FRIDAY, JUNE 22

SO CAL CRUSH FC 0, CALGARY FOOTHILLS WOMEN’S FC 2

LA CRESCENTA, CA – In an important two-match weekend for Calgary Foothills Women’s FC, they got their trip off to Southern California off to a good start with a 2-0 victory over So Cal Crush FC. Similar to their match last week against Santa Clarita, So Cal put in a strong effort in frustrating their opponents defensively for the majority of the match and created a few chances for themselves as well. The goalless score line held firm until the 81st minute when CFWFC broke through with the opener. Alexandria Lamontagne was able to round a late rushing So Cal’s goalkeeper Kearra Bastes-Jones, before centering the ball across the box for a Joelle Gosselin tap-in goal. Then in stoppage time, it was a long ball from goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé that Lamontagne latched onto and did the rest, as the Syracuse Orange product netted her second of the season. The win gave Calgary a temporary eight-point lead on second place Santa Clarita, with three matches remaining on their schedule.

LA GALAXY OC WOMEN 2, SANTA CLARITA BLUE HEAT 1

IRVINE, CA – Knowing that their rival Calgary picked up three points against So Cal, Santa Clarita headed to Irvine wanting to match the result and keep pace in the standings. Ultimately, nobody forwarded that message along to LA Galaxy OC Women, who were equally trying to keep pace in the West Conference standings. The hosts got off to a flying start as in the 5th minute, LAGOC's Sherifa Sumaila received a short corner and slotted a ball across the goalmouth and Week VI Defensive Player of the Week Natalie Jacobs tucked it home to give her side the lead. As they did in their first match against Santa Clarita back on May 26, the expansion side showed no fear against the traditional UWS power as the defense limited the Blue Heat to just a handful of opportunities in the first half. After seeing the score remain 1-0 to the hosts through halftime, LA doubled their lead on the hour mark when second half substitute Alea Hyatt made a darting run through the midfield, played a quick one-two with Kiana Palacias and scooped her effort past Blue Heat goalie Jovani McCaskill. That goal turned out to be an important one as the visitors started to press in search of a pair of goals and eventually got one in stoppage time when Kelsey Gudgeon buried her first of the season off a corner kick, but the comeback fell short, giving LA Galaxy OC Women all three points. In addition to staying eight points back of Calgary, it was also the first time that Santa Clarita had lost a Conference match since June 18, 2016, where they fell 4-3 to the Houston Aces, snapping a 17-match unbeaten streak against conference opponents.

SUNDAY, JUNE 24

SO CAL CRUSH FC 2, COLORADO PRIDE 4

LA CRESCENTA, CA – Colorado and So Cal played to a 2-2 draw back in Week II, with the Pride staking themselves a 2-0 lead, only to see So Cal come back in the final 20 minutes to take a point. This time around AJ Adcock’s team were the one playing catch up as the Crush’s Eva Dixon netted a brace in the first half. Her first came in the 14th minute off a throw into box and her second tally came from a wonderful strike from distance in the 44th minute. But the day belonged to the Pride’s Taryn LaBree as the University of South Dakota forward netted a hat trick to pace her team to three points. Her first goal equalized the score at 1 in the 28th minute as when she latched on a long diagonal ball from Maddie Alhamra, she found herself in on goal and after her first shot was saved, she buried her second attempt. Alhamra netted the Pride’s second goal in the 64th minute on a long distance curling effort, tying the score at two. LaBree scored the game winner in the 74th minute as her service from the right flank ended up finding the netting inside the far post before capping off her hat trick in the 89th minute. The win was the first for the Pride this season despite a number of close contests throughout the season and will take a week break before traveling back to Southern California in Week X to face LA Galaxy OC Women and Santa Clarita Blue Heat.

SANTA CLARITA BLUE HEAT 2, CALGARY FOOTHILLS WOMEN’S FC 0

SANTA CLARITA, CA – Entering Sunday’s contest, both Santa Clarita and Calgary had season changing scenarios at stake. Anything but a win for the Blue Heat would likely see their quest to win the West Conference for a third time come to an end while a victory for Calgary would have all but secured their first conference championship. Last year, the Blue Heat swept the season series and Leonardo Neveleff’s team continued to enjoy success against CFWFC by taking a crucial 2-0 victory at home. In a match that saw only a handful of offensive chances created, the breakthrough for the Santa Clarita finally came in the 60th minute when Haley Gonzales finished off Kassandra Massey’s service. Calgary were never able to muster much of a response offensively and Santa Clarita made them pay for it by scoring the insurance goal in the 88th minute, as Yolanda Albalat headed home Yadira Toraya’s cross. The two teams will meet again in Week VIII knowing that Calgary can still put one hand on the West Conference title with a positive result but that Santa Clarita will have all the confidence in the world to take three points again.

REAL SALT LAKE WOMEN 2, LA GALAXY OC WOMEN 4

HERRIMAN, UT – Fresh off their impressive victory over Santa Clarita on Friday night, Scott Juniper’s team traveled to Utah in search of bookending their weekend with a second win. But they ran into a Real Salt Lake team playing for their postseason livelihood and got off to a fast start when Ella Johnson gave her team in the 12th minute, finishing off Annie Hawkins’ service. Undeterred by giving up the early goal, LAGOC rattled off four goals in succession, two in each half, to put the match away. Sherifa Sumaila scored the two first half goals, the first in the 23rd minute and the second four minutes after with both being assisted by Kiana Palacios. Then substitute Miku Sunagu tallied a second half brace, scoring in the 75th and 84th minute, to secure her side three points. The win keeps LAGOC right on the heels of both Santa Clarita and Calgary before their Week VIII home-and-home with So Cal Crush. Colette Smith netted a late consolation goal for RSL Women but the teams’ hopes of making the postseason were dashed by the inspired performance of LAGOC.

About United Women's Soccer:

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 the UWS Communications office 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.