Nighthawks Finish Strong By Winning 3 of 4 Remaining WPSL Matches!
San Francisco, CA (7/17/08) - The San Francisco Nighthawks started out the 4th of July weekend early, waking at 7a.m. and piling onto the bus headed for SoCal to play 2 of the Hawks 4 remaining 2008 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) games. After 9 hours on the road, the Hawks arrived at their first destination, Valhalla HS Stadium in El Cajon, unfurled their bodies and played a strong game against a new powerhouse in the Pacific-South Division, the SD United. Although the Hawks were always in the game, they let 2 goals in the net and were unable to counter.
After a good night’s sleep and an even better breakfast of pancakes, huevos done two ways, chilaquiles, fresh fruit, juice and coffee at the wonderful Stella's on Third, sponsored by coach Petra's family friend’s Roland and Stella, the players were ready for the 2nd game of the trip. Before heading to the game, the Hawks superb bus driver Carlos took the team on a tour of the beautiful San Diego beaches and then the players took a short nap so they would be ready for the SeaLions at Manchester Stadium in San Diego.
The SeaLions game had an ominous start with the announcer having difficulties with our starting lineup, but no difficulty with heralding the many WUSA, USA and International Players the SeaLions possess...then the National Anthem failed, so the Nighthawks took it upon themselves to sing proudly the entire song to the cheers of the predominately SeaLion crowd.
After a close first half battle with San Diego up 0-1, the coaches challenged the Hawks: "Gut check time: Can you change your fate?" Where upon the Hawks all enthusiastically replied "YES". Then the coaches challenged the Hawks to "Win the air balls, win the 50/50 balls, focus hard and connect passes through the center".
Within the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half the Hawks showed focus, veteran goalkeeper Sarah Walker made 2 brilliant saves inspiring the Hawks, who in turn started winning 50-50 balls, headers, and showed off their footwork. Erica Dubin-Wheeler, a defensive center midfielder for the Hawks, began moving the ball effortlessly through the middle of the field- attacking the SeaLions defense again and again.
Throughout the 2nd half, the Hawks kept loose and relaxed, supported by the cheers of Hawk fans (3 total) - and the giggling Hawks bench. With 15 minutes remaining- Jocelyn "J-Sauce" Charette launched a cross finding Cristina "Q" Quintero’s head, scoring the equalizer. The bench erupted and urged the field 11 to keep pressing, which they did. After a yellow card hard foul by SeaLionAleaKerch, a former Hawk player and WPSL Defensive MVP, the Hawks Jackie "Jax" Cruz placed a perfect free kick to Lauren Bustos who headed it to the smallest Hawk Kristina "Kitten" Hall who leapt over all the giant SeaLions to score the game winner with a header! The longest 5 minutes in history ensued as San Diego scrapped back, striking a couple of great shots but not past the stellar San Fran keeper, Sarah Walker. At last the game ended with the Hawks claiming a well earned 2-1 victory. Smiles were abundant.
Needless to say the trip home was a fun one- and the momentum from that game carried into both final games. The Nighthawks beat the FC Sacramento Pride 4-0 in Sacramento on Saturday, July 12th and defeated the Walnut Creek Power 2-1 Sunday, July 13th at the Hawks Kezar home.
The Nighthawks ended the 2008 WPSL season with a 4-3-3 conference record and a 6-5-3 overall record- posting their first winning season in 10 years.
WCFC'S Alex Morgan (L) & San Francisco's Sarah Walker (R) are named WPSL Co-Players of the Week
SACRAMENTO, CA (07/15/08) - Success can be measured on a variety of levels. This week for our final Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Team of the Week for the 2008 season, we take a look at a pair from the Pacific Conference who helped their teams find their own distinct brand of success in 2008.
West Coast F.C. got a great performance from U.S. U-20 star Alex Morgan last weekend to win the Pacific-South title while farther north, San Francisco concluded their best season in WPSL competition with a third place finish in the Pacific-North via the goalkeeping prowess of Sarah Walker. Both players have been named the WPSL Co-Players of the Week for their efforts in bringing their respective teams to the "next level."
