METUCHEN, NJ - With the postseason looming on the horizon, teams from sea-to-shining-sea put their best feet forward and there were a plethora of individual performances to choose from in Week VIII action in United Women’s Soccer (UWS). Via two impressive wins at home, Grand Rapids won the regular season title and will host the Midwest playoffs (July 15-16). Detroit will join them after their dominating victory over Fort Wayne. New Jersey booked their spot in the two-team East Final (July 18) and now wait for teams like Long Island, New England or the New York Surf to join them. Lost in all the drama in the East & Midwest, Santa Clarita captured their second straight West crown and now head to the 2017 UWS National Championship (July 21-22) in Grandville, MI.
UWS TEAM OF THE WEEK (WEEK VIII)
F BETHANY BALCER (GRFC Women) * - 7 goals & 2 assists in two wins
F TATIANA ARIZA (Houston Aces) * - 2 goals including GWG vs. RSL Women
F KATE HOWARTH (New England Mutiny) * - breaks team all-time scoring mark
MF JACKIE BRUNO (New Jersey Copa FC) * - controlled midfield in win over New England
MF CORINNA FERRANTE (New York Surf) - 2 goals in win over NY Magic
MF ALYSSA BURKE (Detroit Sun FC) - 2 goals in win over Fort Wayne
MF AMANDA PAK (Calgary Foothills Women’s FC) - top 3 selection for Calgary in both games
D CLARE CARLSON (GRFC Women) - goal, led defense in two shutout wins
D BRITTANY CHAMPAGNE (New England Mutiny) - goal in win over Magic
D KIMBERLY MARRA (Long Island Rough Riders) * - led defense in win over Rochester
GK REILLEY OTT (GRFC Women) - made 6 total saves in two shutout wins
HONORABLE MENTION
F MARISSA SWINDELL (Toledo Villa FC) - goal, assist in win over FC Indiana
F HALEY CRAWFORD (Lancaster Inferno) * - hat trick in win over Rochester
F KODI LAVRUSKY (Santa Clarita Blue Heat) - goal, assist in win over Calgary
MF BRADY RILEY (Indy Premier SC) # - 2 goals, assist in 4-3 win over MLFC
MF SOFIA SANCHEZ (Long Island Rough Riders) - goal in win over Rochester
MF CAMILLE BOWEN (New Jersey Copa FC) - great two-play in win over New England
D LIZ WENGER (Lancaster Inferno) - assist, led defense in win over Rochester
* 2nd appearance on UWS Team Of The Week
# 3rd appearance on UWS Team Of The Week
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.
Tag(s): News | Lancaster Inferno LI Rough Riders New England Mutiny New Jersey Copa FC Foothills WFC Detroit Sun Grand Rapids FC Indiana Union Toledo Villa New York Surf