Saturday, July 21, 2012
BRADENTON, Fla. – Colorado Rapids forward Karisa Price scored her third and fourth goals of the Super-20 League Finals against Triangle FC on Saturday in a 3-0 win that places the Rapids in the women’s Final on Sunday. The championship game between the Rapids and DC United Women will be live-streamed by UNATION (www.uslnation.com) at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The Rapids, the first team from Colorado to play in the Super-20 League North American Finals, knew that either team could advance with a win. Price (pictured, #24) pressured Triangle early, hoping for a quick start. She darted around the back line all game long, which led to her opener in the 12th minute. She latched onto Abby Phillips’ through ball and cut inside the box for a left-footed shot that beat the Triangle goalkeeper.
Triangle’s Ashley Clarke, the 2011 Finals MVP, struggled against the Colorado defenders and failed to score for the first time in the tournament. Teammate Kaitlyn Eckert had one of the only shots for the North Carolina club in the first half, but it sailed wide of the post.
Price attempted to return the favor to Phillips in the 30th minute with a pass that allowed Phillips to go in on goal. Her shot was saved by the outstretched ‘keeper. Cara Patterson had a first-time shot from a corner go just wide of the upper corner of the goal, as well.
The Rapids were the better team through the first 45 minutes, but Triangle knew that there was still plenty of time to find a way back into the game.
A weird play six minutes after the restart extended Colorado’s lead to 2-0. Patterson, on an attempt to cross the ball into the box, saw her pass bounce in front of the Triangle goalkeeper and find the back of the net. None of her teammates cared how she scored, only that she did.
Clark had a chance to get Triangle on the board, but her one-v-one shot to the far post was caught by a diving Kaeli Schmidt in the 64th minute. Eight minutes later, Price made Triangle pay for its lack of finishing.
Price received the ball on the left-hand side of the field and made a run at the Triangle right back. She dribbled around her and found herself in the box with no defender in sight to give the Triangle goalkeeper help. Price slotted a perfectly-placed shot between the goalkeeper and the near post to all but ensure Colorado’s win.
Patterson had Triangle’s last chance of the game not long after, but her team could not buy a goal on Saturday.
“I thought they put up a good fight,” Price said of her opponents after the game. “They kept playing the whole time. They’re a good team and we knew we’d have our work cut out for us.
“I think everyone did their job perfectly and that’s why we got the result that we did.”
Colorado earned seven points from three games in Group A; a 3-1 win against Reading United AC, a 3-3 draw against Force Football Club on Friday, and Saturday’s result against Triangle FC. Triangle finishes third in the group with four points after a win against Reading and a draw vs. Force.
Force Football Club 2, Reading United AC 1
Starting the day in third in the group, Force Football Club needed to win and get some help to advance to Sunday’s final. While the Colorado Rapids ended Force’s championship hopes by defeating Triangle FC, Force was still able to end its tournament on a winning note.
It did not look like they would be able to pull it off when Emily Gingrich received the ball from Gabby Balestriere on her chest and fired home a half volley to give Reading a 1-0 halftime advantage. However, the tie turned in the second half.
Martha Stevens fired a warning shot by sliding the ball just wide after being played through. She redeemed herself during another one-on-one when she extended her boot and side footed into the back of the net.
Reading offered threats of its own as it searched for its first point of the tournament. Nikki Dunlap and Sam Sanders combined brilliantly on the right side before the former cut inside and hit a shot straight at Force keeper Jenna O’Dell.
Force was able to find the winner through winger Angela Vultaggio, who showed great skill to manoeuvre through multiple defenders and win a penalty. Stepping up and firing home, she gave Force the three points and a second place finish in the group.