As the 2024 UWS National Championship weekend approaches, FC Buffalo is enthusiastic about hosting the July 19-21 event. The Wolves will bring the four-team postseason tournament to the Buffalo-Niagara region for two national semifinal rounds and a national final.
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As one of the four national semifinalists, FC Buffalo women’s team returns to Robert Rich Sr. All-High Stadium next week as hosts and Iron Division champions following last week’s 2-2 draw versus Steel City. FCB will kick off the second game of the Friday, July 19 doubleheader against Santa Clarita Blue Heat with the first match — Michigan Jaguars vs New England Mutiny — beginning at 5 pm.
But the question remains: Who are the three teams visiting Buffalo this week?
Michigan Jaguars
Last year’s UWS National Champions, the Michigan Jaguars, once again proved their dominance as they finished top of the UWS Midwest Conference undefeated with a 9-0-1 record, giving them 28 points. The Jaguars also ended their season with an eight-game winning streak.
The Jaguars are led by head coach Doug Steinard, who guided this team during their 2023 title win. The Jaguars aim to become the second team with Santa Clarita Blue Heat to win two UWS national titles.
One of the key players the Wolves must watch out for is goalkeeper Batoul Reda. This past fall, she earned All-Atlantic 10 Second Team goalkeeper honors with Dayton University. This season with the Jaguars, she was influential in guiding the team’s defensive record, as the Jaguars conceded six goals while maintaining five clean sheets.
Notable alumni: Madison Pogarch (Utah Royals, NWSL), Chloe Ricketts (Washington Spirit, NWSL)
Santa Clarita Blue Heat
Santa Clarita Blue Heat, a club with a high pedigree in the UWS, looks to expand on their already rich history. The two-time national champions enter this semifinal hoping to claim their third title in what would be their fifth final appearance.
Coached by Leonardo Neveleff, SC Blue Heat had an undefeated 2024 campaign with an 8-0-0 record, scoring 31 goals and conceding just two. Neveleff has helped his team secure back-to-back National Championship appearances for the first time since 2017 and reach their fifth National Championship weekend since the UWS commenced.
While SC Blue Heat has multiple goal scorers that have helped this team score 23 goals, the Wolves must include Cameron Valladares and Tatum Wynalda in their must-watch list.
Valladares, the Woodland Hills, California native and proven goal scorer for the University of Arizona, has scored four goals while assisting twice in the three games she has played under Neveleff this season.
Wynalda is not far behind her teammate. The Pepperdine University forward has scored four goals and provided one assist for SC Blue Heat this season.
And there’s also Mckenna Whitham, the 13-year-old who holds the distinction of being the youngest athlete to ever sign an NIL deal with Nike.
Notable alumni: Ashley Sanchez (United States women’s national team, NC Courage), Deyna Castellanos (Manchester City, Atletico Madrid)
New England Mutiny
In Sunday evening’s crucial playoff match to determine the UWS Eastern Conference champions and fourth semifinalist this coming weekend, New England Mutiny beat Sporting CT 1-0 thanks to a dramatic second-half stoppage time goal scored by midfielder Maddie Fried.
Coached by Federico Molinari, NE Mutiny is still undefeated this season. The team has won 10 games, scored the most goals (38), and conceded the least with just four.
In search of their first-ever UWS National title, NE Mutiny will rely on forward Hope Santaniello. The UMass Lowell senior has scored six goals this season in the UWS, leading her team in goals.
But in addition to scoring goals, Molinari has a creative playmaker on this team in Chioma Okafor. The UCONN forward has scored three goals and provided seven assists this season with NE Mutiny. She also assisted with Fried’s last-minute game-winner yesterday.
Fairfield University forward Madalyn Theriault, who leads her team in points with 14, has five goals and four assists this season.
More details will be announced later this week as the UWS determines which of the four UWS teams will face each other for Friday evening’s semifinal doubleheader.
Notable alumni: Ellie Jean (PSV Eindhoven), Sylvia Gee (Leeds United)
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