METUCHEN, NJ - Two teams in the West Conference of United Women’s Soccer (UWS) face two entirely different situations in Week IV action. The Houston Aces were minutes away from capturing the West title last season and are the last team in all of UWS to commence their Summer 2017 season. While Houston kicks off their campaign this weekend with renewed expectations, the Real Salt Lake Women face a potentially premature conclusion to their season. The RSL Women need two positive results on their Week IV road trip to southern California or they could already be out of the title race.

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

Houston Aces vs. Calgary Foothills Women’s FC
7:30 PM CDT - Houston Sports Park (Houston, TX)

After a humbling start to their 2016 UWS West campaign, the Houston Aces would turn their year around and have an opportunity to capture the title in the final conference game of the season. Houston needed a win over the Colorado Pride to win the West title race but their hearts would be broken in second-half stoppage time. After taking a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute on a Paige Hayward goal, the Aces could not hold back a late surge from the Pride and Briana Rohmer would net the equalizer in the 2-2 draw.

Most of the gang will return for the 2017 season, as Hayward joins 11 other returnees for Houston Head Coach Aguinaldo Ferreira. Leading the docket are a bevy of current & former Colombian Women’s National Team talent, as 2016 All-UWS selection Tatiana Ariza comes back to patrol the midfield with her twin sister Natalia. 2016 All-West Conference selections Isabella Echeverri and Courtney Seelhorst also return to the Aces. Colombian WNT goalkeeper Stefany Castano also joins the Houston side, providing great depth in net alongside Seelhorst.

A newcomer to the West Conference, Calgary Foothills Women’s FC (0-1 West) will look to replicate the effort but not the result from last Friday night’s season-opening 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake. Calgary started the match brightly but would find their work in the final third to be lacking on the night while the RSL Women’s offense took off after a shutout loss to start the season. Houston’s home form last year was not one of their strengths - managing only one win in four games - so Calgary will hope for more of the same in 2017.

So Cal Crush FC vs. Real Salt Lake Women
6:00 PM PDT - Crescenta Valley H.S. (La Crescenta, CA)

The first of vital back-to-back games in southern California this weekend for the Real Salt Lake Women (1-1 West) will be a rematch of the Week II tilt between themselves and their hosts, So Cal Crush FC (1-1 West). On Saturday, May 20 at Clyde Field on the UVU campus, the RSL Women kept possession and managed some glittering scoring chances but were unable to consistently break down the Crush FC defense in a 2-0 loss. It was a stellar start of the campaign for the first-year West side and forward Nancy Avesyan & goalkeeper Adriana Maldonado were named to the UWS Team of the Week.

But in Week III action, both teams would take separate turns for the better and worst. Led by UWS Team of the Week selections Hailey Skolmoski (goal, assist) on offense and Natalie Norris & Becca Ritchie on defense, the Real Women blanked Calgary by a 3-0 score. In the fifth minute, midfielder Chansi Crompton curled a shot from the top left side of the penalty area into the far side netting for the early 1-0 lead and the team never looked back from there.

After their victory in their franchise opener, So Cal Crush FC looked to next contain the formidable attack of the defending UWS champion Santa Clarita Blue Heat in their home opener at Crescenta Valley High School last Friday night. While the Crush FC defense held as firm as they could, going into halftime only down by a 1-0 score, the Blue Heat offense lit up in the second half en route to a comprehensive 4-0 victory. Avesyan was a bright spot for the SCCFC offense once again, and will look to replicate her exploits against RSLW from their first encounter of the season.

SUNDAY, JUNE 4

Santa Clarita Blue Heat vs. Real Salt Lake Women
6:00 PM PDT - Master's College (Santa Clarita, CA)

The Santa Clarita Blue Heat (1-0 West) are the defending conference and league champions, but last season, the Real Salt Lake Women gave them their toughest opposition in the West. After a 1-1 home draw on June 11th, the 2-1 loss to Santa Clarita on the road last June 25th would spell doom for the RSL Women in their pursuit of the West crown. On the other hand, the Blue Heat would go on a 4-0-1 run to end the season as the inaugural UWS champions. A similar make-or-break scenario confronts RSLW this weekend: two positive results keeps them in the West race; two losses doom them to the bottom of the conference with three losses.

This past offseason, Santa Clarita did work when it came to their roster management, as they had the core of their 2016 team return while adding top collegiate and international talent. That new talent shone through in last Friday night’s 4-0 road win over So Cal Crush FC in the first installment of their local derby. Two goals each from Costa Rican international Carolina Venegas and Florida State University midfielder Emily Madril led the offense while returning goalkeeper Jovani McCaskill got the victory in goal. Venegas and Madrid were named to the UWS Team of the Week for their efforts.

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.