Announcement
Lakota United Premier showed that their late season improvement in form was no fluke by making the semi-finals of the Warrior Classic over Memorial Day weekend.
Deadly finishing from Lauren Hoover led LUP to a 3-2 victory over North Macomb Storm from Michigan in the opening game. LUP took a 1-0 lead into half time after a fine indiviual effort and strike from Hoover. Early in the second half Heather McNutt got behind the left side of the North Macomb defense, whipped in a vicious cross that the goalkeeper couldn't hold and Hoover pounced on the lose ball. North Macomb pulled back a goal, but LUP looked to have wrapped up the game after guest player Maci Dungan found Hoover at the top of the penalty area and she completed her hat trick. However, the final minutes proved tense as North Macomb scored again with two minutes reamaining and push forward for the equalizer.
Maybe it was the 6 hours spent at Ankeney Park before the second game, but LUP produced their most lackluster performance of the season against Blast FC. After trailing 3-0 at half time, hopes for a come back were briefly raised when Lauren Hoover released Cailyn Wachtel for her first goal of the season. However, despite a much better performance in the second half, LUP lost the game 4-1.
Sunday morning arrived with LUP needing a victory over Cleveland Impact and help in the other pool game. The LUP midfield trio of Kristyn Hatke, Cailyn Wachtel and Rachel Gary dominated the the early going and provided great service to Hoover, McNutt and Claire Webb up front. On the 20 minute mark Gary won the ball at the edge of the Impact penalty area, faked out two defenders and chipped the keeper for the most spectacular goal of the season. Just before half time it appeared that Cleveland Impact would tie the score when their left winger broke through. However, just as she prepared to shoot Mo Combs appeared from nowhere to make a perfectly timed challenge and prevent a goal. LUP continued to hold the upper hand a sealed the game when center half Amy Dean picked off a pass and found Hoover who scored her 100th goal for LUP.
After the 2-0 victory, LUP stayed to cheer North Macomb, who needed to deny Blast FC a victory for LUP to advance. In a nail-biter North Macomb tied 2-2 and LUP were set up to play Varder, from Michigan, in the semi-final.
Varder had the advantage of the early exchanges and soon had a 1-0 lead. However, LUP battled back and were awarded a penalty when Ali Dicke was pushed in penalty area. Lauren Hoover failed to convert the spot kick, but moments later Hoover was obstructed inside the box and she thundered the indirect free kick into the top corner on the Varder goal. The second half was played mainly in LUP territory and resolute defending by Heather McNutt, Mo Combs, Amy Dean, Natalie Murray and Madison Bueter and several fine saves from Maci Dungan keeping the game even. Eventually, the sustained pressure resulted in two LUP defenders colliding and Varder retaking the lead. Despite working hard, LUP was unable to create any clear goal scoring oppoprtunities in the second half, although Claire Webb got through in the final minute of the game, but her left footed shot went wide. Despite the 2-1 loss, this was one of LUP's best performances of the season against a very strong Varder team.
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