F Alex Morgan (WEST COAST F.C.) - WPSL CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK The Cal Bear star scored both goals for WCFC as they rallied to defeat SD United by a 2-1 score to clinch first place in the Pacific-South Division. The Second Team All-Freshman selection by Soccer America also starred for Tony DiCicco's U.S. U-20 National Team last month as they qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
F Alaina Beyar (LONG ISLAND FURY) The WPSL Co-Player of the Week was only available for two of the three matches last week for the Fury, but she netted three goals to now lead the team in goals scored with seven (tied with Jasmyne Spencer). With the wins, Long Island has wrapped up the East-Mid Atlantic title and will host the second-place side from the East-North in the conference playoffs.
F Ashley Freyer (SONOMA COUNTY F.C. SOL) The soon-to-be USC Trojan scored both Sol goals in a 2-1 win against the dangerous Monterey Blues, and she narrowly missed a hat-trick when another one of her shots grazed the post. Ashley's goals helped clinch the Sol's first ever WPSL playoff berth - as they will play Morgan's WCFC side in the Pacific playoffs - and a winning record for the third season in the team's three-year existence.
F Cristina Quintero (SAN FRANCISCO NIGHTHAWKS) The team's all-time leading goal scorer had two goals and an assist as the Nighthawks won both games this past weekend, sealing up a third place finish in the Pacific-North while posting a 4-3-3 winning season.
MF Becky Ryan (SOCCERPLUS CT) Against Adirondack, the Marquette star had another two-goal game for the Reds, as she scored the same in the Reds' last game against New York A.C. Ryan becomes the second player to score at least two goals in consecutive games this season for SoccerPlus CT - joining Brooke Knowlton who accomplished the same feat against Massachusetts and Maine.
MF Jenny Maurer (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY) The former Boston College captain was a one-woman show in the win over Massachusetts, tallying a goal and an assist. Yet, she was denied even more points as only five minutes into the game, the Stingers goalkeeper denied Maurer right on the goal-line.
MF Kat McKenna (MILLBURN MAGIC) A graduate of the Arsenal Academy and a Watford (English Premier League) veteran, McKenna has had an outstanding season for Millburn, working up and down the left flank as both a defender and midfielder. She won the free kick that led to the opening goal in the draw vs. Philadelphia, in addition to delivering outstanding crosses throughout the game.
MF Jayme Cargnoni (SD UNITED) The Wake Forest standout has been rock solid all season for SD United and scored three goals over the 4th of July weekend. Last weekend, Cargnoni scored the lone goal against WCFC on Saturday night and another against the Los Angeles Rampage on Sunday, securing third place in the Pacific-South for the former W-League side in its first year in the WPSL.
D Maureen Whitney (CALIFORNIA STORM) Combined with fellow Storm stalwarts in Sissi and Kim Yokers, Whitney contributed to a complete win over the Monterey Blues, helping the Storm clinch first place in the Pacific-North Division. Her ball control and defensive pressure aided the team effort as they did not allow any shots on goal.
D Marie Curtin (LONG ISLAND FURY) Opponents could not get by the Irish international in all three wins (without allowing a goal) last week for Fury coach Paul Riley, as she was named Defensive Player of the Match in two of the games and BigAppleSoccer.com Player of the Week as well.
D Kristyn Gawin (MYSC LADY BLUES) The rising sophomore for St. Louis University played the sweeper role for MYSC this weekend - as the regular starter was unavailable - and helped organize two shut-outs in a critical weekend against a talented F.C. St. Louis squad and a very athletic F.C. Twente3 IL unit. The Lady Blues can clinch the Midwest title with a win against Chicago on Wednesday.
GK Sarah Walker (SAN FRANCISCO NIGHTHAWKS) - WPSL CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK A Honorable Mention selection earlier this season, the former Yale and New England Mutiny backstop posted some big saves on Saturday in the win over the Walnut Creek Power, as she was peppered with 17 shots and several one-on-one breakaways.
HONORABLE MENTION: F Amy Warner (ALBUQUERQUE ASYLUM) - had three goals and an assist in Friday's win over Salt Lake Sparta; F Erin Clark (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY) - two goals vs. Massachusetts and was a constant threat on the flank; MF Chioma Igwe (SOCCERPLUS CT) - the former Santa Clara star had a solid performance in the midfield with an assist in the win over Adirondack; D Brianna Cunningham (SOUTH SELECT) - against Tulsa, the N.C. State standout was instrumental in blocking numerous shots, commanding the defense and captaining the team while also scoring off a header to clinch a draw in the 85th minute.
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