Written By:  Andrew Mosier

Photo By:  Adam Luther

 

STILLWATER, OKLA.—Salvo SC advanced to the WPSL Championship match for the first time in club history with a 2-0 over SC del Sol on Saturday at Neal Patterson Stadium – Katelyn Beulke and Khyah Harper (University of Minnesota) scored for the Central Region Champions. Salvo remains unbeaten at 9-0-2 on the season. This is the Eagan, Minn.-based club’s first appearance in the WPSL Championship Final.

“We played a really good team today,” Greg Wheaton, Salvo SC head coach. “It was a fun chess match. We had an idea of what we needed to do to be successful against del Sol. We were able to implement some of it and we finished two good chances.”

Salvo faces the Charlotte Eagles (8-1-2) in Sunday’s WPSL Championship match at Neal Patterson Stadium on the campus of Oklahoma State University. Charlotte topped the Rhode Island Rogues FC 1-0 in Saturday’s first semifinal match.

As throughout the 2023 season, the Phoenix-based del Sol pressed the issue in search of an early goal. In three of the club’s last four games—all 1-0 victories—del Sol scored the game-winner within the first 25 minutes. Six minutes in del Sol nearly struck when Sophia Fisher (University of Notre Dame) muscled her way through two defenders inside the penalty area forcing Salvo goalkeeper, Ayden Ganger, to make a diving save to her right.

Photo By: Adam Luther

Two minutes later Salvo struck back when Beulke, a Salvo youth product, ran onto a deftly scooped pass from Meredith Haakenson (University of Michigan) near midfield after outpacing del Sol center back, Carly Dobratz (Washington State) over thirty yards. A clever feint to the left sent Dorbratz and del Sol goalkeeper, Ayana Yapo (Auburn University), clattering into each other which allowed Buelke to saunter to the right for an easy finish. 

“For a young player like K.B. [Buelke] coming in and scoring a goal like that for us is very exciting,” Wheaton said. “She showed a lot of maturity today.”

Following Buelk’s goal, the game slowed, as both teams made, and then countered, tactical moves by the other to free up attacking players and unclog midfield channels.

“A lot of credit goes to our trio in the midfield,” Wheaton said. “They managed things very well for us against a dangerous opponent.”

Towards the hour mark, Salvo began to expose seams in the tiring del Sol midfield in part because of the introduction of Harper in the second half.

Photo By: Adam Luther

“My teammates do such a good job of setting me up with good balls it makes my job easy,” Harper said. “All the credit goes to them.”
 

Salvo faces South Region winners, Charlotte Eagles in the WPSL Championship Final on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM CDT at Neal Patterson Stadium on the campus of Oklahoma State University.

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LINEUPS

Salvo SC

99-Ayden Ganger, 5-Riley Lijewski, 14-Lauren Eckerle, 18-Carla Beulke, 16-Elle Wildman, 10-Emily Heslin ©, 3-Meredith Haakenson, 20-Jessica Hunt, 8-Molly Fielder, 15-Sadie Harper, 28-Katelyn Beulke.

 

Subs: 2-Celidh Whynott, 6-Becca Smith, 7-Maggie Dowling, 13-Gabrielle Hofeld, 17-Katherine Jones, 25-Camryn Rintoul, 29-Bella Meier, 34-Khyah Harper

 

SC del Sol

42-Ayana Yapo, 32-Morgan Bilczewski, 36-Carly Dobratz, 26-Aubrie Labno, 11 Jenny Rhodes ©, 6-Kristen Puels, 7-Lauren Kirberg, 12-Londyn Lovell, 33-Mia Sowders, 18-Melania Valdez, 37-Sophia Fisher.

 

Subs: 15-Ella Rusick, 35-Riley Sowders

 

Goals

8’ Katelyn Beulke-Salvo

58’ Katelyn Beulke-Salvo

 

Misconduct

Caution 72’ Kristen Puels—del Sol

 

Stats

SALVO/SCdS

Shots: 12/3

Shots on Goal: 5/1

Saves: 1/3

Corner Kicks: 4/4

Offside: 1/0

Fouls: 8/10

Cautions: 0/1

Ejections: 0/0