W-League Feature
Monday, December 2, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – A trio of W-League alumni stepped up under pressure this past weekend, scoring game-winners to send their teams to the 2013 NCAA Women’s College Cup, set for Friday and Sunday in Cary, North Carolina.
Washington Spirit Reserves defender Molly Menchel scored in the 68th minute to help Virginia book its first trip to the College Cup in 22 years after a 2-1 quarterfinal victory against Michigan on Friday night. Junior midfielder Danielle Colaprico delivered a ball that Menchel knocked off the post, and from the ground she was able to tap the ball over the line on the rebound for her sixth goal of the season.
Makenzy Doniak of the Pali Blues also figured in the scoring for the Cavaliers, assisting on Morgan Brian’s goal to give Virginia an early lead. Laval Comets star Nkem Ezurike set up Megan Toohey for Michigan’s equalizer four minutes later, but the Cavaliers booked their second appearance in the College Cup after becoming the first team to score multiple goals on the Wolverines this season.
Virginia will face UCLA in the national semifinals Friday after the Bruins defeated North Carolina 1-0 in double overtime Saturday to advance to the NCAA College Cup for the ninth time in program history. Sarah Killion of the Pali Blues set up Taylor Smith for the game-winner only 90 seconds into the second overtime, setting Smith free on a through ball through the center of the field. Smith’s initial shot was saved by UNC keeper Anna Sieloff, and she beat a pair of defenders to the rebound to seal UCLA's first victory against the 21-time and reigning NCAA champion Tar Heels, who had eliminated the Bruins from the NCAA tournament in four previous years.
Another Washington Spirit Reserves star propelled Virginia Tech to its first College Cup as junior Katie Yensen scored what proved to be the game winner for the Hokies in the 45th minute of a 3-0 victory against Duke Friday night. Former Fredericksburg Impact player Morgan Conklin whipped in a ball from the right side of the box to the head of Yensen, who placed it past Duke’s keeper for the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Senior goalkeeper Dayle Colpitts, a Colorado Rush and Ottawa Fury alum, made five saves in the match to preserve the shutout for Tech.
The Hokies will travel to Cary to face Florida State for the third time this season after senior defender Kassey Kallman, who helped the Pali Blues to the 2013 W-League crown, scored the first goal in a 4-0 win against Boston College. Kallman broke a scoreless tie in the 36th minute on a header inside the left post from six yards for her second goal of the season.
The scoring play began when Megan Campbell sent a cross inside the box to the head of Marta Bakowska-Mathews, who flicked the ball toward the goal. Kallman finished the play with a header for her second goal of the postseason. Kallman also led an FSU backline that held the Eagles to four shots, two on goal. Former Colorado Rush keeper Kelsey Wys made both saves as she collected her 15th shutout of the season.
The Seminoles broke open the one-goal lead by scoring three times in the second half – with two of the goals set up by North Jersey Valkyries star Nickolette Driesse - to advance to their third consecutive College Cup and seventh all-time.