WPSL Weekly Recap (28th May to 3rd June 2012)

SPECIAL EVENT SPOTLIGHT

 
U.S. Women's National Team defender and co-captain Rachel Buehler attended the San Diego SeaLions' home opener on Sunday, June 3, to meet fans, sign autographs and take part in pre-game ceremonies. The San Diego native and former SeaLion grew up playing club ball with the San Diego Surf before moving on to a successful four years at Stanford. Buehler conducted the pre-game coin toss and spent part of the match on the bench talking with SeaLions players, including former teammate and current head coach Jen Lalor-Nielsen.

"I am very excited that I am able to support the San Diego SeaLions at their home opener," said Buehler. "I am proud to be from the San Diego soccer community, and believe that with local support we provide a perfect environment for high level women's soccer to thrive."

"Rachel is a perfect example of why it's so important to support local Women's Soccer," said SeaLions' General manager Amie Becker. "She is a former SeaLion who now plays for the United States. San Diego is home to some of the best female soccer players in the country, and fans can see them play right in their own back yard."

PACIFIC - SOUTH SPOTLIGHT

San Diego SeaLions vs Ajax America Women Match Date: June 3, 2012 Final Score 5-1
The San Diego SeaLions picked up a pair of wins in their opening weekend, defeating LA Vikings 6-0 at The Home Depot Center on Saturday, June 2, before returning for their home opener on Sunday, June 3. Earlier in the week the San Diego SeaLions announced that U.S. Women's National Team defender Rachel Buehler would make an appearance at the team's home opener on Sunday, June 3, to greet fans and sign autographs.

The SeaLions opened the scoring against Ajax when Nikki Petracca beat the defense and chipped a shot over the onrushing goalkeeper. However a misplay and a deflection off a SeaLion defender gave Ajax the tying goal before the end of the first half. In the second half San Diego came out firing, with Rosie Tantillo netting the first of her three goals, with the assist going to defender Sarah Devine. She then picked up two more off free kicks for the hat trick.

The SeaLions closed out scoring when speedy forward Britney Bennett collected a long pass from goalie Kaycee Gunion, outran the defense and beat the Ajax keeper for the goal. "I saw 'B' and I know she's fast," said Gunion after the game, "and I thought, 'I hope this one goes.' So I hit it as hard as I could and it got up behind the defense and she did the rest. It felt good because of the goal I gave up earlier."

NORTHEAST ATLANTIC - MID SPOTLIGHT

Syracuse Lady Knights vs FC Binghamton Match Date: May 29, 2012 Final Score: 1-0
Syracuse Lady Knights (SLK) won their home opener against FC Binghamton 1-0, thrilling hundreds of fans who showed up to show their support of women’s soccer and their home team. The SLK dominated the midfield and kept their opponent to only a handful of counter attacks.

Emma Firenze and her big sister Jackie Firenze almost connected in the first half as Emma was played through and fired the pass across the net but the ball was redirected just wide. SLK’s Goal Keeper Steph Senn earned her shutout with an acrobatic one-handed leap. SLK’s Jillian Arnault fired a forceful shot from outside the 18 into the back of the net at the 67 minute mark to open up the 2012 record books and get the Lady Knights on the board. United FC earned a free kick towards the end of the match but goalie Steph handled their attack with skill.

BIG SKY – SOUTH SPOTLIGHT

FC Tulsa Spirit vs Fort Worth Panthers Match Date: June 1, 2012 Final Score: 4-1
The FC Tulsa Spirit season debut of this year’s Women’s Premier Soccer League (Big Sky –South division) was victorious as they defeated the Fort Worth Panthers by 4 -1.

“It was our first game so naturally we had a few kinks, but we showed how well we can work together and everyone fought hard for 90 minutes. This is a great group of girls on and off the field and I look forward to a successful season” says FC Tulsa Spirit’s number 16, Nikki Baker.

Baker put her team on the scoreboard twice and Maricella Ruvalcaba and Abigail Ponce scored one goal each. “We were able to keep our composure throughout the entire game,” said FC Tulsa Spirit coach Ali Adibi. “I think we had about 70% ball possession which made it possible for us to control most of the game. We did well at opening up the game and playing wide when we had the ball, and closing up when we lost possession. When they scored their first goal at 17 minutes into the first half, it really woke us up and made us turn on the heat.”

“I think the girls did a great job with their passing. They were playing good one touch soccer, and their ‘give and go’s’ were working out quite well,” said team owner David Mortazavi. “Our team is so much better than last season. We recruited a lot of new players from different states, which puts pressure on the individual players to perform at their best level.”

Team co-captain Courtney Chadney said, “I was so proud of our team last night. This was the first time we have all played together and you couldn’t even tell. For the most part we kept possession of the ball. We made a couple mistakes here and there when we didn’t play simple, but I’m confident this team has what it takes to go all the way this year and I’m really excited to be a part of it!”

FC Dallas Shuts Out FC Austin and Houston South Select Match Date: June 2 , 2012 Final Score: 1-0 / Match Date: June 3, 2012 Final Score: 5-0
FC Dallas won both games over the weekend, winning on the road Friday night with a 1-0 victory over FC Austin and then returning home to defeat Houston South Select 5-0 on a hot Sunday afternoon at the FC Dallas Complex. Rachel Shipley (Texas A&M) scored the lone goal Friday night, her first of the season. Leslie Briggs (SMU) and Michelle Young (UNT) each scored a brace and Dani Watson (UNT) scored her first goal of the season in the victory. FC Dallas Director of Coaching Chris Ring was pleased with the weekend saying, “We are happy with the results from the weekend. We are starting to get all of our players in town and training so we’re excited to see what this team can do with a near full squad.”

