San Diego knocks Issaquah out of WPSL playoffs

The San Diego SeaLions (in blue) edged Issaquah SC 2:1 in the 2012 WPSL playoffs on Saturday night in California. (SeaLions Facebook photo)

The San Diego SeaLions beat Issaquah SC 2:1 on July 21st to knock the first-year club out of the WPSL playoffs in its first post-season attempt. Mary Hill brought Issaquah to within a goal late in the match, but ISC couldn’t find a second tally to stay alive. San Diego was up 1:0 at the half and 2:0 early in the second.

In the other WPSL playoff match of the day at San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic High School Salk Lake United beat the California Storm 3:1. The SeaLions and United will meet on Sunday July 22 to determine which side advances further in the playoffs.

Read a playoff report from both matches at SoccerNation.com.

San Diego’s home team, the SeaLions picked up their first goal in the fifteenth minute, after SeaLions midfielder Danica Carey collided with Issaquah’s goalkeeper and a defender. As the three tumbled to the pitch and the ball dribbled away, forward Alex Webber managed to get a foot on the ball and redirect it into the net for the 1-0 lead. The score would stay that way through the remainder of the first half.In the second half the SeaLions came out looking to open up the lead. Their chance came in the 52nd minute on another goal-mouth scramble.

 

Once again it was Webber in the thick of things as she went into the keeper on a 50-50 ball. The two fell to the ground and the ball bounced away. Issaquah attempted to clear it, but Shelby Murphy was there to hammer the ball into the net for what would prove to be the winning goal.

Issaquah increased the pressure, and finally in the 89th minute they broke through. Issaquah forward and Trinidad & Tobago Women’s National Team member Maylee Attin-Johnsoncentered a pass to midfielder Abby Brauer, who then passed it along to defender Mary Hill who had pushed up past midfield. Hill took the ball in past one SeaLion defender and lofted a left-footed shot across her body that sailed just over the reach of San Diego goalkeeper Kaycee Gunion for the score. —Stephen Prendergast

Issaquah SC finished their expansion season with an overall record of 5-2-4.

Issaquah players enter Cathedral Catholic High School’s stadium before their match against the San Diego Sea Lions. (Twitter photo)

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