July 18, 2026
Photo by Jeff DeVries, WPSL 2026
By Andrew Mosier, WPSL Communications
RIVERSIDE, Mo. (July 18, 2026) — New York Athletic Club overcame Georgia Impact and a heat index that topped 100 degrees to win 2-1 in extra time at Riverside Stadium Saturday morning to advance to the WPSL Championships Final.
Emily Smith’s looping header from a Kierra Krawic corner kick in the 116th minute broke the deadlock that stood since the 62nd minute of the match.
“We showed a lot of character, our team culture today. There was no way we were going to break at that moment. They have belief in themselves, and they are accountable to each other and more,” Brian Simpson, New York Athletic Club head coach, said.
As it had all season, New York Athletic Club came out with the stifling press that had proved to be so effective all season long.
It paid almost immediate dividends when Kayla Wong pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area following a failed Georgia Impact clearance. Wong tucked the ball just inside the far post to put the East Region champions in the lead.
“In this heat, we knew we would not be able to maintain the press. We had to pull back and that changed the way we had to play the game,” Simpson said.
With the extra time on the ball, Georgia Impact began to find its way into the game.
Georgia Impact carried the momentum into the second half. Sarah Houston leveled the score in the 62nd minute, setting up her right foot off a pass from Brooke Hart, tucking the ball inside the far post.
In the 107th minute Georgia Impact’s Maria Howell glanced a header off the outside of the post, just past the diving Tatiana Saunders.
Entering the second 15-minute overtime period, NYAC turned up the pressure, regaining control of the game. Pinned in its defensive third, Georgia Impact surrendered a corner kick in the 116th minute.
Krawic’s out-swinging corner found Smith making a front-post run. Smith outjumped two defenders, sneaking her header under the cross bar to put NYAC up 2-1 and into its first WPSL Championships final.
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2026 WPSL Championships Semifinal One
Saturday, July 18, 2026
9 a.m. CDT
Riverside Stadium
Riverside, Mo.
Box Score
New York Athletic Club: 2
Georgia Impact: 1
Extra Time
1-0: Wong 16’
1-1: Houston 62’
2-1: Smith 116’
Misconduct
GI – Caution – Kennedy Crowder 101’
GI- Angel Fowler – 105+1’
NYAC/GI
Shots: 17/18
Shots on Target: 7/9
Saves: 8/5
Corner Kicks: 5/1
Offside: 1/2
Fouls: 5/8
New York Athletic Club: Tatiana Saunders; Caelan Bacon, Dylan Jovanovic, Emily Smith, Emily Villanueva, Esme Rudell, Kayla Wong, Kierra Krawic, Nina Bodow, Rachel Rouse, Tatiana Saunders, Taylor Ferraro. Substitutes: Elle Hennes, Elle Hennes, Lauren Ahearn, Samantha Weiss, Sydney Romano.
Georgia Impact: Jaddah Foos; Sammy Sokolove, Madison Hook, Angel Fowler, Bailey Vinette; Maria Howell, Katie Neilson; Sarah Houston, Grace Eatz, Ines Obradovac; Callie O'Connor. Substitutes: Brooke Hart, Claudia Vincent, Emory Kennett, Kennedy Crowder, Kennedy Vinyard, Maggie Victor, Maggie Victor, Summer Ligon.
CR: Shelby Breeze
AR1: Jessica Peralta
AR2: Danette Seffens
Fourth: Emily Brownback
