Women's Soccer News: D.C. United Women Take Key W-League Victory

Howell has goal, assist in 3-2 win against Fredericksburg

D.C. United Women remained perfect, and handed the Fredericksburg Impact their first defeat of the season, as Mikaela Howell had a goal and assist in a 3-2 victory on Saturday afternoon at the University of Mary Washington. The win allowed United to open a six-point lead at the top of the Atlantic Division as they near the midway point of the season.

D.C. (5-0-0) took the lead in the 13th minute, Howell playing provider for Ashley Herndon as her cross from the left side of the penalty area was tucked away for the opening goal. The Impact (3-1-0) hit back six minutes later as Missy Wycinsky found space on the right side, and her cross found Becca Wann for the equalizer.

The sides seemed set to go to the halftime break even, but United grabbed the lead in stoppage time as Caroline Blank picked up a half-cleared cross and fired a low shot into the left corner of the net. D.C. added to its lead just before the hour-mark as Howell scored her fourth goal of the season. After a good piece of work by Lianne Sanderson, who beat two defenders before finding Howell in the penalty area, the 24-year-old fired her shot into the upper-right corner of the net.

Howell’s goal proved important, as the Impact pulled a goal back from the spot in the 68th minute after Wycinsky was brought down in the penalty area. Sandra Matute converted, but the Impact wasn’t able to find an equalizer as United controlled the bulk of possession in the final 20 minutes.

FRIDAY

CHARLOTTE 2, FC JAX 1: The Charlotte Eagles completed a perfect road trip as goals by Macky Wingo and Gloria Douglas allowed their side to rally from an early deficit against the FC Jax Destroyers at Jacksonville University Stadium.

The Eagles (7-0-0) previously took a pair of victories against the VSI Tampa Flames earlier in the week, but fell behind in the sixth minute to the Destroyers (0-5-1) as Lindsay Zuollo opened the scoring.

Wingo got the Eagles back on even terms in the 21st minute, however, and the Eagles maintained their perfect start to the season as Douglas, brought on as a halftime substitute, scored nine minutes after the break for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

SEATTLE 0, VANCOUVER 0: The 40th edition of the Whitecaps-Sounders contest in the W-League ended in a scoreless draw as the Whitecaps put an end to their rivals’ perfect start to the season. Gurveen Clair made six saves for Vancouver, while Katie Hultin had five for the Sounders.

The Sounders (4-0-1) had chances to take the lead in the first half, their best opportunity coming in the 16th minute as Megan Manthey centered for Lyndsey Patterson, only for her shot to be blocked.

Stephanie Cox also went close in the second half, hitting the post with a long-range shot in the 76th minute, but shortly after the Whitecaps (0-3-2) had a chance of their own as Mele French was able to get in behind the Sounders’ defense, only to be denied by Hultin. Clair then made a big save for the Whitecaps with six minutes to go, denying Keelin Winters’ header off a Sophie Reiser corner, as the sides remained scoreless at the final whistle.

SATURDAY

NORTH JERSEY 1, LONG ISLAND 0: The North Jersey Valkyries grabbed a late goal to take victory against the Long Island Rough Riders at Cy Donnelly Stadium, as Kriss Greenwood earned her side its second victory of the season.

The Rough Riders (3-2-0) created chances, outshooting the Valkyries 9-3 in the first half and 19-5 overall, but they were unable to capitalize as Katherine Courter made 13 saves to keep the Valkyries in the game. North Jersey (2-1-1) was able to capitalize in the final minute, as Ashley Clarke played in Greenwood, who gave her side victory with a good finish.

SUNDAY

LAVAL 3, TORONTO 0: The Laval Comets closed the gap on the Toronto Lady Lynx at the Bois-du-Boulogne Sports Center as goals by Carolina Beaulne, Chloe Malette and Nkemjika Ezurike handed the division-leading Lady Lynx their second defeat of the weekend.

Toronto had fallen 1-0 to the Quebec City Amiral on Saturday afternoon, and fell behind against the Comets in the 19th minute as Beaulne finished off a chance created by Sarah Robbins. Malette then doubled the lead in the 34th minute, Catherine Charron-Delage playing provider, before halftime substitute Ezurike capped the performance with a goal 16 minutes from time.

