UWS unveils newly-formed Central Conference METUCHEN, NJ - United Women’s Soccer (UWS) is excited to announce the formation of the Central Conference with teams from Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. The founding members of the conference are Gretna Elite Academy (Omaha, NE), KC Courage (Overland Park, KS), St. Louis Scott Gallagher (St. Louis, MO), and Springfield Demize (Springfield, MO). Additional teams to the Central Conference will be announced in the coming weeks. St. Louis Scott Gallagher (SLSG) will have their inaugural women’s team compete in the newly-formed UWS conference in 2021. The women’s team will showcase the culmination of a large, vertically-integrated youth system that encompasses parts of both Missouri and Illinois. The SLSG family includes two Elite Clubs National League programs, as well as two Elite Clubs National League - Regional League Programs for girls. These programs are designed as a professional pathway spanning the U13-U19 age groups. The addition of a women’s team fills out the ideals of the club, continuing its ability to tout a full youth to professional platform for all players. "SLSG is honored to be included in United Women's Soccer,” stated Steve Pecher, SLSG Director and Vice President. “From the first moment the league approached us we felt that the opportunity would contribute to our mission as an organization, and it's been exciting to think about being involved in the women's game at this level. The club feels that the UWS' competitive format combined with the professionalism of the league and its front office executives, makes the UWS a great fit for our club and our college aged players. SLSG is looking forward to the season ahead and providing a platform for aspiring women to play at the highest levels in this country. Huge thank you to Stephanie Cleaves and Joe Ferrara, as they've been exceptional to work with and instrumental in helping SLSG take advantage of this opportunity for our members.” “We are ecstatic to unveil a new conference in UWS,'' said Joseph Ferrara, Jr., League Commissioner. “The initial group of accepted teams are a combination of well-established women's teams alongside highly regarded organizations on a national level. What was most rewarding was the aligning of similar philosophies between team and league. We are extremely sensitive to the current climate and the challenges that teams are facing. To work hand in hand with a group of people to help them and promote the sport of women's soccer is fulfilling to all of us. The heartland area has been a tremendous hotbed for soccer and we look forward to more teams joining.” United Women’s Soccer (UWS) is a national 2nd tier league with regional conferences in the United States and Canada. The league prides itself on providing high level competition for top current/post collegiate players, aspiring/former professionals & international stars. The season takes place from May through July, culminating in a national championship. UWS focuses on operating with professional standards, and is comprised of like-minded clubs aiming to invest in the women’s game. In 2020, United Women’s Soccer introduced UWS League 2.

 UWS unveils newly-formed Central Conference Four founding clubs help to grow the women’s game METUCHEN, NJ - United Women’s Soccer (UWS) is excited to announce the formation of the Central Conference with teams from Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. The founding members of the conference are Gretna Elite Academy (Omaha, NE), KC Courage (Overland Park, KS), St. Louis Scott Gallagher (St. Louis, MO), and Springfield Demize (Springfield, MO). Additional teams to the Central Conference will be announced in the coming weeks. “We are ecstatic to unveil a new conference in UWS,'' said Joseph Ferrara, Jr., League Commissioner. “The initial group of accepted teams are a combination of well-established women's teams alongside highly regarded organizations on a national level. What was most rewarding was the aligning of similar philosophies between team and league. We are extremely sensitive to the current climate and the challenges that teams are facing. To work hand in hand with a group of people to help them and promote the sport of women's soccer is fulfilling to all of us. The heartland area has been a tremendous hotbed for soccer and we look forward to more teams joining.” Gretna Elite Academy (GEA) comes in as immediate favorites, having captured a Heartland Conference crown in the WPSL last season with an 8-1-1 record. The Gretna, Nebraska-based U23 team was formed in 2018 and acts as the culmination of an extremely deep academy system, which begins at U4 and continues through collegiate years. Their addition to UWS will help GEA continue its mission to promote growth and development of every player on and off the field, past the traditional U19 end point for academy systems. Marcus Kelcher, GEA’s Head Coach and ECNL Director had only positive remarks about the transition. “After months of regular communication with the leadership of United Women's Soccer, we felt that the integrity, values and competitive ambitions of the UWS perfectly matched that of our franchise at Gretna Elite Academy. We feel that next year's inaugural season of the Central Conference will provide our players with exactly what we were looking for in a summer developmental platform for our players. We are looking forward to next season and to the start of what will be an incredible partnership with the UWS. On behalf of our conference, I would like to thank both Stephanie (Cleaves) and Joe (Ferrara, Jr.) for their tireless work