THIRD TIME'S A CHARM FOR POPADINOVA... Florida Gulf Coast University & Santa Clarita Blue Heat star Evdokia Popadinova was named Bulgaria's top female footballer for the third straight year on Sunday. Popadinova was a United Soccer Coaches (USC) Division I All-America Second Team honoree for FGCU this past fall as she scored 14 goals and seven assists (35 points). Evdokia appeared in eight matches for Santa Clarita last summer and tallied two goals and an assist. She had first-hand experience with the Blue Heat in the 2017 post-season when she played against them in the United Women's Soccer (UWS) National Semifinal. Popadinova was named to the UWS All-Tournament Team for Detroit Sun FC for her strong performance in the loss against her future team.
MORE UWS ALUMNI ADDED TO NWSL DRAFT LIST... the preliminary list of draft-eligible players has been updated since its release in late December. Nine more UWS alumni will have the chance to make their professional dreams come true on Thursday, January 10 at 12:00 PM ET at the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Convention in Chicago, IL, bringing up the total to 22. 2017 All-UWS selection Bethany Balcer (Grand Rapids FC) and Western New York Flash forward Erica Hubert (2018 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year) highlight the new additions, with the list provided below. For the full draft-eligible list, click HERE.
POS. NAME (COLLEGE / CLUB)
F/M Bethany Balcer (Spring Arbor University / Grand Rapids FC Women)
F/M Christina Bellero (St. John's University / Long Island Rough Riders)
F/D Mykayla Brown (Indiana University / Indy Premier SC)
M/D Ryley Bugay (Marquette University / FC Indiana)
F/M Erica Hubert (Bowling Green State University / Western New York Flash)
F/D Alex Kimball (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill / Real Salt Lake Women)
M Sarah Kinzner (University of Colorado / Calgary Foothills WFC)
F/D Madison Pogarch (Rutgers University / Detroit Sun FC)
F/M Charlotte Williams (Penn State University / Western New York Flash)
SANTA CLARITA ANNOUNCE FIRST SIGNINGS... when the Blue Heat announced their first 2019 signings on social media, Popadinova was included amongst five returnees. She will once again play alongside a quartet with UCLA connections: goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy, midfielder Chloe Castaneda, defender Jacey Pederson and midfielder Viviana Villacorta. Villacorta also stars for the U.S. U-20's and three of her national team mates will join her this summer in Santa Clarita. Midfielder Savannah Demelo (First Team All-America for USC), forward Penelope Hocking (Pac-12 Freshman of the Year for USC) and forward Ashley Sanchez (First Team All-America for UCLA) will provide a potent injection of talent as the Blue Heat look to capture another league title. Santa Clarita captured the first-ever UWS Championship in 2016 and made it to the 2017 National Final before falling in double-overtime.
GRFC WOMEN ROLL THE BALL OUT... Grand Rapids Football Club announced that James Gilpin will return as the GRFC Women's coach for the 2019 campaign. Gilpin led the Ladies In Blue to a 7-1-2 regular season record and the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Playoffs last summer. GRFC Women went on to defeat Detroit via penalty kicks in the conference semifinals and topped Lansing United by a 4-2 score to lift the Midwest Championship for the second consecutive season. The 2018 season came to a disappointing end as they lost in the UWS National Semifinal at home. Gilpin will have the services of veteran midfielder/forward Marti Corby to count on for the 2019 season. Corby has been a GRFC regular the first two seasons and helped lead the team to a UWS National Championship in 2017. She was was named captain during the 2018 campaign and has scored 10 career goals, putting her second on the all-time list.
FROM CALGARY TO KALMAR... Calgary Foothills Women's FC forward Christabel Oduro has signed with IFK Kalmar of the Swedish Elitettan for the 2019 season. The 26-year-old Ontario-native has five caps for the Canadian Women's National Team and appeared in 10 games (one goal, two assists) for Calgary last summer. It was historic season for Foothills WFC, as the team won the West Conference title and advanced to the four-team UWS National Championship in their second-year of operation. IFK Kalmar is based in Kalmar, Sweden and will play in the second tier of Swedish women's soccer when the Elitettan kicks off this April. The team was relegated from the top-flight Damallsvenskan in October 2018 after a 12th-place finish.
About United Women's Soccer (UWS): We are 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.
METUCHEN, NJ - The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) released the preliminary list of registered players for their 2019 College Draft this past week. The draft will take place on Thursday, January 10 at 12:00 PM ET at the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Convention at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. Thirteen United Women's Soccer (UWS) alumni are on the initial list of draft-eligible players, highlighted by 2018 All-UWS Second Team selection Sabrina Flores (University of Notre Dame / LA Galaxy OC Women) and 2018 West Conference Offensive Player of the Year Hailey North (University of Utah / Real Salt Lake Women).
"We want to wish all of the players on the NWSL Draft list the best of luck in the pursuit of their professional dreams," said UWS Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. "Its great to see so many UWS alumni getting the chance to reach the next level. We do our best to create an environment that helps them take the next step up in their soccer careers."
There is still time for prospective draftees to add their names to the list. The deadline for application is 4:00 PM ET on Wednesday, January 9, 2019. More NWSL College Draft information, including how players can register for the draft and eligibility requirements as well as the draft order for NWSL member teams can be found HERE. To follow all the action of the 2019 NWSL College Draft, use #NWSLDraft and follow the NWSL on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For the full list of eligible players, click HERE.
