EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - The action on the right coast of the United States will also pick up this weekend, as another three matches will take place in the East Conference of United Women’s Soccer (UWS). With six leagues games in total, women’s soccer fans from sea to shining sea will have their choices to catch UWS action. In the East, the Lancaster Inferno (0-1) look to start an early season fire with an important two-game road trip while New Jersey Copa F.C. (2-1-1), the New England Mutiny (2-0) and Long Island Rough Riders (1-0-1) look to set the pace in the conference race.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4
New Jersey Copa F.C. vs. TSF Academy Valkyries (4:30 PM EST)
Venue: Mercer County Community College
1200 Old Trenton Road
West Windsor Township, NJ 08550

The first-year NJCFC program has been improving more and more as the Summer 2016 season has progressed, as the team gave up three goals in a loss to Long Island to start the season and have only allowed two goals in their last three matches where they’ve gone 2-0-1. That run of success has also seen Copa’s offense spark to life, as after being held scoreless in their first-ever match at the pro-am level, NJCFC has scored nine goals in three games led by league co-leader Krystyna Freda (four goals).

Copa has also run the rule over two former W-League teams in the UWS East: the TSF Academy Valkyries (who they play this Saturday for the second time this season) and a long-time organization in the New York Magic (0-2). On May 14th, the Valkyries (0-1) hosted NJCFC at DePaul Catholic H.S. and the road side powered themselves to a 4-1 win via three first-half goals. Last Sunday, Copa simply dominated the Magic at home, but it would take three goals in the final 24 minutes for it to show on the score board in the 4-0 victory.

TSF can feel somewhat aggrieved with their loss to open the season, as they were evenly matched with NJCFC for most of the first half until they surrendered two goals in the final five minutes. The Valkyries tied the match at 1-1 in the 28th minute, as Syracuse University defender Alana O’Neill rose up for a corner kick from Penn State midfielder Nickolette Driesse and scored her team’s only goal. But the two-goal outburst from Copa to end the half seemed to puncture the team’s sails as the visitors would hold the run of play the rest of the game.

After Saturday’s match, TSF will make the short road trip to Iona College to face New York on Saturday, June 11th before returning to DePaul Catholic H.S. on Sunday, June 19th for a match vs. New England. New Jersey’s three-game home stand concludes with this game vs. the Valkyries and will go up against Lancaster next in a home-and-home series over the next two weekends.

New England Mutiny vs. Lancaster Inferno (7:00 PM EST)
Venue: East Longmeadow High School
180 Maple Street
East Longmeadow, MA 01028

The budding rivalry between the Mutiny and the Inferno grew into full bloom when the two teams faced off at Millersville University’s Pucillo Field on Sunday, May 22nd. It was the season opener for Lancaster and their offense would rain on the New England defense early in the match, but Mutiny captain Kate Howarth would keep her team above water via two goals in the second half for the 3-2 road win. With her one-woman performance in attack so far this season, Howarth leads the UWS in overall scoring with four goals and an assist (nine points).

But Katie Hackos was also a wrecking ball in attack for the Inferno, scoring both goals in the loss while constantly harassing the New England defense. Lancaster can certainly feel they were the better side and will look to gain a full measure of revenge in the rubber match of the season series between the two UWS East sides. After beginning the overall series against the Mutiny with a dominating 3-0 road win during the 2009 season, the Inferno have now lost the last three games vs. the long-standing club based out of western Massachusetts.

And New England may not have to rely on Howarth this Saturday, as the home side can count on the return of two familiar faces. Providence College forward Rachel Ugolik will see her first time on the pitch in 2016 while another Mutiny veteran - former UConn & Boston Breakers midfielder Riley Houle - has returned to the team after a three-year hiatus. Ugolik is coming off her strongest season for the Friars as she started all 22 games for the BIG EAST runner-ups (five goals, three assists). Houle played against New England last year for the Breakers Reserves and was also called up to the senior NWSL team.

Lancaster faces a tough two-game weekend set, as after the Mutiny match on Saturday night, they travel south to Long Island to take on the Rough Riders late Sunday afternoon. New England will host the Rough Riders on Saturday, June 11th before they go on a grueling four-game road trip.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5
Long Island Rough Riders vs. Lancaster Inferno (5:30 PM EST)
Venue: Saint Anthony’s High School
275 Wolf Hill Road
South Huntington, NY 11747-1394

This Sunday’s match vs. Lancaster will mark two weeks between games for Long Island, as they last played in a thrilling 1-1 draw at New Jersey on Sunday, May 22nd. The Rough Riders began their season with a 3-0 win over Copa, so the draw - especially since the Long Island had pinned the NJCFC defense back in the second half - may have left a bad taste in their mouths. Copa were playing their second match in as many days, so the Rough Riders will most definitely look to take advantage of the same scenario for the Inferno.

What Lancaster has to counter that possibility is the return of a core group of veteran players alongside three new defensive-minded players who have extensive international experience. Guatemalan international defender Coralia Monterroso, former France U-20 defender Alexandra Plaintive and Costa Rican international defender Carol Sanchez are all quality additions to this year’s Inferno team. And Lancaster has a rock solid tandem to rely on in goal, as team veteran Emily Dolan and University of Connecticut keeper Emily Armstrong are a great 1-2 defensive counter-punch for Head Coach Francisco Cleaves.

The visitors will need their defense in order, as Christina Bellero has burst on to the national scene for Long Island, netting three goals which is good for third in UWS behind Krystyna Freda and Kate Howarth. The Saint John’s forward has certainly been a handful as she pestered a quality Copa defense in both games this season. The Long Island defense has also been strong so far, allowing only a goal. Defender Allyson Baner was an Honorable Mention Defensive Player of the Week selection while defender Mikhaila Martinov has played all 180 minutes in the 2016 season so far.

After Sunday’s game, the Rough Riders will go on a two-game road trip before returning home to Saint Anthony’s H.S. on Wednesday, June 29th for their first game of the year against TSF Academy. Lancaster will host NJCFC in the first of two straight matches vs. them on Saturday, June 11th.

About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). 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.

UWS is managed by EDP, a leading soccer management company that runs a number of leagues and tournaments.  In addition to UWS, EDP operates youth leagues that includes an NPL league, the EDP Super Club program, the EDP Premier League and the EDP Championship League. EDP also runs EDP Futures programs for U-7’s to U-12’s and it conducts more than 20 youth tournaments, including tournaments within its EDP Cup Series and EDP Showcase Series.

Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at Press@UWSSoccer.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.