in creating this opportunity for our team and its players.” The Kansas-based team, KC Courage, moves to UWS after seven seasons in the WPSL. Founded in 2014, the KC Courage is a non-profit, volunteer run organization promoting and developing the character of young women through the sport of soccer. To this end, the KC Courage provides a high school soccer alternative training program in the spring and an amateur women’s team. The KC Courage is also active in the KC metro soccer community in partnership with Youth RISE KC working with underserved youth. Owner, Wendy Louque, and player, Ann Murphy, represented Sporting Kansas City as MLS Works Community MVPs in 2018 and 2019. In addition, Ann Murphy was the recipient of the 2019 Jerry Yeagley Award for Exceptional Personal Achievement given by the United Soccer Coaches Association. Inclusion, empowerment and giving back to the community are not the only highlights of this new addition to United Women's Soccer. The KC Courage prides itself in the role models that their players play in the community. And although they have seen eight of their players go on to play professionally overseas, Coach Wendy Louque mentions that all of her post-college players are important. The team has a core group of 14+ players that return every year. St. Louis Scott Gallagher (SLSG) will have their inaugural women’s team compete in the newly-formed UWS conference in 2021. The women’s team will showcase the culmination of a large, vertically-integrated youth system that encompasses parts of both Missouri and Illinois. The SLSG family includes two Elite Clubs National League programs, as well as two Elite Clubs National League - Regional League Programs for girls. These programs are designed as a professional pathway spanning the U13-U19 age groups. The addition of a women’s team fills out the ideals of the club, continuing its ability to tout a full youth to professional platform for all players. "SLSG is honored to be included in United Women's Soccer,” stated Steve Pecher, SLSG Director and Vice President. “From the first moment the league approached us we felt that the opportunity would contribute to our mission as an organization, and it's been exciting to think about being involved in the women's game at this level. The club feels that the UWS' competitive format combined with the professionalism of the league and its front office executives, makes the UWS a great fit for our club and our college aged players. SLSG is looking forward to the season ahead and providing a platform for aspiring women to play at the highest levels in this country. Huge thank you to Stephanie Cleaves and Joe Ferrara, as they've been exceptional to work with and instrumental in helping SLSG take advantage of this opportunity for our members.” The Springfield Demize, formerly “SFG Lady Demize” joins UWS after completing their second season in the WPSL. The Demize soccer organization has been committed to developing the highest level of soccer at all ages and genders in Springfield, Missouri since 2003. The Demize youth academy recently merged with Sporting Springfield and will have a subsequent developmental partnership with Sporting Springfield and the Demize senior teams. As a result of the merger, their organization has decided to reintroduce the Springfield Demize branding to showcase the direct relationship with Sporting Springfield, a youth soccer affiliate of Sporting Kansas City. This partnership includes access to the new state of the art sports complex that is under construction and sharing the foundation of the youth programs core values with the senior teams. Springfield Demize’s UWS team sits as a female counterpart to the men’s side, which competes in the NPSL & PASL. Chris Hanlon, the Demize Director of Soccer Operations stated, "The United Women's Soccer league was the platform that we felt best aligned with how we want to continue to develop both youth, collegiate, and post collegiate players in Southwest Missouri. We are looking forward to the next chapter of women's soccer in Springfield." The Central Conference will be competing for the UWS National Championship, alongside East, Midwest, Southwest, and West Conferences beginning in May 2021. Stay tuned for more announcements at uwssoccer.com and connect with @uwssoccer on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

 This fall, SLSG has added 2007 Elite Green to the Elite Program. Joe Stdko, head coach of 07 Elite Green, seems excited about the team's future with the Club. "We came to SLSG for the sense of family and the support of the staff on the girls side," says Stdko. "We found that it was nice to see other coaches working together and supporting each other's teams. SLSG offers so many options for players to advance themselves". In the first few months of the fall season with SLSG, they have competed in the NORCO Tournament, placing 1st, and the Missouri Rush Invitational Tournament, placing 2nd. They also traveled to Kansas City for the KC Midwest Invitational, where they competed against the #1 team in the state of Kansas along with the #2 team in Oklahoma. They are currently playing in the top division of SLYSA. "I have been blessed with great families and hardworking, athletic girls who are able to enjoy soccer and other sports while still competing at a very high level," says Stdko. "Our team plans to advance themselves on all levels, but most importantly, to grow as a young group of ladies both on and off the field." The Missouri Girls Staff is very excited to see the success these players can bring to the Club and the Elite Program. Welcome to the SLSG Family!

