UWS Week Seven Roundup
Important results shape conference races
Central Conference
Thursday, June 17
FC Wichita 2, KC Courage 1
FC Wichita picked up its second win in three games this season, besting KC Courage 2-1 at home. Brokelynn Etz led the way for the victors scoring twice in three minutes to account for both Wichita goals. First she finished off a through ball by Dora Gallo, then provided the finish at the far post off a cross by Abril Lucio to send the home side into halftime with a 2-0 lead. KC Courage pulled a goal back in the 64th minute, but could not find a second as FC Wichita held on.
Saturday, June 19
St. Louis SG 2, KC Courage 1
The weather had its say on the action in this crucial matchup between two top teams in the Central Conference here, with St Louis SG ultimately claiming a 2-1 win over KC Courage. Lindsay Guerrero’s goal had KC Courage ahead 1-0 at halftime, when lightning caused a two-hour delay. St. Louis rebounded thereafter, as Sydney Stephens and Isabel Burke found the back of the net and the hosts turned the deficit around for their third win in four games. KC Courage still holds a one-point lead over St. Louis SG in the standings, but has played three more games.
Gretna Elite 7, Springfield Demize 3
Gretna Elite roughed Springfield Demize up for seven goals for the second time in a week on the way to a 7-3 win. This one appeared to be headed down a different road early, though. Springfield ran out to a 2-0 lead behind goals from Jadyn Easley and Anna Crain, until Gretna responded with two goals late in the second half by Skylar Heinrich and Regan Zimmers. An own goal by Springfield gave Gretna the lead shortly after halftime, but Anna Durnin’s penalty knotted things back up at three. From there, the hosts took control. Two more goals from Heinrich gave her a hat trick, and Lindsey Prokop followed with two goals of her own in the late stages to seal the win.
Midwest North Conference
Wednesday, June 16
Midwest United 4, Corktown AFC 2
A dominant start by Midwest United helped the visitors claim a crucial 4-2 win over Corktown AFC. Midwest United had a 3-0 lead just over 20 minutes into the game, with Avery Lockwood, Anna Bennett and Stephanie Currie all finding the back of the net. Paige Webber finished off a cross in the 28th minute to give Corktown a lifeline heading into the second half, when Samantha Woods made things even tighter with her goal in the 52nd minute. Ultimately, Currie settled the nerves for Midwest United, firing home her second goal of the game and eighth of the season to seal the win.
Saturday, June 19
Corktown AFC 4, Lansing United 0
Corktown AFC responded to the midweek defeat in positive fashion, earning a 4-0 win over a Lansing United side that had been playing well recently. Itala Gemelli’s shot into the bottom right corner gave the visitors a 1-0 halftime advantage, and they exploded in the second half. Abby Werthman scored early in the frame to double the lead, Meike Ingles added on in the 85th minute and Gemelli found the back of the net again in the 90th minute.
Midwest United 3, Detroit City FC 2
Midwest United finished off a perfect week and opened up a seven-point lead in the Midwest North with a 3-2 win over second-place Detroit City. All three goals for the away side were scored by Elle Otto, who scored a breakaway in the 22nd minute, added a tap-in in the 54th minute and converted on another break in the 55th minute to hand Midwest United a 3-0 lead. Things got nervy late, though, as Detroit City closed the deficit to just one goal as Cristina Torres and Kennedy White fired home in the 71st and 74th minutes. Midwest United was able to cling on from there, though, and secure a massive 3-2 win.
Midwest South Conference
Monday, June 14
MSC Peoria 6, Ladies Steel City 2
MSC Peoria used a second-half goal explosion to claim an emphatic 6-2 win over Ladies Steel City last Monday. Peoria’s Carolina Gomez and Steel City’s Laura Stepniak each scored in the first half to cancel each other out, but the second half was all Peoria. Gomez finished off her brace, while Caelyn Steffens also added two goals as the road side coasted to victory.
Saturday, June 19
MSC Peoria 2, Muskegon Risers 2
MSC Peoria was unable to carry over its momentum from its win on Monday, settling for a 2-2 draw with Muskegon Risers on Saturday. This was a back-and-forth affair with both sides failing to hang onto leads. Amelia Wampler put Muskegon ahead in the 23rd minute, only to see Brynn Jacobi equalize a few minutes later. Sierra Cenek gave Peoria the lead heading into the half in the 42nd minute, but Rylee Vruggink responded with the only goal of the second half and the points were shared.
East Conference
Friday, June 18
CT Rush 2, CT Fusion 1
Fine margins decided this all-Connecticut matchup, which saw Connecticut Rush claim a big 2-1 win over Connecticut Fusion. Kaylee Armenia got the scoring started in the first half, finishing Andrea Basilicato’s cross to give Rush a 1-0 lead at the break. Maegan Doyle responded for Fusion shortly after the interval to get her side back into things, but Rory Parri played hero off the bench to secure a big three points for her club.
Syracuse DA 6, Rochester Lancers 0
Syracuse DA ensured that a difficult season for a winless Rochester Lancers side continued, claiming a 6-0 win on Friday. The effort was spearheaded by Blue Ellis, whose three goals paced the home side. Brooke Barbuto, Jessica Donald and Olivia McKnight each added a goal of their own to complete the win.
Saturday, June 19
Scorpions SC 4, Brooklyn City 2
A great weekend for SC Scorpions began with a convincing 4-2 win over Brooklyn City. Chloe Layne put Scorpions SC ahead in the 31st minute, taking advantage of a defensive mistake. Then Meg Hughes added a second, finishing off a 1-on-1 opportunity. Kayla Duran made the score 3-0 shortly after halftime before Brooklyn City finally showed some life, pulling two goals back via Sarah Bayer. But one final insurance goal from Alexandria Giovino helped the visitors pull away and claim a 4-2 win.
