Week 4 of the 2017 UWS Season Concludes
United Women’s Soccer’s second campaign is officially underway as the second tier women’s league begins another successful year of competition. In a weekend of double-headers, the Long Island Rough Riders were the lone team to record two victories.
UWS News: The fourth week of the 2017 United Women’s Soccer (UWS) season comes to a close following an action packed weekend across the country.
The New England Mutiny avoided a loss in the second of their two-game weekend road trip to New York City on Sunday night, coming home with a 1-0 victory over the New York Magic at Poly Prep Country Day School. After suffering a 4-2 loss to the New York Surf on Saturday, playing in Brooklyn the next day proved to be just as difficult for the Mutiny (3-1 East) as their old rival in the Magic (0-2-1 East) made it a long evening. New England goalkeeper Gabby Arruda made her first start of the season in goal, and she proved her worth with a pair of fine stops in the first half.
The match would stay scoreless as both clubs went into the break. The second half would see the Mutiny find more joy in the offensive end as the offside trap played by the hosts frustrated their attack.
So Cal Crush FC (0) — Real Salt Lake Women (5)
After dropping their home opener versus the defending UWS champion Santa Clarita Blue Heat last week, So Cal Crush FC fell to the Real Salt Lake Women in Week 4. RSLW forward Hailey Skolmoski recorded a hat-trick and created the fourth goal in the first half at Crescenta Valley High School on Saturday night. Real Salt Lake Women got revenge on So Cal Crush FC (1-2 West), rolling to a 5-0 win on a gorgeous evening in the foothills of Southern California.
Houston Aces (1) — Calgary Foothills Women’s FC (2)
Calgary Foothills Women’s FC returned to action this weekend with a road trip to take on a Houston Aces side with five international players on its roster. Calgary (1-1 West) would set their own piece of history at Houston Sports Park on Saturday night, defeating Houston (0-1 West) for their first-ever win in the host’s 2017 opener. Calgary head coach Troye Flannery added three players to his side for the game against the Aces with Myia Wilkes (San Jose State), Sarah Kinzner (University of Colorado) and Natalie Arnett (University of Calgary) making the trip.
Lancaster Inferno (2) — New York Surf (1)
The Lancaster Inferno recorded their second victory of the season on Sunday afternoon against New York Surf. In their home opener at Pucillo Field, the Inferno (2-2 East) held on for the 2-1 win after a late rally from Surf (2-1-1 East). Lancaster was led by midfielder Tesa McKibben (goal) and forward Emily Kupsov (goal, assist) on the day. The combination of Jordan Kamp and Kelly O’Brien in goal would make nine saves in the victory.
Rochester Lady Lancers (0) — Long Island Rough Riders (2)
Sunday afternoon’s match between the Rochester Lady Lancers (0-3-1 East) and the Long Island Rough Riders (3-0-1 East) at Charlie Schiano Sr. Field at Aquinas Institute was a tale of two halves. Rochester had opportunities to come away with a win in the first half but could not convert, while Long Island came out in the second half and put their stamp on the result in an eventual 2-0 victory for the visitors. Goalkeeper Melissa Guglielmo recorded three saves in the shutout.
Western New York Flash (0) — Long Island Rough Riders (7)
The Western New York Flash (0-2-2 East) was looking to finally get in the win column against the Long Island Rough Riders, but were shutout by the visitors in a 7-0 losing effort at Niagara University. Saturday night’s game got off to a quick start with Long Island taking an early lead in the fifth minute as Madison Vasquez scored the opening goal on a breakaway. Meghan Santoro followed that up with a goal of her own in the 15th minute to give the Rough Riders a two-goal advantage.
New York Surf (4) — New England Mutiny (2)
In their first big test of the Summer 2017 campaign, the New England Mutiny hit the road and traveled south to take on conference newcomers New York Surf on Saturday afternoon. The Surf scored two goals early in each half in the 4-2 win over the Mutiny at SUNY Maritime. New York has been noted for their defense in their first two matches but it was their offense that came out firing. Midfielder Jordan Clark gave the Surf the lead in the eighth minute, blasting her header off a Flo Gamby corner kick past New England goalkeeper Annie Ulliac (three saves).
New Jersey Copa FC (2) — Lancaster Inferno (0)
New Jersey Copa FC (2-1 East) remains unbeaten at home as the defending Eastern Conference champions defeated Lancaster Inferno with a 2-0 victory on Saturday afternoon. Unassisted strikes from Camille Bowen in the 18th minute and some insurance from Katarina Nilsson in the 73rd combined with the Copa defense to post a clean sheet for the second time this year at Saint John Vianney High School.
Toledo Villa FC (1) — FC Indiana (2)
After two home losses to start the season, FC Indiana (1-2 Midwest) recorded their first win on the road in a 2-1 victory over Toledo Villa FC (1-1-1 Midwest) at Northview High School on Sunday afternoon. Forward Ashley Johnson scored the first goal of the FCI season in the seventh minute of action off an assist from midfielder Yo Tachibana.
Michigan Legends FC (2) — Detroit Sun FC (3)
Michigan Legends FC (1-2-1 Midwest) almost pulled off an improbable second half comeback against Detroit Sun FC (3-0 Midwest) but ultimately fell short in a 3-2 defeat. The early-season leaders in the Midwest opened with a commanding three-goal lead with two goals from midfielder Madison Schupbach and the eventual game-winner by forward Isabella Habuda. MLFC notched two late strikes past Detroit goalkeeper Caitlin Clem (two saves) in their effort to force a positive result.
FC Indiana (0) — Grand Rapids FC Women (3)
In their third of four consecutive road games, Grand Rapids FC Women (3-1 Midwest) got their second straight victory in a 3-0 win over FC Indiana at Newton Park on Friday night. The GRFC Women notched their second straight shutout with an early stop from goalkeeper Reilley Ott (six saves) — that initially left her shook up — to get her team moving in a winning direction. From there, the visitors would besiege the host’s defense, forcing FCI keeper Andrea Vera to make 13 saves in the loss.
