METUCHEN, NJ - United Women's Soccer (UWS) has officially announced the alignment and schedule for the 2018 season in the West Conference. Six teams will take the pitch in the UWS West this summer with two-time conference champion Santa Clarita Blue Heat opening their season on the road at Real Salt Lake Women on Friday, May 18. The Colorado Pride return to competition after a one-year hiatus with two home games at Mountain Lion Stadium (Colorado Springs, CO) on opening weekend against the So Cal Crush (Friday, May 18) and RSL Women (Sunday, May 20).

2018 UWS WEST CONFERENCE

Calgary Foothills Women's FC
Colorado Pride
LA Galaxy OC
Real Salt Lake Women
Santa Clarita Blue Heat
So Cal Crush

Calgary Foothills WFC - 2nd place in the West in 2017 in their inaugural season - kicks off their 2018 season on the road on Friday, May 25th (7:00 PM kickoff), traveling to face Real Salt Lake. Santa Clarita opens their home slate on Saturday, May 26th (6:00 PM kickoff) at Master's College when they host newcomers LA Galaxy OC in the first edition of their new southern California rivalry. The Major League Soccer (MLS) affiliate kicks off their season in the impressive stadium venue at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, CA on Saturday, June 2 against the RSL Women.

Foothills Soccer Centre is the venue for Calgary when they commence their home campaign on Friday, June 1 (6:30 PM) against the So Cal Crush. The second-year start up will have to wait until Sunday, June 17th (4:00 PM) to start their home slate as SCC hosts Santa Clarita in the renewal of their Los Angeles derby at Crescenta Valley High School. The top team in the final regular season standings will automatically qualify for the four-team UWS National Championship (July 20-22).

"We have a two-time UWS finalist alongside an MLS and NWSL affiliate in the West," said UWS Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. "There is also one of the top organizations in all of Canada, a second-year upstart and one of the best teams from the W-League and they are all in the same conference. It truly shapes up to be a tremendous summer of soccer in the West."

For the full 2018 UWS West Conference schedule, see below for the PDF document.

About United Women's Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer. 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 UWSPress@gmail.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.