Major Beach Soccer News Release
Sunday, December 18, 2011
CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. – Kelly McShane’s goal in the opening minute of overtime gave the Peace Passers the Major Beach Soccer Women’s National Championship as they took a 4-3 victory against Soccer in the Sand on Sunday afternoon on Clearwater Beach.
Just 13 seconds into the overtime period, McShane latched onto a throw-in from Cori Reese on the left side and rifled a shot into the bottom-left corner of the net. Her teammates were then able to hold off the San Diego-based side’s effort to find an equalizer and take the championship home to Charlotte, N.C.
“I was trying to hang back a bit, but then Cori had the throw-in, I snuck up and she was able to get it through everybody,” McShane said. “I was in the right place at the right time.”
McShane had opened the scoring in the ninth minute of the first period, firing a low free kick into the left corner of the net. Alejandra Miller doubled their advantage two minutes into the second period, only for SITS to hit back from the penalty spot through Danielle Bitonti.
Reese restored the Peace Passer’s two-goal advantage seven minutes into the second period, and it appeared they would take that lead to the second intermission, but SITS’s Brinn Esper fired home a free kick from distance just before the whistle to make it 3-2 with 12 minutes to go.
“We needed one goal to lift our spirits a little,” Bitonti said. “Then we all pushed each other to put as many in the back of the net as we could.”
Two minutes into the third period SITS found an equalizer, Bitonti again converting from the penalty spot. Both teams then had chances to take the lead, with SITS goalkeeper Sarah Willis making some excellent saves. A late chance saw the Peace Passers put the ball in the back of the net just after the final whistle blew, sending the game to overtime, but McShane’s finish in the extra session sent her team home happy.
“Playing on the beach is awesome, getting out of Charlotte is great, but with the teammates I have, it’s like a family,” McShane said. “We play together in these tournaments, we play together in tournaments back in Charlotte, it’s awesome to be able to play with the same girls the whole time.