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Wildcats Capture Crown
Unitt, White, O'Reilly All Connect for Franchise's First W-League Title

In the greatest day in franchise history, the New Jersey Wildcats claimed the 2005 W-League Championship with a 3-0 victory over the Ottawa Fury Women in front of a franchise-record crowd at Mercer County Community College. Rachel Unitt, Kacey White, and Heather O'Reilly all hit the back of the net as the Wildcats claimed their first-ever W-League Championship in their 10th year in the league.

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CONSOLATION MATCH RECAP: CLICK HERE

An overflow capacity crowd of 2,233 saw the Wildcats roll to the championship in a match televised live on the Fox Soccer Channel. Karina LeBlanc came up with three top-level saves to record the shutout as the Wildcats won their 24th straight match at home. New Jersey controlled the match throughout holding a 19-4 advantage in shots.

Kacey White was named the 2005 W-League Championship MVP. The Wildcats right winger posted a goal and an assist in the 2-1 semifinal victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps Women and then added another goal and assist in the championship victory over Ottawa.

The Wildcats got started early on a goal by England star Rachel Unitt in the 13th minute. Kendall Fletcher started the play by sending the ball into the box from the right side. Christie Welsh headed the ball on at the near post to Unitt, who controlled the pass before volleying home from close range.

Unitt nearly connected again as the Wildcats put the pressure on the rest of the half. Her header from eight yards out was cleared off the line by Fury defender Marie-Eve Nault. One minute later, a Cat Reddick header was also cleared out of the goalmouth.

LeBlanc came up with a key intervention in the 34th minute to maintain the Wildcats lead. Carmelina Moscato send a bouncing ball forward to Rhian Wilkinson, but the Wildcats keeper charged off her line to stuff Wilkinson's effort.

The second half was much of the same as the Wildcats were the more attack-minded team even with the one-goal lead. Fury keeper Taryn Swiatek flew to tip wide O'Reilly's shot toward the upper right corner two minutes after the break.

In the 61st minute, LeBlanc came up with another nice stop diving right to keep Annie Hamel's shot out.

The Wildcats added to their lead one minute later thanks to a fine individual effort from O'Reillywho carried the ball past two defenders before getting hacked down by Nault along the endline to the left of the goal. White stepped up and lined her penalty kick to the left side of the goal for the 2-0 edge.

The Wildcats didn't stop there adding to their lead in the 70th minute. White sent O'Reilly behind again and she fought off three Fury defenders before volleying into the right side of the goal from 12 yards out.

The teams then traded opportunities with Swiatek stretching to stop second-half substitute Alicia Wilson in the 73rd minute before LeBlanc parried wide a shot from Leah Robinson on a long free kick three minutes later.

The rest was all Wildcats with Kelly Hammond lining a shot just over off a Welsh set up, Yankey spinning a shot around the left post, and with Swiatek tipping O'Reilly's shot over in the last 10 minutes.