Courtesy of USLsoccer.com
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Former Wolfpack soccer player Jessica O’Rourke scored the only goal for FC Indiana in a 2-1 setback to the Pali Blues in the W-League Championship game.
The Pali Blues came out loose and relax and it showed early in the contest. Pali was in control of the game early, dominating possession and getting everyone involved. On the other hand, FC Indiana looked nervous and the big game jitters definitely contributed to early FC Indiana miscues.
Although FC Indiana could not keep possession for any period of time, their defense was solid and Pali could not create any true scoring chances. O’Rourke was key in FC Indiana’s early defensive play as head coach Shek Borkowski unleashed a defensive strategy which clogged up the space that the athletic Blues desperately needed.
“Shek did an excellent coaching job tonight,” said Pali Head Coach Charlie Naimo. “He was able to take away our athleticism and we were really in trouble.”
FC Indiana came out strong in the second half. They dominated the early play and used that advantage to score the first goal of the match. Midfielder and Mexican international Fatima Leyva sent a dangerous curling corner in the 47th minute that found the head of O’Rourke to make it 1-0 FC Indiana.
This was the first time all season that Pali trailed in a match and it took awhile for the Blues to regain their focus and command of the game.
In the 83rd minute, Pali tied the match when Amy LePeilbet, the playoff MVP, deflected Rosie Tantillo's corner kick past goalie Kristen Luckenbill.
The Blues, of Pacific Palisades, Calif., scored the deciding goal on Ilaria Pasqui's header off Kandace Wilson's crossing pass.
O'Rourke was named to the W-League Championship All-Tournament team.
Courtesy of womensprosoccer.com
FC Indiana midfielder Jessica O’Rourke played one of the best games of
the playoffs and almost sent the Lionesses to the top of the W-League
with her amazing championship performance. O’Rourke’s main goal in the
championship game was to be a disruption to Pali forwards Danesha Adams
and India Trotter. She made life difficult for those two players and
limited the amount of space they had to play with. O’Rourke did that
beautifully throughout the contest and frustrated both forwards while
she was on the field.
Not only did O’Rourke display her strength defensively, but she was
also responsible for getting FC Indiana on the scoreboard. O’Rourke
soared in the air over two Pali defenders and headed in a cross from
teammate Fatima Leyva that gave the Lionesses the lead and put Pali in
a trailing position for the first time this season.
OTHER WOLFPACKERS IN W-LEAGUE
Senior Lindsay Vera led the Carolina Railhawks in scoring this summer with 11 points in 14 matches. Vera tied for the team lead with four goals and also provided a team-topping three assists.
Former NC State greats Thori Bryan and Tara Knauss also completed with the Railhawks. Bryan scored once in 11 matches, while Knauss appeared in seven games.
