Flash Rally to Earn Draw against Nwsl-Leading Spirit
September 3, 2016 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Western New York Flash News Release
*BOYDS, MD ---* The Western New York Flash (8-5-4) entered Saturday night trying to retake third place in the NWSL standings from the Chicago Red Stars and bump themselves further into the playoff picture. To do so, they would have to knock off the first-place Washington Spirit (11-3-3), which would also mean evening up the season series between WNY and Washington after a 3-0 Spirit win back in April. For the Spirit, a tie or win would clinch them a playoff berth. In the end, both teams left content as the Flash picked up a point and the Spirit earned their playoff berth in the 1-1 draw at Maryland SoccerPlex.
The game opened with the league's two top-scoring teams trying to create chances, as Washington's *Crystal Dunn* got the first quality scoring chance in the 5' when she beat Flash goalkeeper *Sabrina D'Angelo* to the outside, but was too wide to put an accurate shot on goal and instead shot the ball over the net. Dunn would continue to create numerous chances for the Spirit, but D'Angelo and the Flash's back line were up to the task every time. One of the Flash's first quality scoring chances came in the 16' when *Samantha Mewis* dumped a pass halfway down the field, narrowly missing a streaking *Lynn Williams* - who had already beaten the Spirit defenders - before rolling into the arms of Washington goalkeeper *Kelsey Wys*.
The next quality chance didn't come until the 30', when Lynn Williams put a touch on the ball in the box only to find the hands of Wys. Shortly after, in the 34', Washington tallied their first shot on goal, as *Joanna Lohman *put a ball towards the top of the net that was just low enough for D'Angelo to make the save. D'Angelo then made another big save two minutes later, this time on a Crystal Dunn shot that was trying to find the far post. Williams continued to create chances for the Flash, including a shot that rang off the crossbar in the 38'. By the end of the half, the Flash held the advantage in possession, as they lead shots 12-5 and shots on goal 6-2, but still the scoreboard showed the two sides even at 0-0 after 45'.
The second half started out the same way, as both teams worked diligently to create chances. *Katie Stengel* crossed the ball to *Christine Nairn *62', but her shot was saved by D'Angelo. Not long after in the 60', the Spirit finally found the back of the net, as Stengel got around a charging D'Angelo and had her shot find the far side of the net. With the Spirit up 1-0, the game seemed to settle for the next few minutes before Williams again started to generate offense for the Flash, with one shot in the box being saved by Wys and another going over the net. *Lianne Sanderson* also had a few tries at the net, including one shot that looked like it would be on target before it was tipped wide.
Then, in the 85' minute, the Flash finally got the breaks they were looking for. First, on a corner kick by *Abby Dahlkemper*, Mewis headed the ball on goal before Washington's Nairn cleared it out of the box and away from danger. A mere 30 seconds later, Mewis found the ball deflected perfectly to her foot on a cross-pass and put a shot on goal. The shot looked as though it was about to be saved by Wys, but she was only able to get a piece of it, and the ball trickled over the line to equalize the score.
Unfortunately, the Flash wouldn't have much time to celebrate, as Dunn came right back and put a shot on goal near the post that D'Angelo had to make a kick save on. As the game wore into the final few minutes, defense became essential as the Flash and the Spirit both made game-saving tackles to keep the game even at 1. Finally, after an additional 3:30 of stoppage time, the final whistle was blown, ending the game in a 1-1 draw. Both teams would take the 1 point, as the Spirit clinched a playoff spot, while the Flash moved into a tie for 3rd place with the Chicago Red Stars.
"I think the fact that we came back, it almost feels like a win," Flash Head Coach Paul Riley said. "I hope the adrenaline will keep going through our short turnaround. The overall effort tonight was outstanding. We created enough chances to sink the ship, but we just weren't able to sink the ship."
The Flash will be back in action Wednesday, September 7, for their first of their remaining three matches when they travel to Boston to face the last-place Breakers. Kickoff for the match is slated for 7:00 p.m. and a live stream will be available at youtube.com/nwsl. Following that game, the Flash travel to Oregon to face Portland Thorns FC on Saturday, September 11, and then close out the regular season by travelling back to Boston to face the Breakers again on September 24.
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National Women's Soccer League Stories from September 3, 2016
- Flash Rally to Earn Draw against Nwsl-Leading Spirit - Western New York Flash
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