Western New York Flash Claim 2016 NWSL Title

Western New York NWSL Champions (@NWSL/Twitter)

Houston, TX – The National Women’s Soccer League crowned their champion on Sunday night and what a way for the season to come to an end. The depth and talent of the Washington Spirit on paper looked to be ready to claim their first ever NWSL Championship. That was until the Western New York Flash and 2016 NWSL MVP; Lynn Williams came back in stoppage time of extra time to force a penalty shootout.

The Flash’s improbable comeback produced the best game we have seen all season in the league. Western New York was picked to finish in the lower half of the table, the team also struggled to find a head coach prior to the start of the season enter Paul Riley.

In the semifinals the Flash managed to upset the #1 seed Portland Thorns and make it to the finals behind a spectacular performance by Lynn Williams. While #2 seed Washington held off a gritty Chicago Red Stars team to make their first championship appearance as well.

Without head coach Paul Riley, banished for a Red Card in the Portland match, Western New York fell behind early twice in the contest. In the 9th minute Crystal Dunn found an opportunity and capitalized to give Washington a 1-0 lead. The 2015 Golden Boot winner notched just her third goal of the season after scoring 15 last year. The Flash, one of the leagues top offenses, found their chance five minutes later when Samantha Mewis worked by the Spirit defense and placed one past Washington keeper Kelsey Wys to level the score.

Throughout the remainder of the half, both teams battled back and forth creating chances but neither able to convert. At halftime Washington held a lead in shots, 6-4 and shots on goal, 3-2.

The second half became more of a position battle, as both teams moved up and down the field trying to create opportunities to convert the defenses buckled down. Western New York goalkeeper, Sabrina D’Angelo, made big saves late in the half to keep the score even as four minutes of extra time was added to the end of the half. For the third time in this postseason a match would go into extra time.

As the first overtime began, Dunn was able to Washington back on top as she did in the first half, sneaking past the Flash defense in the 91st minute to put the Spirit ahead 2-1. Western New York picked up its urgency and tried to convert on a few good chances but Wys was able to keep Washington ahead. As the first overtime ended and the second overtime began you could see Western New York, was not ready to give up.

As time dwindled on Western New Yorks chances to earn their first NWSL Championship, the Flash found themselves in extra time of the second overtime with one more opportunity to convert. In the 124th minute, MVP Lynn Williams got a perfect ball from Jessica McDonald and sent it past two Spirit defenders and goalkeeper Wys for the equalizer.

The match moved into a Penalty Kick shootout, the first time ever In NWSL Championship history. This is how it ended.