The Oakland Soul and San Francisco Glens both earned impressive victories over California Storm and appear on a collision course to battle for the W-League NorCal title. The Glens men’s side also took the first round of the SF Derby against SF City in League 2 action.
W League – Oakland Soul SC Outlasts California Storm
In a battle of USL W League playoff contenders, Oakland Soul emerged with a 3-2 win over the California Storm on Sunday afternoon at Merritt College.
The Storm was not only the 2022 WPSL Champions; in previous years, their team has included future U.S. Women’s National Team stars, including Brandi Chastain, Alex Morgan, Leslie Osborne, and Julie Foudy. They entered the match coming off their first loss of the season to the San Francisco Glens on Friday night, while the Soul remained undefeated with a 5-2 win over Stockton Cargo on Thursday.
“They’re super good,” Soul midfielder Jaida Nyby said after the match. “I think that was our toughest opponent that we’ve seen all season, and I love games like that. It was a battle, it was physical, but that makes walking away with the win so much more memorable and enjoyable. Because it really took everyone, all 11 on the field and also everyone on the bench, to come in and make an impact and put it away.”
“We didn’t know what players they would reuse from Friday night’s game,” Soul Head Coach Jessica Clinton said. “But we had a hunch that they are confident in what they do. They were going to play in their 4-3-3, and they were going to do Cal Storm things, right? So the formation for us didn’t change. It was just how we were managing things a little bit differently.”
First Half Fireworks
The Soul came out firing on all cylinders to start the match, but the Storm got on the board first in the 12th minute. The Storm’s Brenda Uribe missed a bicycle kick, but Gianna Riley grabbed the rebound just inside the penalty area and blasted a shot that eluded the outstretched arms of Oakland goalkeeper Layla Armas.
The Soul erased their first deficit of the season by scoring two minutes later. A through ball to Miranda Nild threaded the needle between a pair of Storm defenders. Nild made her way into the penalty area, but Storm goalkeeper Abbie Faingold made a kick save. Kaytlin Brinkman rushed in to grab the rebound, and her one-timer bounced off of Faingold’s arm and into the net.
“I think it’s the mentality of the players,” Soul Coach Jessica Clinton said when asked about her team’s quick response. “They don’t like to be behind. They know that is a big moment to respond back.”
Oakland created numerous chances in the remainder of the half, including a shot by Sarah Mirr that Faingold deflected away for the corner in the 20th minute, a shot by Brinkman in the 25th that required a diving save from Faingold, and a pair of shots from Aaliyah Schinaman that hit the crossbar in the 26th and 28th minute.
Meanwhile, Armas made three key saves to preserve the tie, including a stop from point-blank range in the 24th minute and a pair of difficult saves just before halftime.
The Storm seemed poised to take the lead in the 36th minute on a penalty kick, but Riley’s spot kick hit the post. Schinaman had been called for the foul after she was unable to clear away a cross and collided with the Storm’s Maddy Ayson.
Clinton said she was frustrated with her club’s inability to convert their chances.
“Kudos for the group that was on the field and like their response and getting the goal and pushing, but it was there, right?” Clinton said. “We had a lot of chances. This game should have been more. But their goalkeeper is a fantastic goalkeeper. Layla made some fantastic saves, right? And that probably is what kept it one-one for a while.”
The Soul Take Over Early in the Second Half
The Soul took the lead for good four minutes into the second half. Sam Tran’s through ball found Nyby just as Faingold tried to grab the ball away from her.
“I saw Sam on the breakaway wide open, and it was a little bit in front of me,” Nyby said. “It hit off my butt, then hit off the keeper, then hit off my face and went in. And when I saw the ball roll across the line, I was like, thank God, because we deserve it.”
Nyby also set up Oakland’s third goal one minute later. She rushed in when two Storm defenders were unable to clear the ball. Nyby chased it down, then sent a cross to an unmarked Nayeli Diaz for the tap-in at the far post.
But Cal Storm wasn’t finished yet. In the 56th minute, a shot from beyond the penalty area required full extension from Armas to deflect it to safety.
And two minutes later, a through ball found Savannah Schwarze with a step on a pair of Oakland defenders. Armas came out to cut down the angle, but Schwarze’s shot tucked inside the far post.
The action continued through to the final whistle when Faingold made a tough stop on Tran from point-blank range in the 88th minute and an easier one on a shot from Diaz in the 90th.
Rematch on Thursday
The Soul and Storm will meet again on Thursday evening in Davis. Clinton says she plans to leave her post-collegiate players at home because many have day jobs, and midweek travel is difficult.
“We are changing over our roster for Thursday and giving the older players like a midweek break because of the travel and the work and the things that we’re asking them to do like they did it this past Thursday,” she said. “And it gives an opportunity for some of our younger players, whether it’s college or youth players, to be able to rotate in at a very valuable game, but maybe a little less pressure.”
W League – SF Glens come back to take down California Storm
The San Francisco Glens had to stage a dramatic second-half comeback to take down the California Storm in Davis on Friday night, 2-1.
“To go down 1-0 and come back from that shows the character of this team,” said Glens coach Mike Sharabi after the game. “They really have the heart and the will of a champion.”
California Storm struck first when Cam Lancaster sprung open Giana Riley behind the Glens’ defense. Riley calmly converted the opportunity in the 35th minute to help the home side take the lead into the break.
In the second half, the Glens pressed for the equalizer. Finally, in the 73rd minute, San Francisco broke through. Amy Sayer was able to create some space from the Storm defense to deliver a low cross across the mouth of the goal that teammate Nadia Gomes converted to tie the game.
The Glens continued to press for the winner, and in the 81st minute, a Storm defensive mistake allowed SF’s Jessie Halladay a chance to get the ball unmarked from about thirty yards out. She picked out the top left corner and slotted her shot from distance just inside the post and into the net.
After the final whistle, the Glens celebrated their victory and now have a perfect record in the league. Next up for SF is a game against the Pleasanton Rage on Thursday evening before facing off against the Soul on Sunday at Skyline College.
- In other W-League action, The Olympic Club defeated the Pleasanton Rage 1-0, before losing on Saturday to Stockton Cargo 2-1. Academica SC also earned their first victory of the season, defeating Marin FC Sirens 4-3.
League 2 – SF Glens top SF City in SF Derby
The San Francisco Glens took the first round of the home and away San Franciso Derby from visiting SF City, winning 2-0 at Skyline College on Saturday.
Nonso Amidabua was responsible for both goals for the Glens sandwiched around halftime.
SF City had a late penalty kick opportunity, but Glens keeper Lucas Jones saved Berardinelli Silva’s attempt.
Next weekend, the Glens will face off against Project 51O, while SF City will host Academica at Kezar on Saturday.
- In other League 2 action Marin FC Legends defeated Academica 2-1.
(Douglas Zimmerman contributed to this report)
