University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Five Bruins Win NWSL Title with WNY Flash
October 09, 2016 | Women's Soccer
UCLA soccer alumnae Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis, Katelyn Rowland, Taylor Smith and McCall Zerboni helped the Western New York Flash win its first-ever National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) title. The Flash defeated the Washington Spirit, 3-2, after a penalty shootout.
Dahlkemper, Mewis, Rowland and Smith were integral players on UCLA's 2013 NCAA Championship team and teamed up three years later to win another national title. Mewis scored a goal in regulation, and Dahlkemper converted the first penalty kick of the shootout. The two started the contest, along with Zerboni. Rowland won her second consecutive NWSL title, after having been a member of the 2015 championship squad from FC Kansas City. Zerboni won her third professional national title with the Flash, having previously won the Women's Professional Soccer title in 2011 and the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite title in 2012.
Some of our @UCLAWSoccer alums #anothernatty #bruinpride #8clap @taylorsmith14_ @AbbyDahlkemper @sammymewy @rowland_katelyn pic.twitter.com/vQCX90CETI
— Amanda Cromwell (@CromwellUCLA) October 10, 2016
On the other side of the ball were two more starters from the Bruins' 2013 squad - defenders Caprice Dydasco and Megan Oyster, who both earned starting nods for the Washington Spirit.
The Spirit scored the first goal of the game in the ninth minute, but Mewis tied it up five minutes later. In overtime, Washington took the lead on a 91st minute goal by Crystal Dunn, but with just seconds left in stoppage time of the second overtime, NWSL MVP Lynn Williams equalized on a header in the box.
GOAL! Samantha Mewis answers back quickly for the Flash and we're even at 1-1! We got a game on our hands! #WASvWNY https://t.co/W4QyeO7HqL
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 9, 2016
In the shootout, Western New York made three penalty shots, including Dahlkemper in the one spot, and goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo made three saves to win the shootout, 3-2.
