Roundup: UWS Week 7
Division titles come into focus across United Women’s Soccer after big week of action
Metuchen, NJ -- United Women’s Soccer clubs across the nation moved closer to clinching division titles in a week of action that brought no shortage of season-defining games as the 2022 season enters its stretch run.
Central Conference
Great Lakes Division
Saturday, June 25
Nationals FC 10, Muskegon Risers 0
Nationals FC grabbed three crucial points with a dominant win over Muskegon Risers to secure second place in the Great Lakes Division for another week. Sophia Nguyen scored four times to lead the way for the home side, and Justice Tillotson added a brace as well.
Sunday, June 26
Corktown Hawks 6, Cap City Athletic 0
Corktown Hawks kept their perfect season rolling and maintained a five-point gap at the top of the division with a 6-0 win over Cap City Athletic. Alexxis Lipsey found the back of the net twice, while Alexa Sabbagh, Paige Webber, Remini Tillotson and Lauren Bos each also contributed a goal to the effort.
Heartland Division
Saturday, June 25
KC Courage 3, FC Wichita 1
KC Courage earned a comprehensive 3-1 win over FC Wichita in this battle of two sides at the top of the Heartland Division. Courtney Claassen’s corner teed up Rafiatu Alhassan for the first goal early on. Then Alhassan’s give-and-go with Emily Key doubled KC Courage’s lead in the first half. Claassen finished things off with a goal in the 68th minute, ensuring Abril Lucio’s late consolation goal didn’t apply any real game pressure. KC Courage now holds a three-point advantage at the top of the division.
Arkansas Wolves 1, Arkansas Comets 0
Arkansas Wolves claimed their first win in United Women’s Soccer and earned some bragging rights over their in-state foes with a 1-0 win Saturday. Melissa Rios scored the decisive goal for the hosts, who kept Arkansas Comets off the scoreboard the see out the win.
Midwest Division
Saturday, June 25
Chicago Mustangs 12, Illinois Premier 0
After dropping points for the first time all season last weekend, Chicago Mustangs rebounded to trounce Illinois Premier 12-0. This is the third time this season Chicago Mustangs have reached double-digit goals in a single game, and they lead all of UWS with 52 goals in only six matches. Chicago Mustangs now trail St. Louis SG by three points for the Midwest Division lead, but hold two matches in hand.
East Conference
Mid-Atlantic Division
Wednesday, June 22
Coppermine United 3, Keystone FC 1
Coppermine United secured a 3-1 road victory over Keystone FC in midweek action. Leilanni Nesbeth’s low drive gave the visitors the lead inside 20 minutes. Sejla Podzic’s header from an Elena Hinkson corner kick briefly restored parity for Keystone FC shortly after halftime, but Claire McGillem’s outstanding volley gave Coppermine United the lead back minutes later, and Nesbeth sealed the points with a penalty kick.
Saturday, June 25
Coppermine United 2, NJ Copa FC 1
NJ Copa FC put a slight scare into Coppermine United with Jeanine Nunez’s opening goal in the 11th minute, but the UWS rookies rebounded to keep their perfect record intact. Nia Christopher answered five minutes after Nunez’s opener, and Erin Stevenson gave Coppermine United the lead just before the halftime interval. The visitors used a solid back line to ride out their lead from there and secure three big points.
Sunday, June 26
Lancaster Inferno 6, Keystone FC 2
Lancaster Inferno also saw its perfect season go under early threat this weekend. Ava Parody and Avery Parks scored in the first eight minutes to put Keystone FC 2-0 up over its in-state foes. But, behind three assists from Marissa DiGenova, Lancaster Inferno rebounded. Gianna Yurchak tallied twice, and Kayla Mesaros, Ryelle Shuey, Emma Sweitzer, and Jacey Miller also added goals in the win, keeping Lancaster Inferno atop the division standings on goal difference.
Paisley Athletic 3, NJ Copa FC 2
The Mid-Atlantic Division saved its most dramatic match of the weekend for last. Paisley Athletic built a 2-0 lead over NJ Copa FC by the 57th minute using goals by Otandeka Laki and Victoria Kealy. But NJ Copa FC got its spark off the bench in the form of Emily Jozak, who found the top corner from outside the box and finished off Juliana Ryan’s through-ball in the 87th minute to tie the score. Arancha Antunes provided the final twist, though, winning the game for Paisley Athletic by finishing with her weaker foot in added time.
New England Division
Friday, June 24
CT Fusion 1, CT Rush 0
This battle of Connecticut rivals was about as close as they come, but CT Fusion relied on some outstanding defending and a moment of magic to grab three big points at home. Tori Sousa headed home Jenna Kalwa’s cross in the 62nd minute for the only goal of the game, and Naya Lipkens made seven vital saves to help her side claim the win.
NE Mutiny 6, Worcester Smiles 0
NE Mutiny returned to winning ways with a 6-0 victory over Worcester Smiles, giving the home side its fourth clean sheet of the season so far. Hope Santaniello carried the attack with her hat trick, which included a pair of goals from outside the box. Emma Pedolzky, Jessica Mazo and Avery Klingensmith also found the target in the win.
Sunday, June 26
NE Mutiny 3, Worcester Smiles 0
Worcester Smiles were more competitive in the second installment of this matchup of the weekend, but the result was the same. NE Mutiny claimed three more big points to ascend back to the top of the New England Division. Avery Klingensmith converted a rebound attempt in the first half to start off the scoring, then in the second frame Delaney Parker and Olivia Hicks fired home as well.
CT Fusion 2, Albany Rush 0
CT Fusion took down Albany Rush 2-0 on Sunday, completing a six-point weekend to overcome a midseason hiccup and slide back into second place in the division. Emma Zaccagnini put the home side ahead in the 10th minute with her penalty, and Lindsey Papa finished off a rebound in the 84th minute to secure the win. Naya Lipkens kept her second clean sheet of the weekend, making five saves in goal.
