Russian champion FC Energy Voronezh, with U.S. national team pool defender Jenny Benson, starts Tuesday on its path toward the UEFA Women's Cup knockout tournament with a four-team first-qualifying-round event in Shaulyay, Lithuania.

Energy, which lost to two-time defending champion Umea IK of Sweden in last season's quarterfinals, will face Macedonian titlist FC Scionjat in Tuesday's Group A2 opener, then meet host Gintra-Universitetas on Thursday and Gomrukcu Baku of Azerbaijan on Saturday.

The winners of nine first-qualifying groups will join Umea, Swedish champion Djurgarden/Alvsjo, English titlist Arsenal, Germany's FFC Turbine Potsdam, Italy's FC Foroni Verona, Norway's Trondheims-Orn and Denmark's Brondby for the second qualifying round in mid-September. The knockout phase begins with quarterfinal matches in late October.

If victorious, Energy would meet Trondheims-Orn, Brondby and the Group A1 winner — Slavia Prague (Czech Republic), Alma KTZH (Kazakhstan), FK MS K Ziarniad Hronom (Slovakia) or Super Sport Sofia (Bulgaria) — in Group B4 in the second qualifying round. The top two B4 teams go on to the quarterfinals.

Energy, led by forwards Elena Danilova and Natalia Zivchenko, is expected to battle Gomrukcu Baku for the B4 berth. The Azerbaijan perennials also reached the quarterfinals last season, falling to Brondby.

Malmo FF (9-2-3), captained by former Rutgers University defender Denise Reddy, fell nine points off the Swedish League lead Sunday with a 1-0 loss to visiting Balinge IF (3-5-6). University of North Carolina recruit Yolanda Odenyo scored in the 40th minute for Balinge.

Umea IK (13-1-0) is one point ahead of reigning Damallsvenskan champion Djurgarden/Alvsjo (12-0-2) heading into the Olympic break. Action resumes Sept. 4.

Djurgarden/Alvsjo, with former Carolina Courage forward Venus James, beat Karlslunds IF DFF, 4-1, on Saturday as Lindenwood University (NAIA) senior Coco Callebaut scored two goals. Malin Mostrom's first-half hat trick led Umea (13-1-0) in an 8-0 rout of last-place Stattena IK (0-10-4).

FC Honka (3-4-4), with former Duquesne University defender Becky Barritt, fell a spot to seventh in the Finnish League with a 4-0 loss to Naisten SM leader FC United (10-0-1). Ilves (5-6-0) jumped to sixth with a 4-2 win over last-place Kontu.

United's lead is seven points over HJK and FC Espoo going into a break, for the UEFA U-19 Championship, until Aug. 8.

IBV (6-1-2), with former Charge defenders Rachel Kruze and Mary McVeigh, routed FH, 7-1, to return to second place in the Icelandic League, five points behind Valur (8-0-1). The leaders were held to a 1-1 tie by KR (6-1-2), which fell to third, behind IBV on goal differential.

Stjarnan is home against Fjolnir, one of two matches Monday, and the Landsbankadeild Kvenna is then off until Aug. 6, with the exception of a July 26 makeup game between FH and Thor/KA/KS.

UEFA WOMEN'S CUP
First qualifying round Group A2, at Shaulyay, Lithuania
* Jenny Benson (FC Energy Voronezh, Russia), vs. FC Scionjat (Macedonia), Tuesday.
vs. Gintra-Universitetas (Lithuania), Thursday.
vs. Gomrukcu Baku (Azerbaijan), Saturday.
Season UEFA Women's Cup stats: 0 games, 0 goals.

FINLAND
* Becky Barritt (FC Honka, D1), vs. FC United, 0-4 (Sunday).
90 minutes. Seventh-place Honka is 3-4-4.
Season league stats: 8 games, 1 goal.

ICELAND
* Alison Jarrow (Stjarnan, D1), vs. Fjolnir, Monday.
Season league stats: 8 games, 0 goals.

* Rachel Kruze (IBV, D1), at Breidablik, 4-0 (Thursday).
90 minutes in league debut.
at FH, 7-1 (Sunday).
Details unavailable. Second-place IBV is 6-1-2.
Season league stats: 1 game, 0 goals.

* Sarah Lentz (Stjarnan, D1), vs. Fjolnir, Monday.
Season league stats: 8 games, 0 goals.

* Mary McVeigh (IBV, D1), at Breidablik, 4-0 (Thursday).
90 minutes.
at FH, 7-1 (Sunday).
Details unavailable. Second-place IBV is 6-1-2.
Season league stats: 6 games, 0 goals.

SWEDEN
* Venus James (Djurgarden/Alvsjo, Damallsvenskan), at Karlslunds IF DFF, 4-1 (Saturday).
Details unavailable. Second-place D/A is 12-0-2.
Season league stats: 7 games, 5 goals.

* Denise Reddy (Malmo FF, Damallsvenskan), vs. Balinge IF, 0-1 (Sunday).
90 minutes in central defense. Third-place Malmo is 9-2-3.
Season league stats: 13 games, 2 goals.