Midwest United FC advances to Girls DA U-18/19 Final
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(Via U.S. Soccer) – Two goals from Jennifer Blitchok helped lead Midwest United FC to a 2-1 victory over Mid-America Division rival Sockers FC on Wednesday afternoon in the 2019 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Girls U-18/19 Semifinals. Blitchok netted on either side of halftime to lift the Michigan club into the final.
Midwest United FC opened the scoring on the quarter-hour as Blitchok gave them a 1-0 lead. A corner kick for the Grand Rapids, Mich., side was half-cleared out to Raegan Cox who sent it back into the box where it took a deflection down into the feet of Blitchok who converted from inside the six for the first goal of the game.
Sockers FC created its first chance of the game in the 22nd minute as a shot from Mackenzie Anthony found the palms of Midwest United FC goalkeeper Gracie VanLangevelde.
In the 31st minute, Midwest United FC had an opportunity to double its advantage as a shot from Bria Telemaque just inside the box was stopped by Caitlin Richards in goal for Sockers FC as she took it off the hands and secured it at the second attempt.
Two minutes later, Mira Emma played a ball in behind the Midwest United FC defense where Anthony got on the end of it, but Van Langevelde did an excellent job to come off her line and thwart the opportunity for Sockers FC.
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In the final minute of added time at the end of the first half, Avery Lockwood of Midwest United FC had her shot held by Richards as Midwest United FC took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Midwest United FC made the brighter start to the second stanza and Lockwood had the first look at goal in the second half, putting her chance high in the 50th minute.
Blitchok doubled the lead for Midwest United FC in the 67th minute with her second goal of the afternoon. Cox latched on to a ball just before the end line and fired it across the box where Richards got a hand to it, but only enough to put in right into the path of Blitchok who hit it first time on the half-volley into the net from eight yards, giving Midwest United FC a 2-0 lead.
Six minutes later, Sockers FC was back within a goal as Emma converted from the penalty spot, cutting the Midwest United FC lead to 2-1. Ellie Geier drew the penalty off a corner and Emma stepped up to finish in the 72nd minute to bring the Chicagoland side back within a goal.
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Just a minute later Sockers FC had an excellent chance to equalize as VanLangevelde made an outstanding save on Hannah Richardson. A cross came in from the right, going all the way through the box to Richardson at the back post on the six, but VanLangevelde somehow got across to make the stop.
Geier had a great chance to pull Sockers FC level in the 86th minute as she collected the ball on the left side and drove toward goal, but VanLangevelde came off her line to make the save as Midwest United FC, the winners of Group C in the Development Academy Playoffs, held on for the 2-1 victory.
Midwest United FC will meet San Diego Surf on Friday, June 28, in the Development Academy Girls U-18/19 Final in Oceanside, Calif.
Watch the full match here: https://ussoc.cr/1q0
