Preview: UWS Week 7

Division races come to a head in seventh week of UWS play

Metuchen, N.J. -- Crucial games all across the country make up the slate as United Women’s Soccer moves into the home stretch of the regular season. With tight races in just about every UWS division, the stakes are high for several clubs in another busy weekend of action. 

Central Conference 

Great Lakes Division

Saturday, June 25 

Nationals FC vs Muskegon Risers 

Start Time: 5:00 EST 

Venue: Clawson City Park Stadium (Clawson, Michigan) 

Five points behind Corktown Hawks with three games remaining on the schedule, Nationals FC takes the pitch on Saturday against Muskegon Risers with three vital points at stake. Muskegon Risers will hope to secure their first result of the season here, and will be certain to take the pitch with plenty of pride. 

Sunday, June 26

Corktown Hawks vs Cap City Athletic 

Start Time: 7:00 EST 

Venue: Wisner Stadium (Pontiac, Michigan) 

If Nationals FC fails to win on Saturday, Corktown Hawks can clinch the Great Lakes Division title should they earn three points against Cap City Athletic. Paced by Maya Carter’s four assists on the season, Corktown Hawks have five wins from five games. They’ll host a Cap City Athletic side looking to stay mathematically alive in the title chase, and potentially leapfrog Nationals FC into second place. 

Heartland Division 

Saturday, June 25 

KC Courage vs FC Wichita 

Start Time: 3:00 CST 

Venue: Rockhurst University (Kansas City, Missouri) 

It doesn’t get any bigger than this contest in Kansas City. Tied for first in the Heartland Division with the same goal difference and each with six games played, KC Courage and FC Wichita will meet for the first time this season. The victor will hold a three-point edge in the standings with just one game left on the schedule. 

Arkansas Wolves vs Arkansas Comets 

Start Time: 4:00 CST 

Venue: Lewis Stadium (Benton, Arkansas) 

United Women’s Soccer’s two Arkansas-based clubs will do battle for the second time in as many weeks on Saturday. Last weekend’s contest ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning this game between Arkansas Comets and Arkansas Wolves is bound to be an intense, closely contested affair. 

Midwest Division 

Saturday, June 25 

Chicago Mustangs vs Illinois Premier 

Start Time: 7:00 CST 

Venue: Olympic Park (Schaumburg, Illinois) 

After dropping points for the first time all season last week, Chicago Mustangs welcome in-state rivals Illinois Premier to Olympic Park on Saturday. The visitors are still looking for their first win since making the jump to UWS, while Chicago Mustangs can pull back into a tie at the top of the division with a win. 

East Conference 

Mid-Atlantic Division 

Saturday, June 25 

NJ Copa FC vs Coppermine United 

Start Time: 2:00 EST 

Venue: St. Joseph High School (Metuchen, New Jersey) 

NJ Copa FC and Coppermine United come together for the third time this season to kick off play in the Mid-Atlantic Division this weekend. NJ Copa FC will be out to avenge two previous defeats, while Coppermine United will hope to set a marker for Lancaster Inferno to match, entering the weekend tied at the top of the standings. 

Sunday, June 26 

Lancaster Inferno vs Keystone FC 

Start Time: 5:00 EST 

Venue: Conestoga Valley High School (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) 

Two in-state foes meet for the second time at the UWS level this week as Lancaster Inferno welcomes Keystone FC. Lancaster Inferno will be hoping to keep its perfect season intact, while Keystone FC has a big opportunity to claim a statement win as it looks for its first UWS points. 

Paisley Athletic vs NJ Copa FC 

Start Time: 5:00 EST 

Venue: Kearny High School (Kearny, New Jersey) 

In a weekend of in-state rivalries in the Mid-Atlantic Division, Paisley Athletic and NJ Copa FC will battle it out for Garden State bragging rights. Paisley Athletic won the first installment between these two clubs, and NC Copa FC will be out to even the score on Sunday. 

New England Division 

Friday, June 24 

CT Fusion vs CT Rush 

Start Time: 7:00 EST 

Venue: Farmington Sports Arena (Farmington, Connecticut) 

Two Connecticut clubs go head-to-head in Farmington as CT Fusion plays host to CT Rush in the first meeting between these two sides this season. CT Rush will be out to prove a point against last year’s UWS national runners-up, and Connecticut Fusion can apply some pressure on the top three sides in the division with a win. 

NE Mutiny vs Worcester Smiles 

Start Time: 7:00 EST

Venue: Lusitano Stadium (Ludlow, Massachusetts) 

After suffering its first defeat of the season last weekend, NE Mutiny will be looking to get back on track with this contest against Worcester Smiles, who come into this clash looking for their first win. NE Mutiny’s Catherine Barry will hope to add to her tally of eight goals, as she sits one point behind Isabella Wallace and Aubrey Mister on the national leaderboard. 

Sunday, June 26 

Worcester Smiles vs NE Mutiny 

Start Time: 6:00 EST 

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

These two sides close out a weekend doubleheader on Sunday, as NE Mutiny makes the return trip to Worcester. Three more vital points will be at stake as NE Mutiny continues the fight at the top of the New England Division. 

