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NCAA & NAIA Championships Roundup

12/20/2017, 6:15pm EST
By Admin

13 UWS standouts took part in penultimate rounds of fall competition

METUCHEN, NJ - The national championship tournaments at all levels of collegiate competition wrapped up earlier this month, and 13 current & former United Women's Soccer (UWS) standouts took part in the penultimate rounds of NCAA and NAIA competition. Leading the way were members of the 2016 UWS National Champion Santa Clarita Blue Heat (West Conference), New York Surf (East Conference) and 2017 UWS National Champion Grand Rapids FC Women (Midwest Conference). At the NCAA Division I level, UWS was well represented as UCLA and Stanford battled it out in a memorable championship match with the latter capturing its second national title in Cardinal history.

DIVISION I: No. 5-nationally ranked UCLA (19-3-3) defeated Duke in the semifinal in a 4-3 penalty kick shootout after the match ended in a 0-0 draw at Orlando City Stadium, before moving on to the 2017 DI Women's Soccer Championship Final. Six current & former Santa Clarita Blue Heat standouts were represented on the UCLA squad this season, including four members of the 2017 national semifinalists: midfielder Chloe Castaneda, forward Julia Hernandez, defender Jacey Pederson and midfielder Viviana Villacorta. Two Blue Heat alums from the 2016 UWS champions also took part - defender Gabrielle Matulich and goalkeeper Siri Ervik. Castaneda (9GP for Santa Clarita in 2017) was named to the All-UWS Second Team selection and Hernandez played in five games this past summer. The latter was also the 2016 UWS Championship MVP, scoring both goals in the national final victory. Pederson played in five games this past summer for the Blue Heat while Villacorta started in the 2017 UWS national semifinal & final. Villacorta did the same for UCLA and Hernandez was a super sub for Head Coach Amanda Cromwell, scoring in the PK shootout in the semifinal and assisting on the second goal in the 3-2 loss in the final to Stanford.

DIVISION II: No. 3-nationally ranked Mercy College (18-4-1) made it all the way to the semifinal of the 2017 DII Women's Soccer Championship before losing to eventual champion Central Missouri. Three members of the New York Surf - defender Rebecca Conway, midfielder Corinna Ferrante and defender Trista Seara - suited up for the Mavericks, who had a historic season as they won a school record 18 games, their first ECC Championship since 2014, their first-ever East Region Championship and advanced to the school's first-ever Final Four. Conway (5GP for Surf in 2017) was named to the DII Women's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team and Seara (7GP for Surf in 2017) was selected to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) All-Conference First Team. Both were part of a Mercy defense that allowed two goals in three NCAA Tournament games. Ferrante was third in scoring for the Mavericks (7-2-16) this fall. This past summer, she was named to the UWS Team Of The Week (Week VIII). No. 4-nationally ranked UC-Colorado Springs (17-5-1) also made it to the semifinals and defender Anna Gregg - a 2016 alum of the Colorado Pride - started vs. Carson-Newman.

NAIA: Midfielder Bethany Balcer continued her torrid run for the 2017 UWS National Champion GRFC Women from this past summer to fall competition with No. 1-nationally ranked & NAIA National Champion Spring Arbor University (24-1-1), starting all 26 games and scoring 86 points (37g, 12a). In the 2017 NAIA Women's Soccer Championship, the 2017 UWS Midwest Player of the Year scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Benedictine in the final and had an assist in the semifinal. Fort Wayne United Gryphons midfielder/forward Malorie Henderlong also started in both games of the NAIA Championship for SAU, assisting on the game-winning goal over No. 3-nationally ranked University of Northwestern Ohio (20-3-1) in the semifinal. Detroit Sun FC midfielder/forward Evdokia Popadinova came off the bench for UNO in that match, as she finished up her fall season with 53 points (19g, 15a). The Bulgarian star played in 10 games for Detroit this past summer, and was named to the 2017 All-UWS Championship Team for her efforts for the national semifinalists.

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.

