Metuchen, NJ — United Women’s Soccer completed its eighth week of action, crowning regular-season division champions and setting the stage for more excitement in the season’s final weeks.
Central Conference
Great Lakes Division
Wednesday, June 29
Nationals FC 2, Cap City Athletic 1
A quiet first half gave way to a scoring flourish in the second half, as Nationals FC edged Cap City Athletic for a vital 2-1 victory. Sophia Nguyen finally broke the scoreless tie in the 51st minute for Nationals FC, and substitute Ashleigh Garcia came off the bench to double the advantage with her right-sided finish shortly thereafter. Jordyn Wickes’ superb dribbling move halved the deficit for Cap City Athletic, but Nationals FC hung on for the three points.
Friday, July 1
Michigan Jaguars 11, Muskegon Risers 5
Michigan Jaguars and Muskegon Risers put on a sparkling display Friday, combining for 16 goals in a Michigan Jaguars victory. Amalia Villareal’s remarkable four-goal display paced Michigan Jaguars, with three of those goals coming in the second half. Noel Blain and Victoria Miller also scored twice for the victors. Sophia Mueller contributed a hat trick of her own for Muskegon Risers, while Alexis Ponstein added the other two goals for the home side.
Sunday, July 3
Nationals FC 1, Corktown Hawks 1
Nationals FC became the first club to take a point from Corktown Hawks this season, but couldn’t secure the win it needed to catapult into first place in the Great Lakes Division. Olivia Thomas gave Corktown Hawks the positive start they needed for this big-time contest with her goal in the 10th minute. The visitors very nearly saw out the win, but Natalie Rayce came off the bench to tally a late equalizer for Nationals FC.
Heartland Division
Thursday, June 30
KC Courage 5, Arkansas Comets 0
KC Courage secured the regular-season Heartland Division title on Thursday with a decisive victory over Arkansas Comets. Five different KC Courage players found the scoresheet in the win, with the away side going ahead in the second minute on Schuyler Riese’s finish. Rafiatu Alhassan followed with her strike from inside the box 16 minutes later. Courtney Claassen notched her eighth goal of the season to start the second half, while Miyako Hallier and Zigi Ahortor came off the bench to complete the scoring.
Friday, July 1
Gretna Elite 2, Sporting Nebraska 1
Gretna Elite narrowly edged a closely fought battle on the road against Sporting Nebraska to move into third place in the division. An own goal from a corner kick put Gretna Elite on the scoreboard first, then Sporting Nebraska responded before halftime with Delaney Grant’s back-post finish. Ariana Mondiri’s seventh goal of the season proved to be the deciding moment, though, and Gretna Elite secured three huge points.
Saturday, July 2
FC Wichita 2, Arkansas Wolves 0
FC Wichita issued another lockdown defensive showing in a 2-0 win over Arkansas Wolves to close out the regular season. Hadlie Lowe set up Rachel Wolecki inside the 18-yard box to start the scoring in the 26th minute, and Peyton Martin-Peterson’s spectacular free kick not long after provided all the insurance the home side would need.
Sunday, July 3
Side FC 92 4, Arkansas Comets 0
Side FC 92 concluded the weekend’s action in the Heartland Division with a dominating 4-0 win over Arkansas Comets. Gabrielle Abbey put the hosts on top in the third minute, then Kennedy Langebartels turned home Riley Baldwin’s cross in the sixth minute to quickly double the lead.
Olivia Kucharyski scored from a corner before halftime to make it 3-0, and Hayley Ledford completed the action with her 89th-mintue tally.
Midwest Division
Wednesday, June 29
Chicago Mustangs 4, Illinois Premier 1
Illinois Premier defended valiantly for much of this contest, but Chicago Mustangs’ overwhelming attack eventually showed through in a 4-1 win. Carol Soto put Chicago Mustangs in front in the 33rd minute for their only goal of the first half. Keegan Schmeiser doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute. Nina Nicosia played a perfect through-ball for Julia Simon in the 71st minute, then reached double figures in the 90th minute with her 10th goal of the season.
Friday, July 1
Chicago Mustangs 4, Indiana Union 1
For 55 minutes, it seemed as though Elizabeth Reece’s long-range effort would be enough for Indiana Union to upset the high-scoring Chicago Mustangs. But a 55th-minute own goal awoke the Midwest Division leaders, and Nina Nicosia’s league-leading 11th goal of the season put them ahead 2-1 in the 72nd minute. Julia Simon’s ninth marker of the year added a third, and Nicosia assisted Jenna Stayart in the game’s final moments to put the icing on the cake.
East Conference
Mid-Atlantic Division
Wednesday, June 29th
Lancaster Inferno 4, Keystone FC 0
Lancaster Inferno made it three wins from three games against its new in-state rivals with a 4-0 win in midweek action to stay perfect on the season. Jackie Richards led the way with a brace for her eighth and ninth goals for the season, and the duo of Adalee Broadbent and Elizabeth Wenger rounded out the scoring as the stout Lancaster Inferno defense claimed a clean sheet.
