UWS Week Nine Roundup
Conference races heat up on July 4th weekend
Central Conference
Tuesday, June 29
St. Louis SG 1, Springfield Demize 0
It was an improved performance for Springfield Demize against the top team in the Central Conference, but the home side couldn’t grind out their first result of the season, falling to St. Louis SG, 1-0 in Midweek action. The only goal of the game came by way of Emily Groark, who fired home a simple finish from about six yards out in the 3rd minute. St. Louis let its defense do the work from that point forward, limiting the opposition to three shots in the game on the way to a clean sheet.
Wednesday, June 30
Gretna Elite 2, FC Wichita 0
Gretna Elite picked up a crucial win in the Central Conference race on Wednesday, claiming a 2-0 victory over second-place FC Wichita. Gretna finished the game with just six shots to Wichita’s eight, but the superior finishing for the hosts made the difference. Regan Zimmers opened the scoring with her finish in the 7th minute, and Blythe Beldner came through with some quick insurance in the 22nd minute, with her flicked header that bested the keeper.
East Conference
Wednesday, June 30
Long Island Rough Riders 0, NJ Copa 0
Midweek action began in the East Conference last week with this goalless draw between NJ Copa and Long Island Rough Riders. Both defenses were smothering in this contest, with the two sides combining for just six shots.
Saturday, July 3
LANC Inferno 2, Albany Rush 0
LANC Inferno picked up an important three points as it looks to stay in the playoff hunt in the East, using a pair of second-half goals to get by Albany Rush and pull into sixth place. The score was still knotted at 0-0 until the 60-minute mark, when Jackie Richards headed in a corner from Teresa Rook (Rynier). The same duo combined again in the 80th minute to give the hosts some breathing room, this time from open play, as Rynier assisted Richards’ goal from the top of the box.
NJ Copa 3, Brooklyn City 2
NJ Copa moved into a playoff position with a huge win on Saturday, besting Brooklyn City in a 3-2 thriller that saw the home side rise to third in the East with two stoppage-time goals. NJ Copa took the lead early with a goal by Melanie Cunha, but Brooklyn responded well with a pair of goals, taking a lead into the final moments. There, Dana Costello played hero, first equalizing in the 90th minute, then finding a glorious winner in the 95th minute to turn the game around and send NJ Copa home victorious.
Midwest Conference North
Friday, July 2
Midwest United 2, Detroit City 1
Midwest United defeated Detroit City, 2-1, to clinch a first-place finish in the Midwest North this season. Midwest United went ahead by two goals, as Martha Corby and Avery Lockwood found the back of the net. That would prove to be a sufficient cushion. Detroit City got one goal back late, as Grace Phillpotts latched onto a long ball and beat the keeper one-on-one, but that was all the visitors could muster.
Midwest Conference South
Monday, June 28
Corktown AFC 4, Ladies Steel City 0
The only action of the week in the Midwest South was a crossover game, with Corktown AFC of the Midwest North traveling to take on Ladies Steel City of the Midwest South and leaving with a comfortable 4-0 victory. Alexa Sabbagh found the back of the net twice for the visitors, while Madison Schupbach and Bella Ballard also added goals.
Southeast Conference
Tuesday, July 29
Pensacola FC 5, Louisiana FC 0
Pensacola FC needed a good performance in two midweek games against Louisiana FC to cement itself atop the Southeast Conference standings, and it delivered, beginning with this 5-0 victory on Tuesday. Danielle Fuentes opened the scoring in the first half to give Pensacola an advantage at the break, and from there, the Louisiana resistance broke down. Monigo Karnley scored a second-half brace, while Kayla Fernandez and Kristina Lynch also contributed goals.
Thursday, July 1
Pensacola FC 6, Louisiana FC 0
Friday, July 2
Atlanta Panthers 3, Louisiana FC 1
Atlanta Panthers began this weekend doubleheader between these two teams with a well-earned 3-1 victory. Riley Friesen began the scoring for Atlanta 8 minutes into the game, but Louisiana FC responded quickly to equalize around the midway point of the first half. From there though, it was all Panthers. Ryleigh Jenkins gave her side the lead with a 38th-minute tally, and Sophie Lederer provided some insurance with the only goal of the second half.
Saturday, July 3
Atlanta Panthers 2, Louisiana FC 2
Louisiana FC rebounded to claim a point in the second game between these two clubs, but Atlanta Panthers still managed to earn a second-place finish in the Southeast Conference in their inaugural UWS season. Both sides let one-goal leads slip away in this one, with each club finding the back of the net in both halves. Both Atlanta goals came via Sophie Lederer, while Grace Green and Valentina Restrepo scored for Louisiana FC.
Southwest Conference
Friday, June 2
SA Athenians 4, BatCo 0
Needing a win to stay in the picture for the Southwest Conference title, SA Athenians delivered a professional performance, besting BatCo 4-0. Amanda Smith scored twice for the victors, while Jade Piper and Ashley Cathro each also pitched in with a goal.
Lone Star Republic 2, CTX Hornets 0
Lone Star Republic responded in kind, keeping its lead in the Southwest with a clean sheet victory of its own, besting CTX Hornets 2-0. Bronwyn Boswell and Madeleine Harper each found the back of the net for the victors, and the defense did the rest.
Saturday, July 3
FC Austin Elite 3, CTX Hornets 0
FC Austin Elite got back on track in style after a few bad results, claiming a convincing 3-0 win over CTX Hornets. Ryann Hierholzer got the hosts ahead early with her goal in the 13th minute, and Erin Webb wasted little time in adding on, finding the back of the net seven minutes later. Hierholzer tallied again after the half to ensure the result never encountered any doubt.
West Conference
Friday, July 2
Impact FC 1, Calgary Foothills 0
A cagey affair broke out in this match between UWS’s two Canadian sides, each playing their first game of the season. Both sides finished with eight shots on goal, meaning finishing proved decisive. Impact FC claimed the only goal of the game to earn all three points in their season opener. The goal came in the 36th minute, when Bryana Buttar cashed in a rebound from Sheena Tracey’s shot off the crossbar. The game was UWS’s first Canadian-based event since 2019, when Calgary Foothills finished the Champions Tournament as the national runner-up.