CT Fusion vs Albany Rush 

Start Time: 7:00 EST 

Venue: Farmington Sports Arena (Farmington, Connecticut) 

Entering this weekend in third and fourth place in the division, this contest between CT Fusion and Albany Rush promises to be intense and closely fought. The first match between these clubs ended in an enthralling 2-2 draw, and more excellent entertainment should be on the way Sunday. 

Scorpions SC vs CT Rush 

Start Time: 4:00 EST 

Venue: Medway High School (Medway, Massachusetts) 

Scorpions SC returns home on Sunday for another critical match against CT Rush. With a division title at stake, Scorpions SC can’t afford a slip-up here, while CT Rush will be out to avenge a loss to Scorpions SC earlier in the season. 

Penn-NY Division 

Friday, June 24 

Erie Commodores vs Pittsburgh Hotspurs 

Start Time: 6:30 EST 

Venue: Mercyhurst University Tulio Field (Erie, Pennsylvania) 

Another divisional race enters a key phase this weekend, as UWS newcomers Erie Commodores look to chase down FC Buffalo at the top of the Penn-NY Division. They’ll have to go through Pittsburgh Hotspurs, who will be doing everything in their power to secure their first win of the season. 

FC Buffalo vs Rochester Lancers 

Start Time: 7:00 EST 

Venue: Robert Rich Sr All-High Stadium (Buffalo, New York) 

FC Buffalo also starts the weekend at home, welcoming a Rochester Lancers side that also factors into the title race, trailing FC Buffalo by just three points with a game in hand. Rochester Lancers have secured 10 points from their last four games as they head into the third meeting between these two clubs this year. 

Sunday, June 26

Pittsburgh Hotspurs vs FC Buffalo 

Start Time: 2:00 EST 

Venue: Founders Field (Cheswick, Pennsylvania) 

A busy weekend in the Penn-NY Division continues on Sunday as FC Buffalo makes the journey to Western Pennsylvania to take on Pittsburgh Hotspurs. The hosts will be looking to make up for a heavy defeat to FC Buffalo earlier this season, while every point is vital to the visitors as they vie to keep their hold on the top spot. 

Rochester Lancers vs FC Berlin 

Start Time: 2:00 EST 

Venue: Wegmans Stadium at Aquinas Institute (Rochester, New York) 

Rochester Lancers and FC Berlin clash for the second time this season after a highly competitive first meeting that Rochester Lancers edged 2-1. Facing a fresh FC Berlin side, Rochester Lancers will have their stamina tested here. FC Berlin will see this as an opportunity to collect its first UWS win. 

South Conference 

Southwest Division 

Friday, June 24 

CTX Hornets vs SA Runners 

Start Time: 7:30 CST 

Venue: Bob Shelton Stadium (Buda, Texas) 

Both CTX Hornets and SA Runners find themselves in need of a win as they come together for this Friday night showdown under the lights. This will be the first meeting between these two clubs at the UWS level, and should be an intense one with both teams benefitting from fresh legs at the start of the weekend. 

WilCo FC vs SA Athenians 

Start Time: 8:00 CST 

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

Every point is valuable to SA Athenians down the home stretch of the season as they look to chase down FC Austin Elite in the top spot. WilCo FC will have designs on pulling off an upset here to overtake Luxoria FC for third place in the division. 

Saturday, June 25 

Luxoria FC vs CTX Hornets 

Start Time: 8:00 CST 

Venue: Lowery Stadium (Allen, Texas) 

Luxoria FC will strive to continue what has already been an impressive debut season in UWS when it plays host to CTX Hornets, a side playing its second contest in two days. The visitors will have revenge on the mind after suffering a lopsided defeat to Luxoria FC last week. 

West Conference 

Friday, June 24 

Foothills WFC vs SC Blue Heat 

Start Time: 7:00 MST 

Venue: Calgary Soccer Centre (Calgary, Alberta) 

A high-profile rematch begins play in the West Conference for the weekend. Santa Clarita Blue Heat makes the trip north of the border to battle Foothills WFC in a matchup that could determine the winner of the West Conference this season. Foothills WFC claimed a 2-1 victory in a thrilling game in Southern California earlier this season. 

Impact FC vs FC Arizona 

Start Time: 7:30 MST 

Venue: Reil Recreational Park Stadium (St. Albert, Alberta) 

FC Arizona makes its first trip to Canada since joining UWS, and begins its journey Friday with a contest against Impact FC. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, and should be a thrilling contest. Twenty-four goals have been scored across four FC Arizona games so far this season. 

Saturday, June 25 

Impact FC vs SC Blue Heat 

Start Time: 6:30 MST 

Venue: Reil Recreational Park Stadium (St. Albert, Alberta) 

Impact FC and Santa Clarita Blue Heat close out their weekend back-to-back with this Saturday evening contest. SC Blue Heat managed a 2-0 victory in the first meeting between these clubs this season. With home field advantage this time around, Impact FC will be looking to prove it can hang with the defending UWS National Champions. 

Foothills WFC vs FC Arizona 

Start Time: 7:00 MST 

Venue: Calgary Soccer Centre (Calgary, Alberta) 

Play concludes in the West Conference with an intriguing game between Foothills WFC and FC Arizona. Calgary Foothills enter the weekend at the top of the conference, but the UWS newcomers have proven that they can contend with the best the league has to offer.