Blue Heat Crowned UWS Champion
“Play, play, play. Keep it simple.” Such is the game of soccer but also, these were the words frequently yelled to CT Fusion players by their coaching staff. The basics of the game are to play the ball, pass to teammates, and score goals.
Santa Clarita Blue Heat right off the bat exhibited they understood the basics of soccer and more--clean passing, tight attacking lines, and two goals by the second half that were both quality. They entered the locker room with a firm grasp on the game, confidence, and clear heads, but CT Fusion never made it easy for them.
The first goal was scored in the 35th minute by Lena Silano off a ball delivered by Sade Adamolekun, Jamaican international, to the back post. Sade put in the effort to recover a cleared corner kick and her efforts were rewarded with her team’s first goal when Silano powered the ball in with her head.
The second goal came 10 minutes later by Angie Escobar. Alyssa Thompson, Stanford commit, gathered the ball in her defensive half and made a blistering run into CT Fusion’s defensive third. This reporter has watched a lot of soccer, both domestic and international, but the speed at which Alyssa made that run and the composure she had while maintaining possession is unlike any other in her age group. Give her 10 years and some time with Stanford’s world class trainers and we may have another Christen Press (also a Southern California and Stanford product) on our hands.
Photo credit: Carlos Barron
Anyway, back to the goal. Alyssa really did all the work on this and made it easy for Angie, who received the ball at the top of the eighteen and one touch left footed it into the box for an impressive goal to end the half.
The second half started out even quicker than the first half, with a shot by Adamolekun from the kick off spot. CT Fusion goalkeeper Allie Augur was off her line and luckily for her the ball bounced over her and just wide for a goal kick. CT Fusion changed gears, using strength and positioning to disrupt Blue Heat players by bodying them off the ball.
But wIthin three minutes, Blue Heat scored their third goal and, when it rains it pours, netted another not 2 minutes later. The second half goals were scored by Adamolekun and Silano respectively, and of course they were. Adamolekun had already been vital in early goals with Silano scoring one for herself before halftime.
In the 53rd minute, CT Fusion capitalized on an errant ball as Blue Heat hoped to cross to the other side of the field on their back half. Lauren Sesselmann had to hold onto Kelly Quigly, who beat her to the ball and advanced towards the front of the box, and for her professional foul was given a yellow. Quigley sent in an angled free kick, hoping for a teammate’s head to ping it into the box, but it went too deep for anyone to convert.
As the heat in Round Rock escalated, players on both sides dragged, growing chippier and more physical. By the 82nd minute, subbed out players were icing knees and ankles and enjoying cold water and Gatorade to rehydrate. However, one player still had the energy for some extra power--Iris Rabot, Olympique Lyonnais Academy product. Rabot powered in a goal straight from a corner kick, handing her team their fifth goal of the day. After both teams completed their final substitutions of the game, CT Fusion’s energy levels fluctuated, pushing them into dangerous territories and challenging SC Blue Heat defender and Canadian international Lauren Sesselmann multiple times. CT Fusion fought hard until the final seconds. Shouts of “keep her wide!” rang out from their players as they kept their composure until the end. But of course, Blue Heat knew they had won.
The final whistle blew and the champions were crowned. Lena Silano was dubbed the MVP of the game and captains Iris Rabot and Lauren Sesselmann received the trophy for their team.
Photo credit: Carlos Barron
Overall a fabulous production by UWS, whose front office team undoubtedly worked overtime to not only organize a national championship tournament when so many others weren’t able to, but made it look effortless. Jonathan Ward, UWS Weekly host, and his rotating cast of co-hosts were all professional and poised, and injected the perfect balance of color commentary and match analysis. I can see this tournament format expanding in future years, with venues bidding to be given the chance to host the tournament themselves. Such standards are needed in lower league women’s soccer in order to not only highlight the exceptional talent that plays for these teams and the tireless efforts of coaches and team staffs to prepare their players, but to grow the game for future generations.
- Lis Schendel