SAN DIEGO WFC SEALIONS 1, AJAX AMERICA 2
LOS ANGELES, CA (05/23/10) - Shannon Cross' 90th minute goal off a corner kick provided the winning tally as the Ajax America Women (1-0-0 WPSL Pacific-South) edged the San Diego WFC SeaLions 2-1 at Nansen Field in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.

San Diego WFC's Heidi Armstrong equalized the game in the 51st minute off a corner kick from Vanessa Ybarra. Ajax opened the scoring on a Sabrina Demonte marker in the 40th minute.
 
After controlling most of the match and out-shooting Ajax, the SeaLions (0-2-0 WPSL Pacific-South) seemed poised to earn their first point of the season, but Ajax was awarded a late corner kick and converted it past SeaLions goalkeeper Kaycee Gunion. Prior to giving up the winning goal, Gunion made several wonderful saves to keep Ajax off the board.
 
"We played extremely well today and created many scoring opportunities that eventually led us to our first goal of the season," said SeaLions Head Coach Jen Lalor-Nielsen. "We were more dangerous today than Friday night and the mark of a good team is to keep improving game after game. I am so proud of the girls for their level of commitment and to see where we are at now just after two games into the season is so encouraging. I am looking forward to see  how far this team can go."
 
San Diego WFC returns to action on Saturday, June 5, 7:30 p.m. against the Claremont Stars at Manchester Stadium on the campus of Cathedral Catholic High School.

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NEW YORK A.C. 1, MILLBURN MAGIC 3
MADISON, NJ (05/23/10) - Millburn Magic took home all three points in their season opener after winning 3-1 against the New York Athletic Club at FDU College at Florham. Sensing a need to change tact early in the tie, the Magic subbed on Kayleigh Hines and Jeanette Salgado.

This soon paid off, as Salgado was able to get in at the back post after a cross from the left by Malecki, allowing her to fire home after 30 minutes. This partnership would prove to be pivotal for much of the remaining half, as the left wing continued to baffle NYAC while crosses whistled over defenders' heads.

However, Leah Loguidice was soon able to even things up after 41 minutes. Taking on Fierro, Loguidice was first parried but a struggle to clear the ball by Sahara Osborne allowed the free ball to return to the forward before it was fired home.

Keen to make amends, the new-look Magic line-up which featured a handful of substitutions soon made their mark in the second half as a pace-filled dash by Catie Galgano was topped off with a cross-like shot that looped over the head of the NYAC keeper. Soon, NYAC made Fierro's life hell with five shots in 15 seconds, though the keeper rose like a salmon to finally claim the ball, much to the delight of the vocal home support.

The third and final goal for the Magic was down to some brilliance from Kat Sheeleigh, who used her natural talent for finishing to dummy the keeper and pass it into the net on 79 minutes. The last five minutes proved to be an excellent spell for substitute goaltender Robin Chernow, whose acrobatic leaps stopped three inspired chances from NYAC, who could have won back the game in the dying minutes.

"I thought we started well but we didn't take our early chances; we didn't score when we were most on top," said Millburn Head Coach Andy Sones after the game. "I thought we sat back a little bit after we scored our first, allowing NYAC to come back in. They deserved the equalizer but we emphasized at half time that more pressure needed to be put on the ball. We came out quick, scored early and that made a difference."

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JERSEY SELECT 2, ASA CHESAPEAKE CHARGE 1
ODENTON, MD (05/22/10) - Efficiency was key to the Jersey Select's performance, with the team making the most of its chances to deliver a 2-1 victory over fellow league rookies ASA Chesapeake Charge.

While statistics don't lie, they certainly underline the efficiency of the Select in the franchise's debut. While the Charge registered no less than 18 shots in the game, the Select only had four; of those, only two were on target, and they were converted with ruthless competence.

Scoring opened after 11 minutes when Brittany Ratcliffe converted a clever one-touch pass from Kasey Makowski. Going one-on-one with Charge keeper Kristen Sample, Ratcliffe put the finishing touches on an excellent counter-attack, slotting it in with her left foot from 12 yards out.

