Photo by Cindy Russell Photography

Metuchen, NJ — Teams look to finish the regular season strong, while others look to strengthen their sides heading into the playoffs.

Great Lakes Division

Thursday, July 6

MI Jaguars vs MI Burn

Start Time: 7:00 PM EST

Venue: Total Soccer

A good test for both of these sides as the Jaguars might look ahead to their Sunday match where they can play spoiler for the Nationals season. The Burn looks to finish their first UWS Summer of Soccer on a high note and this could be the test and perhaps win they need to accomplish a successful season.

MI Legends vs Nationals SC

Start Time: 7:00 PM EST

Venue: Legacy Center

This match could very well be a winner take all affair with the winner controlling their destiny the rest of the way in the Great Lakes division of the UWS. Both teams enter with similar styles of play and the only noticeable difference is that the Legends have yet to concede a goal to date. Who will blink first in this gigantic showdown for the Great Lake lead?

Sunday, July 9

MI Stars vs MI Hawks

Start Time: 6:00 PM EST

Venue: RSC Complex

You cannot expect any teams to exchange Christmas cards among the top of the division and you shouldn’t think this game will be any different. Look for both teams to come out fast wanting to get an early advantage, and the team that does so may not look back or give the other a chance to in this one.

MI Jaguars vs Nationals SC

Start Time: 7:00 PM EST

Venue: Walled Lake Central

Are the Jaguars capable of playing spoiler, and making things uncomfortable for a visiting Nationals SC side looking to stay ahead in the Great Lakes division? It will be interesting to see what unfolds in midweek with the Nationals and Legends playing as the Jaguars still have hope to make the postseason in the UWS if the cards fall the right way. Look for the Nationals to field a strong lineup regardless of the result against the Legends on Thursday with hopes of finishing strong regardless of their situation heading into this one.

East Division

Friday, July 7

Keystone FC vs BC United

Start Time: 6:45 PM EST

Venue: Memorial Park Stadium

Any hope of a postseason opportunity for BC United is a complicated one but a win makes things a bit easier as they could jump into the 8th spot and would become Sporting CT fans on Saturday in hopes that Albany FC doesn’t get a point from that match up. Keystone will be looking to play spoiler and this is their playoff game, as they couldn’t ask for a better finish to the season than ruining someone else’s playoff dreams. 

Saturday, July 8

Coppermine vs NJ Copa FC

Start Time: 5:00 PM EST

Venue: Coppermine Norris

Locked into the playoffs this is a match for Coppermine to perhaps get some players an opportunity to take the field in the regular season finale, at home while resting some players heading into the Conference quarterfinals. Copa would love to keep their winning streak going in Baltimore and perhaps finish the season mid-table after a sluggish start to the campaign.

Erie Commodores vs Flower City 1872

Start Time: 5:00 PM

Venue: Mercyhurst University

With no playoffs in the Summer of Soccer for these two, they will still go out and look for ways to finish strong and confident with a win heading into the winter as they both prepare for the 2024 season. The Commodores will lean on leading scorers Rebecka Habursky and Ella Fadale against Flower City 1872.

Steel City FC vs FC Buffalo

Start Time: 5:30 PM EST

Venue: Founders Field

Looking to make it 14 unbeaten and secure the #1 seed in the East FC Buffalo heads to Founders Field to face a tough and ready Steel City FC team looking to perhaps jump up a spot if Keystone can get the win in Lancaster on Sunday. Holly Pascoe and Taylor Hamlett will be needed as they face an FC Buffalo backline that has only conceded 4 goals so far this season.

Albany Rush vs Sporting CT

Start Time: 7:00 PM EST

Venue: Union College

Albany is facing a must-win match after two consecutive defeats against playoff-bound teams. This one will be difficult as they return home against a Sporting CT that they faced last week and lost 4-1. It will be interesting to see how Sporting CT lines up in this one knowing that they have a spot in the playoffs. Do they perhaps rest some of their key players or do they stay with what has been working and ride it out?

Worcester Fuel vs Maine Footy

Start Time: 7:00 PM EST

Venue: Quinsigmond Park

With the playoffs locked in, Maine Footy travels to take on a Worcester team that has been making a comeback late into the season. Maine Footy will play in preparation for playoffs the following week and Worcester Fuel is expected to come out determined to win against a team they tied 1-1 a few weeks back.

