6/27 UPDATE: Match highlights now posted: http://www.youtube.com/user/miamikickersfc

PLANTATION, FL -- Miami Kickers F.C. took a major step towards a second consecutive Sunshine Division title on Friday night, with a 5-0 victory over Palm Beach United.  Laura Weinberg opened the scoring in the 40th minute, setting up a flurry of second half goals.  First-year striker Haleigh Stremanos scored twice, and Lauren Reilly and Shurell Burton added their first goals of the season.   Meanwhile, goalkeeper Victoria Alonzo made seven saves to hang on to the clean sheet.  The Kickers will have no time to rest as they host Sunshine -leading FSA Freedom on Sunday night at 7:00.

The first half got off to a slow start, as both sides took their time to feel one another out.  Following a wave of substitutes around the 30th minute, Miami began to take control and pressure the Palm Beach defense.  The breakthrough came when 2009 Player of the Year April Perry found Weinberg on a long cross.  Weinberg fired a shot to the keeper's left for her second goal of the season, giving the Kickers a 1-0 half-time lead.

Miami wasted little time extending its lead in the second half.  In the 49th minute, Stremanos collected a pass from Perry and fired a strike to the top left corner of the net, well out of the keeper's reach.  The Kickers added to their lead seven minutes later.  Olivia Elias' shot was deflected high in the air at the top of the 18, but Reilly was there to finish the play with a header.  The barrage continued in the 63rd minute, when Weinberg drew the keeper away from the net and then found Stremanos for the easy tap in.  Finally, in the 76th minute, Burton out-maneuvered two defenders at the top of the 18, turned, and drove home the fifth goal.

With the victory, the Kickers (2-1-1, 7 points) have put themselves very much back into the Sunshine Division race.  Palm Beach (3-2-1, 10 points) holds on to second place for the time being, but has only two matches left to accumulate points while the Kickers have four remaining on the slate.  The biggest obstacle to a second straight playoff appearance is shaping up to be FSA Freedom (4-0-1, 13 points).  The Orlando-based team has scored 14 goals this season, while allowing only 1.

Miami Kickers F.C. will face FSA Freedom on Sunday night in a pivotal match at American Heritage Field.  Kickoff is at 7:00.  Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.  As always, youth players wearing their club jerseys will be admitted free of charge.

MATCH NOTES -- Weinberg and Stremanos lead the Kickers in goals with 2 each... Perry leads the team in assists with 3... Alonzo improved her goals against average to 0.80, and has not allowed a goal in her last 206 minutes of work... Natalie Simon was booked in the 90th minute, keeping alive the Kickers' streak of late game yellows.