UWS MIDWEST SEMIFINALS

Thursday, July 11

#2 Indiana Union - 5
#3 Detroit Sun - 1
Grand Park Event Center | MyCujoo

The Indiana Union (8-2-1) continued their dominance over the Detroit Sun (4-7-0) this year with an impressive 5-1 victory over the perennial contenders in the first United Women's Soccer (UWS) Midwest Conference Semifinal. Indiana won both contests between the two teams during the regular season and racked up 14 shots on goal in this contest to move on to Sunday's UWS Midwest Final. The winner of that match moves on to the UWS National Championship (July 19-21). Forward Lauren Rice and midfielder Monica Dolinsky each netted two goals for the hosts while Indiana's leading scorer Samantha Dewey added a goal and an assist. The Union opened the scoring in the 15th minute on a Lauren Rice unassisted effort but Detroit responded seven minutes later to tie the score at 1-1. Midfielder Dani Evans' free kick found forward Anastasia Savich and she headed in the equalizer for the Sun. Indiana took over the game after that with two goals in the first half and two more in the second half. Dolinsky tallied her fifth and sixth goals in 2019 in the 38th and 45th minutes. In the 54th minute, Rice put the game away off an assist from Dolinsky and Dewey finished the scoring in the 87th minute. The pair of Sarah Kile and Jordan Imes made two saves in goal on the night for the victors.

#1 Lansing United - 1
#4 Grand Rapids FC - 3
East Lansing Soccer Complex | MyCujoo

Grand Rapids FC (4-5-2) has a penchant for showing up when it really matters (ie. the postseason) and are en route to capturing their third straight UWS Midwest Conference title after a 3-1 upset win on the road over regular season champions Lansing United (8-2-1). With the victory, GRFC will travel to face the Indiana Union on Sunday in the 2019 Midwest Final (4:00 PM kickoff) for the automatic berth into the four-team UWS Championship. The visitors took the match by the scruff of the neck with two goals in the first 25 minutes. In the 14th minute, GRFC had a great passage of play in the final third and Miku Sunaga's second bite of the apple on the doorstep flew past Lansing goalkeeper Madison Clem. Eleven minutes later, midfielder Marti Corby sent in a nice ball over the top of the United defense and forward Kendra Longoria ran on to it. She eluded Clem's attempt at clearing the ball and deposited her shot into the empty net for the 2-0 score. Early in the second half, Grand Rapids scored an insurance goal in the 52nd minute when forward Brittany Tanner held off a pair of defenders and fed Longoria in on goal. He shot went over Clem's fingertips and into the top corner of the goal. Dani Stephan's fourth goal of the season on a free kick in the 58th minute cut the deficit to 3-1 but GRFC held on from there for the win.

UWS EAST SEMIFINALS

Friday, July 12

#2 Connecticut Fusion - 1
#3 Lancaster Inferno - 2
Farmington Sports Arena | MyCujoo

For the second straight year, the Lancaster Inferno (8-3-0) knocked the Connecticut Fusion (8-1-2) out of the playoffs - this time on the road. Lancaster emerged victorious by a 2-1 score on Friday night and also ended Connecticut's undefeated run in 2019. The Inferno now move on to Sunday's UWS East Final where they will look to repeat as conference champions and receive the automatic berth into the UWS National Championship (July 19-21). The visitors weathered an early storm by the hosts, as the Fusion generated three quality-scoring chances in the first 25 minutes of the match. Despite the pressure, Connecticut could not break through and Lancaster made them pay for it right before halftime. In the 41st minute, midfielder Megan Carroll stepped up and blocked a clearance. Carroll picked up the loose ball and drilled a shot from distance over Fusion goalkeeper Allie Augur. That advantage was nearly doubled in the 44th minute but Augur came up with a double-save to keep the score at 1-0. The Inferno got their second goal of the game nine minutes into the second half when defender Ashley Chilcoat split the center backs with a well-weighted long ball and found forward Haley Crawford. She rounded Augur and slotted it home for her team-leading sixth goal of the season. Connecticut pulled a goal back in the 60th minute on a Brenna Brown strike to set up a tense final half hour but could not tie the score.

#1 New England Mutiny - 3
#4 Long Island Rough Riders - 0
Lusitano Stadium | MyCujoo

The New England Mutiny (9-0-2) notched their second win of the season over long-time rival Long Island Rough Riders (5-6-0) by a 3-0 score in the second East Semifinal of the night. With the victory, New England will now host the Lancaster Inferno in the 2019 UWS East Final on Sunday. Kickoff at Lusitano Stadium is slated for 4:00 PM. The hosts got on the score board early in the match but it took them until the second half to put the game away. In the 17th minute, forward Kate Howarth tallied her team and league-leading 19th goal of the season after a deft turn and finish in front of the Long Island goal after a cross from defender Shauny Alterisio. A few minutes after halftime, forward Jessica Fernandes scored her third goal of the season on a header from a cross deep on the right flank by fellow forward Zoe Steck. As the second half moved forward, the Rough Riders left themselves open to counter attack and Alterisio took advantage in stoppage time for her second goal of the campaign. Colombian Women's National Team goalkeeper Catalina Perez picked up the shutout and win for the home side.

Sunday, July 14

UWS MIDWEST FINAL

#2 Indiana Union vs. #4 Grand Rapids FC
4:00 PM EDT | Marian University | MyCujoo

UWS EAST FINAL

#1 New England Mutiny vs. #3 Lancaster Inferno
4:00 PM EDT | Lusitano Stadium | MyCujoo