EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - While there is plenty of suspense & intrigue in the race for the United Women’s Soccer (UWS) West Conference title, the battle for the East title is certainly not as dramatic. New Jersey Copa F.C. (6-1-1) have not been shy in trumpeting their great run of play in the UWS East, and for good reason, as a string of long-successful sides have fallen to the first-year organization this season. The New England Mutiny (4-3) and Long Island Rough Riders (3-2-2) are still mathematically in the race, but a Copa win over the New York Magic (0-5-1) on Saturday will give them the berth into the UWS National Final the weekend of July 30-31.

SATURDAY, JULY 9
Lancaster Inferno vs. TSF Academy Valkyries (12:30 PM EDT)
Venue: Clipper Magazine Stadium
650 North Prince Street
Lancaster, PA 17603

After four home games at Millersville University’s Pucillo Field, the Lancaster Inferno (3-4) will play their final home game of their 2016 season at Clipper Magazine Stadium, a 6,000-seat baseball park in Lancaster. Its first regular season baseball game occurred on May 11, 2005, in which the Lancaster Barnstormers (of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball) lost to the Atlantic City Surf. The Harrisburg City Islanders of the United Soccer League (formerly USL Pro) have also used the stadium as a home “pitch” this year.

Lancaster will use this great opportunity to once again promote awareness of Tony Forte’s fight with Hirschsprung’s Disease and the “The Antonio Forte Transplant Fund Trust.” This will also be a chance to get back on a winning streak, as the Inferno look to continue the success they had in their last match. With a goal and assist in the 4-1 win over the New York Magic on June 25th, veteran midfielder Teresa Rynier now leads Lancaster in scoring with three goals and two assists. But this will be the first-ever meeting against the TSF Academy Valkyries, who are on their own solid run of form.

After losing their first two games of the season, TSF Academy are undefeated in their last three matches (1-0-2). After the 1-1 draw with New York on June 11th, the Valkyries defeated New England decisively by a 3-1 score before last week’s 0-0 draw against Long Island - the second and third-place sides in the UWS East, respectively. TSF will hope to have their leading scorer & Penn State standout Nickolette Driesse (goal, two assists) back in the starting lineup, as she garnered East Offensive Player of the Week honors for her strong play in the win over the Mutiny.

New York Magic vs. New Jersey Copa F.C. (4:00 PM EDT)
Venue: Mazzella Field
Iona College
715 North Avenue
New Rochelle, NY 10801

If the first match this season between the New York Magic and New Jersey Copa F.C. is any indicator on how Saturday’s match will play out, the league should have the East championship trophy ready for Copa after its conclusion. In a result that foreshadowed their strong run of play in the East, NJCFC were comprehensive on offense and defense in a 4-0 win over New York on May 29th. Magic goalkeeper Samantha Depken had to make 10 saves as she was besieged by the Copa attack, who had 14 shots on goal (28 total in match).

But if any time is the right time for New York to register their first win of the season, Saturday’s game is most certainly it; not just to raise the profile of their side against a strong opponent, but especially for the New England and Long Island organizations who still look to spoil Copa’s championship party. Only a positive result for the Magic will keep NJCFC from attaining the East title and the chance to face the West champion in the UWS National Final. New York will need to button up a defense that has allowed 17 goals and boost a offense with only four goals scored in six matches.

Copa’s offense is led by league-leading scorer Krystyna Freda (nine goals, one assist) but she has been getting help in attack recently from Jeanine Nunez. Nunez has been quietly going about her business for the East leaders and notched the game-winning goals in victories over Lancaster and New England. Her 11 points (five goals, assist) on the season is good for third in the league. NJCFC also has been strong defensively, as their seven goals allowed is only behind Long Island (six) in all of UWS.

Long Island Rough Riders vs. New England Mutiny (5:15 PM EDT)
Venue: Saint Anthony’s High School
275 Wolf Hill Road
South Huntington, NY 11747-1394

Both the Long Island Rough Riders and New England Mutiny organizations hope by the time they kickoff at Cy Donnelly Stadium that they still have something to play for, as their dual dreams of still capturing the East title depends on the result of the Magic-Copa match. Otherwise, it will simply be a game which may help determine who will go on to capture second place in the UWS East. Not what the former national champion sides had hoped for when they began their respective 2016 campaigns.

This game will certainly have an edge to it, though, no matter the NJCFC result. In the first match in 15 years between the two former adversaries, the Rough Riders and Mutiny battled it out in an exciting encounter on June 11th. New England went up early on a Kate Howarth goal, only for Long Island to respond with goals from Alexa Schneider and Christina Bellero to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. The Mutiny took over control of the match in the second half, as Stephanie Santos and Howarth were in the right place at the right time on defensive miscues in the 3-2 win.

Howarth’s seven goals and three assists on the season are still good for second in all of UWS, while Bellero (four goals) is tied with Lancaster’s Teresa Rynier in sixth in league scoring. Take out the three goals they surrendered in their loss to New England - the most the Rough Riders has allowed in a single match in 2016 - and Long Island’s defense would be even more impressive, as they lead UWS in goals allowed (six).

SUNDAY, JULY 10
TSF Academy Valkyries vs. New York Magic (4:00 PM EDT)
Venue: DePaul Catholic High School
1512 Alps Road
Wayne, NJ 07470

When it comes to forecasting Sunday’s match between the TSF Academy Valkyries and the New York Magic, both sides could be either on top of their respective worlds or back to the drawing board. Saturday’s games for the Magic and Valkyries could provide a spring board to success for not only this season but next year as well. Or they could leave each respective coaching staff to contemplate what has happened to their 2016 season, and how they can correct it not only on Sunday afternoon but also as they look forward to 2017 in the UWS East.

New York has yet to notch a win in 2016, but a positive result on Saturday against East leaders New Jersey Copa F.C. will most certainly bring an extra spring to their step as they play their second match in two days on Sunday. To turn the frown of their 4-0 loss to Copa upside down would be a big boost to the Magic. Both teams notched their first point of the season in their first encounter on June 11th, as TSF scored first but New York came back in the 1-1 draw.

Amber Crispin opened the scoring for the Valkyries in the 28th minute but the Magic would respond in the 41st minute, as Shani Abrahams notched her team’s first goal of the season. If TSF can emerge victorious over Lancaster on Saturday, Sunday’s rematch against New York would give them a chance to take a run at the top spots in the UWS East. A loss on Saturday would bring them back to square one, just like the teams’ first game against each other in June.

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.