Football league season
The 2017 United Women's Soccer season was the 23nd season of pro-am women's soccer in the United States, and the 2nd season of the UWS league.
Changes from 2016
- Detroit Sun FC,[1] FC Indiana,[1] Fort Wayne United Soccer Club,[1] Grand Rapids FC,[2] Indy Premier SC,[3] Michigan Legends FC,[4] and Toledo Villa FC joined the league and were placed in the newly formed Midwest Conference.
- Syracuse Developmental Academy,[5] Western New York Flash,[6] and Rochester Lady Lancers[7] joined the league and were placed in the East Conference.
- Calgary Foothills WFC[8] and So Cal Crush FC[9] joined the league and were placed in the West Conference.
- The league championship moved to a four-team format, with one representative from each conference (the West conference champions, the winner of the four-team Midwest playoffs, and the winner of a two-team East playoff) and a fourth wild-card team to be determined by record, strength of schedule, travel concerns, and other factors. These four teams are then seeded and play two semifinal matches, with the winners playing in the finals for the league title.[10]
Standings
East Conference
Source: UWS standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head (if only 2 teams) 3) wins; 4) goal difference (maximum +5 goal difference in a game); 5) goals scored; 6) total points in smallest group; 7) points earned against top 4 finishers; 8) points outside smallest group; 9) lottery
Midwest Conference
Source: UWS standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head (if only 2 teams) 3) wins; 4) goal difference (maximum +5 goal difference in a game); 5) goals scored; 6) total points in smallest group; 7) points earned against top 4 finishers; 8) points outside smallest group; 9) lottery
West Conference
Source: UWS standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head (if only 2 teams) 3) wins; 4) goal difference (maximum +5 goal difference in a game); 5) goals scored; 6) total points in smallest group; 7) points earned against top 4 finishers; 8) points outside smallest group; 9) lottery
Playoffs
East Conference Playoffs
Bold = winner
* = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score
Midwest Conference Playoffs
Hosted by Grandville High School in Grandville, Michigan
Bold = winner
* = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score
National Playoffs
Hosted by Grandville High School in Grandville, Michigan. Classified to the semifinals are Grand Rapids FC (Midwest Conference champion), Santa Clarita (West Conference champion), Long Island Rough Riders (East Conference champion) and Detroit Sun FC invited by United Women's Soccer as a wildcard.
Bold = winner
* = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score
Semifinals
UWS Championship
Championship MVP: Michaela Kovacs (Grand Rapids FC)
Statistical leaders
Top scorers
Source:[11]
League awards
Individual awards
- Player of the Year: Deyna Castellanos (SAC)
- Defensive Player of the Year: Caitlyn Clem (DET)
- Coach of the Year: Lewis Robinson (GRA)
All-League First Team
F: Bethany Balcer (GRA), Carissima Cutrona (WNY)
M: Jackie Bruno (NJC), Deyna Castellanos (SAC), Kimberly Marra (LIR), Annie Steinlage (GRA)
D: Michaela Kovacs (GRA), Natalia Kuikka (SAC), Rebecca Raber (NJC), Lauren Sesselmann (SAC)
G: Caitlyn Clem (DET)
All-League Second Team
F: Haley Crawford (LAN), Joelle Gosselin (CAL), Madison Schupbach (DET)
M: Brenna Brown (NEM), Chloe Castaneda (SAC), Dani Evans (DET)
D: Jennifer Cafferky (NEM), Taylor Groth (LIR), Natalie Norris (RSL), Brooke Salmon (NYS)
G: Emily Burns (CAL)
[12]
References
- ^ a b c "United Women's Soccer announces four-team expansion". December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ "Grand Rapids FC launches women's team for 2017 season".
- ^ "Indy Premier Soccer Club Joins United Women's Soccer". February 12, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ "Michigan Legends F.C. Added To Midwest Conference". January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- ^ "UWS East Welcomes Syracuse Development Academy". 11 February 2017. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "Western New York Flash Join United Women's Soccer". United Women's Soccer. March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ "Rochester Lancers men's, women's soccer teams announced". WHEC-TV. April 8, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ Jarvie, Michele (February 16, 2017). "Foothills WFC to compete in United Women's Soccer league". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ "So Cal Crush F.C. Joins United Women's Soccer". United Women's Soccer. February 18, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ "2017 UWS Championship & Playoff Info". United Women's Soccer. July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ^ "2016 UWS statistics". Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "2017 All-United Women's Soccer Awards". United Women's Soccer (UWS). August 2, 2017. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
External links
Official website
