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UWS West Conference Players of the Week

06/21/2016, 11:45am EDT
By Admin

Ringwood leads RSL defense; Vanderveur & Ariza share Offensive honors

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - It was a very exciting weekend in the West Conference of United Women’s Soccer (UWS), as all three games had teams battling back from deficits for wins. The Real Salt Lake Women (3-1-1) travelled to Colorado for two games against the Pride (2-2) and Storm (1-3-1) and battled back in each match for victory which moved them up to first place in the West. The Houston Aces (3-3) redeemed themselves after a big loss to the Santa Clarita Blue Heat (1-1-2) to open the season with a come-from-behind 4-3 road win that has kept them in the title race.

For the RSL Women, the starters did their part to keep the team in each match, but it was the positive effect of Head Coach Mark Davis’ substitutions that propelled his team to two wins. Jessica Vanderveur came off the bench in each match and made her presence known by scoring two goals. After going ahead on the scoreboard, their defense held firm and defender Stephanie Ringwood was on the pitch for all 180 minutes of action. For Houston, Tatiana Ariza continued her game-winning ways from the weekend before against the Colorado Storm, as she tied the match against Santa Clarita and than won it for her team in the second half.

For their efforts in RSL’s two wins, Ringwood has been named the UWS West Defensive Player of the Week while Vanderveur will share Offensive Player of the Week honors with the Aces’ Ariza. Durability & reliability have been the cornerstones of Ringwood’s success with both the Real Women and Brigham Young University, as last fall she started in every game for the Cougars and has done the same for RSL this summer - playing every minute so far this season. Vanderveur’s impact off the bench for the Real Women can not be over-stated as she put RSL ahead by a 2-1 score in their eventual 3-2 win over the Pride and tied the match at 1-1 with her goal against the Storm.

Its the second straight week that Ariza has garnered West Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors, as the Colombian international scored in the 29th minute of Houston’s 1-0 win over the Pride on June 12th when she drilled her shot into the side netting from 25 yards out for the game-winner. Tatiana was front and center in the Aces comeback effort against the Blue Heat, as she 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.

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.

Tag(s): News |   Houston Aces  Real Salt Lake