NORTH ATLANTIC - SOUTH SPOTLIGHT

Tidewater Sharks vs FC Bucks Match Date: June 2, 2012 Final Score: 2-2
The Tidewater Sharks WPSL "Women’s Premier Soccer League" team opened their 2012 campaign with a 2-2 draw on the road against the FC Bucks in Pennsylvania Saturday night. Thrilling fans, Kellie Jenkins got the Sharks off on the right foot with a header into the back of the net at the 5 minute mark off a cross from Meredith Baldasare.

After half time, the Bucks came out strong in the 2nd half with goals in the 47th and 53rd minutes to take a 2-1 lead. "We hit the wall as our fitness was in question and we had a very short bench to find relief. As the first match of the year, with players that haven’t played together I learned a lot about our team and decided to change the formation and combination of players. Fortunately the players responded, found some much needed energy and took back hold of the the run of play for the final 20 minutes of the match," said Sharks Coach Kevin Darcy.

After taking hold of the match and creating a consistent attack, Jenkins slipped behind the Bucks defense getting a perfectly timed pass from Lauren Gough and deposited the ball into the back of the net to draw even at 2.

The final 10 minutes of the match went back and forth ending in a 2-2 result earning the 1st point in the history of the Sharks WPSL franchise. "I was very proud of the girls tonight as we could have caved in midway through the 2nd half. It’s not easy to win on the road, especially when you are light on subs, but we dug deep and came away with a road point."

PACIFIC – NORTH SPOTLIGHT

North Bay FC Wave vs West Coast Wildkatz Match Date: June 2,
2012 Final Score: 0-0

The weather was beautiful, the crowd large and enthusiastic and the soccer was highly professional and entertaining, the only thing missing from the night were goals.

Only goals were in short supply at the home opener for the North Bay FC Wave vs. West Coast Wildkatz of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and the final score was a 0–0 draw.

Opening day ceremonies began with young players from local league, the Ross Valley Breakers, walking onto the pitch hand-in-hand with starters from both teams for pre-game introductions and the National Anthem. All Wave home games benefit local organizations, and on this day the contribution went to Ross Valley’s youth soccer programs.

In the first half, the North Bay Wave had more possession, but the Wildkatz launched several dangerous counterattacks. Stanford goalkeeper and former U.S. U17 women’s national team pool member, Lindsay Dickerson, sprinted off her line and quickly killed the scoring opportunity.

“The 2012 Wave includes some new faces, and the players are still getting to know one another,” said North Bay head coach Luis Quezada. “As we made adjustments in the second half, the team was able to keep the Wildkatz away from our attacking third due to our high-pressure defense.”

Quezada also cited the play of new Wave players Kathy Orellana of UNLV, who demonstrated great flair and poise on the field, and midfielder/attacking defender Haley Washburn, another former U.S. U17 national pool member and incoming Harvard recruit, who showed strength and composure in the match. “I think we really started to jell in the second half,” Quezada commented. “The crowd enjoyed a great show, and hopefully many will be back to follow the team throughout the season.”

California Storm vs West Coast Wildkatz Match Date: June 3, 2012 Final Score: 4-1
The California Storm improved their record to 2-0-1 with a 4-1 victory on the road against the West Coast Wildkatz. The Storm picked up an early goal in the first half from Katie McCoy and took the 1-0 lead into halftime. McCoy picked up her second goal of the match in the opening minutes of the second half, followed later by goals from Stephanie Wieger and Teresa Noyola.

The Wildkatz came into the match a day after playing against North Bay FC Waves, but put in a strong performance on the field. The team never gave up, even down 4-0, and in the 82nd minute Anessa Patton broke through the Storm defense to pick up a goal for the Wildkatz.

NORTHWEST SPOTLIGHT

Emerald City FC vs. Portland Rain Match Date: June 2, 2012 Final Score: 1-1
After a scoreless battle for much of the game, two quick goals came in the last ten minutes to end the ECFC vs. Rain battle in a 1-1 draw. ECFC outshot Portland 12-6, but Portland’s goalkeeper made nine saves and kept ECFC off the board until the 85th minute when a Lindsey Bos pass found forward Jessica Carlson who

spun out of pressure and found Megan Chapin in behind the Portland defense for a 1-0 lead. Just seconds before the final whistle, the Rain connected their own through ball for Whitney Pitalo to finish and earn Portland a valuable point on the road.

KEY MATCHUPS
Wed, Jun 6, 2012
FC Bucks at Penn Legacy Inferno
Fri, Jun 8, 2012
Issaquah Soccer Club at Spokane Shine
FC Dallas at TFC
Sat, Jun 9, 2012
Maryland Capitols FC at FC Bucks
Gulf Coast Texans at Knoxville Lady Force
Georgia Revolution at Mississippi Fuego FC
Syracuse Lady Knights at Millburn Magic
San Diego SeaLions at Beach Futbol Club
Sun, Jun 10, 2012
CFC Passion at Seacoast United Phantoms
Arkansas Comets at FC Dallas
Quad City Eagles at FC Milwaukee Nationals (1-0-0)
TFC at Houston South Select

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