Photo by Eireann Photography

Metuchen, NJ — Week eight concludes and things heat up ahead of playoffs in the Summer of Soccer.

Great Lakes Division

Tuesday, June 27

MI Legends 2 vs MI Hawks 1

Trying to keep pace with the Nationals SC, the Legends needed to defend their home turf and take all three points. They did just that with a 2-1 win over a Hawks team that came out to create some chaos in the Great Lakes division. The win allows the Legends to remain unbeaten while staying even with the Nationals, only separated by goal differential. July 8th can’t come soon enough for the Legends in a match that will determine the Great Lakes regular season champion.

Wednesday, June 28

Livonia City FC 0 vs MI Burn 2

Two teams entered this match winless, and one left with their first three points of the season. The Burn came out from the get-go with a game plan and stuck to it for the 90 minutes giving them their first UWS win as they continue this form the rest of the way in the Summer of Soccer. Livonia City was impressive at times but just couldn’t connect in the final third to get the result they wanted but have a chance to finish their season with a win on July 11th against Futsal Factory.

Thursday, June 29

MI Stars 1 vs Nationals SC 3

Making sure not to give up any ground to the Legends, Nationals SC needed to win to stay atop the division and will need to continue to win if it wants any chance at the postseason with the Legends on its heels. The Stars meanwhile are a strong side showing a great makeup of talent and skill and although the results haven’t gone their way this season they are a fun team to watch and keep an eye on in the UWS of the foreseeable future.

Sunday, July 2

MI Burn 0 vs Futsal Factory 3

Futsal Factory has earned all three points on the road against a tenacious Burn side that has been getting better each and every week. The same can be said for Sutsal Factory though as they have started to get results that align with their style of play and their play has gotten better each and every week on the pitch. 

East Division

Thursday, June 29

CT Rush 2 vs Scorpions SC 4

The Scorpions have done their job and leaped into the playoff picture with a 4-2 win on the road against a CT Rush who put up a tremendous fight. With one game remaining and 6 teams with a game in hand and four points behind the Scorpions will need some help from teams above them as well as others for them to reach the playoffs but it is not out of the realm of possibility.

Saturday, July 1

NJ Copa FC 3 vs Keystone FC 1

Copa has won back-to-back games and is looking to play spoiler this next week with a matchup against a playoff-bound Coppermine team that would love nothing more than to find ways to get better heading into the playoffs. Keystone FC came into this match ready to win on the road and even though they came up short, they can use this as momentum with two matches remaining against playoff-caliber teams and the chance to perhaps play spoiler.

Sporting CT 4 vs Albany Rush 1

Sporting CT has been the surprise team in the East this summer and continues to find ways to win each week in a variety of ways. The win sets them up nicely for a regular-season finale against Albany who will want to win the return match in order to have a chance at the playoffs, if they win they are in.

BC United 1 vs Lancaster Inferno 2

Lancaster has been rolling with 5 straight wins and secured their playoff dreams and perhaps the #4 seed if they can finish the season strong. BC United is still in the race to playoffs even after 3 defeats, although it depends on the results of other teams in the conference and they will need to win in their upcoming match against Keystone FC.

FC Buffalo 4 vs Erie Commodores 1

The “Erie County” derby didn’t disappoint the home crowd as FC Buffalo continued their regular season unbeaten streak dating back to last season to 13 matches, an impressive feat in a competitive division in the East. With the win, they also made sure that they ruined the playoff hopes of Erie who look to finish the season strong in their last match against Flower City 1872.

Worcester Fuel 0 vs NE Mutiny 3

Mission accomplished for the NE Mutiny who with the win secured their first-ever back-to-back UWS playoff opportunity. It will be interesting to see who the Mutiny face in the first round of the Playoffs as matchups will be announced in the coming days. Worcester Fuel continues to have a successful campaign in 2023 with lots of growth and development for their athletes and looks to finish on a strong note against Maine Footy in their regular season finale.

