Long Island, River Cities advance

DRAPER — A pair of newcomers crashed the party at the Women's Premier Soccer League Final Four.

The Long Island Fury, playing in its inaugural season, scored once in each half en route to a 2-0 win over San Diego in the semifinal round Friday.

The Fury will meet River Cities FC of Missouri, another first-year squad, tonight at 8 in the WPSL championship game, which is being hosted at Juan Diego Catholic High.

When Long Island of New York was founded back on Dec. 15, coach Paul Riley hoped his squad could finish at .500 or maybe squeak into the playoffs. Now the Fury is a game away from winning the national amateur league, composed of 39 teams throughout the United States.

Long Island began the season on a hot streak, and it hasn't looked back.

"We've kind of grown from there," said Riley.

A pair of sisters got the goals for Long Island. As Riley pointed out afterward, at this point in the tournament, it only takes a moment of brilliance — or two — to separate the teams.

Shannon Donovan certainly provided that in the 74th minute, sealing the game for Long Island.

Leading 1-0, Donovan approached a free kick 32 yards off the line. She connected with the ball perfectly, drilling an unstoppable shot inside the upper-left corner of the goal.

"After I hit it, it felt good," Donovan said of the goal, which Riley labeled a "1-in-a-250,000" type of strike.

San Diego features two former World Cup players — Jennifer Lalor-Nielsen of the United States and Ouying Zhang of China — as well as a couple other veterans. On the other hand, the Fury consists mainly of young players. Accordingly, Riley felt his squad could wear down the SeaLions in the blistering heat and on an artificial surface.

"I thought our young legs got us through this game," he said.

Riley also heaped praise on his defense, which largely kept San Diego from getting quality chances, especially in the second half.

After creating a number of chances that sailed off target, Long Island went ahead 1-0 in the 38th minute.

Sub Katelynn Donovan, Shannon's sister, ran onto Cody Newman's perfect pass through the middle. Katelynn Donovan took several touches to the right before unleashing her shot past the goalie at the far post.