By Tiffany Willits, Media Intern/USA CUP Reporter
Above: A few Lamorinda girls raise up their trophy with goalkeeper Sophie Leksan. Lamorinda would go on to win the championship game, despite So Cal Blues making a run to force overtime.
The girls’ vElite U17 championship game of the So Cal Blues versus Lamorinda took place at 12:50 p.m. in the NSC Stadium following the boy’s vElite championship game. Lamorinda’s Megan Turner scored the first goal during the 21st minute of play. Lamorinda SC took the early lead 1-0 on an early mistake by So Cal Blues goalkeeper, Ashton McKeown. McKeown came up too far in her goal, which lead to the first goal of the game.
Second half began at 1:45 p.m. with 40-minute halves. So Cal Blues made a change in the goalie net at the half and put Naomi Willett in for McKeown. With a chance to easily score and tie the game up for the So Cal Blues, Amber Munerlyn just missed her shot.
Lamorinda’s Katie Tao took a free kick, but the save was made by Willett. A corner kick was then awarded to Lamorinda and after a few bounces, forward Hilary Buchanan scored making it 2-0 Lamorinda in the 53rd minute.
As plenty of time was left for the So Cal Blues to make up the deficit, play continued. The So Cal Blues had 17 shots on net, but nothing to show for it as they couldn’t seem to knock any in. Shots were taken by forward Sydney Zuccolotto and midfielder Jordan Magnin for So Cal Blues.
During the 69th minute, Zuccolotto was able to knock in a goal to put the So Cal Blues on the board and cut the lead in half.
With a few minutes remaining in the game, Buchanan worked by herself towards the end to break by defenders working a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Trying to score her second goal of the game, she fell short.
With virtually no time left on the clock—Kelly Fitzgerald tied the So Cal Blues up to force the game into overtime at 2-2.
Overtime would be played with two 5-minute halves due to the heat. An early chance by So Cal Blues forward Taylor Alderete resulted on an injury for her shot on goal. The shot was no good.
A few moments later Lamorinda’s forward Kaitlin McGee put Lamorinda up on top with a one-on-one breakaway goal. Lamorinda would go on to win the 2011 vElite girls’ championship game 3-2.
“We strongly believe the team worked through the heat. It’s awesome. This is our second tournament for the summer and our girls’ played through,” said Lamorinda’s coach Mohamed Mohamed.
“We are not used to the humidity, but this was a great game. I appreciate the USA CUP organization.” This is our first year to Minnesota and to have facilities like this, I am very pleased. I appreciate the organization for the tournament and it was a great first year with PUMA.
“We had a great time staying in the dorms; it was a nice team bonding experience. For our girls that will be going to college soon, this was an overall positive experience,” Mohamed smiled.
Goalkeeper Sophie Leksan had 17 total saves in the game. “I have no words to describe the feeling. We played our hearts out. We came back when we had to,” Leksan said.
The girls will travel to the WPS championship game in the location for the highest seeded team in the WPS.
Above: Raising their number one's to the sky, Lamorinda SC will travel to the WPS championship game as their prize for winning the vElite girls' championship game on Sunday, July 17 during USA CUP.
Above: Despite forcing overtime in the final minutes of the vElite girls' championship game on Sunday, the So Cal Blues pose with their second place medals falling short 2-3.
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