COLORADO STORM 1, REAL SALT LAKE WOMEN 2

PARKER, CO - The Real Salt Lake Women completed a strong two-game road trip with a 2-1 win over the Colorado Storm at Sports Authority Field on Sunday afternoon. The victory puts RSL (3-1-1) at the top of the UWS West standings, while the Storm (1-3-1) saw their bid for a second consecutive  home win fall short. This was also the second time over the weekend that the Real Women came back from a deficit to get a win.

Field temperature read over 110 degrees and it was RSL who were initially on fire to start the first half. After a mandatory water break at the midpoint of the half, the Storm would get on the scoreboard in the 33rd minute. Sadie Stark would tally her second goal of the season past Real goalkeeper Rebecca Ritchie (three saves) with thanks to an assist from Elizabeth Sweeney. The score would remain 1-0 in favor of the Storm at halftime.

Real Women Head Coach Mark Davis would make some tactical adjustments, and his team would hold the run of play to start the second half. Jess Vanderveur has been a great option for him off the bench, and she came through in the 64th minute with the game-tying goal - her third of the season and second in the last two games. RSL took advantage of the second mandatory water break and in the 76th minute, substitute forward Kim Gale scored the game-winner past Storm keeper Jalen Tompkins (six saves).

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SANTA CLARITA BLUE HEAT 3, HOUSTON ACES 4

SANTA CLARITA, CA - There is no better feeling than coming back to win, especially on the road. But to also do it in a payback match is even better. The Houston Aces sought revenge against the Santa Clarita Blue Heat at The Master’s College on Saturday night, as they lost to them in devastating fashion to start the season. The Aces (3-3) got payback and more, coming back from a first-half deficit to win by a 4-3 score over the Blue Heat (1-1-2). The victory puts Houston in second-place in the UWS West while Santa Clarita drops to fourth.

The home side would go up 1-0 in the 26th minute on a penalty kick by Mele French, her first goal of the season. The Aces would respond immediately two minutes later. Gisela Arrieta Bettencourt would net her first goal of the season on an assist from Natalia Ariza. The score would remain at 1-1 going into halftime. The Blue Heat would open the second half looking for the win, scoring the next two goals on Houston goalkeeper Courtney Seelhorst (five saves).

Kasandra Massey factored in both goals, scoring in the 54th minute off an assist from Yadira Toraya and assisting on Kodi Lavrsuky’s goal in the 62nd minute to put Santa Clarita up by a commanding 3-1 score. Or so they thought, as they would surrender an own goal just a minute later and than Tatiana Ariza took over the match for the Aces.

The Colombian international tied the match at 3-3 in the 69th minute and won it for Houston two minutes later on an assist from fellow “Cafetera” Isabella Echeverri Restrepo. The fourth goal chased Siri Ervik (one save) from the Blue Heat goal and she was replaced by JoJo McCaskill. The home side out-shot the visitors by a 13-9 margin.

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COLORADO PRIDE 2, REAL SALT LAKE WOMEN 3

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - In another exciting back-and-forth match in the UWS West this past weekend, the Colorado Pride hosted the Real Salt Lake Women at Washburn Field on Friday afternoon. It was a warm night in Colorado Springs and the action on the pitch was just as hot. Both teams came back from a one-goal deficit to tie the game but it was RSL who would score last in the 3-2 win.

Injuries forced some changes in the defense for the Real Women, but goalkeeper Rebecca Ritchie would stand tall in net with four first-half saves - a couple of highlight reel quality. The Pride would get on the scoreboard first, though, but it would take until the 43rd minute. Bri Rohmer’s corner kick would find Lexi Long, and she would head home for her first goal of the season and 1-0 lead. Michele Vasconcelos would tie the match for RSL in stoppage time, juking through the Pride defense with the assist going to Madie Lyons.

Jess Vanderveur came on for Jeni Viernes at halftime and made an impact off the bench in the 61st minute. Vasconcelos fed the ball to Vanderveur and she hit a beautiful shot past Pride keeper Kaylyn Smith (four saves) for the 2-1 lead. Like the Real Women did in the first half, the Pride would do in the second half as they responded immediately. Rohmer would curl her long-range shot past Ritchie in the 64th minute for her third goal of the season on an assist from Michaela Abam.

Natalie Norris would score the game-winner for RSL in the 82nd minute. Amidst the confusion in the Pride penalty area, Kira Sharp got the ball to Norris, who poked the ball home past substitute keeper Katie Ruff. The Real Women held strong and fought off some late chances by Colorado to secure the big 3-2 road win. It was the second straight loss at home for the Pride (2-2) and dropped them back into third-place in the UWS West.

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.