Washington Dutch Lions FC (5-1-1) entered the game with a clear objective: to win and play the championship game next week vs SJEB FC. After a 2-0 lead at halftime the Lions were on fire scoring 7 more finishing the game 9-0.
In the 11th minute Coach Michel Vanderhart subs on #24 Kayla Dixon. Shortly after being subbed in Dixon found herself in a 1v1 with the goalkeeper. With great skills Dixon bent the ball around the goalkeeper and placed it in the back of the net to get the early goal the team was looking for. Seven minutes later the Lions doubled their lead. Midfielder Dakota Chan put in a perfect center for Selena Kaup who got her second goal in two games. The Lions went into halftime with a 2-0 lead after a great first half.
But the team even put in a better performance in the second half. The Lions scored 7 goals in the second half with 5 goals in the last 17 minutes of the game. To start the second half Maddy Oliver timed a perfect run to receive the through ball in stride. She was alone in-front of the ODFC keeper and passed the ball into the net to put the Lions up by 3 only two minutes into the second half. In the 62nd minute the passing ability of Dakota Chan was put on display as she put in another through ball putting her teammates in a 1v1 with the goalkeeper. This time Cami Taylor was there to finish it and put the Lions up 4-0. In the 73rd minute the Lions started one of their most outstanding hot streaks in the season. Dakota Chan put in another beautiful pass, this time to winger Clare Davis, who hit a powerfull shot to the bottom right corner of the goal. Two minutes later Tiffany Dang got her first goal of the season after an overwhelming quick build up by the Lions. After kicking off once again the Lions’ pressure rewarded them with possession once again. The team had three back to to back shots on goal, Clare Davis
passed it across the goal to #1 Maddy Oliver who did not hesitate to get her second goal of the game. The game was coming to an end when the Lions earned a corner kick. The corner kick bounced of an ODFC defender and #11 Cami Taylor was able to control it. With great vision she spotted #30 Anna Viscovich who controlled the ball and with her second touch scored a beautiful goal from outside of the box which curled perfectly away from the keeper and inside the post in the 88th minute. In the last minute of play striker Priya Nair, who has been one of the club’s topscorers, put her name on the scoresheet after running past the defenders and scoring with confidence in a 1v1 with the goalkeeper.
The Lions are now only 1 point behind the leader Ospreys, and will focus on next Saturday’s away game which is the last game of the season. The game will be at 4pm against SJEB FC. If the Lions successfully carry this momentum into their next game and win they find themselves winning their first regular season conference championship in club history already in the inaugural season.