Saturday July 19, 2008
ATLANTA—The Atlanta Silverbacks women capped off an unbeaten regular season campaign topping the West Virginia Illusion 4-1 in front of a record crowd of 1,941 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park after falling behind on a blooper-reel goal in the 13th minute.

(Photo Caption: Jill Porto put the Silverbacks into the lead to close out an unbeaten season versus West Virginia. Photo by Ellen McRaney)

Kay Harbrueger, Jill Porto, Ronda Brooks, and Rebecca Hall all tallied for the Silverbacks in the win.

The Silverbacks sealed up the Atlantic Division title last weekend with its 4-2 win at Charlotte and will host the Eastern Conference playoffs next Friday and Saturday. Tournament passes are $20, and can be purchased by calling 866-GO-BACKS.

“It wasn't what you would call one of our better performances,” said head coach Tony Anglin. “We didn't play well at all. Hopefully it will be out of our system for next weekend when it really matters. We did enough to get the win, and not much more.”

Initially it looked like the Silverbacks would have little trouble continuing its scoring spree that has seen the Silverbacks put in a club-record 46 goals going into Saturday's match. In the fifth minute Cortni Joyner nodded home a Sarah Steinmann cross, only to have it called back.

The depleted Illusion, which fell to Charlotte 7-0 last night, did surprisingly well in the withering afternoon heat. In fact, the 10-player side took the lead on an interesting goal in the 13th minute. Goalkeeper Allison Whitworth had difficulty with a long-range free kick by Maris Kanela. Whitworth got a piece of the dipping ball, enough to put it off the crossbar. The ball bounced straight up, bouncing off the crossbar a second time before dropping back into play at the feet of Melissa Bigg, who had little trouble putting the Illusion in the lead.

The Silverbacks continued to press for the equalizer. Illusion goalkeeper Andrew Kaminsici turned away several shots—16 in a row, before Harbrueger bumped in a Stephanie Smith corner kick in the 42nd minute. The Silverbacks finished the day with a total of 32 shots to West Virginia's four.

The floodgates opened—partially so at least—less than a minute later, when Porto got on the end of a Smith cross, finally giving the Silverbacks the lead in the 43rd minute.

Brooks put the third tally on the score sheet in the 45th minute, nodding home a Smith corner kick to give the Silverbacks a two-goal lead going into the intermission.

The Silverbacks continued the pressure in the second half: Joiner had a goal called back, and Smith smacked a shot off the woodwork. Bobo was denied by a good save by Kaminsici, and Porto put a header off the crossbar—the fifth time the Silverbacks hit the woodwork in the match.  

Hall put the fourth tally on the score sheet in the 83rd minute, cleaning up a ball sent in by Randi-Lynn Bruso from the right side.

“I have to give West Virginia credit,” said Anglin. “They stayed in and fought hard and played smart.”

The win gives the Silverbacks an unbeaten 13-0-1 entering the post season—one of three teams in the W-League to do so this season. Joining the Silverbacks next week will be Atlantic Division runners up Charlotte, and the top two teams of the Northeast Division, which will  be Washington—which topped the Silverbacks in last year's W-League finals—and either Boston or Long Island. Washington plays at Boston Saturday night and at Connecticut Sunday, and leads Boston in the standings by three points. Boston has one game remaining, versus Washington, and will earn a berth by beating Washington or with a Long Island loss to New Jersey this weekend. Long Island will earn a berth if it beats New Jersey, and Boston losses to Washington.

Tickets for Friday and Saturday's thee-game playoff series are $20 for all three matches, and can be purchased by calling 866-GO-BACKS.

Friday, July 25:
5:00 PM Charlotte Eagles vs. Northeast Division Winner
8:00 PM Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Northeast Division Runner-up

Saturday, July 26:
8:00 PM Teams to be determined