2003 Aug 8

W-League Playoffs, Semifinal:
Hampton Roads Piranhas  4 - 1  Seattle Sounders Women
Landstown High School, Virginia Beach, VA

Goals:
15' SEA - Frimpong
46' HR - Borski
55' HR - Borski (Omagbemi)
73' HR - Hibbs
90' HR - Ritchie (Davis)

Hampton Roads: Meredith Flaherty; Heather Pedersen (Tiffany Ross 71'), Carrie Proost, Natalie Stallings, Jenna Szyluk; Coco Callebaut (Janet Davis 30'), Amanda Duffy (Kristy Ritchie 83'), Florence Omagbemi (Jeanette Hibbs 71'); Mercy Akide, Darci Borski, Anna Rask (Courtney Crandell 49'). Substitutes not used: Leisha Alcia, Ashley McGhee.

Seattle: Meghan Miller; Joannie Gerpheide (Janelle Munnis 69'), Dana Kimble (Sophie Spickard 86'), Katie Miyake, Shannon Forslund; Alicia Milyak (Nikki Gamble 47'), Carolyn Putz (Hayley McNallan 62'), Rachel Rodrick, Haley vanBlommestein (Brenda Mueller 62'); Melissa Bennett, Tina Frimpong. Substitute not used: Kelly Nigh.

Match report from USL:

The regular season champion and tournament host Hampton Roads rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit to down Seattle Sounders Women 4-1 at Landstown High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia Friday night in front of 1,006 fans to advance to the W-League Championship match Sunday.

Seattle took the lead in the 15th minute when Tina Frimpong ran onto the ball on the left flank and sped past Piranhas defender Natalie Stallings to get the ball at the edge of the box and beat goalkeeper Meredith Flaherty from 14 yards out for the go-ahead goal.

For the first time since their second match of the season against the Northern Virginia Majestics, Hampton Roads trailed at halftime with the 1-0 edge to Seattle despite the Piranhas having the majority of possession and the better scoring chances created in large part by Mercy Akide.

But less than two minutes into the second half, Darci Borski buried a deflected shot by Akide that rebounded to the middle of the box six yards from goal.

In the 55th minute, the Piranhas took the lead on another quick strike from Borski who turned on a pass from Florence Omagbemi and put an eight-yard shot from the right side into the back of the net.

Piranhas substitute Jeanette Hibbs scored just two minutes after entering the match, giving the home side a two-goal lead in the 73rd minute. The play was started by Crandell, who dribbled through several Seattle defenders on the right side of the penalty area and got the ball in front of the box, where it rattled around and was mishandled by Miller. Hibbs, charging in on the goal, put away the loose ball just off the goal line.

The second-half barrage was capped off by Kristy Ritchie, who headed a corner kick from Janet Davis into the upper left corner of the goal from 13 yards out in stoppage time.

Statistics:
       Hampton Roads  Seattle
Shots:      21          10
Saves:       7           8
Corners:     5           2
Fouls:       4           7
Offsides:    2           4

Misconduct:
3' HR - Pedersen cautioned for tripping.
55' HR - Omagbemi cautioned for delaying the restart.

Referees: Chip Boatright; Dan Stead, Clive Edwards; Robert Velbis
Attendance: 1,006