WPSL Wrap Up: Week 8

Matchweek 8 Recap:

Mankato United SC vs Maplebrook Fury

The opening match of the week would decide the most important match of the weekend as Mankato United and Maplebrook both had a shot at the championship heading into the match. Fury opened up as their name said with a 7th minute goal and added another one in the 49th minute just after half time.

Marissa Schulz opened the scoring for Mankato in the second half before Dakota Wendell scored the match tying goal. Jenny Vetter finished off the scoring and the comeback for Mankato United as they won 3-2.

Dakota Fusion FC vs Rochester United

With no league positioning on the line, Fusion and United nonetheless served up an entertaining match under hazy wildfire skies. The hosts opened the score within 3 minutes after Bemidji State commit Lauren Hodny (currently a hometown Moorhead High School Spud) finished off a low cross into the box from Chloe Sollom. That was the only tally going into half-time, with one of Fusion’s NDSU players Mariah Haberle looking threatening on the counter but Rochester would get back on terms shortly after the break. An end to end move was finished crisply past the onrushing keeper by Maria Garcia. More neat interplay on the hour set up the go ahead goal, with a cross from the right pinballing its way to Thuto Ramafifi, who nodded it home low to the ground. The visitors would further extend their lead in the 70th minute as a high lofted corner kick was expertly finished off by Emma van Donselaar. Fusion were not yet finished as Allie Zueger turned her defender inside out and set up Haberle to make it 3-2. The game was finished off by Maria Lopes in the 80th minute, tightroping the end line before beating the keeper at the near post.

Salvo SC vs Mankato United

The second to last match of the season would be the most important. With Mankato 3 points back they would need a win and by two goals to get the tiebreaker over Salvo. Salvo wasn’t going to make it easy for MUSC with Meredith Haakenson scoring just 12’ in for Salvo SC. it wouldn't be until the second half when Rachel Luedtke scored for Mankato United in the 59th minute to even the score. Mankato needed one more goal for the win and two for the playoff spot. Annie Williams scored in the 85th minute to get Mankato United the win but the third goal of the night wouldn't come before the final whistle, and while Mankato won Salvo took the playoff spot.

Rochester United vs Maplebrook Fury

With the loss on Friday to Mankato United, both the hosting club Rochester United and visitors Maplebrook Fury only had pride to play for. but it was Fury who took down the hosting Lions 4-1 All five goals on the night came in the first half with Fury’s Taylie Scott scoring in the 11th minute followed up by teammate Claire Odmark in the 16th minute.

Kira Sosinske made it three straight goals for Maplebrook with a 22nd minute goal but the Lions broke up the streak when Marina Garcia scored their only goal in the 27th minute. Catherine Parkhill finished off the scoring for the night with a 28th minute goal to round out Maplebrook’s 4-1 win over Rochester to cap off the regular season.

Ashle Norling/E Pluribus Loonum

The final week of the 2019 WPSL North Conference season, unlike last year, came down to the final Weekend and even the final minutes of matches to decide a conference champion. This weekend Salvo SC will host the 2019 WPSL Central Region Playoffs from Reynolds Field in St, Paul, MN.

Salvo will take on Red River Conference Champion Fortuna Tulsa at 1 PM at the University of Northwestern. The second Semi-Final will be played at 3:30 PM pitting Mountain Conference Champion Utah Royals FC Reserves against Heartland Conference representative Fire & Ice SC. The two Semi-Final winners will play on Sunday afternoon at 1 PM from Reynolds Field at UNW for the Central Region Championship and a trip to the WPSL National Championship Playoffs.

Stay tuned as later this week we will have a Central Region playoff preview and a recap next weekend of the action from St. Paul.