USL News Release
Friday, July 29, 2011
SEATTLE - Two goals by league Most Valuable Player Mallory Outerbridge helped lead Ottawa past Seattle 3-2 and into the W-League Championship game on Sunday at Starfire Sports Complex. While the Fury went into halftime only up by a goal their confidence seemed to build throughout the first forty-five minutes. This confidence has helped shape coach Dominic Oliveri's team this season.
"It's just team chemistry. Everybody gets along. They enjoy being together, playing together, and fighting together. That's been the key to our success this season."
Both teams came out strong with Seattle grabbing an early chance as Lyndsey Patterson was played down the left side toward goal. Her shot from close range, however, could only be lifted over the bar. From that point on Ottawa had the better of the game, controlling play between both boxes and limiting Seattle to shots from range.
Outerbridge had an impact from the start and put the Fury in the lead eighteen minutes in. Played into the box Outerbridge lifted the ball over Sounders goalkeeper Elizabeth Ruiz and into the net.
Ottawa's control of the game didn't lend itself to many opportunities as the game neared halftime. Patterson again showed her speed down the right side but couldn't draw Seattle level as her shot sailed high and wide from a tight angle.
Just before half Ottawa nearly double their advantage as Courtney Wetzel played Outerbridge down the left. the league MVP skipped inside two defenders and forced Ruiz into a diving save.
Three minutes into the second half and the Fury had that two-goal lead. Courtney Wetzel fired in a free-kick from outside the box into the upper-90 putting one foot in Sunday's season finale. Ruiz again came up big keeping Seattle within reach with another diving save, this time pushing Alyssa Lagonia's left-footed strike away.
One minute later, however, Outerbridge put the game out of reach as she pounced on Ruiz's fumble and poked home for a 3-0 advantage.
Seattle still had something left and the constant pressure lead to a 79' red card to Ottawa's Casey Ramirez for a hand ball inside the box. Seattle's Jocelyn Charette slotted home the PK and ensured a frantic finish. Two minutes from time Seattle pulled within a goal as Justi Baumgardt-Yamada's strike found the back of the net.
As it was Ottawa regrouped and killed off the game's final minutes to book a place in Sunday's finale where they'll go for a perfect season and first W-League Championship after having reached the final in both 2005 and 2006.