UWS Week Three Roundup: East and Central

East Conference plays full slate while play begins in the Central 

East Conference 

Connecticut Fusion 4, Scorpions SC 1 

Connecticut Fusion (2-0 UWS East) showcased a great deal of offensive firepower once again, following up on a 10-goal output last week with four more goals to best Scorpions SC (0-1-1 UWS East), 4-1. The match began with a spark, as Tori Sousa scored in the 12th minute with an assist from Cara Jordan to give the Fusion the lead. Scorpions SC responded immediately, when Alexandria Giovino took a pass from Jenna Bike and equalized for the home side. From there, Fusion took control. Tiffany Weimer followed up on her hat trick last week with another goal thanks to Jordan’s second assist of the game, and Jordan found the back of the net herself to put her team up 3-1 before halftime. Chanel Johnson put the outcome beyond doubt with her goal in the 68th minute. 

Long Island Rough Riders 1, Brooklyn City 1 

Brooklyn City (0-0-1 UWS East) accounted itself well in its UWS debut, securing a 1-1 draw on the road against Long Island Rough Riders (0-1-1 UWS East). Brooklyn City scored first just before halftime, when Sarah Bayer took a through ball from Yamilee Eveillard and slid it past the keeper. Brooklyn City appeared to be on the way to its first win, until Long Island denied them with a neatly worked short corner in the 82nd minute, as Hope Neale scored at the back post off a cross from Nina Carlomusto, securing a point for the home side. 

FC Buffalo 3, Albany Rush 2 

FC Buffalo (2-0 UWS East) made it two wins in two UWS games, using a first-half scoring outburst to hand Albany Rush (0-2 UWS East) its second consecutive defeat to begin the season by the score of 3-2. Marcella Barberic began the scoring for FC Buffalo in the third minute, rounding the keeper after taking a through ball from Julia Schurr. Albany Rush responded two minutes later via Olivia Piraino, but Danielle Vis and Kelsey Araujo each scored for FC Buffalo before the halftime interval to take a 3-1 lead. Katelyn Krohn finished off a 1-v-1 with the keeper in the 48th minute to pull Albany closer, but the home side never found the equalizing goal. 

New England Mutiny 6, Connecticut Rush 1 

New England Mutiny (1-0-1 UWS East) secured their first win of the season over Connecticut Rush (0-1 UWS East) behind a hat trick from Catherine Barry. Barry opened the scoring in the 37th minute off a pass into the box from Lydia Kinsman. Shortly after halftime, Barry assisted Lily Fabian to extend the lead, then scored her second of the match four minutes later to put things out of reach. Alexis Legowski and Lauren Berman also scored for New England, while Chelsea Domond scored a late consolation for Connecticut Rush. 

Brooklyn City 5, Worcester Smiles 0 

Brooklyn City (1-0-1 UWS East) claimed its first UWS win in style, easing past Worcester Smiles (1-1 UWS East) by the score of 5-0. Both clubs were held off the scoresheet until just before the half, when Megan Barwick potted a breakaway to send her side into the break leading 1-0. The floodgates opened from there. Megan Brock scored the first of three second-half goals in the 50th minute with a fantastic volley, and Kelsey Simpson’s shot from range rounded out the scoring.

Lancaster Inferno 1, Long Island Rough Riders 1

Lancaster Inferno (0-0-1 UWS East) began their season by playing to a 1-1 stalemate with the visiting Long Island Rough Riders (0-1-2 UWS East), who picked up their second draw of the weekend. The Inferno went ahead in the 57th minute after a scoreless first half, when Teresa Rook (Rynier) scored off her own corner after it was deflected into the net. The Inferno was unable to protect the lead however, as the Rough Riders responded in the 76th minute with a corner of their own. Alexa Schneider scored from Amanda Buck’s delivery as the visitors salvaged a point. 

NJ Copa 1, Rochester Lancers 0 

A tense and cagey affair lasted until the final stages in Rochester, where a late goal earned NJ Copa (1-0 UWS East) the win in its season opener, besting Rochester Lancers (0-2 UWS East), 1-0. A stunning, 15-save showing from Lancers keeper Saundra Baron kept the visitors out until the 84th minute, when Sydney Cummings converted a header from Melanie Cunha’s cross to secure all three points for NJ Copa. 

Central Conference 

FC Wichita 2, KC Courage 1

The UWS debut for both clubs produced a thriller, as FC Wichita (1-0 UWS Central) withstood a KC Courage (0-1 UWS Central) barrage to earn a 2-1 win. FC Wichita pulled ahead early on a goal from Brookelynn Entz after a botched KC Courage clearance, then doubled the lead shortly after the halftime interval as Laura Maria beat the goalkeeper. Sarahi Ortiz Casillas scored with an assist from Laudan Wilson in the 66th minute to pull the home side back within one, but FC Wichita held firm from there thanks in large part to goalkeeper Jami Reichenberger, who stopped 10 of the 11 shots sent her way.