NEWS NEWS

SeaLions and United Draw 1-1 at Torero Stadium
Monday Jun 21, 2010

The San Diego SeaLions (2-2-1, 7pts), who have been playing technically-sound soccer in their past five matches without getting a good result, tallied early in the second half to earn a 1-1 tie with San Diego United (3-2-1, 10 pts) on Sunday afternoon at Torero Stadium.

SeaLions forward Alex Webber, the team's leading scorer with two goals, collected a cross from Michelle Spacciapolli and then slotted a perfect ground shot from 16 yards away to the far corner past the diving United goalkeeper in the 50th minute to bring the SeaLions even.

The SeaLions played another solid technical game, dominating possession time and winning the shots on goal battle (15-9). However, the team has had problems finding the back of the net, resulting in several one-goal defeats.

"Playing a high-level technical game is heavily stressed," said SeaLions head coach Jen Nielsen. "The goals will come if we continue to lay the foundation of solid technical play. It would be worrisome, if we were not creating the chances, but we are and that is encouraging."

It looked like SeaLions were going to suffer a familiar fate when United took a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute. The SeaLions had controlled most of the play until United midfielder McKenna Waitley controlled the ball after a SeaLions corner kick and promptly threaded a pass through the midfield to Brianna Buffington. Having a step on the SeaLions backline, Buffington ran onto the ball and fired a low shot past the oncoming SeaLions goalkeeper Kaycee Gunion.

The draw gave the SeaLions one point to keep them in the playoff hunt. United won the "San Diego Derby" with a 1-0-1 record in the two matches between the cross-town rivals.

San Diego returns to action on Saturday, June 26, 7:30pm against LAFC Chelsea in an important Pacific Division clash at Manchester Stadium on the campus of Cathedral Catholic High School.