EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - This past weekend, the Lancaster Inferno (2-1) sent a message to their fellow UWS East teams that they will need to be reckoned with in the race for the conference title and automatic berth to the inaugural UWS National Championship held the weekend of July 30-31. Two 1-0 road wins in two days against historically-successful organizations like the New England Mutiny (2-1) and Long Island Rough Riders (1-1-1) is a great accomplishment, and Head Coach Francisco Cleaves has two experienced leaders to count on.

Midfielder Teresa Rynier was a draft pick of the Philadelphia Independence in the now-defunct Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) and has played professionally overseas. Defender Carol Sanchez is a Costa Rican international and defensive stalwart for the up-and-coming CONCACAF side, taking on a big role for Las Ticas in last February’s Olympic qualifiers. Both players were big reasons why Lancaster were victorious in both games over the weekend and have been named UWS East Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.

In the game against the Mutiny, Rynier was a constant force in attack and orchestrated each quality scoring chance for the Inferno. Her free kicks worried the New England defense and she assisted on the eventual game-winning goal. In the win over the Rough Riders, her team may have been feeling the effects of playing two games in two days as the offense was not as efficient as the day before. But she came through for Lancaster, scoring the game-winner on a well-taken shot on a bouncing ball early in the second half.

Sanchez was the beneficiary of Rynier’s all-around performance against the Mutiny, as she was the one who netted the lone tally of the game late in the first half. The well-worked free kick found the former Virginia Commonwealth University standout and she volleys home with precision. In the Long Island match, she helped organize a team defense that kept the young & athletic Rough Riders offense off balance and forced them into seven offsides in the first half alone.

About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): 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.

UWS is managed by EDP, a leading soccer management company that runs a number of leagues and tournaments.  In addition to UWS, EDP operates youth leagues that includes an NPL league, the EDP Super Club program, the EDP Premier League and the EDP Championship League. EDP also runs EDP Futures programs for U-7’s to U-12’s and it conducts more than 20 youth tournaments, including tournaments within its EDP Cup Series and EDP Showcase Series.

Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at Press@UWSSoccer.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.