (2018–present); KKPK Medyk Konin (Champions League & Ekstraliga), Poland (2017–2018); USD San Zaccaria/Ravenna Woman (Serie A), Italy (2016–2017); Lancaster Inferno (2016)[11]
- Jade Flory: Lancaster Inferno (2013–2014), Prottur Reykjavik otherwise known as Throttur FC (Icelandic Women’s Premier Division) / Ravasens IK Karlskoga (Sweden)
- Tesa McKibben: Lancaster Inferno (2012–2014, 2017–present[12]); Germany's FC Saarbrücken (2014–2016); Germany's ETSV Wurzburg (2014)
- Teresa Rynier: Lancaster Inferno (2007–2010, 2016, 2018–present); Ottawa Fury (2011 & 2014); FH Hafnafjördur, Iceland (2013); Kvarnsvedens IK, Sweden (2012)
- Kendra Jones: Lancaster Inferno (2010–2012, 2018–present[13]); Women's National Premier Leagues's FC Bulleen Lions & Bayside United FC in Melbourne Australia (2016–2017); Czech Republic's Zeny 1 Liga team AC Sparta Praha (2015); Victorian Premier League of Australia: Heidelberg United (2013–2014)
Carol Sánchez: Independiente Santa Fe (Colombia) & the Costa Rica women's national football team Lancaster Inferno (2016)
Team standings and statistics
| Year | Division | League | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Reg. season | Playoffs | Championship |
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| 2025 | 4 | USLW | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 13 | 4th of 5, Mid Atlantic Division | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2024 | 4 | USLW | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 7 | 43 | 31 | 2nd of 8, Mid Atlantic Division | Conference Semifinals | did not qualify |
| 2023 | 4 | UWS | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 19 | 4th of 17, East Division | Eastern Conference Champions | National Semifinals |
| 2022 | 4 | UWS | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 9 | 18 | 25 | 2nd of 5, Mid-Atlantic Division | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2021 | 4 | UWS | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 5th of 13, East Conference | Conference Semifinals | did not qualify |
| 2020 | 2 | UWS | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | 2 | UWS | 10 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 21 | 3rd of 8, East Conference | East Conference Champions | National Semi-Finalist |
| 2018 | 2 | UWS | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 10 | 12 | 21 | East Conference Champions | East Conference Champions | National Runners-up |
| 2017 | 2 | UWS | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 23 | –5 | 12 | 6th of 8, East Conference | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2016 | 2 | UWS | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 4th of 6, East Conference | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2015 | 3 | WPSL | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 23 | –11 | 4 | 5th of 5, Power 5 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2014 | 3 | WPSL | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 0 | Provisional Season | Provisional Season | Provisional Season |
| 2013 | 3 | WPSL | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 41 | 13 | 28 | 21 | 2nd of 6, Northeast Atlantic - South | 1st round, Conference Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| 2012 | 3 | WPSL | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 16 | 3rd of 5, Northeast Atlantic - South | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2011 | 3 | WPSL | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 7th of 9, East Mid-Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | 3 | WPSL | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 21 | 1st of 5, East Mid-Atlantic | 2nd round, Regional Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 3 | WPSL | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 3rd of 14, East | Conference Finals | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 3 | WPSL | 14 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 9 | 16 | 26 | 2nd of 7, East Mid-Atlantic | Conference Semi-finals | Did not qualify |
Coaching staff
Francisco Cleaves, Head Coach of First Team (2014–present)- Rob Smith, Associate Head Coach of First Team (2020–present)
- Wendell Hannaford, Head Coach of U23 Team (2021–present)
- Chris Weibel, Strength & Conditioning Coach (2014–present)
Home stadiums
- Hempfield High School (2008–2014)
- Pucillo Field, Millersville University (2015–2023)
- Warwick High School (2024 - Still used as of 2025 for U23 games)
- Penn Medicine Park (2025)