Spokane Shadow Reach WPSL West Final; Fall in Penalties to League Champ

Monday, July 15, 2024

The Spokane Shadow Women’s First Team put forth an amazing WPSL West Region Final Four performance with a 2-0 semifinal victory against San Francisco Nighthawks and a grueling 2-2 duel with eventual league champion California Storm that saw them exit in the eighth round of penalties. The Shadow were the lone team to score against California in their championship run as they outscored the other three opponents 14-0, including a 1-0 championship win against defending champion Charlotte.

Semifinal Recap – Shadow Advance to WPSL West Final

A pair of goals from Marissa Garcia propelled the Spokane Shadow Women’s First Team onto the WPSL West Region Final Sunday at 3:00 pm at Whitworth University.

The Gonzaga University standout scored in stoppage time of both halves as they downed San Francisco Nighthawks 2-0. They will face California Storm, a perennial power in the WPSL in the championship game. The Storm rolled to one-sides win against FC Premier in the other semifinal 8-0, posting a commanding lead prior to the opposing keeper being sent off with a second yellow card.

Assisting on Garcia’s two goals were from a pair of club youth alumni – Makayla Werner (Gonzaga U / Freeman HS) and Livvy Moore (Oregon / Deer Park HS).

WPSL Semifinal Scoring Summary

SPO: Marissa Garcia (Makayla Werner) 45+
SPO: Marissa Garcia (Livvy Moore) 90+
GK SO: Mercedes Cullen

Final Recap – Shadow Fall in Penalties in WPSL West Region Final

A dramatic back-and-forth affair between a pair of excellent teams ultimately came down to penalties Sunday in the WPSL West Region Final after the Spokane Shadow Women’s First Team finished overtime tied 2-2 with 2022 league champion California Storm. The visitors prevailed 6-5 in the tiebreaker in the eighth round.

Despite several excellent opportunities for both sides in the first half, the contest went to the break scoreless. It was the first time going scoreless in the first half at home this season and only the second for the season.

Theo visitors broke the stalemate in the 60th minute via Brendan Uribe but the magic connection of Gonzaga University duo Chelsea Le and Marissa Garcia came alive. Garcia tallied her third of the weekend 10 minutes later on a ball from Shadow club alum Le to tie things up.

More close calls came and went for both teams as the match moved onto the end of 90, prompting overtime.

Storm jumped on the board immediately with a goal from Elizabeth Hutchison just over a minute into the extra period, but with another 28 minutes to go that Zag duo would make magic again in the 101st to tie things up, this time Le scoring via Garcia.

The Shadow looked to have their first lead in their grasp in the final minute of the first overtime with a penalty, but Storm keeper Abbie Faingold made a huge save to keep things even.

After more dramatic moments in the second period, it came down to kicks from the mark to decide who would advance to the WPSL Final Four next weekend in Tulsa.

The Shadow had initial advantage after a Storm miss in the first round but two efforts off the woodwork would allow California to even things up and nearly end it only to see their fifth sail high, bringing on sudden death. After four conversions Faingold came up big once again in the eighth round, getting her hand on Taylor Copeland’s effort. Theo ball ricocheted off the underside off the crossbar and out of the goal, allowing Amelia Villa to give California the win on the next shot.

WPSL West Final Scoring Summary
CAL: Brenda Uribe (Camryn Lancaster) 60
SPO: Marissa Garcia (Chelsea Le) 70
CAL: Elizabeth Hutchison (Lauren Hunter) 92
SPO: Chelsea Le (Marissa Garcia) 101

Penalty Tiebreaker Shootout
Spo – Chelsea Le – goal
Cal – Erica Grilione – miss, wide
Spo – Livvy Moore – goal
Cal – Susie Long – goal
Spo – Marissa Garcia – miss, crossbar
Cal – Kellie Pagador – goal
Spo – Kyah Le – miss, post
Cal – Nicola Hauk – goal
Spo – Zoe Crockett – goal
Cal – Brendan Uribe – miss, high
… 3-3 …
Spo – Bre Koscielski- goal
Cal – Paloma Daubert – goal
Spo – Ellie Gusman – goal
Cal – Madelyn Dougherty – goal
Spo – Taylor Copeland – save, onto crossbar
Cal – Amelia Villa – goal
… Cal 6-5 Spo … 8 rounds

Goalkeepers
CAL: Abbie Faingold
SPO: Mercedes Cullen