CT Rush 2, Scorpions SC 1
CT Rush rebounded nicely from its Friday setback to claim a 2-1 win over a previously red-hot Scorpions SC side. Erin Martin fired home in the 35th minute to edge CT Rush in front. The hosts responded five minutes later via Kate Bossert, but CT Rush re-established its lead just before halftime when Julia Carr scored, and the visitors managed to see out a scoreless second half.
Penn-NY Division
Friday, June 24
Erie Commodores 3, Pittsburgh Hotspurs 2
These two clubs have delivered some thrilling soccer when they’ve collided this season, and Friday was no exception. Taylor Hamlett put Pittsburgh Hotspurs ahead in the 44th minute, but Imogen Lancaster equalized for Erie Commodores shortly after halftime. Again Pittsburgh Hotspurs went ahead via Katelyn Kauffman’s penalty, and again Erie Commodores responded quickly, thanks to Kayla Bevacqua’s finish off a rebound. A moment of individual brilliance proved decisive, when substitute Kylee Cross scored from a free kick in the 88th minute to give Erie Commodores the win.
FC Buffalo 0, Rochester Lancers 0
Closely matched all season after splitting their first two contests, FC Buffalo and Rochester Lancers canceled each other out in this 0-0 draw. Emily Kelly and Katie Cappelletti each made four saves en route to a clean sheet.
Sunday, June 26
FC Buffalo 3, Pittsburgh Hotspurs 1
FC Buffalo rediscovered its shooting boots in a straightforward 3-1 win over Pittsburgh Hotspurs. Carissima Cutrona fired home from the edge of the box in the eighth minute, then assisted debutant Morgan Kulniszewski a minute later to double the advantage. Cutrona tallied again in the 25th minute for all the offense her side would need. Morgan Kost’s back-post finish in the 75th minute gave the home side a consolation goal.
Rochester Lancers 2, FC Berlin 0
Rochester Lancers kept their second clean sheet of the weekend as they kept pace with the top two in the Penn-NY Division thanks to a 2-0 victory over FC Berlin. Taylor Ashe’s brilliant goal from 35 yards gave the hosts the lead in the fifth minute, and Hannah Knych’s penalty provided them with all the breathing room they’d need in the 54th minute.
South Conference
Southwest Division
Friday, June 24
SA Runners 3. CTX Hornets 0
SA Runners secured their second win of their debut UWS campaign to start off the action in the Southwest Division this weekend. Angelica Durland’s goal kickstarted the scoring early on in the 13th minute, and Makayla Somerville took charge from there, firing home twice to nail down a superb victory for the rookies.
SA Athenians 2, WilCo FC 0
SA Athenians applied some pressure to FC Austin Elite at the top of the division by claiming three big points against WilCo FC here. Olivia Wright drew SA Athenians ahead in the ninth minute with her finish thanks to an assist by Jillian Martinez. Sierra Wannamaker followed with a second goal just before the half with a setup from Briana Woodall, and the SA Athenains’ back line played a pristine 90 minutes to keep the hosts off the scoresheet.
Saturday, June 25
Luxoria FC 4, CTX Hornets 0
UWS newcomers Luxoria FC retained their place in the top half of the Southwest Division with a comprehensive 4-0 win over CTX Hornets on Saturday. Kennedy Kessler led to hosts to the win, scoring a hat trick, including a spectacular third goal that saw her beat multiple defenders before slotting it home. Emily Heidman tallied the fourth and final goal for Luxoria FC on the night.
Sunday, June 26
FC Austin Elite 1, WilCo FC 0
As has been the case for much of the season, FC Austin Elite leaned on an airtight defense to keep a three-point cushion at the top of the Southwest standings. FC Austin Elite didn’t allow a single shot on goal throughout 90 minutes, and a WilCo FC own goal in the 87th minute ensured the visitors came out on the right side of this defensive struggle.
West Conference
Friday, June 24
Foothills WFC 3, SC Blue Heat 2
Saorla Miller took charge of this huge matchup between the two top teams in the West Conference, contributing to all three of Calgary Foothills’ goals as the Canadian side secured a regular-season sweep of last season’s UWS national champs. Her back post finish began the scoring in the 10th minute, then she fed Hannah Duguid to make it a 2-0 lead for the home side in the 18th minute. She fired home from the top of the box in the 57th minute for a vital third goal, as Ally Lemos and Angeles Escobar tallied to bring SC Blue Heat within one goal of an equalizer.
Impact FC 6, FC Arizona 1
Impact FC emphatically defeated FC Arizona on Friday to claim its second win in a row. Grace Mwasalla and Olivia Chu both scored twice for the home side, and Kelli Haffie and Nicole Brodeur each fired home off the bench as well. Alexis Johnson’s eighth-minute tally was the only marker on the day for FC Arizona.
Saturday, June 25
SC Blue Heat 2, Impact FC 0
Cindy Arteaga ensured that SC Blue Heat didn’t return from their weekend trip to Canada without a win. The defending champions knocked off Impact FC 2-0 on Saturday behind two goals from Arteaga. She scored from Iris Rabot’s cross in the 26th minute to get the game started, then secured her brace with a 47th minute goal to conclude the scoring.
Foothills WFC 2, FC Arizona 0
Foothills WFC moved three points closer to a regular-season West Conference title with a 2-0 win over FC Arizona, the home side’s seventh win in seven games to start the campaign. Saorla Miller began the scoring in the 37th minute when she dribbled to the top of the box and fired home, and Lara Kazandjian’s drive from distance in the 73rd minute provided Calgary Foothills with some insurance.