Thursday, June 30th
NJ Copa FC 5, Paisley Athletic 1
NJ Copa FC set the tone for what would become a very high-scoring week by putting five goals past Paisley Athletic on Thursday. Emily Jozak fired home twice, supported by goals from Samantha Sturno, Camille Bowen and Juliana Ryan. Natalie Melillo’s second-half tally proved to be the only offense mustered by Paisley Athletic.
Sunday, July 3
NJ Copa FC 9, Keystone FC 3
NJ Copa FC provided its home fans with some early fireworks, putting nine goals past Keystone FC in a lopsided win. Keystone FC scored the first two goals of this contest, including the first of two markers in this game from Halle Engle. But NJ Copa roared back. Emily Jozak, Samantha Sturno, Dana Young and Jeanine Nunez all scored twice for the victors, with Caroline Caputo also finding the scoresheet.
New England Division
Thursday, June 30
CT Rush 3, CT Fusion 3
This clash of two Connecticut rivals turned into one of the most entertaining matches of the week across UWS, with CT Rush and CT Fusion playing to a 3-3 draw. CT Rush scored the first three goals of the match within the opening seven minutes. Julia Carr finished off two crosses in the opening four minutes, and Mary Lundergan dribbled herself into space for a far-post finish in the seventh minute. But CT Fusion didn’t succumb to the initial blitz. Jenna Kalwa converted Giovanna Dionicio’s cross just before halftime, then Virginia Day’s volley made it 3-2. A 63rd-minute Emma Zaccagnini penalty kick finished off the scoring in this thriller.
Penn-NY Division
Saturday, July 2
Rochester Lancers 2, Pittsburgh Hotspurs 0
Rochester Lancers continued to keep the pressure on near the top of the Penn-NY Division with a 2-0 victory over Pittsburgh Hotspurs. Meghan Root got the scoring started in the 36th minute with her effort across goal from the top of the 18-yard box. Kelsey DeLola followed in the early stages of the second half to make the scoreline more comfortable for the hosts.
FC Buffalo 2, Erie Commodores 1
FC Buffalo went on the road and churned out an impressive victory over Erie Commodores to remain at the top of the Penn-NY Division. Djeynaba Thiam delivered the first blow for FC Buffalo when she placed a cross from Emily Lazenby into the top corner in the seventh minute. Grace Emanuel delivered a right-sided finish to briefly tie the game in the 19th minute for Erie Commodores. But Lazenby wasn’t finished, finding the top corner from 15 yards out in the 32nd minute to put FC Buffalo back ahead for good.
South Conference
Southeast Division
Friday, July 1
Atlanta Panthers 2, Atlanta Fire United 0
Tori Penn pulled all the strings in this one, setting up a pair of goals as Atlanta Panthers took down their Peach State foes once again with a 2-0 victory. Penn first set up Morgan Bentley, who began the scoring. Later, Simisola Awujo benefited from a Penn assist, as she provided an insurance goal.
Southwest Division
Friday, July 1
FC Austin Elite 0, SA Athenians 0
FC Austin Elite ensured it kept its grip on first place in the Southwest Division, keeping its fifth clean sheet of the season in a scoreless draw with second-place SA Athenians. Mary Cardone’s goalkeeping was heroic in this one for the home side, as she stopped all eight of the shots sent her way by SA Athenians, who limited FC Austin Elite to just one attempt on goal.
Luxoria FC 4, SA Runners 1
Luxoria FC took home a convincing victory in this late-season matchup of two Southwest Division rookies to open a six-point gap above WilCo FC for third place in the division. Kennedy Kessler scored twice for the victors, and the duo of Samantha Nava and Atupele Mshana provided the other two tallies. Alyssa Simien was the lone goalscorer for SA Runners.
Sunday, July 3
FC Austin Elite 1, SA Runners 0
FC Austin Elite again leaned on its terrific defense to earn a sixth shutout of the season in just nine games, and best SA Runners 1-0. The contest’s lone goal came from Kimberlin Palacios shortly after the halftime interval. The victory allowed FC Austin Elite to retain its advantage at the top of the division.
SA Athenians 5, CTX Hornets 1
SA Athenians kept pace with FC Austin Elite by turning in a comprehensive win over CTX Hornets Sunday. Olivia Wright scored her first two goals of the season with a brace off the bench, while Briana Woodall, Keeley Ayala and Brooke Martinez each also found the back of the net. Miranda Urbizu’s late penalty gave CTX Hornets a consolation goal.
West Conference
Saturday, July 2
SC Blue Heat 3, Los Angeles SC 1
Angeles Escobar proved pivotal in this Southern California clash, scoring twice and setting up another goal for SC Blue Heat in a win over Los Angeles SC. Escobar fired home twice in the opening sixth minutes to set the tone. When Alexandra Hargrave pulled one back for the visitors in the 14th minute, Escobar responded, assisting Ally Lemos five minutes later to restore the two-goal advantage.
Sunday, July 3
Calgary Foothills 5, Impact FC 1
Calgary Foothills continued its tour of dominance over the rest of the West Conference with a 5-1 win over Impact FC Sunday, marking the eighth win in eight games so far this season. Mya Jones scored her first three goals of the season in hat-trick fashion, using three clinical finishes to dominate the game. Lara Kazandjian and Jayden Berg added on for the home side, who lost their clean sheet in the 89th minute on Megan Duro’s effort from the top of the box.