However, in the 17th minute, Lisa Zanti leveled the game with an impressive strike that caught the back line off guard after they allowed too much space for the cross to come in. After half-time, the game may have been interpreted as a domination by the Charge in terms of stats, though their efficiency simply lacked.

"The Charge became frustrated," said Jersey Select Coach George Rhea. "Their game evolved into one dominated by long balls, and our defense ate it up, allowing the match to play into our hands. When they tried to force it, we took the ball off them and our confidence only got stronger."

After several missed opportunities, the Charge were finally put on the back foot once and for all when a brilliantly-taken corner from Nicolette DeLaurentis ended up on the head of Janine Valerio, whose bullet strike scorched the net.

"It summed up the efficiency of the Select," said said Jersey Select Coach Erwin van Bennekom. "The girls did exactly what was expected of them and we couldn't have wanted more. It makes us confident that with an even stronger team, we can go on to much better things."

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LONG ISLAND FURY 1, SOUTH JERSEY UNITED 0
CHERRY HILL, NJ (05/22/10) - A short direct kick from Philadelphia, the Long Island Fury defeated South Jersey United, 1-0, in Women's Premier Soccer League action tonight in the opener for South Jersey. The Fury improve to 2-0-0 in the young season.

Amanda Rooney of Hicksville scored on a 25-yard shot in the 38th minute to provide all the scoring that Long Island would need. Fury keeper Brittany Anghel of East Meadow made eight saves in recording the shutout.

"I thought that our team battled," commented Fury head coach Michael Demakis. "We worked the ball hard, we kept possession. I thought that a lack of legs prevented us from putting the game away. The youthfulness that we brought down with us pulled us through."

A solid defense has always been the hallmark of the Fury. The defending WPSL national champions have not conceded a goal in the last 694 minutes of play, dating back to the 2009 regular season.

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MAINE TIDE 0, NEW ENGLAND MUTINY 7
ENFIELD, CT (05/22/10) - The New England Mutiny (1-1 WPSL Northeast) netted two goals in the first six minutes and never looked back in a eventual 7-0 victory in front of a crowd of 1,175 at Enrico Fermi High School. Two Mutiny veterans - Mary-Frances Monroe (two goals, two assists) & Jenny Maurer (two goals) - would lead the offense on the night while the Tide (0-1 WPSL Northeast) offense never were able to get their legs underneath them, mustering one quality scoring opportunity on goalkeeper Jackie Fede (2 saves).

"The ladies really moved the ball around well tonight," said Mutiny assistant coach Roy Gurnon. "Defensively, we were really good. We didn't give up hardly any opportunities. We were able to spread them out quite well, and I thought our ball movement caused that to happen. We picked up right where we left off in the Aztec game."

"We're going to come out just as hard today for tomorrow's match [against Connecticut]," said Maine Head Coach Hailey Blackburn. "We made some mistakes but we're going to correct them tonight for tomorrow. We can only look forward from here."

Maurer would net the game-winning goal 3:05 into the match, firing a bomb over Jennifer Andrews (11 saves) & underneath the crossbar from just outside the penalty area. In the 6th minute, Therese Smith would go with her skill & touch, positioning her quick shot low to Andrews' left and inside the post with the assist going to Monroe.

New England's super substitute Sarah Brochu scored for the second straight match in the 26th minute, getting her second goal of the season on a back-post tap-in from a Monroe pass. But just under two minutes later, Monroe would net her own goal. University of Rhode Island's Alexis Veith would drive towards goal, draw the Tide defense and set up an open Monroe for the 4-0 lead at half-time.

In the second half, Erica Correa would take over in the Mutiny goal, but she wouldn't see a shot. Maurer would drive a hard shot through the crowd for the 5-0 lead in the 55th minute, Monroe would convert on a low cross from UConn's Meghan Cunningham under two minutes later and to finish the scoring, Brittany Barry finished off a nice through-ball from Vieth with 5:40 remaining in the match.

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BOSTON AZTEC BREAKERS RESERVES 4, SEACOAST UNITED 0
EXETER, NH (05/22/10) - In the first home match at beautiful Bill Ball Stadium at Exeter High School, first year WPSL team Seacoast United (0-2 WPSL Northeast) was defeated by the visiting Boston Aztec (1-0 WPSL Northeast) 4-0. Leah Blayney (Australia) tallied two for the Aztec with WPS' Boston Breakers Tiffany Weimer and Liz Bogus each scoring for the Aztec. The Boston Aztec are the reserve team for the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).

