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UWS Week I Preview: Midwest Conference

05/10/2018, 7:00pm EDT
By Admin

DET opens with two home games; GRFC hosts solid LU side

FRIDAY, MAY 11

Detroit Sun FC vs. Michigan Legends FC
8:00 PM EDT - Ultimate Indoor Soccer

The Detroit Sun FC and Michigan Legends FC will re-commence their in-state rivalry in the 2018 opener in Midwest Conference action. Last season, both teams battled it out twice during the regular season before meeting in the Midwest Conference Semifinal. Second-place Detroit (6-1-3 Midwest) took on third-place MLFC (4-3-3 Midwest) in Grandville, MI and the Sun came away with a narrow 1-0 victory to advance to the conference final. Detroit would go on to appear in the UWS National Championship, losing in the semifinal to West champion Santa Clarita Blue Heat.

Sun head coach Skipper Mukhtar has a large roster to navigate, but he will have a host of returnees to count on. 2017 All-UWS selections Madison Schupbach & Dani Evans join key defenders Rachel Deluca & Jackie Mazzara as veteran players Mukhtar can pencil into his starting lineup. He also has three new additions that bring some additional stress to his selections: defender Emily Dzik, forward Maddie Pogarch and forward Tori Singstock. Pogarch was a member of the 2017 Grand Rapids side that won the UWS Championship, Dzik was a three-time All-MAC First Team selection and Singstock was a 2017 All-UWS selection for Legends FC.

MLFC agreed to terms with Saimir Rada to retain the position of Head Coach for the 2018 season. The Albanian native has a quartet of veterans of the 2017 side that rode a late season run to qualify for the Midwest playoffs: defenders Avery Hay, Katrina Koomen & Rachel Washburn and forward Megan Trapp. Hay was a 2017 All-UWS Midwest Second Team selection and the 2016 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year for DePaul University. Washburn was named to the 2017 All-UWS Midwest First Team and Trapp returns as team captain.

SUNDAY, MAY 13

Grand Rapids FC vs. Lansing United
5:00 PM EDT - Grandville H.S.

Grand Rapids FC Women commence their bid for back-to-back UWS and Midwest Conference titles when they host Lansing United on Sunday. Normally, playing a team who are taking part in their inaugural match - such as the case is with Lansing - could be an easy proposition. But Grand Rapids will have to deal with a solid squad built by LU head coach and general manager Jason Crist as the home side looks to start their 2018 campaign with a win. GRFC opened their preseason with a 1-0 loss to former head coach Lewis Robinson and his U-19 Midwest United team and will look to bounce right back.

In that vein of thought, Grand Rapids has added three internationals in preparation for their season opener: defender Melissa Roy, midfielder Cindy Lay and forward Jodian Morris. Roy joins the Ladies in Blue after spending 2017 with Calgary Foothills WFC as a All-UWS selection. Roy has represented Canada at the U-20 level. Lay has experience at the highest level of Australian soccer, making 20 appearances with the W-League's Melbourne Victory and has also featured for Australia at the U-20 level. Morris played two years at Wayland Baptist University from 2014-15, ranking second in program history with 26 career goals. The Spanish Town, Jamaica-native has also represented her country at the U-20 level.

Crist has recently announced via social media a slew of new talent which includes a trio of players from Central Michigan University: goalkeeper Zoie Reed, defender Mary Carlson and forward Lexi Pelafas. Reed started in 17 of 19 matches last fall for the Chippewas while Carlson started every match. Both players were named to the 2016 All-MAC Freshman Team. Pelafas was named to the All-MAC First Team for the second consecutive year and led the conference in scoring with 13 goals. She became the Chippewas' all-time leading scorer with 33 career goals. LU has also added former GRFC star Riko Sagara, who was a All-UWS Midwest selection last year.

Detroit Sun FC vs. Indy Premier SC
6:00 PM EDT - Ultimate Indoor Soccer

Detroit opens their 2018 home campaign with two games on opening weekend. Indy Premier SC will be desperate to start their 2018 on a winning note as they look to build on their inaugural 2017 season where they only managed two victories. Not having the scoring punch of 2017 All-UWS Midwest selection Brady Riley (2017: 5g, 2a) may be a blow in attack but IPSC will have the return of All-Midwest selection Mykayla Brown to rely on in defense. Brown started all 19 games for Indiana University last fall, scoring three goals and adding a career-high four assists (three on game-winners).

The addition of Sophia Lipka in goal will aid Brown in defense, as she was voted the Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year for IUPUI in her first season as Jaguars' starter last fall. Lipka went 11-3-1 with nine shutouts and a 0.65 goals against average in the regular season. Xavier University forward Samantha Dewey joins the team this year and will hopefully make up for the loss of Riley in the opener as she was twice named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll last fall. Dewey was a 2016 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection - where she led XU in scoring (8g, 20pts) - and also was named to the 2015 BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.

About United Women's Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women's soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer. 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 |   Detroit Sun  Grand Rapids FC  Indiana Union  Michigan Legends  Lansing United