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Week II Roundup: UWS East

05/22/2018, 11:45am EDT
By Admin

WNY & ROC have successful road weekends; LI & NJ drop openers

FRIDAY, MAY 18

CONNECTICUT FUSION 4, NEW JERSEY COPA 1

FARMINGTON, CT - The expansion Connecticut Fusion made a statement at Farmington Sports Arena with a 4-1 victory over New Jersey Copa FC, who were the UWS East regular season champions last season. New Jersey's Jackie Bruno and Connecticut's Rachel Morrier played their version of crossbar challenge. In the 24the minute, Bruno hit a free kick from 20 yards out that hit the crossbar above the outstretched arms of Fusion goalkeeper Meghan Dalton (five saves). Ten minutes later, Morrier hit a blast from 25 yards away that also clanged off the crossbar. After a scoreless first half, Connecticut scored two goals to open up the second stanza. In the 54the minute, Jewel Robinson took the ball down the flank and her crossed was knocked in by Lauren Segalla. Just four minutes later, Chanel Johnson doubled the lead by slotting a shot past Copa goalkeeper Aytana Muschajew (nine saves). After Jeanine Nunez pulled one back for the visitors, Copa pressed for the equalizer but goals by Anna Cronin in the 86th minute and Morrier in the 89th minute sealed the victory.

SATURDAY, MAY 19

LONG ISLAND ROUGH RIDERS 1, WESTERN NEW YORK FLASH 3

NORTH HEMPSTEAD, NY - In their 2018 season opener, the defending UWS East Conference champion Long Island Rough Riders fell by a 3-1 score to the Western New York Flash at Michael J. Tully Park. WNY forward and 2017 All-UWS selection Carissima Cutrona picked up where she left off from last season with two goals for the Flash. Cutrona opened the scoring in the 36th minute on a deftly slotted through ball from forward Maddie Pezzino. The Flash added another goal just two minutes later on a goal from Anna Davies. Erica Modena of Long Island pulled one back for the home team in the 48th minute, but Cutrona put the game to rest with her second of the night in the 70th minute. This was the first game of the 2018 season for both sides, but only due to the fact that Long Island's season opener at New Jersey on May 12th was postponed to June 27th due to lightning. The two teams will meet again on June 2nd when the Rough Riders travel to D'Youville College in Buffalo for the rubber match of their season series.

NEW ENGLAND MUTINY 2, ROCHESTER LADY LANCERS 2

EAST LONGMEADOW, MA - On a cold and rainy night at East Longmeadow High School, the New England Mutiny and Rochester Lady Lancers played to a 2-2 draw. The Lady Lancers equalized the score in the 90th minute on a counterattack goal by Erin Eklund to steal a win away from the Mutiny in a match where the visitors could've taken all three points. Rochester got their lead in the 56th minute as Jada Sergeant finished off a loose ball in the penalty area after a trademark counterattack. In the 80th minute, Kate Howarth equalized the match. The team captain ran on to the ball and finished low under Rochester keeper Kenna Kosinski (four saves). Five minutes later, the Mutiny went ahead when Marissa Aniolowski's cross from the right flank met Yo Tachibana's head at the near post. The ball flew inside the far post for the 2-1 lead. Another counterattack doomed New England in the final seconds as Eklund beat Mutiny keeper Lysianne Proulx (two saves) to Mariah Williams' cross from the right flank.

SUNDAY, MAY 20

WORCESTER SMILES 3, ROCHESTER LADY LANCERS 9

WORCESTER, MA - In the wildest affair of the weekend, the Rochester Lady Lancers defeated the Worcester Smiles for their first-ever win for their second-year franchise. But it was certainly a match that did not reflect the final scoreline. Worcester led on three different occasions in the first half, but each time Rochester responded with the equalizer. With the 3-3 score lasting until the 65th minute, the Lady Lancers finally grabbed its first lead of the match on Margaret Lee's goal past Worcester goalkeeper Brittany Henderson (11 saves), assisted by Tyler Wingerden. Just one minute later, Elin Eklund put the Lancers up by two goals. The match completely unraveled for the Smiles in the last ten minutes as Rochester scored four goals in the game's waning moments off substitute goalkeeper Rachael Armenti, who did not make a save in her 16-minute performance. The duo of Brooke Barbuto and Elin Eklund continued their terrific weekend performance as both players notched hat tricks in this victory. Rochester keeper Amy Coron made seven saves.

NEW YORK SURF 0, WESTERN NEW YORK FLASH 3

BRONX, NY - An unfortunate situation unfolded Sunday afternoon at SUNY Maritime University as the educational institution double-booked the stadium facility where the Western New York Flash and New York Surf were to play their UWS East Conference match. Under league rules, the league office declared the match between the two teams as forfeit and the road team (the Flash) were awarded the 3-0 victory. The forfeit solidified a winning 2-0 start to the 2018 season while the Surf can get back in the win column - they were victorious by a 1-0 score in their season opener at Worcester in Week I action - this Saturday with a home match against the Inferno Rush. The game will be the season opener for the Inferno. 

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 |   LI Rough Riders  New England Mutiny  New Jersey Copa FC  New York Surf  Western NY Flash  Flower City 1872  Worcester Smiles  Connecticut Fusion