Force Books Spot in W-20 Fina

Defeats Lake Norman 3-0 to take Group B

W-20 Feature
Saturday, July 27, 2013
BRADENTON, Fla. – Jennifer Borawski tallied a goal and an assist to lead Force FC Academy to a 3-0 win against Lake Norman SC and a spot in Sunday’s final at the 2013 W-20 Championship presented by Nike at IMG Academy. Detroit-area Force FC (3-0-0) only needed a tie Saturday to capture Group B and book a spot in Sunday’s all-Michigan final against the Kalamazoo Kingdom (3-0-0), who captured Group A.
Force FC started the game out of sync and struggling to connect, and Lake Norman tried to take advantage through striker Erin Settle, who was able to cause the Force defense headaches but couldn’t break through.
After a missed opportunity by Kyla Kellermann early, Borawski helped settle her team when she flicked the ball over her head from a tough angle to a wide open Irene Young, who headed into the net for a 1-0 lead 24 minutes in.
Needing a win to move on, Lake Norman tried to fight back in the second half and had two good chances, both from the foot of center back Maxlyn Foster. Foster hit a long free kick into the box in the 61st minute that caused trouble for Force keeper Jenna O’Dell, but her defense was able to clear.
In the 74th minute Foster hit a wind-aided corner kick that nearly found a way in, but O’Dell was able to tip it over the bar to preserve her third consecutive shutout.
Borawski sealed the victory when she was able to out-race the Lake Norman keeper to a loose ball near the end line, spin and fire home from a tough angle to make it 2-0. Kellermann finished the scoring in the 90th minute off a feed from Delia Soucie as Force FC finished group play with 11 goals scored and none allowed.
Force FC and Kalamazoo will meet at 9 a.m. Sunday on the IMG Academy stadium field, with the game streamed live on USLnation.com.

Kalamazoo Kingdom 2, Fredeericksburg Impact 0

A pair of first-half goals by Olivia Emery and Alyssa Bryant allowed the Kalamazoo Kingdom to complete a perfect group phase as they continued their positive play on the way to Sunday’s final with victory against the Fredericksburg Impact.
The game was reasonably even in the opening 15 minutes, but as time wore on Kalamazoo was able to gain the upper hand as the Kingdom held more possession and starting pushing higher up the field. Michaela Kovacs had the first good opportunity in the 16th minute as her shot from the top of the penalty area was comfortably saved, but the Kingdom eventually took the lead in the 25th minute as a good pass released Emery down the left side. She cut inside her defender and into the penalty area before driving a low right-footed shot into the left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Fredericksburg had a chance to equalize in the 36th minute as a good counter-attack found Melissa Messler, but her shot toward the left corner was well saved. Six minutes later Kalamazoo doubled its advantage on an outstanding strike by Bryant, who controlled and then fired a dipping shot from 30 yards that flew just underneath the crossbar and in.
The Imact had a better run of the play in the second half, but still had difficulty breaking down a Kingdom defense that conceded just once in its three group games. Darby Kelly had a good shot from a free kick at the top of the penalty area saved, and Georgia Brown had a great chance when she intercepted a pass in midfield, and was then found on a through-ball as she continued her run toward the penalty area, only to chip her finish wide of the right post.
Kalamazoo’s CiCi Gonzalez had a pair of late chances to add to the Kingdom’s lead, the first getting called back for obstruction as she headed home a corner kick before she clipped a finish off the top of the crossbar after a good move down the right. In the end, however, the Kingdom ran out comfortable winners as they prepared to meet their division rival Force Football Club in Sunday’s final.


Carolina Elite Cobras 4, Ottawa Fury 0

The Carolina Elite Cobras recorded a clean sheet in their final match of group play, defeating the Ottawa Fury 4-0 on Saturday. The Cobras scored three goals in the first half en route to their first victory of the tournament. Laurent Watts netted twice for Carolina, as Kasey Wyer and Natalie Lackey also etched their names onto the score sheet.
Carolina opened up the scoring in the eighth minute. After being flagged narrowly offside in the previous attack, Lauren Watts was again sent in on goal as a result of a defense-splitting through ball by Madeleine Brock. Watts took a deft touch around the Fury keeper and finished calmly for a 1-0 lead.
Carolina found the back of the net again three minutes later as Ottawa was not able to fully clear its area, leading to sustained Carolina pressure. Kasey Wyer eventually collected the ball at the top of the box, and her shot to the top right corner of the goal was unstoppable.
Watts rose up impressively to smash a header past the Fury goalkeeper in the last bit of action before halftime. Kaleigh Kurtz served up a teasing cross for Watts in the 41st minute, and the Cobras striker made no mistake as Carolina headed into halftime with a commanding 3-0 lead.
The first few chances of the second half fell to Ottawa. Sam Grove hit the crossbar with a floated effort on an open goal in the 51st minute. Maylyn Parsons, who had been subbed into the game as a goalkeeper at halftime for Carolina, then robbed Ottawa’s Delphine Laroche of a clear scoring chance in the 63rd minute with a point-blank save.
The Cobras added their fourth and final goal in the 75th minute as Maggie Grisell’s effort on goal was blocked by the Ottawa keeper but not cleared out of danger. Natalie Lackey was quick to react and rewarded with the goal.
“It was nice to go out there and get the win,” Cobras’ coach Liam Brown said. “We played well as team, the girls kept a good attitude, and we are able to leave here with something very positive.”