Nine UWS Stars Named All-American

12/14/2017, 6:30pm EST
By Admin

Corboz, Castellanos & Wenger top the United Soccer Coaches honor roll

METUCHEN, NJ - Nine current and former United Women's Soccer (UWS) standouts were honored as All-Americans by United Soccer Coaches for their efforts during their collegiate campaigns this past fall. This year's All-Americans, along with their families and coaches, will be formally acknowledged for their accomplishments at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Luncheon on January 20, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in conjunction with the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Convention in downtown Philadelphia.

DIVISION I: Georgetown University midfielder Rachel Corboz (New York Surf) was named to the First Team and Hoyas compatriot & defender Elizabeth Wenger (Lancaster Inferno) was named to the Second Team alongside Florida State University forward Deyna Castellanos (Santa Clarita Blue Heat) - the reigning UWS Player of the Year. Corboz is a three-time All-American and was also named the Big East Midfielder of the Year. Wenger was a First Team All-Midwest Region honoree after being named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Castellanos was also honored this fall as one of three finalists for the FIFA Best Women's Player of the Year, as well as one of the three finalists for the FIFA Puskas Award. West Virginia University forward Michaela Abam starred for the Colorado Pride in 2016.

DIVISION II: Nova Southeastern University defender Bailey Corbin (Lancaster Inferno) and Adelphi University forward Jeanine Nunez (New Jersey Copa FC) were named Third Team All-American by United Soccer Coaches. Corbin's honor follows a big year in which she helped propel the Sharks to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, a Sunshine State Conference regular season title, and was named the SSC Defensive Player of the Year. Nunez earned her first All-American honor and ensured Adelphi representation on the All-America Team for the fourth year in a row, after the Panthers did not have a selection since 2004. The Copa star also landed on the All-East Region First Team.

NAIA: Spring Arbor University midfielder Bethany Balcer (Grand Rapids FC) was selected as the NAIA National Player of the Year for the second time in her career and was joined on the First Team by University of Northwestern Ohio forward Evdokia Popadinova (Detroit Sun). The defending UWS champion GRFC Women had a second player honored as Martin Methodist College midfielder Riko Sagara (Grand Rapids FC) made the Second Team. Balcer was selected to the First Team for the third consecutive season and scored two goals in the NAIA Championship to help SAU secure its second title in three seasons. Popadinova was the WHAC Offensive Player of the Year and a Third Team All-American in 2016. This was Sagara's second straight All-American honor as well and she tallied over 30 assists this past fall.

2017 NCAA Division I Women's All-America Team

First Team
MF - Rachel Corboz - Georgetown University (NEW YORK SURF)

Second Team
D - Elizabeth Wenger - Georgetown University (LANCASTER INFERNO)
F - Michaela Abam - West Virginia University (COLORADO PRIDE)
F - Deyna Castellanos - Florida State University (SANTA CLARITA BLUE HEAT)

2017 NCAA Division II Women's All-America Team

Third Team
D - Bailey Corbin - Nova Southeastern University (LANCASTER INFERNO)
F - Jeanine Nunez - Adelphi University (NEW JERSEY COPA FC)

2017 NAIA Women's All-America Team

First Team
MF - Bethany Balcer - Spring Arbor University (GRAND RAPIDS FC)
F - Evdokia Popadinova - University of Northwestern Ohio (DETROIT SUN)

Second Team
MF - Riko Sagara - Martin Methodist College (GRAND RAPIDS FC)

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.

United Women's Soccer Offseason Update

08/22/2017, 1:45pm EDT
By Admin

Castellanos up for top FIFA Women’s Player honors; player transactions

METUCHEN, NJ - A panel of women’s football experts from around the world - highlighted by legendary names like Mia Hamm, Nadine Kessler, Sissi and Sun Wen - have shortlisted ten players for The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2017 award. Alongside international talent on the level of United States Women’s National Team midfielder Carli Lloyd, Germany star Dzsenifer Marozsan and France standout Wendie Renard, 2017 United Women’s Soccer (UWS) Player of the Year and Florida State University sophomore Deyna Castellanos was named to this prestigious list. The Venezuelan phenom took the pitch for the Santa Clarita Blue Heat this summer, starting in nine matches overall while tallying six goals and two assists for the UWS National Finalists.

