It was four action packed games on day four of the 2019 Young Women's National Championship (YWNC) as crossover games got underway. With chances to advance to the medal matches on Tuesday, here's a recap of each game today from Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa.
Courage 1 - 1 Dream
(Shootout 2 - 0)
(Shootout 2 - 0)
The first crossover game of the day saw Courage and Dream battle it out in the lower half of the draw. After a scoreless first quarter, Courage had the better of the second quarter as they drew an early penalty corner. Unable to execute, Emily Henry (Bethlehem, Pa.) came close to converting moments after Leah Zellner (Emmaus, Pa.) threatened from close range twice. Zellner's first opportunity went over the bar while the second hit the pads of goalkeeper Kealsie Robles (Yorktown, Va.). It took until after halftime for the pressure to crack though as Allie Grace Joyner (Louisville, Ky.) finally put Courage in the lead after a scramble in the circle in the 33rd minute. Virginia Bramley (Elizabethtown, Pa.) came close to doubling the lead before Elizabeth Romano (New Vernon, N.J.) slotted home a penalty corner for Dream to tie the game. Both teams had chances in the fourth quarter but neither could break the deadlock. Courage goalkeeper Lauren Hausheer (West Windsor, N.J.) remained unbeaten as the match moved to a shootout while teammates Taylor Dempsey (San Martin, Calif.) and Ally Hammel (Duxbury, Mass.) found the back of the net to hand Courage the 2-0 shootout victory.
Pride 2 - 0 Patriots
In the second match of the day, Pride came out hot as they created the better chances through the first quarter but did not produce anything on the scoreboard. The pressure finally resulted in a goal at the start of the second frame thanks to Molly McAndrew (Cherry Hill, N.J.) who ran down the left baseline as she beat her defender and finished from close range. The Patriots nearly responded through Meghan Reese (Center Valley, Pa.) moments later but her shot was saved. Following halftime, the Patriots again came close to tying it up but Noelle Frost (Glenwood, Md.) was equal to the shot from Sophia Tornetta (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.). As the final quarter got underway the pitch was thick with tension before Corey Mayer (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) broke free on a chance for Pride. Rounding her defender on the right side of the circle, Mayer deftly lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper as the ball nestled in the top left corner of the goal to solidify Pride's lead and win. The results set up Pride with a showdown with Courage for 5th place while Patriots will contest Dream for 7th.
Freedom 1 - 3 Spirit
The first semifinal of the YWNC had fireworks from the opening whistle. Freedom created a circle entry at one end before Spirit countered at top speed as Emma Bozek was on hand to squeeze the ball home on her forehand in the 1st minute. Bozek went on to grab Spirit's second of the game after the first break as she deflected an insert from Haley Schleicher (Virginia Beach, Va.) on the penalty corner attempt. At the start of the second half, Freedom started to create more chances but goalkeeper Alex Halpin (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.) saved well on a couple of occasions. Down the other end, Mayv Clune (Quakertown, Pa.) extended Spirit's lead as she was on hand at the back post to put the finishing touches to a long ball into the circle from the left side. Freedom managed to get one back through another Kendall Ballard (Charlottesville, Va.) drag flick to the top right corner, her second in as many games, but ultimately they were not able to create enough and Spirit advanced to the gold medal game.
USA U-19 3 - 0 Honor
In the second semifinal match, USA U-19 had the better of the chances in the first quarter but found themselves unable to convert as goalkeeper Sydney Taylor (Coatesville, Pa.) made a couple of key saves for Honor. Down the other end goalkeeper Jonna Kennedy (Watertown, Mass.) proved equal to a Margot Lawn (Pasadena, Md.) effort. Despite two late penalty corners as well, the quarter finished 0-0. In the second period Honor started to go through the gears as Lawn, Erin Shanahan (Pasadena, Md.) and Kelee Lepage (Honey Brook, Pa.) were all denied by Kennedy. Honor goalkeeper Jenny Rizzo (Hershey, Pa.) replaced Taylor in the team's quarterly rotations of goalkeepers, shut down a USA U-19 penalty corner as the scoreboard remained at 0-0 at the halftime break. Honor had chances in the second half as Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) was called upon on a number of occasions, but the final thirty minutes belonged to the USA U-19 squad. First, Charlotte de Vries (Wayne, Pa.) knocked one home from close range after good work by Maddie Zimmer (Hershey, Pa.) and a nice backspace cross from Kathryn Peterson (San Diego, Calif.). Zimmer was involved again in the second goal as she ran with the ball more than half the length of the field and found Paityn Wirth (Thompsontown, Pa.) at the back post to extend the lead. Peterson added on a third with just over six minutes left to play as a Riley Donnelly (Doylestown, Pa.) drag flick was stopped on the line, but the rebound popped up for the inserter who did not miss. USA U-19 will meet Spirit in the gold medal game and Honor will play in the bronze medal match against Freedom.
The final day of the Young Women's National Championship is set. Tune in on Tuesday, June 18 for a live stream of the bronze and gold medal games (weather permitting). Admission to all games are free. For more information including results, full schedule, rosters, live stream and more, check out the YWNC event page by clicking here. #YWNC2019
The final day of the Young Women's National Championship is set. Tune in on Tuesday, June 18 for a live stream of the bronze and gold medal games (weather permitting). Admission to all games are free. For more information including results, full schedule, rosters, live stream and more, check out the YWNC event page by clicking here. #YWNC2019
Tuesday, June 18 Schedule:
8:30 a.m. Dream vs. Patriots (7th-8th Place)
8:30 a.m. Courage vs. Pride (5th-6th Place)
10:30 a.m. Freedom vs. Honor (Bronze Medal)
10:30 a.m. Spirit vs. USA U-19 (Gold Medal)