WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester Smiles are wrapping up their fifth season in the United Women's Soccer League.

"Right now we're still a fairly new club," Worcester Smiles FC Head Coach Fiona Walsh said. "We're still finding our identity on the field a little bit."

With players ranging from high school age to some who are a few years out of college, their roster changes year to year, but the goal of improving their game and giving women the opportunity to play competitively remains the same.

"It's different. The women's game is a little bit slower but there's a lot of thinking involved. It's pretty in a way," Fiona Walsh said. "We have to possess the ball well."

2022 marks the team's first year with head coach Fiona Walsh. She says the United Women's Soccer league provides an opportunity to grow the game of women's soccer.

"I think right now to have these role models in the community to be able to grow the program," Fiona Walsh said, "That's what the UWS is all about - giving them a space to play but also being role models for young women in the community."

The Worcester Smiles emphasize coaching the "whole player" on and off the field. It includes finding what motivates players, making connections and pushing players to be the strongest they can be.

"Understanding those things and making those relationships and allowing them authentically make those relationships with one another really helps the X's and the O's and the teaching and the process of getting, especially female players, comfortable with giving each other criticism and feedback and things like that," head coach Fiona Walsh said, "It's been really special to be a part of because that's what the game is all about."

The Worcester Smiles final game is Saturday night, July 9 on Commerce Bank Field at Foley Stadium in Worcester.

The team is looking forward to recruiting in the winter.