The winner of this award will be chosen by a process involving four criteria: national team coaches, captains, selected media and the fans. FIFA is conducting a fan vote and that has commenced through their official website via this link. Voting closes on Thursday, September 7th and the three final nominees for the men’s & women’s player and coach categories - as well as for the FIFA Puskas Award, the FIFA Fan Award and the brand new The Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award - will be announced in mid-September. The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, October 23rd. You can join the discussion on Twitter about who should win this year’s prizes by using the hashtag #TheBest.

TOP GOAL OF THE YEAR… speaking of top honors, Castellanos was part of another recent online contest where the fans could have their say as the league announced the 2017 UWS Goal of the Year competition. Out of four worthy nominees in the online poll, her game-winning goal against So Cal Crush shared UWS GOY honors with Michaela Kovacs’ game-tying goal in the 2017 National Semifinal for Grand Rapids FC against Long Island. You can view Castellanos’ 35-yard chip to win the SCCFC game at this link while you can view Kovac’s dramatic header to force penalty kicks via this link. The Venezuelan international has continued her scoring streak, as she tallied all three goals in FSU’s season-opening shutout win over UNC-Greensboro this past weekend.

NEW WAVE FOR SURF STAR… another player involved in the UWS Goal of the Year competition has also seen an exciting turn of events in her career over the past week as former New York Surf & Sky Blue FC midfielder Kelly Conheeney was signed as a discovery player by the Houston Dash this past week. Conheeney’s assist on Erica Murphy’s game-winning goal for New York over Long Island was certainly GOY-worthy and you can view it via this link. The 26-year-old Virginia Tech product began the 2017 season with Sky Blue FC, where she scored one goal in 13 games for the team in 2016. The Surf serve as the official amateur affiliate for the SBFC organization and the first-year organization finished in fourth place in the tough UWS East Conference this past season with a 6-2-2 record.

SCORING A WORLDY… the fourth nominee for UWS GOY consideration - forward Joelle Gosselin’s game-tying blast in a 4-1 win over Houston - has been bringing her heroics to the international level. Gosselin and four other Calgary Foothills Women’s FC stars are taking part in the 2017 World University Games in Taipei for Team Canada. The 2017 All-UWS Second Team selection scored seven goals and an assist for Calgary, leading the team in scoring. She has been joined by goalkeeper Sarah Dilling, All-West Conference defender Melissa Roy, midfielder Arielle Roy-Petitclerc and forward Jordan Smith on Team Canada. They have advanced to a quarterfinal match this Thursday against Brazil with thanks to Gosselin, as she scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Ireland this past Sunday.

FROM SERBIA WITH LOVE… another Calgary star has continued to develop her career as CFWFC midfielder Alix Bruch recently signed a professional contract with ZFK Spartak Subotica, the top women’s professional side in Serbia and a participant in the UEFA Women's Champion's League. Spartak ranks 23rd out of 61 teams participating this year in Europe’s most prestigious club competition. The two-time AUS Second Team selection for St. Francis Xavier University played in four matches for Calgary, who finished in second-place in their inaugural season in the UWS West. Bruch had this to say about her 2017 season with CFWFC: “It was an excellent group of players and a high-intensity training environment that kept me fit and challenged me to raise my game.”

SHORELINE TO SWITZERLAND… 2017 UWS East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and New Jersey Copa FC defender Rebecca Raber has joined Copa goalkeeper Kristyn Shea at FF Lugano 1776, who compete in the top tier of women’s soccer in Switzerland. FF Lugano finished sixth last season in the Women's Nationalliga A with a record of 7-6-5, giving them a total of 27 points. Raber started every game for NJCFC this past season and was named to the All-UWS First Team for her stalwart presence on the backline. Shea was the 2016 UWS East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and in addition to playing for Copa in 2017 (3-0-1 record, 13 saves) she also played for the NWSL Sky Blue Reserves over the summer. The full Copa release is available via this link.

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.