FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toledo Villa FC Announces Ella Van Der Meulen (Walsh) as Head Coach of New USLW Team

Toledo, OH – December 1, 2024 Toledo Villa FC is thrilled to announce Ella Van Der Meulen (Walsh) as the Head Coach for the club’s new USL W League team, set to debut this season. Van Der Meulen brings a wealth of coaching and playing experience to the role, positioning the team for success at the region's highest level of women’s soccer.

As a former Girl's Director of Coaching at Pacesetter Soccer Club, Van Der Meulen led her teams to win five State Cup Championships and became the first coach in the area to qualify a girls’ team for the National Championships in 2018. Her accolades include being named Ohio Soccer Association Coach of the Year in 2017/18. Her collegiate coaching career spans Bowling Green State University, the University of Central Florida, and Lourdes University, during which she coached players who earned professional contracts, collegiate honors, and academic awards. Van Der Meulen additionally won a D1 District Championship as the Head Coach of Northview.

Van Der Meulen is no stranger to Toledo Villa FC, having served as a player-coach for the club’s first women’s team in 2017. Her playing career includes time with the Wales Youth National Team, Swansea City Ladies FC (competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League), and Loughborough University, where she played alongside current national team players and won a BUCS Premier Conference Championship.

Coach Van Der Meulen shared her excitement about the new role: "I am unbelievably excited to start and grateful to the owners and everyone involved at Toledo Villa FC for the opportunity to lead the Women's team. The team will provide an excellent opportunity for the talented players in our area to compete in high-level USLW soccer right here in Toledo. We will take great pride in the positive impact Toledo Villa is set to have on both girl's and women's soccer in our community. Up The Villa!"

The USL W League offers an elite platform for developing women’s soccer talent, and this team represents a significant step forward for the sport in Toledo. Tryouts are tentatively scheduled for December 29th from 3–5 PM, with more details to be announced soon.