Preview: UWS Week 2 

Second week of UWS action features playoff rematch and full slate of games 

Metuchen, NJ -- United Women’s Soccer continues play this weekend with no shortage of storylines and intrigue. 

Several clubs are set to make their UWS debuts this weekend following the latest round of expansion. The defending national champions SC Blue Heat take the pitch for the first time this year as well, while St. Louis Scott Gallagher and Chicago Mustangs meet in a rematch of last season’s playoff contest. 

Central Conference 

Great Lakes Division

Friday, May 20 

Corktown Hawks vs Muskegon Risers 

Start Time: 7:00 EST 

Venue: Wisner Stadium (Pontiac, Michigan) 

Corktown Hawks began a new chapter in their history with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Michigan Jaguars last week, and will look to build on that result. Regan Dancer notched a hat trick for Corktown in that contest, and is a player to watch here. Muskegon Risers start their sophomore season at the UWS level on Friday, with an eye on progress. 

Sunday, May 22 

Cap City Athletic vs Muskegon Risers 

Start Time: 7:00 EST 

Venue: East Lansing Soccer Complex (East Lansing, Michigan) 

There’s little time to rest for Muskegon Risers, who hit the road once again to take on Cap City Athletic in a weekend doubleheader to kick off their season. Cap City Athletic suffered a lopsided loss in its first contest at the UWS level, but will see this as an opportunity to get on track. 

Heartland Division 

Friday, May 20 

Side FC 92 vs FC Wichita 

Start Time: 6:00 CDT 

Venue: NSU Wanda Rhodes Soccer Complex (Bethany, Oklahoma) 

An early-season rematch kicks off play in the Heartland Division on Friday, with Side FC 92 looking to avenge its opening-week defeat to FC Wichita. Side FC 92 can count on home-field advantage this time around, while FC Wichita will hope to continue its balanced scoring attack after three different players got off the mark last week. 

Saturday, May 21 

Arkansas Comets vs Gretna Elite 

Start Time: 6:00 CDT 

Venue: Har-Ber Wildcat Stadium (Sprindale, Arkansas) 

Arkansas Comets will make their much-anticipated UWS debut on Saturday in front of their home supporters. The state’s oldest youth soccer club will look to translate its strong legacy into a big first impression at this level, taking on Gretna Elite, last year’s Central Conference runner-up. 

Arkansas Wolves vs Sporting Nebraska 

Start Time: 6:00 CDT 

Venue: Lewis Stadium (Benton, Arkansas) 

Another UWS debut is lined up in Arkansas on Saturday evening, with Arkansas Wolves set to host Sporting Nebraska in what will no doubt be a highly exciting clash of two first-year UWS clubs. The hosts will have designs on starting positively, while Sporting Nebraska will look to build from a strong debut showing in a narrow 1-0 loss. 

Sunday, May 22 

Side FC 92 vs KC Courage 

Start Time: 5:00 CDT 

Venue: Case Community Soccer Complex (Sand Springs, Oklahoma) 

Side FC 92 closes out a home doubleheader weekend by welcoming KC Courage to Case Community Soccer Complex. KC Courage opened its season by setting a solid defensive platform in a 1-0 win over Sporting Nebraska, and this road contest should prove to be an excellent second test for that unit. 

Midwest Division 

Friday, May 20 

Indiana Union vs Illinois Premier 

Start Time: 7:00 EST 

Venue: Trinity Sports Park (Noblesville, Indiana) 

A milestone evening is set to kick off play in the Midwest Division this season, as UWS welcomes back Indiana Union after a brief hiatus. It’s also a UWS debut for Illinois Premier, with both clubs looking to establish a firm footing in the competition. 

St. Louis Scott Gallagher vs Chicago Mustangs 

Start Time: 6:00 CDT 

Venue: World Wide Technology Soccer Park (Fenton, Missouri) 

It doesn’t get much bigger than this season-opening matchup between St. Louis Scott Gallagher and Chicago Mustangs, who clashed in the playoffs last season. St. Louis Scott Gallagher claimed a 2-0 victory to end what had been a perfect season for Chicago Mustangs to that point, and there’s sure to be plenty of intensity when these two clubs clash on Saturday. 

Sunday, May 22

Chicago Mustangs vs RBFC Elite 

Start Time: 2:00 CDT 

Venue: Olympic Park (Schaumburg, Illinois) 

A fresh start is on the horizon for RBFC Elite, which assumed ownership of Indiana Elite this offseason. RBFC Elite hits the road for its first contest under new operation, with a difficult opponent in Chicago Mustangs ready for battle in the second game of a weekend double-dip for the hosts. 

East Conference 

Mid-Atlantic Division 

Friday, May 20 

Paisley Athletic vs Lancaster Inferno 

Start Time: 7:00 EST 

Venue: Kearny High School (Kearny, New Jersey) 

A landmark day in the history of Paisley Athletic is set for Friday evening, with the club having earned promotion to UWS after a runner-up showing in UWS2 last season.  NWSL players Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger (Gotham FC) will be in attendance at tonight’s match in support of Soccertown USA’s (Kearny, NJ) newest UWS team. Lancaster Inferno is also taking the pitch for the first time this season, looking to build the platform for a fourth-consecutive playoff appearance.

