SeaLions Miss Trip to Final Four in Penalty Shoot Out Loss

The SeaLions, who went 8-1-1 in the WPSL regular season traveled to Dublin, CA for the Pacific Regional playoffs on July 23rd and 24th. In Saturday's match vs. the professional Bay Area Breeze, San Diego's Ashlin Yahr and Alex Webber scored two quick goals in the 8th minute of play, making an early statement that the SeaLions were there to win. The Breeze got on the board in the 10th minute, but Webber had her second goal of the night just 15 minutes later. Bay Area was able to stay in the game, scoring their third and final goal just prior to the end of the half to make it 3-2 SeaLions. No goals were scored in the second half, and the SeaLions advanced to the Pacific Regional Final against the OC Wave, who had beaten North Bay FC on Saturday to earn their spot in the match.

The SeaLions came into Sunday's match 1-1 against the Waves. They were the only team to beat OC in the regular season. San Diego fell behind early on an own goal scored in the 5th minute. Despite the setback, the team dominated the run of play and Ashlin Yahr was able to bury her second goal of the weekend to tie things up at the end of the first half. The second half saw no scoring action, and the game went into overtime. At the end of 2, 15-minute periods of overtime the game remained tied at 1-1, and the two teams were forced into PK's. The SeaLions lost in penalties, and OC advanced to the Final Four in Chicago.

OC Waves went on to beat the Boston Aztecs 3-0 in the first match of the 2011 WPSL Final Four, and went on to win the National Title beating the Chicago red Stars 2-1. San Diego remains the only team in the Nation to beat the new WPSL Champions.

"Without a doubt, had this team traveled to Chicago this year, we would have come home champions," said SeaLion Head Coach Lalor-Nielsen. "It's always tough to lose in PK's, but that's soccer. I am extremely proud of the girls, and I know when next year rolls around we will not go home without a trophy."