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Midwest & West Conference: First Round of Signings

04/18/2019, 4:00pm EDT
By Nate O. Davis

AFCAA, IN Union, Foothills WFC, QC United & SC Blue Heat announce signings

METUCHEN, NJ - Midwest & West Conference teams are announcing player signings as they get ready for the 2019 season in the United Women’s Soccer (UWS) national pro-am league. Having a consistent roster that includes key players will make for a very competitive summer season.

AFC Ann Arbor Takes Root in UWS...  Megan Trapp (Eastern Michigan) was the first signee for AFC. In addition to coaching youth players (Michigan Tigers) she is a collegiate assistant (Concordia). Community is also important for Taylor Babcock, who started playing at the University of Portland before returning to Michigan to coach youth players, also the Michigan Tigers. Andrea Garcia (Fairleigh Dickinson) is also joining the team after a goal and assist for the Knights in 2018.

Indiana Natives Join Forces for Indiana Union...  Brady Riley (Purdue/Fishers, IN) returns to a UWS program for the third straight season. As a sophomore in 2017, she played in all 19 games but missed the 2018 season due to injury. Also returning is Annika Schmidt (Butler/Zionsville,IN). Schmidt was on the 2017 and 2018 All-Big East First Team, and 2018 All-East Region Second Team. Ryanne Brown (Wake Forest/Indianapolis,IN) joins the team for 2019. The US Youth National team member (U-17) had a goal and 5 assists in 2018 for the Deacons.

Calgary Foothills Gets Foothold on New Season with Signees...  Calgary native and Canadian Youth National Team player Sarah Kinzner (Colorado) returns to the fold for 2019. Kinzer earned PAC-12 All-Freshman Team honors (2015) while in Boulder and was an All-West Conference honorable mention during her time in UWS. Yvonne Northover (Illinois State) also rejoins the team after a 2018 season where she garnered UWS All-West Conference First Team honors and was twice named to the UWS Team of the Week. Newcomer Tanya Boychuk (Memphis) also has Canada Youth National Team experience in addition to being named to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team (2018). Also new to the team is Charlotte Potts by way of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Potts spent time with Newcastle United W.F.C. and Sunderland A.F.C Ladies, being recognized as the Manager’s Player of the Year (2013) while with Newcastle.

Quick Start for Queen City United...  Canada West foes become teammates for Queen City. Sydney Langen (University of Regina) appeared in all 14 games for the Cougars (13 starts) and played 1025 minutes. Taneil Gray (University of Saskatoon) was a Huskie Rookie of the Year Finalist (2015/2016). Canada U-20 WNT Camp participant Claire Abrey (Memphis) scored a goal and appeared in 14 matches in her freshman season. Longwood University (Virginia) commit Kaia Deane also brings youth national team (Northern Ireland U-19) experience to the capital city.

Santa Clarita Blue Heating Up for the Season...  2018 UWS All-West Conference Second Team player  and 2018 team leader in goals (5), assists (3) and points (13), Hayley Gonzalez (Vanguard) returns for 2019. She is joined by Bulgarian National Team member Evi Popadinova (Florida Gulf Coast). Popadinova has been the Bulgarian Women’s Footballer of the Year three years running (2016, 2017, 2018). Locally, new signee Ashley Sanchez (UCLA) brings US Youth National team experience to the fold. She played in 2016 and 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Sanchez also played in the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, where she was the first player in history to play in two world cup in same calendar year in 2016, was the 2016 US Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, a 2018 First Team All-American for UCAL and 2018 Mac Hermann Award semifinalist.

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