ST. CROIX LEGACY TOPS OKLAHOMA CITY FC IN CENTRAL REGION FINAL

 

Amara Smith tallied two goals as St. Croix Legacy topped Oklahoma City FC for the Central Region title Sunday night in Mustang, Okla. 

 

The win advances St. Croix to the WPSL Championships for the first time in club history.  

 

 

Smith’s first goal came on a quick break in the fifth minute when Wren Van De Walker poked the ball through to Smith. Smith drew OKCFC goalkeeper, Callie Sullivan, off her line and put her first-time shot on frame to put St. Croix up 1-0. 

 

Oklahoma City FC spent the rest of the first half dictating the run of play, looking but not finding the equalizing goal. 

 

The mountain Oklahoma City FC was climbing grew less steep when Hannah Voskuhl got on the end of a Jenna Minson cross that somehow found its way through the St. Croix goal box to an unmarked Voskuhl at the far post to equalize in the in the 63rd minute. 

 

Oklahoma City continued to dictate play as it searched for the game winner, possessing the ball for long stretches of time. But it was St. Croix’s speed in transition that once again got Oklahoma City in trouble when Smith played herself through past the Oklahoma City pair of center backs. Smith was unceremoniously brought down in a last-ditch effort by Elle Abbey to body her off the ball before she went in on goal, earning Abby a straight red card and St. Croix a free kick on the edge of the penalty area in the 82nd minute. 

 

St. Croix took immediate advantage of the player advantage, gaining and keeping control of the ball in Oklahoma City’s half. In the 84th minute Brooke Nelson won a penalty kick, the result of a clumsy tackle by Samantha Guzman. 

 

Smith buried the shot for her fourth postseason goal and ninth goal of the season. 

 

 

 

Photos by Paris Moua

 

With the win, La Croix Legacy move to 2-1-0 in the postseason and 8-2-1 overall. 

 

La Croix will face East Region winners, Sporting CT, in the WPSL Championships semifinal on Friday night at Neal Patterson Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (CDT). 

 

Oklahoma City FC: 1
St. Croix Legacy: 2

 

Oklahoma City FC: Callie Sullivan, Elle Abbey, Hannah Voskuhl, Katie Jones, Kiersten Smith, Londynn Hagan, Lydia Viets, Molly Shepherd, Rylee McLanahan, Sabrina Guzman, Samantha Guzman. Substitutes: Cammy Hargrove, Chloe Murphy, Evie Munn, Hali White, Jenna Munson, Kenzie Clouse, Macey McFarlane, Sophia Acuna.

 

St. Croix Legacy: Hadley Johnson; Emily Hinze, Grace Schwoch, Savanna Stockness, Marisa Bonilla; Amara Smith, Bella Meier, Emily Olson, Briana Henaman, Wren Van De Walker, Brooke Nelson. Substitutes: Anabel Hillstrom, Cecilia Emery, Emma Johnson, Kate Praetz, Kylie Albert.

 

0-1: Amara Smith 4’
1-1: Hannah Voskuhl 63’
1-2: Amara Smith (PK) 85’

 

Misconduct
Ejection - Elle Abbey (Oklahoma City FC) 82’