EAST CONFERENCE FINAL
BYFIELD, MA (07/24/10) - The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) East Final was another nail-biter for the Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves, as they took on 2010 WPSL National Champion Long Island Fury at Governor's Academy for a berth in the 2010 Final Four. After defeating Aztec U-23 with a goal in the 119th minute in the East Semifinals, the Breaker Reserves scored another game-winning goal in the 119th minute from WPS Boston Breaker Chioma Igwe to defeat the Fury by a 2-1 score.
"I really cannot say enough about this teams' resolve," said Boston Head Coach Mike Kersker. "We have been pushed to new levels by what we've overcome."
In the 25th minute, the Aztecs got on the board first when Australian international Leah Blayney took a shot from 25 yards out, hitting the cross bar. The rebound caromed out to former St. Louis Athletica player Niki Cross, who settled the ball and finished past Fury goalkeeper Brittany Anghel (11 saves).
In the 70th minute, the Fury would tie the match when Charlotte Miller sent in a cross from the touch-line out that fooled Aztec keeper Rebecca Ritchie (5 saves). The ball went in just under the cross bar for the tying goal and the match would eventually go on to two 15-minute extra-time periods.
In the 119th minute, Japanese international Yuka Miyazaki served a ball from midfield towards Rebecca Mays, who headed the ball on to on-rushing Igwe. The former SoccerPlus CT star split the Fury defense and beat Anghel with a low shot inside the far post.
MIDWEST/SUNSHINE CONFERENCE PLAYOFF
GERMANTOWN, WI (07/24/10) - Midwest Champion F.C. Milwaukee earned a spot in the 2010 WPSL Final Four with a 3-1 victory over Sunshine Conference winners FSA Freedom, continuing an impressive string of nine consecutive victories for the first-year WPSL side that includes three playoff wins. In the 55th minute, reigning WPSL Co-Player Of The Week Sarah Hagen notched the game-winner from two yards out, after some nice combination play between Kate Riegle and Team captain Laurie Nosbusch.
Nosbusch had already opened the scoring for the National in the 15th minute on a perfect chip of the FSA goalkeeper, after her breakaway shot was initially saved. After the goal, FSA began to assert themselves and pulled even in the 30th minute with a great finish on a volley from the corner of the penalty box.
F.C. Milwaukee began the second half in impressive form, and Hagen would net goals in the 55th & 70th minutes, the final tally off a curling cross from Lindsey Johnson. The Nationals continued to go on the attack for the remainder of the match, but stellar FSA goalkeeping kept the score-line unchanged at 3-1.
"Once again, it has to be said that this was a total team effort," said F.C. Milwaukee Head Coach Christian Lavers. "Several players improved their play and urgency in the second half... This team has shown great mental awareness & competitive spirit all season and tonight was another reflection of that."
PACIFIC CONFERENCE FINAL
PASADENA, CA (07/25/10) - 2008 Pacific Conference MVP Shannon Cross (goal, two assist) exhibited that form again for South Division champion Ajax America in the Pacific Final against perennial rival California at Muir High School. The former USC star had a hand in all three goals in the shutout victory over the North Division champions, giving Ajax their WPSL record-setting fifth straight Final Four appearance.
Ajax started out fast & furious, scoring in the 11th minute when Cross fired a cross to Liz Zadro for the 1-0 lead. Cross would go on to head in the second goal in the 54th minute, and in the 82nd minute, she assisted on the final goal, sending Leah Gallegos behind the Storm defense for the final goal.
On Saturday, the 2009 WPSL National Finalists beat North Bay F.C. in the Pacific Semifinal on second half goals from Carmen Bognanno and Chloe Byrne. Ajax appears to be peaking at the right time, as they out-scored their opponents by a 5-0 margin on the weekend.
These three teams now qualify for the 2010 WPSL Final Four (July 31-August 1), hosted by Dallas Premier Women's S.C. at the University of Texas-Dallas Soccer Stadium in Richardson, TX. Boston & F.C. Milwaukee will play in the first National Semifinal, while Ajax America awaits the winner of the Big Sky Conference Final between Oklahoma & Phoenix, being played this Thursday, July 27th in Edmond, OK.
All tickets for the 2010 WPSL Final Four can be purchased at the gate and pricing packages include: $10 for any single game; $15 One-Day Pass (for either the Semifinals OR National Consolation/Final); $25 Event Pass (all four games). In case of inclement weather, the alternate venue for the WPSL National Championship Tournament will be John Paul II High School. Full WPSL Playoff & Final Four information is provided below:
BIG SKY CONFERENCE FINAL
Phoenix Del Sol (5-1-2, North Champion) @ Oklahoma Alliance F.C. (7-1-0, South Champion)
Date/Time: Thursday, July 29 @ 7:00 PM (CST)
Venue: Edmond Soccer Club (Field #4)
Address: 1502 W. Danforth Road, Edmond, OK 73003
WPSL NATIONAL SEMIFINALS
Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves (10-1-1, East Champion) vs. F.C. Milwaukee Nationals (10-1-0, Midwest Champion)
Date/Time: Saturday, July 31 @ 5:00 PM (CST)
Venue: University of Texas-Dallas
Address: 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080
Ajax America (8-3-1, Pacific Champion) vs. Big Sky Champion
Date/Time: Saturday, July 31 @ 7:00 PM (CST)
Venue: University of Texas-Dallas
WPSL NATIONAL CONSOLATION
Date/Time: Sunday, August 1 @ 10:30 AM (CST)
Venue: University of Texas-Dallas
Address: 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080
WPSL NATIONAL FINAL
Semifinal #1 WINNER vs. Semifinal #2 WINNER
Date/Time: Sunday, August 1 @ 1:00 PM (CST)
Venue: University of Texas-Dallas
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