Saturday, May 21 

Coppermine United vs NJ Copa FC

Start Time: 7:30 EST 

Venue: Coppermine Norris Field (Baltimore, Maryland) 

Coppermine United is set to bring top-level soccer to the Baltimore area on Saturday after earning promotion from UWS2 as conference champions last season. They’ll take on stern opposition in NJ Copa, which narrowly missed out on a playoff berth in last season’s highly competitive East Conference. 

New England Division

Saturday, May 21 

NE Mutiny vs CT Rush 

Start Time: 6:00 EST

Venue: Lusitano Stadium (Ludlow, Massachusetts) 

NE Mutiny saw their season get off to an ideal start, keeping a clean sheet following Alyssa Hyland’s breakthrough in a 1-0 win over Scorpions SC. They’ll bring that momentum into a second-consecutive home game against CT Rush, which takes the field for the first time after a seventh-place finish in the East last season. 

Albany Rush vs CT Fusion 

Start Time: 7:00 EST 

Venue: Christian Brothers Academy (Albany, New York) 

Beginning its second season at the UWS level, Albany Rush hosts CT Fusion at Christian Brothers Academy Saturday night. Albany Rush proved competitive in year one, racking up four victories. National runners-up CT Fusion enter this game fresh off a statement 8-0 victory to open the year last weekend. 

Worcester Smiles vs Scorpions SC 

Start Time: 7:00 EST 

Venue: Commerce Bank Field at Foley Stadium (Worcester, Massachusetts) 

Two clubs in need of a bounce-back performance meet in Worcester on Saturday. Worcester Smiles suffered a lopsided defeat to CT Fusion to open their campaign, while Scorpions SC will hope for better fortune after last week’s 1-0 loss to NE Mutiny. 

Penn-NY Division 

Saturday, May 21 

FC Buffalo vs Erie Commodores 

Start Time: 7:00 EST

Venue: Dobson Field (Buffalo, New York)

Fresh off a victory over FC Berlin in midweek action, FC Buffalo opens its home schedule with a fixture against UWS rookies Erie Commodores. The hosts will feature plenty of the same group that won the East Conference regular-season title last year, while Erie Commodores will enter this game with an opportunity to plant their flag in the Penn-NY Division. 

Sunday, May 22

FC Berlin vs Pittsburgh Hotspurs 

Start Time: 1:30 EST 

Venue: Coyer Field at Buffalo State (Buffalo, NY) 

Both sides will be searching for a historic first win in UWS when FC Berlin meets Pittsburgh Hotspurs. FC Berlin was held scoreless by FC Buffalo in its UWS debut, while Pittsburgh Hotspurs begin a new era of women’s soccer in the Steel City by making their UWS debut on Sunday. 

South Conference 

Southeast Division 

Saturday, May 21 

Atlanta Panthers vs FC Birmingham 

Start Time: 6:30 EST 

Venue: Marietta High School (Marietta, Georgia) 

FC Birmingham begins its run in UWS with its inaugural contest on the road against Atlanta Panthers, marking the first contest played by an Alabama-based club in UWS history. Atlanta Panthers finished in second place in last season’s Southeast Conference, and will have designs on making a run at the division title this time around. 

Southwest Division 

Friday, May 20 

WilCo FC vs CTX Hornets 

Start Time: 7:30 CDT 

Venue: Round Rock Multipurpose Complex (Round Rock, Texas) 

Two Lone Star State clubs meet again to begin a busy weekend in the Southwest Division, as WilCo FC hosts CTX Hornets. WilCo FC was held scoreless in its season-opener, and will strive to get off the mark against CTX Hornets, a club hoping to see progress entering its second season in UWS. 

Luxoria FC vs SA Athenians 

Start Time: 8:00 CDT 

Venue: 450 Tatum Dr (Allen, Texas) 

After acquitting itself well in a narrow loss to FC Austin Elite in its UWS debut, Luxoria FC will look to get over the hump in its home opener against SA Athenians. The defending national semifinalists won’t make it easy, however, as they begin their season with an intriguing road matchup. 

Sunday, May 22 

SA Runners vs FC Austin Elite

Start Time: 6:00 CDT

Venue: Wheatley Heights Sports Complex (San Antonio, Texas) 

Impressively, SA Runners emerged victorious in their first match at the UWS level, and will look to sustain that momentum as they host FC Austin Elite. Likewise, the visitors collected three points in their first game of the season, making this a key clash in the early portion of the Southwest Division campaign. 

SA Athenians vs WilCo FC 

Start Time: 7:00 CDT 

Venue: Soccer Central (San Antonio, Texas) 

Both SA Athenians and WilCo FC will manage double-header weekends here, as they close out the Southwest Division slate with a Sunday evening clash. Both clubs finished in the top half of the division last season, making this a matchup that should feature plenty of quality. 

West Conference 

West Division 

Friday, May 20 

Los Angeles SC vs Kongo SC 

Start Time: 7:30 PDT 

Venue: Citrus Collegel (Glendora, California) 

Action in the West Conference begins this season in the City of Angels, with a debut match for Los Angeles SC, which announced its arrival at the UWS level last winter. Kongo SC makes the trip to the west coast in search of an early-season win following a difficult 2021 campaign. 

Saturday, May 21 

SC Blue Heat vs Kongo SC 

Start Time: 7:00 PDT 

Venue: College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita, California) 

The defending UWS national champions get their season underway against Kongo SC, which begins its campaign with a Southern California back-to-back. SC Blue Heat will look to renew its dominance, after claiming last season’s title by outscoring its opposition 9-0 in two playoff matches.