Semifinal 1: Salvo SC 3-2 St Croix Legacy
Let's begin with a key environmental factor
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The hosts left it late, twice, to progress to the final. Initially, it was Legacy who went on top through Sydney Sutherland, but that lead only lasted two minutes as Josie Seehaber unleashed a rocket to equalize from distance. After numerous crosses went whizzing past their intended targets from Salvo, they found a go-ahead goal from a much more direct route as Alexa Hanson bullied her way through a defender and under Eleni McGuire in goal in first-half stoppage time.
A Legacy player leaving injured was the first action of the second half, but the challenge was not called a foul, to the bemusement of even the home fans. Then a five-minute spell around the hour mark led to increased Legacy pressure and an equalizing rocket from Adi van Zee across a fully stretched Ayden Gagner on the run.
Salvo had an answer in the shape of Makayla Lee, who struck a couple of fierce shots just wide across goal before being the recipient of a goalmouth scramble from a corner as the clock ticked around to 90 mins.
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Semifinal 2: Austin Rise 0-3 Kansas City Current II
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After a stellar 45 mins, Austin Rise's goalkeeper Peyton Urban will be frustrated at the manner of the Current's first goal, which was pretty much the only cross she didn't catch cleanly, instead allowing Caroline Kelly to tap home at the back post in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.
The second half started worse for Rise as the nominal hosts conceded from a perfectly executed midfield free kick, headed home by Naila Schoefberger. A third came from the rebound of a corner which was headed away, then back off the post and in by Syenna Haynesworth in the 54th minute.
Speaking to Northland Soccer Journal after the semifinal, Head Coach Vasil Ristov said
I’m really proud of the way the group approached tonight’s match. We were disciplined, created good chances, and earned a win. Just as importantly, earned a shutout. Austin Rise FC came out with energy in the second half and created some dangerous opportunities, but our players stepped up — we defended as a team, stayed organized, and showed a lot of resilience to secure the clean sheet. Now the attention shifts to tomorrow. We know Salvo SC will be another tough challenge. We have to stay hungry, stay sharp, and be ready to put in another complete performance.
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Central Region Final - Salvo SC 0-2 KC Current II
Would you believe it was even hotter for the final...
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Clinical was the keyword as a KC Current side that had few chances in the face of a relentless scrambling defense by Salvo. To use a boxing metaphor, Current edged the first half on points as Caroline Kelly set herself up with a neat dribble between defenders in the box and tapped home from close range for the second time in two games in the 13th minute, and Salvo shut down any other chances the team in teal could muster.
A second goal arrived in the 52nd minute as Current pressure told and Avery Clark bundled in a corner, but the hosts were not done. To their credit, they kept fighting throughout the 90 minutes but were not able to break through the disciplined KC defense.
Speaking to Northland Soccer Journal after the win, coach Vasil Ristov said he was pleased with his team's resilience.
NSJ: Congratulations on hosting the next round.
Absolutely, I think when the WPSL asked, we obviously as a club could not pass the opportunity. It was always in the back of our mind that we have an opportunity to play the semifinals, and hopefully the final, at home. So coming out here to Minnesota, playing 2 games in 24 hours, 180 mins, 2 clean sheets. We couldn't ask for a better weekend.
NSJ: And in 100 degree heat.
Exactly, yes. Very very proud of the players for that.
NSJ: That was a clinical performance tonight, there weren't many chances but you put them away.
Yeah, that was something we talked about in our scouting report and also our game plan. Understanding of regular season play where you can try some things, and tournament play where 90 minutes plus could happen and like you said, being clinical. Minimizing your mistakes and maximizing your opportunities on the opponents mistakes and that's exactly what we did.
Captain Itala Gemelli (pictured above with the trophy) added that the players were excited to host the nationals:
We've been super excited about hosting. It feels great to get through. We had a great game and a great opponent and very grateful to be here and to Salvo for hosting us and yeah, we're super excited to get through and now play on our home turf.
NSJ: That was a tough game
Yeah, for sure. That was a tough game, a great game. Again we played a great opponent and super happy about the outcome and super proud of the KC team today.
What's next?
The National Semifinals are this coming Saturday in Riverside, MO at Current II's home stadium. The first semifinal kicks off at 9am between New York Athletic Club and Georgia Impact, neither of whom started the season in the conversation for a title. The second follows at ~11:30am between the juggernaut of KC Current II and the multi-time winners California Storm.
We will bring you updates from that stage but this is our last in-depth WPSL post of the season. Thank you for following along with us. Good night from Roseville.
