DEL MAR, Calif. — The Riverhounds Development Academy’s 2007 Girls team put together a strong week at the Elite Clubs National League’s season-ending playoffs, as they advanced all the way to the final of the North American Cup from June 24-29 at the Surf Cup Sports Park.
The North American Cup is a single-elimination knockout tournament reserved for the top 16 teams nationally who did not qualify for the ECNL Champions League, and all teams are guaranteed at least three matches while in California with consolation games to be played. But the Hounds had their sights set on navigating the four matches in six days required to bring the North American Cup home to Pittsburgh.
Below is a rundown of the team’s progress through the week in California, along with photos and brief recaps of each match:
Things got off to a flying start for the Hounds in the Round of 16, as they put together a comprehensive win Saturday, June 24, over the North Carolina Fusion, 5-2. The team found itself trailing by a goal in the first 20 minutes before Robin Reilly scored the first of two goals to make it 1-1 at halftime.
A break and some halftime adjustments yielded big results, as Grace Bannon set up Reilly to make it 2-1. Sierra Dupre, fresh off her time with the U.S. Youth National Team, was a force after the interval, scoring a natural hat trick to put the game away before the Fusion added a late consolation goal with the Hounds reduced to 10 girls through injury.
On Monday, June 26, the 07 Girls booked their place in the semifinals with a hard-fought win over Gretna Elite Academy (Neb.), 4-3.
Just as in the opening match, the Hounds found themselves down a goal but got back to level terms by halftime with a Simone Sharpless goal. Dupre put the team ahead 2-1, but a poor clearance allowed Gretna to tie the match again, 2-2. Reilly got her third goal of the tournament to reestablish the lead, but it was short-lived, as Gretna came right back to tie from the ensuing kickoff.
With the outcome in the balance, Sharpless got her second of the match by whipping in a free kick that got past everyone and fell inside the near post, but the Hounds still had to defend — at times desperately — to hold on to their lead for the final five minutes.
Another day, another comeback win for the 07 Girls, who are into the North American Cup final after a 2-1 semifinal victory on Tuesday, June 27, over Orlando City SC!
The match was scoreless at halftime, but the Hounds conceded a penalty kick shortly after play resumed to fall behind 1-0 for the third consecutive match.
The team dug deep to pull off yet another rally, starting with a tying goal from Sharpless, her third of the tournament. The game didn’t stay tied for long, as two minutes later, Sharpless served a corner kick that Reilly met at the back post to head the Hounds in front.
After pulling ahead, the Hounds had to defend in chaotic fashion for the final 10 minutes as Orlando City threw everything forward, but the team hung on to move into Thursday’s championship match.
It all came down to an early morning kickoff on Thursday, June 29, as the Hounds did battle with Real Colorado in an 8 a.m. local time match.
The Hounds certainly looked the part of trophy-winning team in the first half by creating plenty of chances to score. But it was a sign of how the day would go when the team couldn’t pull ahead, and compounding the matter was an early injury to Reilly, who had scored in all three previous games in an outstanding week-long performance.
After a scoreless first half, the Hounds came out knocking on the door once again, but it was Real Colorado who opened the scoring by pouncing on a Hounds turnover and breaking in to score on their first shot on goal. Now needing to chase the game, the Hounds made adjustments and pushed forward for a tying score. But in the end, the team ran out of gas, as Real was able to hit out on the counter twice more for a 3-0 final score.
While it was a disappointing final match, it was an excellent run of games to wrap up the 2022-23 competitive season for the group. The girls represented themselves and the Hounds Academy well in California, and the stage is set for more achievements to come for this group — at both the team and individual level — entering the new ECNL season.