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NWSL National Women's Soccer League

Western New York Flash

October 7, 2016 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release


CHICAGO- To hear Abby Erceg tell it, the Western New York Flash didn't have much choice but to get better this season. As she puts it, "there was nowhere for us to go but up."

With a win Sunday against the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Championship Game at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, there won't be any further to go. They will have arrived - as champions of the NWSL.

Erceg - who came to Western New York from the Chicago Red Stars in an offseason trade - played all 120 minutes of a dramatic 4-3 victory after extra time over 2016 NWSL Shield winners Portland Thorns FC. The win sealed the Flash a place in the NWSL title game for the second time in their history - although no one on the current roster was a member of that squad.

With so much turnover on the roster over the past few seasons - as well as the relatively late hire of Paul Riley as coach in February - expectations were not terribly high at the start of the 2016 campaign.

"It was easy for us to head into the season knowing there was only one place for us to go," Erceg said. "Paul came in and developed this belief within the group that we could do great things and he got us all believing in it."

With seven total selections inside the first 15 picks of the 2015 and 2016 NWSL College Drafts, there was an anticipation that that the Flash could improve upon their seventh place finish last season. But after three losses in their first five games, Western New York didn't seem destined for a place in the NWSL Championship Game before they reeled off a 6-1-0 home stand from May 21 to July 9 and firmly put themselves in contention for the playoffs.

"Each game we chipped away and we did what we needed to do," Erceg said. "[You get] results and the confidence builds and you get into these games knowing what you've done throughout the year and knowing how far you've come and believing in each other and building that trust throughout the season."

Each game during that stretch the Flash found ways to win as their lethal offense started to take shape and ultimately led to fantastic seasons from forward Lynn Williams (11 goals, 5 assists) and Jessica McDonald (10 goals, 7 assists).

Midfielders Samantha Mewis (5 goals, 2 assists) and rookie Makenzy Doniak (3 goals, 4 assists) also made telling contributions as did the 5-10 Erceg (2 goals, assist) - who served as the target for McDonald's long throw-ins from which the Flash scored their first three goals in the NWSL semifinal against the Thorns.

"Obviously, we've done a lot of work behind the scenes working on our game plan and finding out what works for us," Erceg said. "Sometimes it's not pretty and sometimes it is and we've just made sure we've done what we needed to do and it's been a really fun season."

Fun could be an understatement come Sunday in Houston. But despite the pressure surrounding any championship match, Erceg and her teammates aren't forgetting to enjoy the moment.

"The girls are really excited, I'm really excited as well," Erceg said. "These games don't come around very often, so it's really exciting for us and we're happy just to be in there and do our thing for everyone who's watching, so that's going to be great."

And after emerging with a road playoff victory in the deafening atmosphere of Providence Park, where Riley said he could barely get instructions out to his players let alone have the players talk with each other - the first-year Flash coach thinks the semifinal win is just the latest building block as Western New York looks for its first NWSL championship and a more permanent place among the league's elite for years to come.

"They're a young group to experience that and I think now they've been through that 90 minutes and another 30 minutes [in extra time] - after [coming through that] it's something they're all embracing I think will help them down the road, obviously this weekend, and down the future."

The Washington Spirit and Western New York Flash will meet in the championship game to see who will be crowned the 2016 NWSL Champion, live on FOX Sports 1, on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. ET at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Fans may purchase tickets online at a8be5a6da7f4d8a5145c55fde NWSLChampionship.com, by phone at 713-276-GOAL or in person at the BBVA Compass Stadium box office.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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