Women’s Soccer Keeps Getting Stronger – UWS Expands in New York with SDA
Related Article: UWS Raises the Bar In Amateur Women’s Soccer
While the United Women’s Soccer (UWS) has been expanding into the Midwest this offseason, their reach has continued to also grow in the New York area.
The East Conference is adding the prestigious Syracuse Developmental Academy (SDA). for the upcoming Summer 2017. Recently, SDA’s ’99 Girls won the Disney Showcase and their teams are also doing well in the US Youth Soccer Nationals.
For the past several seasons, SDA has plied their trade in the WPSL as the SDA Lady Knights and are now re-branding their team and make the move up to the UWS ranks. The Lady Knights will play their home games at Lemoyne College in Syracuse, NY.
“SDA is greatly honored to be accepted into the UWS for this upcoming 2017 season,” said SDA Director of Soccer Michael Paolini. “The structure of the league and its administrators is in direct line with our club philosophies and vision: continued stress on Player Development through our current club structure and continuing that development at the collegiate and UWS levels.”
“I am familiar with the operations of the Syracuse Developmental Academy,” said League Director Joe Ferrara, Jr. “I am confident that they will be able to handle the level of professionalism required for UWS.”
SDA is a member of the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy and offers programs for boys and girls from ages 4 to 19 years old.
SDA was established in 2004 and it’s overall vision is to have programs to develop players for all levels from recreational/travel, premier soccer, amateur young adult level through professional teams.
Team captain for the upcoming season in the UWS East Conference will be local star Brooke Barbuto. Upon finishing up her career at Stony Brook University – where she was a All-America East First Team and NSCAA All-Northeast Region First Team selection – Brooke went on to play professional soccer for the Buffalo Flash (Western New York Flash) in 2009-2010. Barbuto continued her pro career overseas in Iceland with Haukar and Finland with GBK and Nice Futis (26 goals, 10 assists along with receiving MVP).
“I have played in leagues in Iceland and Finland with talented players from all over the world and now I think this is a great opportunity to return home and play in UWS,” said Barbuto.
“The quality of play and the experiences I have gained from playing with some of the best competition in the world is something I hope I can bring and showcase to the league,” added Barbuto. “I started off in the USL W-League back in 2009 for the Buffalo Flash and know how important a league like this can be for the local community.”
“It gave everyone in the area something to look forward to on game day and to have all the love and support for women’s soccer is an amazing thing. Not only do I think this league can achieve that but I think it will also provide an excellent opportunity for all the local talent to have a platform to display their skills.”
Just in case you didn’t know: The UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
