Sea Lions Outlast Breeze in Conference Semifinals

Despite answering back after two first-half goals, the Bay Area Breeze couldn’t withstand an early onslaught by the San Diego Sea Lions, who ousted the hosts from the WPSL North Pacific Conference playoffs with a 3-2 win at Saturday night’s semifinal at .

University of Washington senior and San Diego forward Alex Webber opened and closed the Sea Lions’ score sheet, netting the match’s first tally in the eighth minute and closing it with a 25th-minute winner that sent her squad to Sunday’s final against Orange County. 

Webber’s opener was followed immediately by another San Diego goal within less than a minute, scored this time by Ashlin Yahr, who guided in Breeze goalkeeper Cori Alexander’s failed save attempt. 

Bay Area responded a minute later when Elina Johansson created an opening for forward Whitney Palmer, who capitalized on a breakaway that ended with a pass into the far corner of the net. 

It took only 15 minutes for Webber to strike again, this time off a corner that would deflect off two heads before finding Webber, who headed past Alexander. 

“I think we were a little disorganized from time to time on some set pieces; they didn’t come out as smoothly as we wanted them to,” said Darin Preszler, head coach of Breeze.

Nevertheless, Bay Area was able to take advantage of its own set piece, a 38th minute corner kick that saw a short pass and cross navigate Kristina Hall, who slotted home to cut San Diego’s lead to one prior to halftime.

Preszler talked to the team about preserving a second-half shutout but the Sea Lions weren't going to let that happen despite multiple promising opportunities for the Breeze. 

“I think we owned that second half, we had the ball most of the time, I think we put them under a lot of pressure,” said Breeze captain Kim Yokers. “I think they thought we were going to get the ball in there and we should’ve, it’s kind of heartbreaking that we didn’t.”

The loss concluded the Breeze’s inaugural 2011 campaign but Preszler said he would relish the chance to seek revenge next year. 

“The Breeze franchise is really something we’re going to try and push in the future. We love the relationship we’ve got with Dublin and the community,” he said. “We’re looking to push on and advance this endeavor beyond this level next year and even do more things going on to the future for these girls to promote women’s soccer.”