POS. NAME (COLLEGE / CLUB)
F/M Diandra Aliaga (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley / Houston Aces)
F/M Millene Cabral (Martin Methodist College / Santa Clarita Blue Heat)
GK Kelsey Daugherty (University of Alabama Birmingham / Long Island Rough Riders)
M/D Sabrina Flores (University of Notre Dame / LA Galaxy OC Women)
M/D Amelia Fullmer (Lamar University / Real Salt Lake Women)
F/M Mariel Gutierrez (University of Northern Colorado / Colorado Pride)
D Liane Keegans (University of Connecticut / Connecticut Fusion)
D Caroline Kopp (University at Albany / Rochester Lady Lancers)
M/D Colleen McKay (Western Michigan University / Grand Rapids FC Women)
M/D Lauren Milliet (Colorado College / Colorado Pride)
F/M Lexi Pelafas (Central Michigan University / Lansing United)
F Hailey Skolmoski North (University of Utah / Real Salt Lake Women)
F/M Mariah Williams (University at Albany / Rochester Lady Lancers)
A deep pool of talent follow Flores and North from the UWS ranks that includes three-time NAIA All-America First Team forward Millene Cabral and C-USA Goalkeeper of the Year Kelsey Daugherty. Midfielder Mariel Gutierrez was the 2018 Big Sky Offensive MVP and also received Big Sky Golden Boot & Big Sky Conference First Team honors. A pair of Rochester alums in America East Defender of the Year Caroline Kopp and America East Striker of the Year Mariah Williams look to make the jump to the next level. Mountain West Conference First Team midfielder Lauren Milliet and Mid-American Conference Second Team forward Lexi Pelafas round out the top UWS prospects.
About United Women's Soccer (UWS): We are 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.
METUCHEN, NJ - In our third and final update regarding the fall award season in the Division I college ranks, we highlight 23 more current & former United Women's Soccer (UWS) stars who were awarded All-Conference recognition. From the Ivy League to the Horizon League to the Pac-12 Conference, these honorees took their summer competitive experience and translated it into fall collegiate success. All and all, 71 UWS alums in 23 of the 31 conferences in Division I received plaudits from their respective conferences for their on-the-field performances this fall.
Notable names in this edition include: Horizon League Goalkeeper Of The Year Marina Manzo, who starred for Detroit Sun FC; Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Goalkeeper Of The Year and New England Mutiny shot-stopper Taylor Dorado; a trio of players from the Connecticut Fusion - Shauny Alterisio, Charlotte Maurer and Ashley Cavanaugh - who were honored with top individual awards from the Northeast Conference; the Inferno Rush's 2018 All-United Women's Soccer Second Team selection Aubrey Suydam was also selected to the Northeast Conference team; 2017 All-West Conference Team and Real Salt Lake Women forward Hailey North (Skolmoski) was an All-Pac 12 honoree; Abilene Christian star Christina Arteaga was a 2018 UWS All-Southwest Conference Team selection for FC Austin Elite.
The 2018 NCAA Division I Tournament kicks off this weekend. Thirty-one conferences were granted automatic bids for the 2018 championship, while the remaining 33 teams were selected at-large. All preliminary-round competition will take place at campus sites. First-round games will be played Nov. 9, 10 and 11. Second and third round games will be played Friday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Nov. 18, and Quarterfinal games will be played Nov. 23 or 24. The 37th annual NCAA Women's College Cup will be played Nov. 30 and Dec. 2 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. Keep up with all the action HERE.
Horizon League Goalkeeper Of The Year
Horizon League First Team
GK Marina Manzo (Univ. of Detroit Mercy - Detroit Sun FC)
Horizon League Second Team
MF Lauren Bos (Oakland Univ. - Detroit Sun FC)
Ivy League Rookie Of The Year
Ivy League Second Team
F Rebecca Rosen (Brown Univ. - Long Island Rough Riders)
Ivy League Second Team
F Emma Anderson (Columbia Univ. - New York Surf)
D Sydney Cummings (Brown Univ. - New Jersey Copa FC)
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Goalkeeper Of The Year
All-MAAC First Team
GK Taylor Dorado (Siena College - New England Mutiny)
All-MAAC First Team
MF Alli DeLuca (Monmouth Univ. - New Jersey Copa FC)
Mountain West Conference First Team
MF Lauren Milliet (Colorado College - Colorado Pride)
Northeast Conference Defensive Player Of The Year
Northeast Conference First Team
D Shauny Alterisio (CCSU - Connecticut Fusion)
Northeast Conference Midfielder Of The Year
Northeast Conference First Team
MF Charlotte Maurer (CCSU - Connecticut Fusion)
Northeast Conference Goalkeeper Of The Year
Northeast Conference First Team
GK Ashley Cavanaugh (CCSU - Connecticut Fusion)
Northeast Conference Second Team
MF Aubrey Suydam (Saint Francis Univ. - Inferno Rush)
Pac-12 Conference Second Team
MF Viviana Villacorta (UCLA - Santa Clarita Blue Heat)
Pac-12 Conference Third Team
F Hailey Skolmoski (Univ. of Utah - Real Salt Lake Women)
GK Jalen Tompkins (Univ. of Colorado - Colorado Storm)
Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman Team
GK Lauren Brzykcy (UCLA - Santa Clarita Blue Heat)
D Mykiaa Minniss (Washington State Univ. - Colorado Pride)
Patriot League First Team
MF Kayla Arestivo (Lehigh Univ. - Long Island Rough Riders)
Patriot League Third Team
F Abby Sotomayor (Colgate Univ. - New England Mutiny)
Southland Conference First Team
F Christina Arteaga (Abilene Christian Univ. - FC Austin Elite)
Southland Conference Second Team
D Amelia Fullmer (Lamar Univ. - Real Salt Lake Women)
Summit League First Team
MF Taryn Labree (South Dakota State Univ. - Colorado Pride)
Western Athletic Conference Second Team
D Hannah Bruce (Utah Valley State Univ. - Real Sale Lake Women)
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.