NE Mutiny vs CT Rush

Start Time: 7:00 PM EST

Venue: Lusitano Stadium

CT Rush might not be in the playoffs this season but it doesn’t mean they can’t make things difficult for others who are in. A win could force the Mutiny to play a higher-seeded team, one they match up better or worse against depending on how you look at things which could make for a more interesting second season in the UWS while also making some of the top teams uncomfortable having to face a Mutiny team that has been good all around so far this season.

Sunday, July 9

Lancaster Inferno vs Keystone FC

Start Time: 6:00 PM EST

Venue: Conestoga Valley HS

Keystone FC can be just like CT Rush and help create some chaos in the East with a win. A loss for Lancaster Inferno could see them drop from 4th to 6th if Steel City and Mutiny were to win their respective matches and the Inferno drops their first points in the last 5 games. Regardless, this match should be a fun one to watch and see if Lancaster Inferno can continue their successful run.

Midwest Division

Saturday, July 8

Chicago Rush vs Cincinnati Sirens

Start Time: 7:00 PM EST

Venue: Olympic Park

The Sirens enter the matchup already claiming a stake in the Midwest division as champions and hopes of continuing their successful 2023 inaugural UWS season with a win and perhaps using their last match as a game to get tuned up for their playoff opponent out of the Great Lake division. Chicago Rush has a chance to finish on a positive note after a 1-1 draw last week against the Union so look for them to come out ready for whatever the Sirens throw their way.

Edgewater Castle vs RBFC Elite

Start Time: 7:30 PM EST

Venue: Fire Pitch

Edgewater would love to finish their first UWS on a high note, especially after the win in the “Windy City” derby and ending with a .500 record in 2023. RBFC Elite would love to get their first win in the UWS against Edgewater and carry some of that confidence into the offseason as they prepare for 2024. Look for Jacqueline Tames to come out and lead the backline for Edgewater against a determined RBFC in this Midwest division showdown.

Sunday, July 9

RBFC Elite vs Indiana Union

Start Time: 7:00 PM EST

Venue: Riverside Brookfield HS

One point in their last two matches isn’t what Indiana Union had in mind this season but with a season that was an improvement and successful for them compared to 2022, they have no reason to hang their head and this match will give them one more win than last season while they will also have more goals and less conceded as well. The Union is definitely heading in the right direction for the future of its program. RBFC can say the same in terms of growth and improvement as the difference in the two seasons has been much better and they continue to show they have what it takes to continue to get better.

Southwest Division

Saturday, July 8

Luxoria FC vs SA Athenians  

Start Time: 7:00 PM EST

Venue: TBD

This one is for all the marbles in the Southwest and a win for the Athenians could see them secure their third trip in as many years to the UWS National Championship. Luxoria FC would love to represent the division in the National Championship and a draw would be just enough to see them through. Can Kennedy Kessler find a way to get past Eve Clarkson and the Athentian defense or will Sierra Wannamaker lead the Athenian line to victory?

ATX Blues vs SA Runners 

Start Time: 7:00 PM EST

Venue: Round Rock 

Revenge is always fun in soccer, especially when you can do it at home coming off your largest loss of the season. The Blues look to return the favor at home in Round Rock against a Runners team that ran fast and scored often just last week at home. Destiny Davis will be looking to add to her point total this season for the Runners while Lucy Ortiz looks to build off her solid 2023 form and help the Blues get their second win of 2023.

West Division

Saturday, July 8

SC Blue Heat vs FC Arizona 

Start Time: 7:30 PM PST

Venue: College of the Canyons

If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it will be the game plan for FC Arizona as they face a Blue Heat team that is looking to avenge their loss in the desert heat last week. A win for the Blue Heat could see their hopes of a National Championship closer and needing to win in Reno next week while a loss and Calgary win ends those hopes in 2023. The loss of Sade Adamolekun to the World Cup where she will represent Jamaica was felt in their last time out and it will take some others to step up and fill the void left by her departure.

Sunday, July 9

LASC vs FC Arizona 

Start Time: 5:00 PM PST

Venue: Master’s University

Can LASC make it 5 straight wins to close out their second season in the UWS? Will FC Arizona be riding a wave of emotions from the night before? There is a lot to think about with this match and it will be a fun one to watch to close out both of these clubs’ 2023 campaign as they look to use this weekend as a springboard for their programs and the 2024 UWS Season. 

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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