SO CAL CRUSH FC 3, CALGARY FOOTHILLS WOMEN’S FC 4
LA CRESCENTA, CA - So Cal Crush FC (1-5 West) opened and finished the scoring in their home finale at Crescenta Valley High School on Sunday afternoon, but Calgary Foothills Women’s FC (3-3-1 West) controlled the all the action in between, heading back north of the border with a 4-2 win. While the victory keeps Calgary in the hunt for a second-place finish in their first season in the national pro-am league, they are most likely out of the running for the wild card seed in the upcoming United Women’s Soccer (UWS) National Championship (July 21-22).
So Cal tallied their first goal since their season-opening 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake in the sixth minute with thanks to forward Jamie Bell. But Calgary responded with three unanswered goals, starting in the 10th minute with forward Nikki Furukawa’s first of the season. Forward Joelle Gosselin notched the next two tallies in the 21st & 25th minutes, the first off a toe poke shot from the top of the box and the second on a deflection. Crush FC midfielder Tatiana Zuvic cut the score to 3-2 a minute later off an assist from Alison Neveu. Gosselin completed her hat trick in the 73rd minute before midfielder Hailey James completed the scoring.
SANTA CLARITA BLUE HEAT 4, CALGARY FOOTHILLS WOMEN’S FC 1
SANTA CLARITA, CA - The Santa Clarita Blue Heat (6-0 West) locked up their second consecutive West Conference title on Saturday night at The Master’s University, tallying the first three goals in a 4-1 win over Calgary Foothills Women’s FC. With the victory, Santa Clarita have booked their spot in the four-team UWS Championship (July 21-22) and will defend their 2016 league crown. The Blue Heat received dual goal-assist performances from the forward duo of Kodi Lavrusky and Julia Hernandez. Goalkeeper Ryann Torrero made three saves in the win while Emily Burns (nine saves) picked up the loss.
In the eighth minute, defender Kelsey Gudgeon played in Lavrusky who slotted her shot past Burns for the early 1-0 lead. Twenty minutes later, Lavrusky sent her cross across the face of goal to the far post and defender Jacey Pederson fired the ball into the net for the 2-0 score. In the 34th minute, forward Chandra Eigenberger crossed from the near side to the back post to find Hernandez for her first goal of season. Former Santa Clarita defender Melissa Roy got Calgary on the score board two minutes later. The score remained at 3-1 until second half stoppage time when Hernandez found midfielder Deyna Castellanos for the final score.
HOUSTON ACES 4, REAL SALT LAKE WOMEN 3
HOUSTON, TX - The Real Salt Lake Women (3-4-1 West) almost completed the impossible on Saturday night against the Houston Aces (2-3 West), but came up just short in their comeback from a four-goal deficit in a 4-3 loss at Houston Sports Park. With the loss, the RSL Women finished their season with a losing record while Houston still has a shot at a second-place finish in the conference and a distant chance at qualifying as the wild card for the upcoming UWS Championship (July 21-22). Aces goalkeeper Stefany Castano made five saves in the victory and Rebecca Ritchie (eight saves) picked up the loss.
Houston forward Tatiana Ariza led the offense on the night, as the Colombian international started the scoring in the 22nd minute, converting a penalty kick for the 1-0 lead and the first of three goals in a seven-minute span. Midfielder Mariana Diaz Leal made it 2-0 in the 25th minute with thanks to an assist from defender Megan McCashland and midfielder Natalia Ariza notched the third goal on an assist from midfielder Gisela Arrieta Betancourt. Ariza tallied her second of the night in the 58th minute before the visitors began their comeback bid. In the 64th minute, midfielder Wesley Hamblin led the charge while midfielder McKenzie Evans and forward Colette Smith scored in the 80th & 86th minutes.
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.
Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at UWSPress@gmail.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.