Everything was on the line in this final match of the UWS 2022 season. All Summer long was building towards this game. Chicago Mustangs, Central Conference champions, faced off against Calgary Foothills, Western Conference champions, in the National Championship game on Sunday, July 24, 2022 at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Massachusetts.

Watching the final game, it is clear the level of competition in UWS continues to grow and develop from year to year. Foothills is a staunch Canadian team with standout player Mya Jones. Mustangs scored 70 goals in their regular season run. It is clear these are serious players with a standout pedigree. Both teams were looking to keep their undefeated season going.

From the kick off whistle these teams clearly came to play and brought the intensity. Mustangs put pressure on Foothills from the start. These teams were competitive and evenly matched in the first half. Foothills were playing compact to start the game forcing Mustangs to play on the flanks. Mustangs had good movement off the ball with anticipation of passes and vision of the field. They did this using one touch passing to move the ball and find the spaces beating defenders. Mustangs let off the gas and slowed in the second part of the first half letting enough room for Foothills to breakthrough.

Foothills started to really grow into the game. They started to get higher up the field and limit Chicago’s press on the attack. In the 26th minute Calgary had a good shot on goal. Two minutes later they had a direct free kick on the side of the penalty area that sailed over everyone. Foothill’s scored first in the 36th minute on a Jayden Berg corner kick that Saorla Miller put in the back of the net.

Chicago Mustangs didn’t have very many dangerous looks inside the penalty area or on goal up to this point in the last few minutes of the first half. They weren’t going to go into halftime down a goal. Mustangs first goal came on good team combination play in the 43th minute. There was a series of passing that led to Nina Nicosia passing it between two defenders for Julia Simon to run on to and shoot. This tied the game and the teams went into halftime tied 1-1.

The Mustangs came out of the locker room and played the entire second half the way they started. They had a shot 2 minutes in to the half. In the 50th minute Ainsley Ahmadian found the back of the net on a shot from distance finding the far upper corner. Mustangs up 2-1. They never looked back from here on out.

Foothills did not have an answer to Ainsley Ahmadian and Julia Simon. Ahmadian was having success one-on-one with her Foothills defender starting on the outside and dribbling in. It was reminiscent of Tobin Heath. Simon had a shot that went over and a header that missed it’s mark. Mustangs had clear dominance in possession and shots. Mustangs clearly made the needed adjustments and tactical talk at halftime to exploit Calgary’s weaknesses and capitalize on their advantages.

In the last 10 minutes Foothills increased the urgency and pressure. Chicago seemed to have some tired legs slowing off their aggressive earlier pace. Both teams had a playoff match in the hot sun the day before. This game was on turf and the field was hot enough for two water breaks in each half.

Chicago managed the end of the match to eat time off the clock and hold on to the lead. This helped as there were 5 minutes in stoppage. Foothills valiantly put pressure on and tried to find another goal, but were unlucky. Mustangs continued to fight off every attack. The final whistle of regular time declared the end of the game and Chicago Mustangs the 2022 UWS National Champions.

- Danielle Gawronski