Nigerian national team star Mercy Akide struck in overtime to deliver to the Hampton Roads Piranhas their first W-League championship Sunday with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cobras in Virginia Beach, Va.
Akide's goal from a rebound in the 96th minute enabled the Piranhas, host of the W-League final four, to complete a perfect season. The win was the sixth this season on goals in the 90th minute or later for Hampton Roads (14-0-0).
Chicago (13-2-1), which fell to the Piranhas in overtime for the second time this season, was seeking its second title after winning the W-1 championship in 2000.
The Piranhas, led by Nigerian national-teamer Florence Omagbemi, Belgian Coco Callebaut (from NAIA power Lindenwood University), Carrie Proost (frequent New York Power ''supplemental'' call-up to the WUSA) and goalkeeper Meredith Flaherty (Power draft choice in 2002), created more definitive scoring chances.
Flaherty, active off her line, cut off several Chicago opportunities, and the Piranhas might have won in regulation had Akide, a former WUSA player with the San Diego Spirit, not fired directly at Cobras goalkeeper Molly Schneider (UW Milwaukee sophomore) when presented a 1-on-1 situation in the 22nd minute.
Akide's winner came off a marvelous sequence begun with former Syracuse University star Jenna Szyluk's run up the right flank. She cut inside above the box, then slipped the ball to former Temple University standout Jeanette Hibbs on the right side of Chicago's box.
Hibbs quickly back-heeled the ball to former Oswego State star Janet Davis, who had entered the match a minute into overtime, and her left-footer hit the bottom of the right post from 12 yards.
The ball ricocheted to Akide, to Davis' right, and her first-time shot landed in the goal's left-side netting. The goal was Akide's eighth this season for Hampton Roads.
Szyluk, who was in the Washington Freedom's camp last spring and was called up as a ''supplemental player'' by the WUSA team in May, was likely playing in her final W-League match. She has been hired as head women's soccer coach at Manhattanville College (NCAA Division III), and Hampton Roads coach John Germanos said he expected her to retire as a player.
Akide and Omagbemi, who previously played in the WUSA with Boston and San Diego, next join in Nigeria's preparations for the Women's World Cup.
Seattle won the third-place game, beating Ottawa, 4-1, as University of Washington star Tina Frimpong scored two goals and assisted another in the first 11 minutes.
W-LEAGUE FINAL FOUR
at Virginia Beach, Va.
Championship
Sunday, Aug. 10
Hampton Roads 1 (Akide 96) Chicago 0 (OT).
Third Place
Sunday, Aug. 10
Ottawa 1 (Alfa 65) Seattle 4 (Frimpong 2, 6, Mueller 11, Milyak 82).
Semifinals
Friday, Aug. 8
Hampton Roads 4 (Borski 46, 55, Hibbs 73, Ritchie 90) Seattle 1 (Frimpong 15).
Chicago 3 (Graczyk 12, 90, Sitch 58) Ottawa 0.
All-tournament team
G — Meredith Flaherty (Hampton Roads)
D — Jenna Szyluk (Hampton Roads)
D — Fanta Cooper (Chicago)
D — Josha Krueger (Chicago)
M — Melissa Bennett (Seattle)
M — Florence Omagbemi (Hampton Roads)
M — Darci Borski (Hampton Roads)
M — Kelly Parker (Ottawa)
F — Tina Frimpong (Seattle)
F — Kristen Graczyk (Chicago)
F — Mercy Akide (Hampton Roads)