29 Nov NAPA Rovers, Quality Distributors to Play for Women’s Title
[December 5, 2016 – Harmon, Guam] – A new champion will be crowned in the Bud Light Women’s Soccer League with the early exit of No. 1 Personal Finance Center Lady Crushers from title contention after Sunday’s semifinal playoff matches at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.
The No. 4 NAPA Rovers snapped the Lady Crushers’ undefeated streak dating back to Nov. 8, 2015 with a 2-0 win in Sunday’s early semifinal match.
The Lady Crushers, dominant in the regular season and stacked with the league’s top three goal scorers, created opportunities through the match, but lacked the finishing touch against the Rovers’ organized defense. The Rovers’ Laura Nadeau scored once in each half to lift her team to the championship match, set to be played Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at GFA.
The Rovers are set to face Quality Distributors FC in the championship match after the third-ranked team upset No. 2 Hyundai 6-2 in extra time.
After battling to a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes of play, Quality turned up the heat in extra time with April Talledo scoring a hat trick in the extra 30 minutes of play. Teammate Paris “Mames” Blas scored Quality’s other extra-time goal.
Both teams were relentless on the attack in regulation time with Quality striking first with a Jalana Garcia goal off a corner kick play. Hyundai’s Olivia Flores later leveled the match after skillfully outpacing Quality defenders on a through ball and winning the one-on-one with Quality keeper Chyna Ramirez for the 1-1 halftime score. A goal from Paige Surber in the 74th minute put Quality back ahead in the game, but Taylor Crisostomo answered back for Hyundai about a minute later for the eventual 2-2 score at the final whistle to force extra time.
Hyundai will next play against the Lady Crushers in a consolation match at 5 p.m. Sunday at GFA ahead of the 7 p.m. championship match between the Rovers and Quality.
An awards ceremony will be held following the final match recognizing the winning team as 2016 Fall season champions. Awards also will be presented to the league’s Golden Boot winner, Colleen Naden, of the Lady Crushers, and the league’s Golden Glove winner, Taisha Palma, also of the Lady Crushers.
Before each of the semifinal matches, competing teams assembled in the pitch’s center circle for a moment of silence for the victims of LaMia Airlines Flight 2933, which included players and staff of Associação Chapecoense de Futebol (ACF) and close to two dozen Brazilian journalists. The Brazilian professional football team was traveling to Colombia for the 2016 Copa Sudamerica Finals against Atletico Nacional of Colombia. Following the fatal plane crash, the Colombian team agreed to concede the fixture to its Brazilian opponents.
Personal Finance Center Lady Crushers’ Sabrina Kenney is swarmed by NAPA Rovers defenders as she attempts to send the ball into the box in a semifinal match of the 2016 Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Fall season playoffs at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The Rovers upset No. 1 Lady Crushers 2-0 for the team’s ticket the playoff finals set to be played at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at GFA.
NAPA Rovers defenders Missy Elwell (left) and Blanda Camacho (right) work to deny a shot opportunity by Personal Finance Center Lady Crushers’ Colleen Naden in a semifinal match of the 2016 Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Fall season playoffs at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The Rovers upset No. 1 Lady Crushers 2-0 for the team’s ticket the playoff finals set to be played at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at GFA.
NAPA Rovers’ Courtney Salgado sets up to clear the ball away from Personal Finance Center Lady Crushers’ Colleen Naden following a corner kick in a semifinal match of the 2016 Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Fall season playoffs at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The Rovers upset No. 1 Lady Crushers 2-0 for the team’s ticket the playoff finals set to be played at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at GFA.
NAPA Rovers’ Laura Nadeau sends a pass to a teammate after taking possession of the ball from Personal Finance Center Lady Crushers’ Simie Willter in a semifinal match of the 2016 Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Fall season playoffs at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The Rovers upset No. 1 Lady Crushers 2-0 for the team’s ticket the playoff finals set to be played at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at GFA.
Quality Distributors FC’s April Talledo controls the ball in the midfield as Hyundai’s Aurianna “Roben” Morellano tracks her on defense in a semifinal match of the 2016 Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Fall season playoffs at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. Quality upset Hyundai 6-2 in extra time for the team’s ticket the playoff finals set to be played at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at GFA.
Quality Distributors FC’s Paris “Mames” Blas looks for an opportunity to get around the defense of Hyundai’s Erica Quichocho in a semifinal match of the 2016 Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Fall season playoffs at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. Quality upset Hyundai 6-2 in extra time for the team’s ticket the playoff finals set to be played at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at GFA.
Hyundai’s Honoka Recella and Quality Distributors FC’s Inina Yatar fight for possession of the ball in a semifinal match of the 2016 Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Fall season playoffs at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. Quality upset Hyundai 6-2 in extra time for the team’s ticket the playoff finals set to be played at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at GFA.
Quality Distributors FC’s Paige Surber passes the ball to a teammate with her back to the goal facing defensive pressure from Hyundai’s Erica Quichocho in a semifinal match of the 2016 Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Fall season playoffs at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. Quality upset Hyundai 6-2 in extra time for the team’s ticket the playoff finals set to be played at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at GFA.
Hyundai’s Taylor Crisostomo keeps possession of the ball facing defensive pressure from Quality Distributors FC’s Tanya Flores in a semifinal match of the 2016 Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Fall season playoffs at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. Quality upset Hyundai 6-2 in extra time for the team’s ticket the playoff finals set to be played at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at GFA.