August 10, 2003--W-League Title game (from W-League web site)

Piranhas win W-League title in OT
Akide golden goal gives Hampton Roads 1-0 win over Cobras
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Sunday, August 10, 2003

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- A strike from Nigerian National Team star Mercy Akide six minutes into golden goal overtime gave the Hampton Roads Piranhas the 2003 W-League Championship Sunday night in front of 1,237 fans at Landstown High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia as they edged the Chicago Cobras in a thrilling 1-0 affair. The Seattle Sounders defeated the Ottawa Fury, 4-1, to claim Third Place prior to the championship.

Janet Davis, who entered the match a minute into the extra frame sent a shot off the right post that richocheted out to Mercy Akide, who blasted a 10-yard shot into the far corner for the win.

The tight match saw both teams demonstrate periods of control and possession with several scoring opportunities.

In the third minute, Julianne Sitch makes a run from the right side of the penalty area into the middle of the six-yard box, where Hampton Roads goalkeeper Meredith Flaherty dropped down to smother the ball at her feet.

Akide, who was named Championship Most Valuable Player was sent into the penalty area in the 22nd minute on a long 20-yard ball from Carrie Proost that Chicago defender Fanta Cooper missed, leaving Akide one-on-one with goalkeeper Molly Schneider. Schneider squared up and stopped the point-blank shot from seven yards out.

Five minutes later, Akide was again a factor as she went on a deep run into the right side before cutting the ball back to the top of the box to Darci Borski, who turned and let off a hard 19-yard shot to the near post that Schneider corralled to her chest.

Borski, on the left in the 32nd minute, sent a low ball across the top of the box to the far side to Coco Callebaut, who blasted a shot from 20 yards that Schneider slightly mishandled before gathering in.

In the second half, Hampton Roads Florence Omagbemi sent a long 25-yard floater from the right flank that sailed just over the crossbar in the 62nd minute.

In the 71st minute, a long ball found Chicago forward Julianne Sitch all alone up top 40 yards out from goal but her shot from 25 yards missed to the left side of goal.

Seattle claims Third Place

The Seattle Sounders came out and secured the victory over the Ottawa Fury in the Third Place match with three goals in the first 11 minutes of action courtesy of forward Tina Frimpong, who scored the first two and set up the third. Seattle finished with a 4-1 win.

Just two minutes into the match, Frimpong took advantage of a poor backpass to Ottawa goalkeeper Jasmine Philips and put the ball into the back of the net.

Four minutes later, Frimpong struck again, heading in a corner kick from Mellissa Bennett from six yards out.

Frimpong was driving down the right side of the penalty area and squeezed the ball into the middle of the box underneath the onrushing Philips. Brenda Mueller was all alone and knocked home the goal for the 3-0 lead in the 11th minute.

The Ottawa spoiled the shutout for Seattle in the 64th minute when midfielder Kelly Parker sent a nice free kick into the penalty area and Aisha Alfa nodded home the ball off the bounce from eight yards out.

Seattle's Alicia Milyak capped the game off with a 30-yard blast in the 82nd minute inside the right post.

W-League Championship Most Valuable Player
Mercy Akide, Hampton Roads Piranhas

W-League Championship All-Tournament Team
G - Meredith Flaherty, Hampton Roads Piranhas
D - Jenna Szyluk, Hampton Roads Piranhas
D - Fanta Cooper, Chicago Cobras
D - Josha Krueger, Chicago Cobras
M - Mellissa Bennett, Seattle Sounders
M - Florence Omagbemi, Hampton Roads Piranhas
M - Darci Borski, Hampton Roads Piranhas
M - Kelly Parker, Ottawa Fury
F - Tina Frimpong, Seattle Sounders
F - Kristen Graczyk, Chicago Cobras
F - Mercy Akide, Hampton Roads Piranhas

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