 St. Louis, MO (May 15, 2020) – The SLSG MO Girls Division is excited to announce that Lauren Neulle will be continuing on with the Elite Program (formerly known as the Premier Program) for the 2020-21 season. Lauren will be the head coach of the U14 and U15 Elite teams. Nuelle, a former SLSG and Webster University player, returns for her sixth (6) year as a member of the club staff. Lauren has worked at multiple age groups as well as contributed heavily as a full-time staff member of SLSG's Specialty Training Division. MO Girls Director of Coaching, Scott McDoniel, had this to say regarding Nuelle and her appointment to head coach, "Steve [Pecher] and I have been committed to finding and keeping committed, hardworking, and knowledgeable people/coaches for the Girls Division. The Elite Program sits upon a strong foundation of hard-working players who continue to develop and improve each year, and we wanted to find a passionate coach that believes in our club objectives and would continue to push the players to help them achieve their individual and team goals. Lauren has consistently shown us that she is a loyal member of the club who genuinely cares about the development of the girls, we truly could not be happier she has agreed to stay on with the Elite teams."

 North Carolina - The 2006, 2005, and 2004 SLSG ECNL RL NAVY teams traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina this past weekend to participate in the USYS National League Showcase. The showcase and playoff series was a four-day event with the 06 & 05 groups starting on Friday and finishing Sunday and the 2004’s starting on Saturday and finishing up Monday morning. The 2006 / U15 SLSG ECNLRL NAVY group actually played in the U16 division for this event, reflecting just how deep the age group is in St. Louis. Match one did not go as planned, with Navy falling 0-3 to a solid Ohio team. But the performance was positive and gave the team encouragement they could compete up a year. In the 2005’s first match they found themselves on the front foot early with several near chances. The team carried the game and with only minutes remaining Miranda Malcom put one in the back of the net for St. Louis, giving the U16’s a 1-0 win over Galaxy Soccer Club. Saturday afternoon presented an added challenge. Rain and somewhat heavy fields made play a little less “pretty”. One of the exciting factors to attending a national showcase is that the competition is not only of a high level, but also from all over the country. The U15s were fortunate to face a new opponent, the Rochester Lancers FC (NY), and played a gritty match that saw Vita Lorms bag a goal in the second half to secure the win. In the same time-slot, the U16s faced FC Dynamo and after a hard battle back and forth game, the two teams had to settle for a very much deserved draw. And even though the U17s were finishing the day for SLSG, they were just beginning their run towards the national playoffs. A positive result on each of the three days would see them qualify for the National tournament in July. The 2004 group kicked off their week versus Galaxy Soccer Club were pushed to their limits and handled the pressure well, but in the end the game ended 0-0. The last day of the event for the U15 and U16 were scheduled to play U16 D’Feeters (TX) & Lexington FC (KY) respectively. This would be the final day of competition for the two groups and the energy was high as the girls anticipated their last club game of the season. The U16s came out on the front foot again and put a hurting on the opponent’s goal, smashing five in the net. The 5-2 win included goals by Lindsay Glover, Maeve Stuckey, Avery Bangert, Ryann Ouchi, and Maddie Clark. The spotlight game of the day, though, was the u17’s who were competing against 2x National League Champions SC Wave. With the game fairly even, SC Wave was able to pull ahead towards the end of the first half taking a 1-0 lead. Navy would not hang their head, and for the first 10 minutes of the second half Navy dominated. The pressure led to a nice little play that ended in Olivia Beam being fouled in the box and Rachel Jackson was able to put the ball in the back of the net off a PK; 1-1 game. But, the Wave is a quality side and eventually they withstood the pressure and the game ended with a 1-4 loss. Great fight from Navy, the staff was proud. The final day of the National League Playoffs the U17s were matched up against D’Feeters (TX). The game was rescheduled to an earlier time slot due to heavy rainfall during the early morning. Essentially the game was a mud bath for the players and not surprisingly concluded with a 0-0 draw. SLSG Vice President, Steve Pecher had this to say about the event “ I would like to thank USYS for hosting the National League Playoffs and Showcase event this past weekend in North Carolina. It was great to be back out on the field playing against competition from across the country.” The teams finished with a very respectable 2 wins, 3 losses and 4 ties. The SLSG ECNLRL Navy Program would like to thank all the parents, families, and friends of the program who traveled all the way to Greensboro, NC for this event. We wish all the high school players the best of luck during their high school seasons and looking forward to getting back out on the fields with the girls in the summer.