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Wildcats Return to W-League Championship Match
One Canadian Team Down, One to Go

Nearly a year after falling to the Vancouver Whitecaps Women in a shootout in the W-League Championship final, the New Jersey Wildcats not only knocked off the Whitecaps but also secured a return trip to the Championship Match all in one game. Christie Welsh and Kacey White both contributed a goal and an assist each as the Wildcats topped Vancouver 2-1 in the semifinal of the 2005 W-League Championship. The game drew a franchise record crowd of 1,742 fans at Mercer County Community College.

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Christie Welsh battles Vancouver's Martina Franko (13). (Robyn McNeil)

The Wildcats will get a chance to make up for their only loss of the 2005 regular season when they take on the Ottawa Fury Women in the Championship Match on Sunday at 7 p.m. Ottawa advanced to the final with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Central Florida Krush earlier in the night. Vancouver and Central Florida will play at 4:30 p.m. in the Consolation Match on Sunday.

While the Wildcats dominated throughout with a 20-9 advantage in shots and an 11-1 edge in corner kicks, things didn't start out so well. Vancouver stunned the Wildcats with a goal just 44 seconds into the game. Brittany Timko found Amber Allen in the box and she rolled a 10 yard shot under Wildcats keeper Karina LeBlanc to quickly quiet the franchise record crowd.

The Wildcats answered often the rest of the opening half but a Kacey White goal in the eighth minute was all they could manage. Welsh started the play keeping the ball in bounds on the left and sending a cross past the goal that White controlled past the far post. White appeared to be crossing the ball back in but instead she sent it over Vancouver keeper Sian Bagshawe and inside the left post.

Wildcats left winger Rachel Yankey was dangerous througout and she almost scored when Martina Franko headed her shot off the goal line in the 32nd minute. Two minutes later Bagshawe stopped Welsh point-blank and in the 39th minute the Vancouver keeper stopped a header from Welsh.

In the second half, the Welsh came up with the game-winner after a long run from White, who carried the ball 50 yards right up the middle of the field. As the defense closed, she slotted a pass to Welsh and the US international controlled the ball before hitting a right-footed shot off the right post and in.

Yankey kept threatening and she forced Bagshawe to tip over in the 64th minute before skimming the bar in the 71st and then missing just wide two minutes later.

The Wildcats will be facing Ottawa for the second time this season after suffering a 1-0 loss in Ottawa to close the regular season two weeks ago. New Jersey also knocked off the Fury 2-1 in the semifinal round in the 2004 W-League Championship.