UWS ROUNDUP: FEBRUARY 2018
What is new in the world of UWS? Here is an update before the season takes off: JP Dellacamera talks about the new team; WNY announces new coach & more.
United Women’s Soccer (UWS) member organizations continue to ramp up their preparations for the 2018 season, with teams in the East and Midwest Conferences announcing further staff hirings and player signings. In the East, legendary announcer JP Dellacamera had an extensive interview on the new UWS team that he and fellow broadcaster Shep Messing launched last month while the Western New York Flash hired a new Head Coach. In the Midwest, Genesee FC released the coaching staff and first three signings for their inaugural season while the Detroit Sun augmented their already burgeoning roster.
DELLACAMERA IN THE ZONE… last month at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia, PA, long time soccer commentators JP Dellacamera and Shep Messing announced that they reached an agreement with Farmington Sports Arena (FSA) in Farmington, Connecticut to become Managing Directors of a new UWS East expansion team. This past Tuesday, Dellacamera conducted an extensive interview with Jen Cooper (aka The Keeper) on The Mixxed Zone podcast. Cooper is one of the most respected reporters covering the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and she & JP went over a array of topics, most notably the formation of this new women’s soccer side. While we await the announcement of team name & colors and official logo of the East Conference expansion side, you can listen to the interview via these links [Website / Twitter] (interview begins at 41:10 mark).
WADDINGTON LEADS WESTERN NEW YORK… the Western New York Flash announced that Matt Waddington has been named the head coach of the Flash ahead of the 2018 UWS Season. Waddington replaces Gary Bruce, who will focus on his key role with the Western New York Flash Academy. Matt started coaching in 2007 as the trainer for the Pelham Soccer Club in New York City before coming to Buffalo in 2010, where he served as the assistant coach of the Grand Island Varsity Boys Soccer team. Over the course of the past two seasons, Waddington has been a coach at Empire United while working as a Physical Education teacher in Buffalo. He played collegiate soccer at SUNY Brockport before finishing at Canisius College and than played in the Canadian Professional Soccer League for nine years. For the full release including quotes from Matt and Flash Vice President Aaran Lines, click HERE. For the tryout form for this season’s team, click HERE.
NEW GENERATION AT GENESEE FC… Genesee FC announced their coaching staff for their inaugural season. Chelsea Hunter has been named Head Coach and Mike Korhonen and Ross Gibson as Assistants while Stephen Shard has takes the role of Director of Operations. Hunter is the assistant women’s soccer coach at Northwood University and had a successful playing career, both collegiately and professionally. After graduation from the University of Louisville, she played professionally in Finland with Merilappi United. During her Cardinals career, Chelsea was a NSCAA Second Team All-Northeast Region and BIG EAST All-Tournament Team selection. Gibson and Korhonen currently serve as assistant men’s soccer coaches at Northwood University alongside Shard, who is the Director of Coaching for Rush Lansing Soccer Club. GFC also released their first three signings: goalkeeper Madison Paige (Anderson University), midfielder Ashlyn Skidmore (Davenport University) and forward Maddie Zayan (Davenport University).
SUN ROSTER RISES HIGHER… Detroit Head Coach Skip Mukhtar is already halfway to a game day squad of 18 players, as after announcing their first six signings of the season, the team has added three more players to their roster. Forward Annie Walker and defenders Rachelle Topolewski & Justine Lynn are returning to the Sun for the upcoming 2018 season.
Walker had a great fall campaign for Rice University as she was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Team and the Conference USA First Team while leading the Owls in assists (9). Topolewski started all 23 games for the University of Toledo, who won their conference-best fifth MAC Tournament Championship. Lynn started 15 of 18 games for Indiana University and was named Academic All-Big Ten.
About United Women’s Soccer…
UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at UWSPress@gmail.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.
Source: UWS Press Release
