LA Galaxy OC Women Defeat Calgary FWFC To Lift UWS 2019 Championship Trophy
From Southern California to Canada, Head Coach Scott Juniper leads LA Galaxy OC Women to victory and claim UWS 2019 Championship.
It takes stamina, determination, talent, intelligence and leadership to become champions — all traits that the LA Galaxy Orange County Women have in spades.
With a deep pool of talent, a few star players with incredible experience and a super-smart head coach, the LA Galaxy OC Women rose to the top of United Women’s Soccer and lifted the trophy — after defeating hosts Calgary Foothills WFC 1-0 in an absolutely stunning final match.
Click HERE for the archived broadcast on the UWS MyCujoo channel.
Played in front of a dynamic crowd, the 2019 United Women’s Soccer (UWS) Championship Final was actually a re-match of two West Conference rivals, Calgary Foothills WFC (7-1-1) and LA Galaxy Orange County Women (7-1-2) at the Stadium Field of Mount Royal University in Calgary — this time with a different outcome than the first match up.
Women’s soccer was the big champion of the day with a riveting match that was scoreless for most of the game. The effort put forth by all the players
“Everyone has worked so hard to reach this final. LA Galaxy OC Director of Operations Tim Woodcock had a big vision of what we could build and I’m so excited for the club and for our finish as national champions this year,” said Scott Juniper, Head Coach LA Galaxy Orange County Women. “This is a team for Orange County sports fans to rally around.”
“Everyone in the club is proud of what we have built. It’s more than a team that won a National Championship,” said Juniper.
“It’s become a platform for players to springboard into the pros, a way to inspire young athletes …”
Scott Juniper, Head Coach LA Galaxy Orange County Women
Reaching the UWS Championship Final was a massive team effort with 37 different LA Galaxy Orange County players rostered for the season’s 11 games. Coach Juniper, who is also the UCI Women’s Soccer Head Coach, built an extremely cohesive group that was very welcoming of new players who joined the team.
“Our players created a fabulous team chemistry and it was all about what the team needed,” said Juniper.
“While goal scorers usually get the headlines, a big part of our success was at the other end of the field with our goalkeeper, University of Michigan’s Hillary Beall who gave up very few goals all season and our backline that played exceptionally well in the final against three Canadian Internationals,” said Juniper.
LA Galaxy OC’s forward, former U.S. Women’s National Team player and Olympic Gold Medalist Tasha Kai was a force on the field all season and scored a brace in the National Quarterfinals to help the team advance.
With an amazing background playing professional soccer, Kai said, “This past weekend was amazing. Our team was the underdogs getting into UWS playoffs and we were the underdogs in the final 4. We were also definitely underdogs in the championship game.”
“The third time is the charm against Calgary. We have an amazing team with amazing talents and I’m glad I was able to be a part of it. It feels good to finish on top.”
LA Galaxy OC’s forward Tasha Kai
LA Galaxy OC’s forward Catarina Macario scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute and goalkeeper Hillary Beall earned the shutout.
Stanford University standout and reigning Hermann Trophy recipient, Macario earned the MVP of the tournament for her two goals scored in the semifinal against Indiana Union and her goal in the final.
LA Galaxy OC’s forward Catarina Macario
A member of the United States U23 national team, Macario was born in Brazil and moved to San Diego as a youth to train and play soccer. 2018 ESPNW Player of the Year, Macario is a junior with the skill and focus to compete at the highest level.
“This is a special team, with great players and even better people.”
Catarina Macario, LA Galaxy OC’s forward
“I’m very happy I got to join them for these last two games and even more so, for helping them win a
“Cat Macario was every bit as good as advertised,” said League Director Joe Ferrara. “Every time she touched the ball you were anticipating something special. Macario scored a brace in the semis and the game-winner in the championship game deserved the
Read: LA GALAXY OC WOMEN TROUNCE REIGNING UWS CHAMPS TO ADVANCE
Calgary Head Coach Troye Flannery was also proud of his squad and told media, “I’m proud of the group and how they represented the club, city and country.”
UWS was formed late in 2015 with the belief that there was a gap in the development of the female soccer player between the collegiate game as well as the professional and international game — and this was something that Founder and League Director Joe Ferrara was determined to solve. The high quality of the league’s competition and its professionalism reflects Ferrara’s commitment to providing opportunities to grow the women’s game. The 2019 UWS Championship marks the fourth year of the league.
LA Galaxy OC joins last year’s champions from Houston, as well as 2017’s Grand Rapids FC and 2016 Santa Clarita as national UWS champions and are the fourth team to do so in league history.
All Photo Credit: Dirk Fontaine