"I thought we did well for the first time playing together with the Breakers players." said Mike Kersker, Boston Aztec Head Coach. "It's never easy adding new players to the mix, however I thought both the Aztec and Breakers women adapted well and we played some quality soccer. Being a WPS bye week, we saw some additional players from the Breakers that we will not likely see every week."

The Aztec held possession from the start and applied pressure to Seacoast's backline but keeping a high defensive line, the home side was able to force the Aztec into a number of offside's early in the game. Seacoast goalkeeper Jill Schott (8 saves) of Providence College ranged out of her goal box to clear away threatening through balls.

The Aztec's continued pressuring paid dividends in the 43rd minute, as Weimer took a bouncing through ball from fellow Breakers' player Chioma Igwe and directed high over Schott into the net. The second half started with Seacoast getting some sustained pressure in the Aztec defensive zone. Breaking from the pressure in the 61st minute, Leah Blayney collected a ball at midfield, out ran Kendra Spencer to the goal and slotted the ball past Schott into the left side netting.

Six minutes later, the Aztecs scored again when a Seacoast defender missed a clearance that landed at Blayney's feet on the eight yard line, who drove the ball high under the cross bar. Bogus finished the scoring in the 85th minute by striking a through ball from Kristen Habenicht into the left side netting.

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CALIFORNIA STORM 7, CLOVIS SIDEKICKS 2
CLOVIS, CA (5/22/10) - On a peculiar bitter and breezy afternoon at Clovis North High School, the Clovis Sidekicks began their Women's Premier Soccer League campaign against the highly regarded California Storm. The California Storm, boasting a side with Brandi Chastain, the legendary Sisi of Brazil, and many other highly notable female college players and alumni; it seemed as though that the Sidekicks would have their work cut out for them the entire ninety minutes.

This seemed the case in the first half when Chastain scored within four minutes of kickoff, and the situation became worse as she doubled the score in the 24th minute. At this point, many were counting out the Sidekicks to come back from a 2-0 deficit, but through pressuring their opposition with aggression and determination, they created their first goal from a slick through ball and a classy, low strike finish from Santa Clara's Anessa Patton in the 28th minute.

The Sidekicks' desire to pressure with continuous attack and tenacity paid off once more as Nikki Schrey set up Heidi Witschi for a brilliant high corner shot. With the score level at 2-2 going into half-time, Clovis knew that continuing pressure along with smart defending would pay dividends when the final whistle blew.

With the enormous crowd and momentum behind the Sidekicks, they began firing on all cylinders once again at the start of the second half but their fire dwindled as they made minor mistakes that resulted in Chastain netting her hat trick in the 53rd minute. Consequently, four more goals were added by the California Storm, including one by the renowned Sissi to make the final score 7-2.

"It was a good first game, I am proud of [the Clovis Sidekicks]," said California Storm Head Coach Jerry Zanelli. "I felt that the score-line was not justified to how well the Sidekicks played today. They had lots of aggression and were very physical, but the first half did not concern me considering we are a second half team."

"I looked around and I was like, wow, there are so many people here today, it was a great crowd," said Chastain. "I am very proud for the Sidekicks... the Women's Premier Soccer League is overlooked and it is good to see the Central Valley finally establish a team."

"For the first match of the season at this level, of course, we will have some things to improve on," said Clovis Sidekicks Head Coach Milt Contreras. "I felt that we have minor issues to rectify, but at least we know that our team can score at any moment since we had two great goals."

About the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL): The WPSL is a 50-plus team national league with five conferences starting in 2010 and is the largest women's soccer league in the world. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The WPSL's mission is to provide the highest level of soccer in our effort to: bring affordable & quality family entertainment to the community; display positive role models for our youth; while, being a stepping stone for aspiring professional & international-level players.

For more information, visit our official website at http://www.wpsl.info, phone us at 1-800-854-0913 or contact us via email at media@wpslsoccer.com. You can also keep up with our league on our social media networking sites on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter!!

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