The W-League's two reigning champions advanced to the championship match Friday night with difficult victories in Burnaby, British Columbia.
The Boston Renegades, which won the W-1 League crown last year, used a Mary Beth Bowie free kick and an own goal to defeat the Denver Lady Cougars, 2-1, in the first semifinal before 2,485 at Swangard Stadium.
The Charlotte Lady Eagles, W-2 champs in 2001, advanced to the final on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie with host Vancouver Breakers.
The title game will be played Saturday night at 7:30 PDT.
The W-League combined its two leagues into a single competition this season.
Boston, not playing particularly well, went ahead in the 40th minute when Cougars defender Amy Gray shanked a clearance into her net. Bowie tucked a 22-yard free kick under the crossbar to make it 2-0 in the 69th minute. Chrissie Duren scored Denver's goal in the 88th minute.
Vancouver piled on 34 shots against Charlotte, but Eagles goalkeeper Esther Thompson made 10 saves and her shootout replacement, Shannon Monti, stopped one to reach the final.
Nigerian national teamer Patience Avre, whose speed bothered the Breakers all night, set up Tina Murphy's 11th goal of the season for a 1-0 Charlotte lead just after halftime. Rosalyn Hicks' powerful volley from 12 yards — her first goal of the year — pulled Vancouver even in the 82nd minute.
Each team's first four shooters found the net during penalty kicks. Monti stopped Diana Artuso on the Breakers' fifth shot, and Jen Lewis converted the winner for Charlotte.
W-LEAGUE FINAL FOUR
at Burnaby, British Columbia
Friday's semifinals
Boston Renegades 2 Denver Lady Cougars 1. Goals: Own goal Gray 40, Bowie 69; Duren (Beasley) 88.
Vancouver Breakers 1 Charlotte Lady Eagles 1 (Charlotte advances on penalty kicks, 5-4). Goals: Hicks (Crawford) 82; Murphy (Avre) 47.
Saturday's final
Boston Renegades vs. Charlotte Lady Eagles at Swangard Stadium, 7:30 p.m. PDT.