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Pali denies Washington Freedom repeat as W-League champion

1 Aug, 2008

The Pali Blues rode the leg of Danesha Adams as she scored two goals for the Blues as their march to perfection continued Thursday night by defeating the defending W-League Champion Washington Freedom 2-0 in the second semifinal of the W-League Championship.

The Freedom arguably gave Pali their toughest test of the year and for periods of the night were the better team. They just simply could not find the back of the net.

It started in the 6th minute when Freedom forward Christie Welsh sent a beautiful through ball to Kele Golebiowski, who was one on one with Blues goalie Valerie Henderson, but her shot sailed wide right.

Just three minutes later, the star of the match, Adams, had her first scoring chance of the game when she fought off two defenders and sent a shot off the left post before being cleared by a Washington defender.

Both teams continued to trade chances and continued to play an attacking and entertaining style of soccer. In the 22nd minute Washington had their best opportunity of the night when star Pali defender Jill Oakes turned the ball over in front of her goal. Welsh then pounced on the loose ball and sent a low line drive that beat Henderson to the left, but her shot clanked off the post.

Danesha Adams finally got the scoring going in the 26th minute with a beautiful volley off a cross from Collette McCallum. Pali controlled the ball from the backline and fluently worked the play up the wing to McCallum, who sent a perfect cross that Adams was able to bury in the back of the net.

Washington thought they scored the equalizer in the 28th minute when Sarah Huffman broke free and scored a goal. However, a late offside call that did not please the Freedom bench was whistled and the goal was called back. The half ended with Pali holding on to a 1-0 lead.

Washington started the second half strong and continued that play for the rest of the game.

“Washington was the better team through most of the second half,” said Pali Head Coach Charlie Naimo. “We changed formation for a little bit at the start of the second half, but that clearly wasn’t working the way I wanted it to, so we switched back.”

However that did not stop Washington’s pursuit to tie the game. In the 55th minute Pali was whistled for a hand ball right outside the area, which set up a golden opportunity for the Freedom. Washington midfielder Lori Lindsey took the free kick and sent a bending shot that curled around the wall and beat Henderson. But as was the case throughout the night, the soccer God’s did not smile on Washington and Lindsey’s shot hit the post.

Washington continued to dominate possession but could not get anything past the retreating Pali defense.

Adams put the game away in the 82nd minute for the Blues when she tallied her second goal of the game. The US youth international collected a loose ball just beyond the midfield line and used her speed to blow by two Freedom defenders. Adams then calmly chipped the ball over the charging Freedom keeper Chante Sandiford to make it 2-0 in Pali’s favor.

Washington still fought hard over the last few minutes of the game and for lady luck again denied Welsh, who ripped a shot that again found the post with the deflection going safely out of play. The Freedom hit the post a total of three times in the match.

Pali’s win sets up a marquee matchup in the W-League Championship on Saturday, August 2nd at 8:00 p.m. against FC Indiana. Both Pali and FC Indiana have been dominant on the season and their paths will finally meet this Saturday with a W-League Championship at stake.

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