The Impact waited until the dying minutes of the game to finish off the Phoenix FC.
On Thursday night the St. Albert Impact Women 2A squad beat the Phoenix FC with a goal late in the second half for a final score of 2-1.
The goal not only solidified the win but also ensured the Impact’s promotion into a higher division for next season. The Impact needed to finish in either first or second place in their division, and the win on Thursday placed them firmly in a top two position. They are currently first with 31 points.
The home team currently plays in the 2A division in the Edmonton District Soccer Association women’s league and the promotion will bump them into the first division.
“That was our goal for the year so we are really happy,” coach Terrie Wispinski said. “It is a very positive program here in St. Albert. The women’s program has never been as strong as it is right now.”
The action started with the Phoenix FC coming out strong and putting the pressure on the home team immediately. The Impact defence kept busy trying to thwart the waves of opposition but the home team fought back with attempts of their own. Eventually the Phoenix were too much for the Impact to handle when they broke ahead with a goal early in the first half.
“Our first half wasn’t so good,” Wispinski said. “We weren’t communicating as a team and we just weren’t playing as a team. Their defence was tough and they’re strong. They just get a hold of it and boot it out.”
Finally late in the first half the Impact were able to even the score when Lauren Murphy dribbled the ball down the side of the field and danced around the defence. Murphy sent a high pass over the challengers to Melanie Seidel, who fired a rocket past the goalie to put the Impact on even footing with the Phoenix squad.
The second half continued to be a close competition with increasing aggression as both teams became more desperate for the ball.
The Phoenix got a chance late in the game when the home team’s keeper rushed out to play the ball, but the offence found a way around her, with a wide open net. The visitors took a hard shot in to the empty net but Marissa Poon jumped forward to save the ball with her face and kept the teams even.
As the time wound down, the Impact wound up, finding ways to beat the Phoenix club at every opportunity. They were outracing and pacing the team, coming up on top during every battle.
“It was a good game,” Wispinski said. “We had some good speed and we had more scoring chances than they did and we just didn’t finish.”
Finally in the dying minutes of the game the Impact got the finish they were fighting for. Seidel pushed through the pack again and gained control of the ball. She fought off the group of swarming defence and lobbed a shot high over the goalie’s head. The ball bounced in to the back of the net and put the Impact ahead with no time left for the visitors to stage a comeback.
The Impact’s next match is on Thursday, July 28 at 7 p.m. at Riel Park against the fourth place FC Magic.
