The Spirit-Breakers match was terrific, by the way. I'll have a writeup about it tomorrow (well, later today at this point).
Must say, I'm a tad disappointed that the semifinal pairings this year are Central-North and South-West... Would've been fun to see an all-NWSL-reserves final - defending WPSL champs versus defending W-League champs in the title match. I guess they *try* to rotate these, but Central-North seems to be an oddly common semifinal pairing since 2010: 2016: C-N, S-W 2015: C-S, N-W 2014: C-W, N-S 2013: C-N, S-W (side note: division shuffling meant that repeat finalists Houston Aces were representing the South in 2014 after being Central in 2013) 2012: C-N, S-W 2011: C-S, N-W 2010: C-N, S-W
Spirit Triumph Over Breakers in Playoff Battle of NWSL Reserve Teams I'm assuming that the pairings are based on seeding: Atlanta is #1 with a perfect record, then Chicago, Washington, and San Diego - each undefeated with one tie - based on goal differential. I do think that Chicago-Washington will be the real championship game - I don't think the other two teams compare.
http://www.wpsl.info/news/index.php?cat=1&id=2391 DIVISION WINNERS ADVANCE INTO FINAL FOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SET IN COLUMBUS, OHIO Final Four Teams
mmmmm you're a little late; Spirit dropped out yesterday and were replaced by the Breakers. That's what I was referring to.
24' - Chanel Johnson (BOS 1-0 CHI) 27' - Morgan Proffitt (BOS 1-1 CHI) 87' - Roselord Borgella (BOS 2-1 CHI)
The San Diego SeaLions won 3-1 and will play Boston in the championship match that's scheduled to kick off at 2 PM ET on Sunday.
Marissa Everett, who also plays for the University of Oregon, is included on San Diego's WPSL roster as well as the game day rosters we receive at all of the SeaLions home games. Former FC Gold Pride WPS Champion, Rosie Tantillo, got married at the beginning of the season and is now Rosie Tantillo-Colón. Just thought I'd add that Tantillo-Colón assisted on Ashley Johnson's goal as well as on San Diego's third goal scored by Jannely Farias in the 59th minute.
The final four was advertised as being in Columbus, but all of the matches are being played at Otterbein University in Westerville, which is about 15 miles north of Columbus. For those of you who are interested in watching the championship match between San Diego and Boston, here's the link: https://boxcast.tv/view/2016-wpsl-championship-985629?b=620813
BostonBreakers @BostonBreakers now GOAL! Breakers Reserves go 2-0 up with 15 minutes to go in the@WPSL National Championship Final!
[BOS-SDSL] 50' 1-0 #23 Chanel Johnson dribbles right-to-center to the 30-yd-line = 35m box right, serves over SDSL's backline to 15m center. #5 Kathryn Lenz (U. Tennessee) ghosts through the entire defense unnoticed (I w.a.g. she's the LB), one-touch chests ball across mouth, can't catch up to it -- and it rolls into back right low. SDSL gk took herself to left post, expecting an untouched bounce? 75' 2-0 Scrum above SDSL's box, they dribble away at 25m mid-left. Bad ground switch to circle back left intercepted by #11 coming back, taps right to #20. Quick forward serve over SDSL's scrambled line just eludes SDSL #14's chest, bounces behind her at arc top center. #12 Gilda Doria runs on alone, one-touch half-volley lobs GK into back right-ish -- it was so fast the camera didn't pan 90+1' (of +2') 3-0 SDSL pressing way up, Boston #12(?) hoofs to circle front right. #23 Chanel Johnson (Hartford U.) collects 1-v-2, outruns #14 to 16m mid-right, shoots right instep across mouth low, beats GK's sprawl into left side pipe. FT 3-0. Congrats to the Washington Spirit Reserves, the only team all year to beat this one they were both that good
Yes, congratulations to the Spirit and Breakers Reserves. It was a disappointing end to a very good season for the SeaLions, but with San Diego missing four key starters for the championship match, I was impressed that they managed to put up as good of a fight for as long as they did against Boston. Nice to see too that with over 100 teams in the WPSL, the SeaLions received a consolation trophy for finishing second in the league.
Its 6:30 PM EDT on Thursday, August 4th and... the WPSL website has yet to be updated with any stories about last weekend's championship, including who won it. But everyone go on and keep saying how amazing this league is.
I noticed the same thing. I'm beginning to think that the leagues consider Twitter feeds (either league-based or team-based) as "part of the league web site," so you should just go to Twitter to find these things.
Yeah, it's been a problem all season - they haven't been timely with just about anything. But I have to ask... ...have you actually read any of this thread?? You're sounding more like uninformed, holier-than-thou trolling with that statement because the tone of this entire thread has been confusion and disappointment - no one here has been singing WPSL's praises in any way. (The only positive comments anywhere have been on specific teams or matches.) I don't know why you seem to have such a big chip on your shoulder, but it's given you a massive inferiority complex if you this there's a WPSL bandwagon existing at all. So take a step back, take a deep breath, and don't paint all your fellow BigSoccer posters with the same brush, especially if it's the wrong color. Apologies if I'm sounding rough here, but the fastest way to totally piss me off is to put words in my mouth.
Yeah, you are getting a little rough about my post ( I didn't call you out specifically) but I can understand it to a degree... Allow me to clarify... "everyone" in this instance are the NWSL teams who choose to have reserve sides in this "league" and not only that, have gone out of their way to sing the praises of it. Chicago was particularly exultant about the WPSL after winning last year's championship. This year, Boston has also posted more praise of how great it is to have three teams under the same umbrella compete against each other in the same division. Which does not happen in any other legitimate sports league in the world. Also, its to those former W-League teams who chose this as an option. It really seemed to work for Washington this year. Not. (sarcasm font) Washington's desire to keep their travel within an hour of their home office instead of playing better competition within a couple hours drive in a more professionally-run league has really boosted not only their brand but the legitimacy of the sport itself (/sarcasm font). FC Dallas Women got an official invite to join the new pro-am league but decided winning a division by a +39 goal differential was better "development" for their players. It drives me crazy... I have a big chip on my shoulder because I've done a lot of work in both the W-League and WPSL in the past and all this neverending B.S. pisses me off. We all deserve better (fans, players, media, etc.) and at this point to continue to give this entitled, over-dramatic, spoiled brat child of a league attention is counter-productive, in my opinion. Its like WPSL mgmt. is daring all of us to stop giving them attention but... here we are, continuing to give them attention. I'm guilty of that right now! Ugh. Calgon take me away...