Fury Denied In Shootout

BOYDS, MD — The Ottawa Fury’s run at their third chance at the W-League Championship came to an end after falling 3-1 on penalty kicks to the Washington Freedom. After a scoreless ninety minutes the two sides played to two scoreless fifteen minute halves of extra time leading to the penalty shootout.

Sandiford sent the Freedom onto the final (Shane Canfield)

A goal post and a Chante Sandiford save denied the Fury a third trip to the W-League Championship game. The 2007 champion Freedom will move on to the Championship final, where they will face the reigning W-League Champions Pali Blues on Friday, August 7 in Boyds, Maryland.

Ottawa started the game off with great pace and tremendous control. Hearn, Romagnuolo and Moorwood all had chances inside the first fifteen minutes, but were unable to convert.

Jasmine Phillips, who was stellar in the Fury goal, robbed Brittany Tegeler on a breakaway and stymied here again moments later after the Freedom jumped on a Fury turnover. H

ayley Moorwood and Michelle Evans both had chances on goal, but were unable to give the Fury that much sought after first goal. The first half ended scoreless with the Fury owning most of the possession and chances.

Washington started off the second half with several chances and strong pressure, but Jasmine Phillips was there to steady the ship.

Emma Kete broke through in the 55th minute on a breakaway, but was denied by Freedom keeper Sandiford.

Both teams exchanged chances for a period of ten minutes, but both keeper stood tall. Courtney Wetzel made a great individual effort and Sandiford collapsed on the rebound ahead of an out-reached Emma Kete in the 80th minute.

Danielle Johnson recorded the last dangerous chance before the end of time that saw her header deflect just wide off the Michelle Evans corner.

As the two teams headed into extra time it was the Fury who had the best of the chances in the first stanza of extra time as both Evans and Pacheco threatened.

In the second extra time Phillips had to be sharp once again denying Germain in close and stopping a Freedom free kick with less than five minutes remaining.

Amber Hearn fired over the bar from the top of the 18-yard box with time winding down and penalty kicks on the horizon.

The Fury would shoot first in the penalty shootout with Hayley Moorwood rifling home a shot into the top right corner putting the Fury ahead. Sandra Matute pulled the Freedom even giving way to Ria Percival, the Fury’s second shooter. Percival beat Sandiford low to the left, but was denied by the post.

Kika Toulouse put the Freedom ahead 2-1 with a shot into the top corner. Courtney looked to pull the Fury even, but was robbed by Sandiford with a diving save.

Caitlin Miskel put the Freedom in the drivers seat scoring to make it 3-1 with the Fury needing to score. Chante Sandiford onced again proved to be the difference denying Michelle Evans, sending the Freedom back to the W-League Finals since they won it all in 2007 after, oddly enough, defeating the Fury.

The Fury Women’s 10th Anniversary season draws to a close with another successful year that saw them win a sixth consecutive division title and the Central Conference title, but the elusive W-League title will have to be won another day.

The Washington will look to win their second W-League title since winning in 2007, but will have to defeat the defending W-League Champions Pali Blues who have yet to lose in the W-League since joining last season.

Game Summary