The victory moves the Comets within two points of the Lady Lynx and Hamilton FC Rage at the top of the Central Conference, with Laval facing Hamilton this weekend with an opportunity to continue to move up the standings.

ATLANTA 3, FC JAX 0: The Atlanta Silverbacks maintained their perfect start to the season, and kept on course for a showdown next weekend with the Charlotte Lady Eagles, with a comfortable victory against the FC Jax Destroyers at Jacksonville University Stadium.

Tiffani Turpin gave the Silverbacks the lead in the 20th minute, and four minutes later the lead was doubled as Elizabeth Guess scored her fourth goal of the season. The goal briefly gave Guess sole possession of the team lead in goals, but Kristin Burton matched her 11 minutes into the second half to cap the victory.

The Silverbacks and Eagles remain undefeated, and are set to meet Saturday for the first of their three meetings this season, which will likely determine which side takes the division title.

PALI 3, COLORADO RUSH 0: The Pali Blues completed a successful trip to Colorado as Liz Bogus, Nikki Washington and Danielle Hubka each found the back of the net in a victory against the Rush at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Pali took a 2-1 victory against the Colorado Rapids Women on Friday night through a pair of goals by Lynn Williams, and got first-half goals from Bogus and Washington inside the first 10 minutes to take control of their game with the Rush. Hubka then added a third in the 65th minute after being brought on as a second-half substitute.

The Blues extended their lead at the top of the Western Conference, with a big road contest against the Seattle Sounders Women next on the slate on Wednesday, June 20 at the Starfire Sports Complex.

RESULTS

Monday, June 4

Seattle 3, Colorado Rapids 0

Wednesday, June 6

Charlotte 4, Tampa 1

Hamilton 2, Rochester 0

NJ Wildcats 4, NJ Rangers 1

Pali 8, Victoria 0

Thursday, June 7

Charlotte 3, Tampa 1

North Jersey 2, New York 0

Friday, June 8

Charlotte 2, FC Jax 1

Pali 2, Colorado Rapids 1

LA Strikers 3, Victoria 0

Seattle 0, Vancouver 0

Saturday, June 9

D.C. United 3, Fredericksburg 2

North Jersey 1, Long Island 0

Dayton 1, Virginia Beach 1

Quebec City 1, Toronto 0

Ottawa 6, London 1

Sunday, June 10

Atlanta 3, FC Jax 0

Pali 3, Colorado Rush 0

Laval 3, Toronto 0

Santa Clarita 6, Victoria 0

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, June 12

Dayton at Virginia Beach, 5:30 p.m. ET

Wednesday, June 13

Ottawa at Quebec City, 7 p.m. ET

LA Strikers at Vancouver, 7:30 p.m. PT

Thursday, June 14

Dayton at Fredericksburg, 6 p.m. ET

Santa Clarita at Colorado Rapids, 6 p.m. MT

Long Island at NJ Wildcats, 8 p.m. ET

Friday, June 15

Charlotte at Central SC, 6:30 p.m. ET

Tampa at Atlanta, 7 p.m. ET

LA Strikers at Victoria, 7 p.m. PT

Saturday, June 16

Quebec City at London, 1 p.m. ET

North Jersey at NJ Rangers, 3 p.m. ET

Laval at Rochester, 5 p.m. ET

Atlanta at Charlotte, 5:30 p.m. ET

D.C. United at Northern Virginia, 7 p.m. ET

Fredericksburg at Virginia Beach, 8:30 p.m. ET

Santa Clarita at Colorado Rush, 7 p.m. MT

Sunday, June 17

Quebec City at Toronto, 2 p.m. ET

Laval at Hamilton, 4 p.m. ET

New York at Long Island, 5 p.m. ET

LA Strikers at Seattle, 4 p.m. PT

Tampa at FC Jax, 7 p.m. ET

W-League: The W-League is the first and longest-standing women’s soccer league in North American, featuring the highest level of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. With emphasis on quality ownership, retention, league standards and player development, the W-League is the strongest, most sophisticated and best organized women’s league on and off the field. The 2012 W-League campaign features 30 teams in three regional conferences playing 12-14 regular season matches. In addition to the league’s international and professional stars, elite amateur players have the opportunity to compete in the W-League while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is recognized throughout the world for providing superior competition for female players, while offering affordable family entertainment for fans throughout North America.

Related Articles: W-League on SoccerNation