FC SURGE SCORE SIX TO WIN SUNSHINE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Written By:  Joe Chatz
             Central Region Contributor

FC Surge took home the WPSL 2022 Sunshine Conference title after defeating the Northern Division’s United Soccer Alliance 6-1 on Saturday in Miami.

It didn’t take long for FC Surge to take the lead.

In the 6’ minute, United Soccer Alliance turned the ball over deep in its own half as FC Surge’s Alejandra Silva collected the loose ball. After cutting to her right, Silva ripped a shot that beat the keeper across the face of the goal to give the hosts the 1-0 lead.

After capitalizing on another error, Sarah Medina burst down the sideline from a throw-in and unleashed a cross that floated into the upper corner of the net to give FC Surge its second goal in the first 15 minutes.

The hosts looked to add another just before the first-half water break, but Amanda Martin’s free-kick effort went straight into the arms of the United Soccer Alliance keeper.

Even with the two-goal cushion, Ramiro Vengoechea’s side didn’t let up as the first 45 closed out. In the 38’ minute, Andrea Escobio played a 40-yard pass over the top of the United Soccer Alliance defense that found the left foot of an outstretched Nicole Haimes, whose touch beat the keeper to give Surge the 3-0 lead heading into the half.

United Soccer Alliance came out of halftime with a purpose, winning multiple corners in the first five minutes of the second half. Its best chance came in the 50’ minute when a shot from the penalty area was barely tipped away by Surge keeper Skylah Klein, who had just replaced Jade Mallea at halftime.

FC Surge struck again as Medina beat her defender along the right sideline before finding Gaby Scarlett for a tap-in to stretch the lead to four goals in the 53’ minute. Moments later, Paula Quintero’s sumptuous, right-footed strike from 22 yards out to add another tally to Surge’s lead.

The Surge’s final goal of the match came just after the 60’ minute when Silva found Scarlett with a ball over the top of the United Soccer Alliance defense. Scarlett’s first touch was a chip-shot over the keeper to secure her second goal of the day.

Despite the large deficit, United Soccer Alliance did find its way onto the scoreboard after taking advantage of a Surge error just after the second-half water break. The ball was played back to FC Surge’s Klein, whose poor touch played the ball right to United Soccer Alliance’s Autumn Woodard at the edge of the penalty area. Woodard wasted no time before taking the shot that would give United Soccer Alliance its lone goal of the contest in the 70’ minute.

Both sides continued to push through the final 20 minutes, but the match would conclude with that 6-1 scoreline in favor of FC Surge.

FC Surge’s Director and GM Marge Perry was ecstatic with her team’s performance afterward, especially given the circumstances that put this team in the playoffs.

“It showed that they really wanted it,” Perry said. “Sometimes when you get to the time of the year, you’re not really sure if your team really wants it. But they showed that they wanted it. They could’ve rolled over but they didn’t.”