The Pali Blues women’s team won the Western Conference of the W-League with a 1-0 win on Sunday over the Seattle Sounders, as forward Lynn Williams’ goal in the 63rd minute proved to be just enough. Goalkeeper Anna Maria Picarelli, a member of the Italian National team, continued her stellar play in net, having now allowed just three goals all season. ’I don’t think we’ve played our best soccer yet, but we’ve played extremely well defensively,’ head coach Charlie Naimo told the Palisdian-Post. ‘It hasn’t been the most appealing soccer, but it’s been most consistent.’ This has been a remarkable season for the Blues, who are 14-0-1 going into tomorrow’s league semifinal game in Ottawa, Ontario against the Quebec City Amiral. DC United will play the Ottawa Fury following the Blues game, and the winners will meet in the championship game on Sunday, while the losers play a consolation match. Picarelli, defensive players Sasha Andrews and Michelle Pao, midfielder Sarah Huffman and Williams were all named to the All-W-League Western Conference teams. Picarelli posted 12 shutouts on the year as the Blues outscored their opponents by a combined score of 39-3. ‘Great defense ends with Anna,’ Naimo said. ‘She’s a great organizer and a very good pro. She’s a team leader. She hasn’t always had to make a lot of great saves because of our forwards, but that time of game when she’s had to make one, she’s made it.’ Naimo is confident in his bunch because the majority of his players have played in championship games on a broad spectrum such as U19 and U20 teams, something he hopes will keep them relaxed and focused heading to Ottawa. ’We’re not excited right now because it’s just a bunch of wins,’ Naimo said. ‘We expected to be in the final and compete for a championship. Almost all of us on this roster have won national championships. All that matters is that you win that game on Sunday.’
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