Sunday, July 2

Steel City FC 4 vs Flower City 1872 0

Steel City is all in on their playoff hopes and with a win against the visiting Flower City 1872, they have secured their place in the 2023 Summer of Soccer second season, the playoffs. Flower City 1872 continues to grow in the league and will be fun to watch in 2024 but have one match left against Erie Commodores to cap a solid first year in UWS.

Midwest Division

Thursday, June 29

Chicago Rush 1 vs Indiana Union 1

If ever a time to not drop points this was that time, with a match against division leaders Cincinnati Sirens, the Union wanted to make sure they took three points and instead enter their next match as a must-win for them to win the division. The Rush played a great match and didn’t allow the Union to settle in at any point and looked like a completely different team than the one that was beaten 7-0 their last time out against the Union.  

Saturday, July 1

Edgewater Castle 2 vs Chicago Rush 0

Edgewater wanted a solid showing and gave one en route to their second win of 2023 in the UWS and getting some bragging rights in Chicago thanks to a 2-0 win in the “Windy City” derby. The Chicago Rush looked comfortable in this match coming off of a 1-1 draw two days prior to division-winning hopeful Indiana Union but in the end couldn’t get anything offensive going against a determined Edgewater Castle side.

Cincinnati Sirens 7 vs Indiana Union 0

The Cincinnati Sirens secured the Midwest division and a playoff ticket with a 7-0 win over an  Indiana Union team who put up a great fight and effort all season long. In the end, the Sirens had too much firepower on their way to winning the division and will now start to get ready for whoever they face next in the playoffs in the UWS with a goal of reaching the National Championship weekend July 21-23.

Southwest Division

Saturday, July 1

SA Athenians 3 vs Luxoria FC 3

The “I-35” derby didn’t disappoint as we witnessed a 6-goal thriller that leads us to an exciting finish this coming Saturday as they meet up again, this time in Dallas with the winner taking first place in the division based on head to head recorder if the Athenians can pull it off. Both teams control their own fate so it will be interesting to see how this next match plays out as they both left it all on the pitch in this one.

SA Runners 6 vs ATX Blues 1

If you blinked, you may have missed something in this 7 goal thriller the Runners got off to a fast start and never looked back. This was their first win of the season and came a bit too late in their hopes for the playoffs, but nonetheless feels just as good since it is three points they needed. The Blues head back to Austin knowing they can close their season on a high note with a win and perhaps return the favor to the Runners this coming weekend as soccer in the Southwest division concludes. 

West Division

Saturday, July 1

LASC 5 vs Reno Vikings 0

The hottest team out west in LASC hosted a Reno Viking side that is still searching for their first points of the season and LASC isn’t ready to cool off anytime soon. Margaret Osmundson has continued her fine form this season scoring again in this one and getting closer to the golden boot in the UWS while Sage Sherman and Kaella Chin also helped LASC to a well-deserved win and secure a winning 2023 Summer of Soccer in UWS.

FC Arizona 2 vs SC Blue Heat 1

Who will win the West? FC Arizona didn’t hold back in this match and wanting to get back for their two defeats last season to SC Blue Heat returned the favor in the heat of Arizona. With a 1-0 lead at the half and getting the 2-1 win which put a halt to the early possible West division title celebrations of the Blue Heat who will now need to win out while also holding the advantage on goal differential in order to be the West representative in the UWS Playoffs. This coming weekend will be critical for Blue Heat and look for FC Arizona to be ready to fight again and perhaps spoil the chances for the Blue Heat.

United Women’s Soccer (UWS) is a national pro-am league founded in December 2015 on the basis of providing equality, opportunity, and respect for the women’s game. UWS has proven to be an innovative league that has paved the way for the further advancement of women’s soccer. Eighty-plus teams based in the United States and Canada comprise two distinct levels of competition: UWS and UWS League Two (UWS2).

With over 38 NWSL draftees & 100 professional contracts to its name, UWS provides high-level competition for college players, aspiring & former professionals, and international stars. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship.

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