The East Conference of United Women’s Soccer only has one game on the slate this Memorial Day Weekend before kicking into high gear in June with six games on the Week IV schedule.
The New York Magic and Lancaster Inferno will have the spotlight to themselves. Both teams are looking for their first victory of the 2017 season, as New York tied Rochester last Sunday, 1-1, while Lancaster dropped a tough contest to New England last Saturday night.
The Magic (0-0-1 East) return to Brooklyn, N.Y. as it will host their games at Poly Prep Country Day School; Saturday’s game kicks off at 6 p.m.
New York ended its 2016 season hosting the Lancaster Inferno (0-1) last July and will open its home slate against the same team. The Magic didn’t register a win last year in UWS action but made a point in its 2016 finale via a 0-0 draw against the Inferno.
Last Sunday the Magic started its season in a more positive fashion as new goalkeeper Sierra Bonham had some last-second heroics in the 1-1 draw with the Rochester Lady Lancers (0-2-1). Bonham lunged to her right to thwart forward Taylor Wingerden’s penalty kick deep into stoppage time. She was named to the UWS team of the week alongside defender Reny Viviana Roncancio Farfan, who scored the equalizer on a corner kick by forward Mami Yamaguchi in the 36th minute.
Lancaster started poorly in last Saturday’s 3-2 road loss to the New England Mutiny (2-0) but finished strong, forcing a tense conclusion to the match. Forward Haley Crawford and midfielder Traci Mohl scored the goals for the Inferno, but it was defender Trisha Clark who was named to the UWS team of the week. The center back singlehandedly kept the potent Mutiny offense at bay in the second half with her well-timed interceptions and tackles.