W-Leage Match Recap
Saturday July 19, 2014
CHARLOTTE N.C. - The Charlotte Lady Eagles claimed the 2014 W-League Southeastern Conference Championship Saturday night, needing spot kicks to overcome the Gulf Coast Texans after a 2-2 draw through regulation and overtime. Charlotte outlasted Gulf Coast 4-3 in the PKs and will travel to the 2014 W-League Championship next weekend at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
The game started off with the Texans dominating possession in the first 30 minutes of play, giving the Lady Eagles very few opportunities for shots on goal. Charlotte looked as if it was going to open up scoring in the 12th minute when Jade Montgomery took a shot that was tipped out by Texans goalkeeper Sarah Story. Montgomery got the rebound and sent another shot towarrd goal, but it went just over the crossbar.
The Texans opened up the scoring in the 17th minute when they received a free kick just outside the box. Nicole Waters took a pass just to the right of the wall and shot, slipping it past Charlotte goalkeeper Robyn Jones.
Jones made a number of big saves after the Texans goal to keep the score at 1-0, and the Lady Eagles were able to capitalize on an opportunity in the 41st minute when they received a penalty kick. Leah Fortune took the PK and tripped up, Story sliding the ball into the left side to tie the game 1-1.
The game was set to head into halftime tied when Macky Wing was able to slip past a Texans defender, getting the ball to Fortune who took a shot that was punched away by Story. Summer Lanter was able to get the rebound and Story wasn't able to recover in time to stop Lanter's shot. The Lady Eagles headed into halftime leading the Texans 2-1 despite being outshot 11-4.
Coming back from the half the Texans continued to outshoot the Lady Eagles and evened the score in the 69th minute when Maria Jose-Rojas got the ball and dribbled past Jones to make it 2-2. The remainder of the second half was scoreless, forcing two 15-minute overtimes.
The second half of overtime ended in a scramble when the Lady Eagles had a good chance off a free kick with 30 seconds remaining. Charlotte was almost able to sneak a shot into the bottom corner, but Story was able to smother the shot and force the game to a shootout.