Select Eliminated From WPSL Playoffs

Millburn Magic Defeats Bay State, 2-0

July 20, 2009

The Bay State Select�s season came to an end Sunday with a 2-0 loss on the road to the Millburn Magic in a Women�s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) first round playoff game.

Millburn started the game well, with a strong defensive base, and Shira Averbuch and Tara Ricciardi probing from midfield. Ten minutes into the game the Magic had their first chance, with Katie Ryan firing over the net after good work from Kim Malecki on the right.

Despite that close escape for the visitors, Millburn�s opening goal wasn�t long in coming. Kat Sheeligh linked up with Laura Kurash, whose through ball found Katie Ryan to finish well in the 17th minute.

While Bay State held possession well in midfield, they rarely threatened Millburn�s goal until an effort from Jenni Roncarati in the 38th minute forced Magic keeper Lia Fierro into a sharp save low to her left.

That spurred the New Jersey team into action, and when Kurash found some space in midfield, her pass split the defense to find Ryan, whose low driven shot in the 41st minute found the back of the net and made the half-time score 2-0 to Millburn.

Bay State started the second half with renewed purpose, twice firing narrowly over the crossbar from good positions as they tried to force a breakthrough.

Having absorbed Bay State pressure, the Magic dominated possession and took the sting out the game in the final twenty minutes, although replacement keeper Robin Chernow had to make a couple of smart stops as they moved comfortably to a semifinal clash at Lancaster, who shocked the Boston Aztecs 3-1 Saturday.

Favorites and No. 1 seed Long Island Fury host the New England Mutiny in the other semifinal, Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.