Metuchen, NJ — The road to the United Women’s Soccer National Championship is set to begin for the elite teams throughout UWS.
The UWS Playoffs get underway this weekend, with the best of the best in the South and Central Conferences starting their journey toward the UWS National Championship.
South Conference
Southeast Division Semifinal
Atlanta Fire United vs FC Birmingham
Thursday, July 7
Start Time: 8:00 EST
Venue: Pinecrest Academy Turf
955 Peachtree Pkwy
Cumming, GA 30041
Atlanta Fire United meets FC Birmingham on Thursday in a matchup between two first-year UWS clubs looking to make waves in their debut seasons. Atlanta Fire United will have home field advantage in this one after taking 10 points from six games during the regular season. FC Birmingam managed a draw against Atlanta Fire United early in the season, with Atlanta Fire United taking a 3-1 win from the most recent fixture between the two clubs.
Southeast Division Championship
Atlanta Panthers vs Winner of Semifinal
Sunday, July 10
Start Time: 6:00 EST
Venue: Marietta High School
1171 Whitlock Ave SW
Marietta, GA 30064
Atlanta Panthers’ unblemished record in five regular-season games earned them a bye in the Southeast Division playoffs. They await the winner of the semifinals, and will play for the Southeast Division title on Sunday. The club that emerges victorious from this match earns the right to play the Southwest Division champion on July 16 for the overall South Conference title.
Central Conference
Great Lakes Division Championship
Corktown Hawks vs Nationals FC
Thursday, July 7
Start Time: 7:30 EST
Venue: Utica Swinehart Field
47255 Shelby Rd
Shelby Township, MI 48317
It doesn’t get much more intriguing than Thursday’s Great Lakes Division title game between Corktown Hawks and Nationals FC. Corktown Hawks edged out the regular-season title by three points over Nationals FC, with the difference coming in a 2-1 victory by Corktown Hawks over the runners up back on June 5. When these two clubs matched up last weekend, though, they played to a 1-1 draw, setting up what should be an intense, tight battle on Thursday.
Midwest Division Championship
Chicago Mustangs vs St. Louis Scott Gallagher
Thursday, July 7
Start Time: 7:00 CST
Venue: West Chicago Area HS.
326 Joliet St
West Chicago IL 60185
Chicago Mustangs and St. Louis SG enter this game as the two highest-scoring clubs in UWS, with 60 and 44 goals, respectively. There should be plenty of high-flying, entertaining soccer in this game, featuring Nina Nicosia, Julia Simon and Aubrey Mister — three of the four top goalscorers in the league. Chicago Mustangs edged out St. Louis SG in their opening game of the season, but the two sides most recently played to a draw on June 18.
Central Conference Semifinal Match
Midwest Division winner vs Great Lakes Division Winner
Saturday, July 9
Time and Location TBD
The victors of Thursday’s two divisional title games come together for the right to take on Heartland Division champs KC Courage on July 16 for a trip to the UWS National Championship.
