San Diego SeaLions Celebrate Goal Against Ajax

Soccer Spotlight: SeaLions Clinch WPSL Regional Playoffs for the First Time Since 2006.

San Diego Women's Soccer is exciting and offers great fast paced acton the whole family can enjoy.  The WPSL San Diego SeaLions are undefeated for the past several games and are HOT...and are off to the Playoffs with a clear path to success.

The San Diego SeaLions (Women's Premier Soccer) went 2-0 this weekend, blanking the Claremont Stars 6-0 on the road on Saturday evening, and beating former rivals, Ajax 4-1 at home on Sunday. With Sunday’s win, the SeaLions secured a playoff berth, and will travel to Northern California in two weeks to battle for a spot in the WPSL’s Final Four Championship Tournament.

“This weekend proved to be an important one on many levels,” said Head Coach Jen Lalor-Nielsen. “Not only did we clinch a playoff spot, but more importantly we played well and with class. We scored 10 goals in two games, and only conceded one. We played smart, consistent soccer all weekend. The players have really come together. They believe in each other and in the system in which we play. ” 

The SeaLions got on the board early in Claremont on Saturday when UC Irvine standout Judy Christopher drove a powerful shot straight into the back of the net in the 15th minute. Three minutes later, former FC Gold Pride midfielder Rosie Tantillo finished a cross from Ashlin Yahr to make it 2 to nil SeaLions.

Shay Omahen scored goals three and four in the 23rd and 26th minutes of play. In stoppage time, with seconds remaining, Sarah McTigue received the ball, collected, turned and cracked it in, putting San Diego up 5-0 at halftime. The final goal of the match was converted with seven minutes remaining. SeaLion newcomer Amanda Collins sent a through-ball to Heidi Armstrong who was able to slot it in for a 6-0 finish. 

The SeaLions returned home on Sunday to play a critical match against former rivals, Ajax. San Diego dominated possession from the moment the whistle blew to kick off the match. Defensively, San Diego was unbeatable. Ajax never got anywhere near CSU San Marcos goalkeeper Kaycee Gunion. The San Diego SeaLions attacked with intensity. Numerous shots were fired, but nothing was converted in the first half. 

San Diego was finally able to open the floodgates in the 62 minute with a goal from Ashlin Yahr. In the 65 minute, Judy Christopher got her second goal of the weekend. Ajax answered four minutes later, when Bridgette Barden was able to get one past Gunion to put her team on the board. Yahr fired back in the 90th minute to seal the SeaLions 4-1 win over Ajax. 

The SeaLions will play one final regular season game at home at Cathedral Catholic High on Saturday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m.

The San Diego SeaLions  will travel to Northern California on July 23 and 24 to play two matches against the top teams in the Pac-North division of the WPSL.

This will be the first trip to the playoffs for San Diego since 2006, when the SeaLions advanced to the WPSL’s first Final Four Tournament, in Salt Lake City, UT. SeaLion Head Coach and former U.S. National Team member Jen Lalor-Nielsen led the SeaLions to the Final Four in 2006 as a player.

Now in 2011, Lalor has her sights set on making the trip once again, this time at the helm. 

All Photo Credit: Aaron Jaffe

 

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The NEW Women's Soccer editorial section is sponsored by the San Diego SeaLions. We deeply appreciate the SeaLions helping to offset the costs associated with this editorial coverage and want to acknowledge their tremendous support of women's soccer. 

SeaLions one of the oldest female soccer clubs in the USA. The WPSL is a sixty-plus team national women's soccer league with five conferences and is considered one of the top women's soccer leagues in the world. For more information, please email Amie Becker.