WEST REGION PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS

So Cal Union FC advanced to the West Region Final tomorrow thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Taylor Kessler. 

So Cal too the lead in the fifth minute off a 35-yard bomb from center back, Marie Marlow that found the upper corner. Union doubled its lead in the Marissa LeVine beat her defender to a cross inside the box to poke it past Spokane goalkeeper, Kamryn Willoughby. LeVine started the play after a Spokane turnover, spraying the ball from just inside the halfway line with a perfectly weighted diagonal ball to the right flank. As the Spokane defense drifted towards the ball, LeVine made a hard run to the penalty spot. She was rewarded with return service to score her third goal of the season. 

Spokane returned serve with a pair of goals to draw things level at two. Ella Cotter put back a rebounded shot after So Cal Union failed to clear a corner kick in the final seconds of the first half. Maurissa Garcia made it 2-2 in the 51st minute after So Cal Union goalkeeper, Gia Kiesling, gave up a long rebound off a knuckling shot. Garcia ran past her defender to slam the ball into the top of the net to equalize. 

The final half hour was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams creating opportunities but neither able to capitalize until Kessler found herself in on Willoughby after a central defender misplayed a searching diagonal ball from Ciara Caringal played in from her own side of the midfield stripe. After rounding Willoughby, Kessler cooly slotted the game winner to the far post to send So Cal Unition FC to its first West Region Final. 

Photo by Sandra Valez-Lopez

The win moved So Cal Union FC to 1-0-0 in the post season and 8-2-1 overall. 

So Cal Union FC advance to the West Region Playoffs Final at Linfield Christian School in Temecula, Calif. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (PDT). 

So Cal Union FC: 3
Spokane SC Shadow: 2

So Cal Union FC: Gia Kiesling; Anna Arban, Madison Ford, Marie Marlow, McKenna Payne; Marissa LeVine, Megan Janikowski, Shauna Gamble; Ciara Caringal, Skyler McNamara, Taylor Kessler. Substitutes: Christina Marlow, Elizabeth Ludwig, Jaylin Young, Lyla Devereaux, Natalie Carlock, Sophia Calkins, Sydney Reese, Sydney Bailey, True Arellano-Homan.

Spokane SC Shadow: Kamryn Willoughby; Adele Faller, Becca Gaido, Erika Skindlov, Michelle Rodriguez; Quinn Mueller, Chelsea Le, Kyah Le; Marissa Garcia, Delani Walker, Charity Freeman. Substitutes: Breanna Koscielski, Allison Moultray, Amberly Hastings (Cronquist), Ella Cotter, Kendall Moore, Maleah Moore.

1-0: Marie Marlow 5’
2-0: Marissa LeVine 16’
2-1: Ella Cotter 45+2’
2-2: Marissa Garcia 50’
3-2: Taylor Kessler 90+1’

Misconduct
Caution - Skyler McNamara (So Cal Union) 29’