San Diego SeaLions Travel To Seattle For WPSL Western Regional Playoffs
Soccer News: The San Diego SeaLions are in Seattle for the WPSL Western Regional Playoffs this weekend, hoping to earn a berth in the WPSL Final Four.
This is San Diego SeaLions’ fourth trip to the playoffs in the last five seasons and yet the challenge always remains the same.
The SeaLions (6-1-2) will face unbeaten WPSL Northwest Champion 
Issaquah Soccer Club (7-3-0) on Saturday (7/18, 3:30 p.m.), and a victory will earn them a Sunday (7/19, 1:00 p.m.) match against the winner of the game between WPSL South Division rival and champion SoCal FC (7-2-0) and Tottenham Hotspur Eastbay Ladies (7-0-3), who finished atop the WPSL Pacific North Division. The Pacific Division has produced 5 of the last 7 WPSL National Champions.
“Among the qualities that have made this team so successful this season are its versatility and perseverance,” says sixth-year San Diego Head Coach Jen Lalor, a WUSA and USWNT veteran.
“We’ve shown that if we play with passion and without fear, we have the quality to win any match.” The SeaLions are led by midfield general and playmaker Rosie Tantillo (WPS FC Gold Pride); scoring leader Angelina Hix (Mira Costa College) (8 goals); and goalkeeper Kaycee Gunion (CSU-San Marcos) whose division-leading 0.78 goals-against average and two shutouts last weekend against Phoenix and Tucson helped clinch San Diego’s 2015 post-season venture.
“Issaquah is a savvy and battle-tested opponent, with a bona fide history of quality,” said SeaLions Assistant Coach Lu Snyder (SDSU), noting Issaquah’s past associations with NWSL and W-League teams. “They know how to recruit and they know how to score goals.”
Indeed, Issaquah tied for the WPSL lead with 35 goals scored, while allowing only 6, over ten matches. They are led by midfielder Macy Jo Harrison’s (UNLV) 13 goals and 5 assists, and Aston Villa Ladies’ (England) defensive duo Erin Vaughan and Jade Richards (combined 5 goals / 7 assists).
Both SeaLions playoff matches will be streamed by ScoreStream, and can be followed online and via the free ScoreStream app for Apple iOS and Google Android. ScoreStream provides real-time game commentary, scores, and chatting opportunities with other fans.
The San Diego WFC SeaLions are a non-profit 501c3 entity dedicated to fostering women’s soccer coaching, playing, and business management opportunities. It is one of the oldest and most successful women’s soccer clubs in the United States and is a charter member of the 82-team WPSL.
Photo Credit: Aaron Jaffe
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