REAL SALT LAKE WOMEN 3, CALGARY FOOTHILLS WOMEN’S FC 0

KAYSVILLE, UT - It was a cool, sunny Friday night at Davis High School and Real Salt Lake Women (1-1 West) defeated Calgary Foothills Women’s FC (0-1 West) by a 3-0 score. The home side bettered their result from the prior weekend when the Real Women dropped a 2-0 loss to newcomers So Cal Crush FC, and got their offense on track after seeing so many shots blocked or saved in that season opener. Calgary opened this match brightly but Real Salt Lake would light up the score board first.

The RSL Women continued their pressure and possession from the previous match and it paid off in the fifth minute. Midfielder Chansi Crompton curled a shot from the top left side of the penalty area that seemed to be headed wide but tucked into the far side netting. The tide turned Calgary's way after the half hour mark, with a shot in the 34th minute requiring the first save from RSLW goalkeeper Becca Ritchie, and a corner in the 37th minute that ended with a shot over the bar.

The RSL Women doubled their lead in the 40th minute after forward Colette Smith won a ball in the midfield and raced up the left side, passing to midfielder Hayley Skolmoski on the overlapping run. Her cross found Wes Hamblin and she touched the ball past Calgary keeper Sarah Dilling for the 2-0 lead. RSLW put the game to rest in the 76th minute after right back Holly Daguirda was sprung up the right side and her low cross to Skolmoski gave her plenty of time to collect, turn and place the third goal.

SO CAL CRUSH FC 0, SANTA CLARITA BLUE HEAT 4

LA CRESCENTA, CA - Forward Carolina Venegas notched two early goals and midfielder Emily Madril posted two late goals and the defending UWS champion Santa Clarita Blue Heat (1-0 West) rolled to a comprehensive season-opening 4-0 victory over league newcomers So Cal Crush FC (1-1 West). It was the first match in the local derby for the two teams this past Friday night and the Blue Heat made no doubt who is on top of the fledgling rivalry.

The visitors attacked with numbers from the opening whistle and forward Chandra Eigenberger initiated the first Heat goal in only the 2nd minute. Eigenberger tapped in a whipped cross back into the goal mouth and Costa Rican international Venegas punched it home past Crush FC goalkeeper Adriana Maldonado (six saves) to open the scoring on the night. Venegas struck again early in the second half, this time from distance. In the 52nd minute, Venegas received a ball at the top of the arc unmarked, and turned and fired high and hard over the goalkeeper, doubling the lead.

Madril had already rang a hard rolling shot off the post earlier in the match, but on her second effort in the 64th minute, the woodwork was more friendly as she crushed a hard knuckling shot from inside the top of the box for the 3-0 score. Madril, a freshman at Florida State University, added another just before full time, cementing the Blue Heat's opening night victory. Santa Clarita out-shot the hosts by a 10-3 margin and the combination of Jovani McCaskill and Aline Reis got the shutout in goal.

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.

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, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.