Girls U-12 Final

FC Vancouver Justice 1 - Emerald City White 0

The game started very even with both teams playing mostly in the middle of the field. Vancouver had the first chance of the game off of a cross from the right side that found the foot of Angela Gelhar, but the Emerald City keeper make a spectacular save on the shot. In the first 10 minutes or so of the half Vancouver has sent numorous long balls on counter attacks, that Aubree Mladenovic has had to make tackles on and snuff out the Vancouver attack.

Both teams have played some good defense stopping the others attack before it gets near the 18 yard box. 15 minutes into the game,Vancouver gets it's 1st scare on a long ball played over the defense. As the keeper for Vancouver comes out to clear it outside the box, she misses it and it heads toward goal. A heads up play by her teammate on defense, turns it from a possible goal to a corner by tracking back and clearing it over the end line.

Emerald City then starts to link some passes and for the next 10 minutes of the half begins to get the better of the play. On a free kick from Laura Rayfield that sails into the box, Achijah Berry makes a soft touch to trap it under control. Just a bit unlucky on the shot as it sails wide, but a nice chance for Emerald City. Minutes later on a nice pass from Cloe Cross to Kory Spotts. Spotts hits a quick shot just wide.

The two teams head to half at zeros, with Emerald City having more of the play. Vancouver looking very dangerous on a few counter attacks at times and both defenses playing well. Overall shots on goal are similar.

As the second half starts, you can tell Vancouver has stepped up their play. They control the first 5 minutes with passing that wasn't a factor in the first half. They look much better and it's caught Emerald City a bit off guard.

Vancouver then has two very good chances to score. A balls played out wide right, where Ileanna Zabello takes it drives up the field and then finds Cassandra Black in the middle of the field. Blacks shot sails wide, but a nice attempt. Just minutes later Vancouver has some pretty combination passing. Going from the right sideline Black finds teammate Brittany Wilson, who finds Melissa Williams who's shot just misses.

Emerald City had their best chance with about 10 minutes left in regulation. When Gabriella Rodriguez found herself at the top of the 18 with the ball and hit a hard shot at the keeper. A couple feet either way and it scores, the pace it was struck was very good.

Vancouver had the last chance to score in regulation getting Sarah Slayton free on the left side breaking towards goal and on her way into the box. Slayton hits a shot at the Emerald City keeper, who preserves the tie and both teams head to the first OT.

OT starts and just minutes into it. A small breakdown at the back for Emerald City a ball bounces thru a crowd and Brittany Wilson crashes in from the right side and hammers it home for Vancouver. Wilson ends the game on golden goal.

Boys U-12 Final

NW Nationals 1 - FC United 0

This was definitely a game of different styles. Nationals surgical with their passing and FC United playing longer balls out of the back and more direct. From the start it seemed the Nationals would have their way, but FC United played tough and in some way forced the Nationals away from their game at times.

Very early in the 1st half the Nationals after some great combination passing found Parker Powell at the top of the box. Powell took a tough ball played in and had a great touch, then hammered it high and hard at the goal. Beating the United keeper and just getting it under the crossbar for an early National lead at 1-0. Just minutes later the Nationals nearly struck pay dirt again. Sean Wagner hit a hard shot high beating the keeper, but hitting the corner edge of the post and having it go out for a goal kick.

United then settled in and started playing a bit more relaxed and composed. It seemed during the 1st half the couple of times their forwards got the ball, they were alone against 4 to 5 Nationals defenders or midfielders. The numbers just never seemed to give United the best chance to create chances to score.

Before the half ended the Nationals had a few more chances to score. Derek Byrne had a chance on the left side of the box that the United keeper saved. Then before half the Nationals had a free kick from the top left side of the 18. DeAndre Yedlin sent a nice lofted ball that Nick Douwes headed over and wide. They head to half up 1-0 and controlling most of the half.

The first 10 minute of the second half were very similar to the first half. The Nationals pinging the ball around. They got a great chance on some nifty combination play. Daniel Shull started it with a pass to Parker Powell who calmly layed it to Frankie Zitnik who hit a hard shot that the United keeper got a hand on to make a save.

Later in the second half FC United had a few good long balls that found Jordan Billy, who attempted two times in a row to beat two to three Nationals players to get to goal. Both times being so close, but losing the ball. His effort though....... was brilliant. Minutes later FC United had another good chance when Billy sent a ball in to Jared Montgomery who's shot went wide. Then Billy sent a diagonal ball from right to left across the box that just missed teammates Cortlin Cablayan and Bryce Joling.

The whistle blew and the Nationals won 1-0. A good overall game for the Nationals who seemed to control most of the play. I thought FC United played hard though and at no point looked to be be down or out of the match. A tribute to the strong defense they played overall.

WPS Staff