NJ Copa 1, LANC Inferno 1
A third matchup this season between these two clubs resulted in a second draw, as LANC Inferno and NJ Copa played to a 1-1 stalemate. The Inferno claimed an early lead via Jackie Richards, who took a through-ball from Clarissa Kirsch-Downs and sent it past the keeper. It looked as though the visitors’ stout defense would hold until the very final moments, when Sydney Cummings salvaged a point for NJ Copa with her goal in stoppage time.
FC Buffalo 2, Worcester Smiles 1
High flying FC Buffalo met a struggling Worcester Smiles side on Saturday, and encountered a fair bit of trouble until ultimately claiming a 2-1 win. Amber Gustafson’s goal in the 36th minute put Worcester ahead briefly, until Marcella Barberic’s goal on the brink of halftime sent the two sides into the break even at 1-1. The deciding goal came via Daniielle Vis, who broke through the Worcester defense in the 65th minute to claim all three points for her side, who stayed atop the table in the East.
NE Mutiny 0, Syracuse DA 0
An old-fashioned defensive battle broke out between NE Mutiny and Syracuse DA on Saturday, with neither side able to breach the opposition’s defense in a 0-0 draw. New England sent eight shots toward Syracuse DA keeper Samantha Haley, but she proved equal to the task in earning a point for the visitors.
Sunday, June 20
Albany Rush 4, Rochester Lancers 0
Albany Rush established control on this game right from the off, claiming an easy 4-0 win over Rochester Lancers, who lost their eighth consecutive game to begin the season. Davia Rossi scored for Albany in the very first minute, potting a 1-on-1 chance. She then added another just before the half to double the lead. Albany would go on to score twice more in the second half to put the result beyond doubt.
Scorpions SC 5, FC Buffalo 2
Scorpions SC made a statement and pulled within a shout of the top spot in the East, earning an emphatic 5-2 win over division leaders FC Buffalo on Sunday. The lead was 3-0 before the first half came to a close, with Avery Snead scoring from the top of the 18-yard box, Kayla Duran adding a spectacular free kick goal from distance and Alexandria Giovino placing a finish past the keeper. A pair of goals from Marykate McGuire after halftime ensured two last-minute consolations from FC Buffalo had no consequence, and Scorpions SC coasted to a massive win.
Long Island Rough Riders 2, CT Rush 0
A neat-and-tidy 2-0 win for Long Island Rough Riders over CT rush saw them claim their first victory of the season after three draws in four games to begin 2021. Jeanine Nunez claimed the lead for her club in the third minute, finishing off a through ball from Alexa Schneider. Those two combined again for some insurance in the 67th minute, as Nunez got on the end of Schneider’s cross.
Southwest Conference
Friday, June 18
Lone Star Republic 3, Alacranes 1
A perfect start to the season for Lone Star Republic kept rolling, as they earned a 3-1 win over Alacranes to vault into first place in the Southwest Conference. This victory came on the shoulders of a Kennedy Kessler hat trick. She began her great night with a header from a Katherine Simonson corner in the first half, but Ayano Wyatt’s penalty in the 51st minute evened things up for Alacranes. Kessler ensured that didn’t last long. She converted a penalty kick of her own in the 61st minute, then rounded the keeper in the 90th minute to finish off her hat trick and seal the win.
Saturday, June 19
SA Athenians 4, BatCo FC 1
SA Athenians claimed a much-needed win over BatCo FC as they look to keep pace with Lone Star Republic in the race for the Southwest Conference title. Natalie Hanson got the scoring started for Athenians in the 6th minute, then Amanda Smith made it two three minutes later. BatCo got back into it just before halftime with Cristina Garriga’s goal on the half volley, but that didn’t last long. Smith added a second goal in the 61st minute, then Channing Borden topped off the win with her goal in the 87th minute.
Lone Star Republic 8, CTX Hornets 0
Athenians’ victory on the day meant Lone Star Republic needed three points to retain the top spot in the Southwest, and they did that easily with this 8-0 result over CTX Hornets. Mimi Asom, Kennedy Kessler and Kelsey Sheldon each grabbed two goals in the win. Kessler’s five-goal outburst this weekend was more than enough to put her at the top of the goalscoring charts in UWS with 11 for the season.
Sunday, June 20
FC Austin Elite 2, Side FC 92 0
A solid performance at the back allowed FC Austin Elite to keep a clean sheet on its way to a 2-0 win over Side FC on Sunday. That defensive dominance was supplemented by a pair of goals from substitute Olivia Kucharyski, who scored into the top corner from distance in the 61st minute to put her side ahead, then secured the points by getting on the end of a cross in added time.
Alacranes 5, CTX Hornets 0
Alacranes rebounded nicely from their loss on Friday, earning a straightforward 5-0 win on Sunday over CTX Hornets.. Esmeralda Gonzales’s contributions spurred Alacranes to the victory. The forward scored twice and assisted twice on the day. Taylor Moore, Mitzy Guereca and Ashton Peeks each also found the back of the net in the win.
West Conference
Saturday, June 19
Kongo SC 1, Internacional CA 0
A defensive battle in Utah was won by the hosts, as Kongo SC grinded its way to a 1-0 win over Internacional CA. Ellie Walbruch scored the game’s only goal, with an assist by Katie Smith. Kongo put in a team effort on defense, limiting Internacional CA to just one shot on target for the entire game.
