Centennial, Colo. – Failure was not an option in Denver’s game plan last night when they hosted NWSL playoff rival Seattle Reign. It was a match that they needed to win or face the reality that their playoff hopes were starting to diminish.
With the victory, 10th place Summit now stands two points shy of the final playoff spot. Above them in the league table are Angel City who they tied with a week ago in Los Angeles and Seattle.
NWSL Decision Day is on November 1, and single-game elimination playoffs open on November 6th.
“We’ve earned the right to be in that middle pack chasing for eight place,” Denver’s head coach Nick Cushing stated during his press conference. “The players really, really want it, so now it’s just about trying to put it together.”
His starting eleven certainty demonstrated their desire to win after waiting it out during a 65 minute weather delay in their changing room.
The first 40 minutes of play amounted to a rough and tumble affair. It was entertaining fast paced shoulder-to-shoulder soccer.
Both sides matched up well until Denver’s dashing midfielder Delanie Sheehan launched a rocket of a shot from inside of the box in the 44th minute. The ball hit the crossbar and ricocheted into the back of the net. Delanie’s goal was her second of the season. She was assisted by fellow midfielder, Lindsey Heaps.
After the intermission, Denver came out with a certain determination in their play. Five minutes into the second half, Janine Sonis was in Denver’s end working the ball down the left side of the pitch. She slipped a pass to Tash Flint who dribbled the ball to the center and sent it towards the mouth of the goal. The ball sailed over the outstretched arms of Seattle’s goalkeeper Claudia Dickey to put Denver up 2-nil.
Ultimately, Flint’s goal would prove to be the game-winner, but not until hungry Seattle we made a valiant effort to dig out of their deficit.
Four minutes after Flint scored, Seattle’s attacker Maddie Dahlien beat Denver’s right back Natalie Means at the lower edge of the box. Dahlien shot the ball and Denver’s goalkeeper Abby Smith deflected the ball towards the direction of the oncoming Brittany Radcliffe who easily put the ball in.
Seattle kept up the pressure for the next 20 minutes, however, this time, Denver’s backline did not cave in. Kudos especially to Smith for keeping her cool and stopping goal attempts that could have tied up the match.
With two road games remaining before the October international break, Denver will next face-off with 7th-place Kansas City in Missouri, followed by Chicago.
The green and white will return home for their final two regular-season home fixtures against Angel City on October 17th and Racing Louisville on October 24th. Cushing and company face North Carolina Courage on the final day.
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Katherine Ammon 